urgent! Tips on resizing needed

Hi everyone!

A client gave me a cd with 100 images which have to be printed 4x6 at 360dpi by friday, and left town. My problem is that the files are .jpgs, sized 20x30 at 72 dpi. If I simply resize them in one step, I end up with blurry, choppy pics. Now I do the resizing in increments, which takes a lot of time and almost freezes my computer (I first up the res to 150, then 300 - which gives me a 130MB file - then reduce image size by 25% until I get to 4x6). Resampling is set to bicubic. The results are printable but could be better. Is there a better (faster?)way to do this? Is bicubic resampling the best way to go? (I don't even know when to use which, bicubic, linear, or nearest neighbor). And is there a way to save a series of steps from the history palette so you can reapply them to the next image in just one click? I am using PS 6.0, any help's very much appreciated

thanks
Q.

Originally posted by queeny123
Now I do the resizing in increments, which takes a lot of time and almost freezes my computer

The resizing can be saved as an action.

In the Actions palette, click the :newlayer: button and specify a name and a short-cut key (preferably F2~12). Now once that's done, do all the resizing and stuff. Now near the :newlayer: button, there should be a square. Click it. Now the action is saved. Save or print the current image and load up the next one. Press the key that you specified the action to and it does everything automatically. Given your computer doesn't crash... :p

Queeny, you have what you need if you are talking "inches"

4 x 6 (inches) at 359.xxx DPI (almost 360) IS 20 x 30 (inches) at 72 DPI

Do the math, the actual pixels are the same.

Image> Image size

UNCHECK "resample image" you don't need it

change the image 30 inches to 6 inches, you'll notice the resolution changes to 359.xxx DPI and the 20 inches change to 4.001 or so.

click OK and save the image.

Note: ANY resampling requires interpulation of pixels which will degrade a photo when printed. I usually choose "nearest neighbor" when forced to do it. In this case you don't have to.

Hope that helps

Thanks, !mo0chan! & tornupinside, problem solved.
Yeah, I left "resampling" checked and wondered why I still ended up with 72dpi after resizing. I'm holding the NY heatwave responsible (I'm doing this freelance from an unairconditioned home and at 5p.m. an old darkroom thermometer showed 98 degrees in my little office)...

Thanks again,
Q.