Best way to resize?

What is the best method to resize my pictures so I can email them or throw them on facebook? Generally I just go 'view actual pixels', image --> size and adjust it to 8" on the wide side. But I normally find they lose a lot of sharpness compared to when I view them in Zoombrowser EX after uploading them from the camera. Is there a better way for me to do this?

i was going to say use the resize for web command, someone correct me if i'm wrong

you need to change the pixels - I change mine to 600 pixels for width (landscape) keeping aspect ratio and 500 for height (portrait)
so that people with a 800x600 set screen size can see it without scrolling

however, more people have 1024x768 screen sizes these days - so i may change that setting

If you have XP - you can use XP power tools
http://www.microsoft.c​om …owertoys/xppowe​rtoys.mspx
scroll down - on right hand side - image resizer
that gives you a right click menu option to resize the image

For websites and forums like this, inches don't mean anything - use pixels as mentioned.

I read that if resizing more than 50% then do it in stages and use unsharp mask after each stage to prevent IQ deteriorating too much.

Since I use Lightroom, I just export with different settings Alternatively, create an action in Photoshop - that way you can sharpen at the last minute as well.

It depends what software you are using. If you are using Photoshop, then use the "Save for Web" option by going File >> Save for Web or Alt+Shift+Ctrl+S.

The benefit of this is that you can then control pretty much all aspects of the picture, for example pixel size (via the Image Size tab), file type (jpg, gif, png etc) and quality. You can also save your settings if you have a setting you use regularly.

It's also a great tool to use if you are posting images on POTN to ensure you are under 800px/100kb limit; as you adjust the Quality slider it will tell you the file size (K) in the bottom left corner.

N.B. After resizing you will see some slight degredation in IQ, so it can help to sharpen or USM after resizing as long as you aren't concerned about file size (sharpening will increase file size).

Hope this helps!

I wouldn't use Save for Web because you lose the EXIF data.