# What software can I use to quickly resize a few hundred photos? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 17, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953 "2014-06-17T01:42:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/1 "2014-06-17T01:42:11Z")
Modern digital cameras create ridiculously huge photos. [The most common resolution](http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/11/move-over-1024x768-the-most-popular-screen-resolution-on-the-web-is-now-1366x768/)these days is 1366×768. Its cumbersome to make my slideshow program resize 4912x7360 images to fit on a 1366×768 monitor. Theres about a 8 to 10 second delay in my slideshow software while it reads the image and resizes the image for my screen. Thumbs Plus gets cranky when I press the space bar too fast. It just can’t read these huge images that fast. I’ll keep the original images on a dvd. I want to resize them all for my hard drive. Any software recommendations? Something very simple. Select a folder, enter a percentage (like 60%), keep the original aspect ratio, and click OK. Go get a cup of coffee and find several hundred images resized when I get back. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/2 "2014-06-17T01:44:28Z")
[IrfanView](http://www.irfanview.com/) is free and comes with a batch processing feature that lets you do that. Here’s how you use it: > **[How to Batch Resize Images with IrfanView](https://www.ofzenandcomputing.com/batch-resize-images-irfanview/)** > > IrfanView is a free downloaded the can be used to resize a large collection of images very quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/3 "2014-06-17T01:50:21Z")
And if you don’t like IrfanView’s old-school interface, here are a bunch of other programs that do the same thing with a different interface: > **[13 Useful Batch Image Processors — Smashing Magazine](https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/10/15-useful-batch-image-processors/)** > > Whether you’re a Web developer, Web designer or blogger, you’ve probably had to deal with the headache of converting many images to different sizes and formats. It’s not much fun if you have to convert all of them by hand. \*\*Batch image processing\*\*... ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/4 "2014-06-17T01:53:26Z")
I saw that review from 2008. I was going to install BIMP Lite when I realized it hadn’t been update since 2008. Its an XP program and it seems like the developers web site has disappeared. I’ll look at IrfanView. thanks! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/5 "2014-06-17T01:59:27Z")
IrfanView looks a whole lot like Thumbs Plus. Same features, thumbnails, slideshow, basic editing. Except AFAIK Thumbs Plus doesn’t have a batch mode. I’ve used Thumbs Plus since 1997. It may be time to switch software viewers. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/6 "2014-06-17T02:03:36Z")
It’s Mac-only, but [GraphicConverter](http://www.lemkesoft.de/en/products/graphicconverter/)is the gold standard for the kinds of tasks you’re describing. It is literally as easy to use as you describe in the OP. It’s well worth the $40, but you can try it out as shareware. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/7 "2014-06-17T02:13:18Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I saw that review from 2008. I was going to install BIMP Lite when I realized it hadn’t been update since 2008. Its an XP program and it seems like the developers web site has disappeared. > > I’ll look at IrfanView. thanks! JPEG is old as hell and it shouldn’t matter if the software was designed for XP or even Windows 95. The file format hasn’t changed much since then, and a batch converter should still work. Edit: IrfanView in fact dates back to 1996. It’s received minor updates since then but is still pretty much the same program, with the same archaic interface, but people still use it because it’s powerful, fast, and free. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/8 "2014-06-17T02:26:08Z")
Been using IrfanView for years. Good program and the batch conversion feature works well. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/9 "2014-06-17T02:34:51Z")
I’ve downloaded IrfanView and will install it later tonight. Sounds like what I needed. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/10 "2014-06-17T02:52:24Z")
.I got irfanview installed. Nice. Is there a way to open multiple pictures? I click a thumbnail and it opens a photo, But it closes that photo when I click another thumbnail. Thumbs Plus lets me open 6 or 7 photos. Then can be minimized and expaned just like any window. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/11 "2014-06-17T04:10:08Z")
I set a couple options. The slideshow needed to cycle back to the first photo. Fixed that. I set the option so the program opens with the last folders I used. I even tested the batch resize with a few photos. Easy to use. The only weird thing is it won’t let me open more than one photo at a time. Even photoshop lets you open multiple images. Strange that this program won’t do that. Maybe its restricted until I make a donation? ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/12 "2014-06-17T04:28:02Z")
There’s an option that says something like “Allow only 1 instance of IrfanView to be open”; uncheck that and you can have multiple windows of it open. It’s freeware, not shareware, and donating just helps support the author and doesn’t unlock anything additional. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/13 "2014-06-17T04:33:02Z")
thanks again Reply. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/14 "2014-06-17T04:37:09Z")
Sure thing. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/15 "2014-06-17T04:44:15Z")
Change the setting from ‘thumb’ to ‘list’ or ‘details’ & when you open that folder, you will have all pics in that files and you can just do an add all, they move to the lower right window box & hit ‘start batch.’ ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/16 "2014-06-17T05:58:11Z")
I use Irfanview because Windows’ photo viewer doesn’t make use of EXIF rotation data (?? Microsoft). You don’t need any additional program in OS X. Automator is like a GUI batch file editor. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/17 "2014-06-17T08:32:15Z")
Picasa will do that, too. You can select a whole bunch of pictures and export them out at any resolution you want. Just in case Irfanview isn’t your cup of tea. > **[What Is Google Photos, and Should You Be Using It?](https://www.lifewire.com/google-photos-should-you-be-using-it-4051795)** > > Google Photos is more than a photo repository. Similar to Google Drive, it backs up photos across multiple devices, has automatic organization features, and a smart search tool. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/18 "2014-06-17T12:35:55Z")
Fotosizer Batch Image Resizer ( [fotosizer.com](http://fotosizer.com)) ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/19 "2014-06-17T13:35:19Z")
ThumbsPlus will do it. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953/20 "2014-06-17T14:33:18Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > It’s Mac-only, but [GraphicConverter](http://www.lemkesoft.de/en/products/graphicconverter/)is the gold standard for the kinds of tasks you’re describing. It is literally as easy to use as you describe in the OP. It’s well worth the $40, but you can try it out as shareware. Ditto that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-software-can-i-use-to-quickly-resize-a-few-hundred-photos/690953.md?page=2)