Free, easy to use web tools to crop, change resolution, and reduce the file size of image files.

Crop and change resolution

Here is one tool for Chem web's "image" manager's tool box:

http://www.resizeyourimage.com/

It's a quick image cropper and resolution re-sizer to quickly create 180*180's and 80*80's, both needed for Chemistry web site's "news" items.

Also, service allows you to export the image as a JPG, PNG, or GIF.

Shrink file size without noticeably changing image

Here is another tool for Chem web's "image" manager's tool box:

http://www.jpegmini.com/main/shrink_photo

I just used it on a largish JPG. The JPG went from 289K to 119K, but kept the same resolution (very large!) and does indeed look the same. Magic!

Tip

Use the "shrinking" service at the end of the work-flow to maximize the amount of shrinking possible. That is, do it after you have the final cropped, at the desired resolution.

Still "to do"

Chemistry still has that big job of "image management" and curation which still needs to "sit" somewhere (and it is much larger and broader than the "Chemistry web site", per se). Anyway, whoever will be doing this will have a much easier job now that we've identified these tools.