Zipping Files in XP?

[Carol2]

I find that I can Zip text files nicely (crunches a 1.3 mb file to 405
KB).......that's about 71%. However, it will only put 1% compression on
a similar sized photo or graphic file. In other words, it is
practically useless for compressing my graphics & pic.s. I have tried
both the right click & Create New Compressed (zipped) Folder & the
right click on the file.....& then Send To > Compressed (zipped) Folder.

I would appreciate someone explaining what I might be doing
wrong......&/or tell me how to fix this handy tool.

TIA,
Carol2

 

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

Most photo, video and sound file formats are already compressed - they can't
be compressed any more.

Rocky

 

[Michael W. Ryder]

I find that I can Zip text files nicely (crunches a 1.3 mb file to 405
KB).......that's about 71%. However, it will only put 1% compression on
a similar sized photo or graphic file. In other words, it is
practically useless for compressing my graphics & pic.s. I have tried
both the right click & Create New Compressed (zipped) Folder & the
right click on the file.....& then Send To > Compressed (zipped) Folder.

I would appreciate someone explaining what I might be doing
wrong......&/or tell me how to fix this handy tool.

TIA,
Carol2

Most graphics will not compress as the data is too random for the
compressing tools to work. They require small character sets or
repeating characters such as are common in text files.

 

[Pat Garard]

G'Day Carol,

Explanations of compression generally, involve some
insight into the statistical methods used to carry out the
compression.

The ability of any compression utility to reduce the size
of a file relies on the average 'density' of information in
that file - ie on the amount of redundant "empty" space.

I don't know the file type that has the lowest density, but
Text files and Documents would come close.

Program files are kind of "middle of the road".

Image files have the highest information density, and are
generally not worth trying to compress.

The JPEG file format (and several Video/Audio formats)
is (are) quite interesting in that it offers a trade-off between
compression and quality - the more compression you
apply the lower the final quality and vice versa.
Note that THIS compression is built into the format itself,
and is applied by the tools that write or edit the file. It can
not be applied by an external utility.

I hope this helps.
--
Regards,
Pat Garard
Australia

______________________________________

 

[Carol2]

Thanks to each of you for your replies. I must say that I am quite
disappointed in the general consensus of your replies that indicates
that this is not going to be a viable solution for sending decent copies
of my photos to family/friends.

Does anyone know of an alternate work-around or program that will
temporarily crunch these photo files & still allow the recipient to
'Un-Zip' them to their normal uncompressed state?

Carol2

 

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

Unfortunately, you do not seem to understand my answer to your question. To
put it more plainly: Something that is already compressed cannot be further
compressed.

To decrease the file size, you can use a smaller picture (almost any photo
editor does this), or send a shorter video or a shorter piece of music. You
can also decrease the file size by lowering the quality.

Rocky

 

[Carol2]

Yes, I do understand your answer, Rocky.......and I have sized my photos
smaller &/or lowered the quality in the past. I was hoping that by
using the Zip folder, I could send better quality pic.s, so the
recipient would have a decent file to print from. Ah, well........ LOL

Carol2

 

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

You know, there are other ways to send large files across the Internet
besides e-mail. Speak to your ISP about setting up a web page on their
servers, or try one of the online photo services. That way, you could send
the original file in all its glory (and size.)

Rocky

 

[Tomasz Lisowski]

Thanks to each of you for your replies. I must say that I am quite
disappointed in the general consensus of your replies that indicates
that this is not going to be a viable solution for sending decent copies
of my photos to family/friends.

You may try to use the JPEG format, which usually produces the smallest
files

Tomek

 

[Carol2]

Thanks, Rocky.... Actually, I Have been thinking about setting up an
on-line album. I guess that's the route I'll have to take. 8^)

Carol2

 

[Carol2]

I've been using JPEG format set to the lowest possible compression, as I
want the pic.s to print nicely on the other end. 8^) I think I will
just have to set up an on-line album or 2, as suggested by Rocky.

Carol2

 

[Pat Garard]

G'Day again Carol,

Have you considered Windows Messenger?

Properly set up, it is a useful one-on-one Chat tool
that will also send files etc.
--
Regards,
Pat Garard
Australia

______________________________________

 

[Carol2]

Yes........but I imagine that Messenger would take just as long to send
files as my e-mail program, so I've never bothered with it. Dial-up
modems are pretty slow, by today's standards. I just can't justify the
cost of cable internet for the stuff I do (it's still pretty spendy in
this small community).

Carol