1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Guides

Short on time? Here’s how to resize a bunch of photos at once using Google Picasa

By

how to batch resize images photos
Image used with permission by copyright holder
So you need to re-size a bunch of images, but don’t want to endure the tedium of diddling with each photo’s dimensions one at a time. We hear you. Well not to worry — we’ve got the lowdown on a quick and easy method you can use to get the job done in just a few minutes. You’d think that a function so basic as resizing an image file would be included on most major operating systems, but unfortunately that isn’t the case – at least not entirely. Windows doesn’t come equipped with a native batch file resizing utility, and the options you have on OS X are either too restrictive (Preview), or complex and inconvenient (Automator). For this reason, we’ll show you a method that employs a free, easy-to-use third-party software program that works on any operating system: Google Picasa. It’s fast, free, and you don’t need to be a Photoshop savant to put it to good use.

How to resize multiple images using Google Picasa

Step 1: Download/install Picasa

Recommended Videos

Step 2: Open the program and navigate to the folder containing your images. If you just installed the software, it might take a few moments for Picasa to scan your computer and find all your images.

Step 3: Select the pictures you wish to resize. Picasa will display them in the image tray in the lower left corner

Step 4: Once you’ve selected your images, click the Export button.

Step 5: After you click Export, a new dialog window will appear. Adjust image sizes using the slider, or by entering in a specific value in the box. *Note: this number corresponds to the WIDTH of the images. The aspect ratio is locked, so the picture’s height will be adjusted proportionally.

Step 6: Hit export and the dimensions you set will be applied to all the images you selected initially, and all the re-sized images will be saved in your destination folder. Depending on how many pictures you’re working with, this may take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes.

This method should be adequate for most users, but depending on your preferences, you might want a program with more or perhaps less features than Picasa. The good news is there are a multitude of programs out there you can download to get the job done, so here are a few other alternatives if Picasa isn’t the best fit for your photo re-sizing needs.

  • IrfanView (Windows) – an incredibly full-featured batch image processor that can handle basically any bulk editing task.
  • PhotoBulk (Mac) – features a slick, minimalist interface with only the most basic, essential controls you need.
  • Phatch (Win/Mac/Linux) – an open source batch editor that, in addition to resizing, can do stuff like convert the filetype, rename, rotate, and add watermarks.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Drew Prindle
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…
The real reason so many laptops have moved to soldered RAM

The completely redesigned Dell XPS 14 and 16 came out this year as two of the most divisive laptops in recent memory. No, it wasn't just the capacitive touch buttons or invisible trackpad that caused an uproar -- it also moved to soldered RAM. This was a big change from the past, where the XPS 15 and 17 were both celebrated for their upgradability.

Of course, Dell isn't the first to make the transition. In fact, they're one of the last, which is what makes the decision so much tougher to swallow. Where soldered RAM was previously limited to just MacBooks and ultrabooks, it's now affecting most high-performance laptops for gaming as well. Even the fantastic ROG Zephyrus G14 moved to soldered memory this year.

Read more
How to check the storage space on your Mac

Upgrading storage on your Mac isn't always easy, or even possible, so knowing how much storage space you have, and how to free up more, is a great idea. Often when you buy a Mac, that's the storage you're stuck with -- although external drives and cloud storage are always an option.

Luckily, checking your available storage -- and then freeing up space for the things you want to keep -- is very easy to do. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of checking your Mac’s storage space, then show you a few quick ways of clearing out the junk you no longer need.

Read more
How to update your Gmail picture on desktop and mobile

There are lots of reasons why you'd want to change your Gmail profile picture. Maybe you have a great, new selfie you want to show off. Or you just want to update your work email with a photo that's recent and professional-looking. Whatever the reason, we can help you update your Gmail picture in just a few quick steps. We've also got you covered whether you choose to change your photo via Gmail's desktop website or through its mobile app.

Read more