Resizing images is a pain on Linux Mint (rant)

[ccoyle]

Linux needs a simple, easy-to-use, image viewer with some very basic, reasonably intuitive, editing features, most importantly the ability to easily resize an image* or giving you the option of fitting an image to your desktop when you set it as wallpaper.

STEP 1: Open the original image. STEP 2: Click on "file" or "edit", get a dropdown menu. STEP 3: Click on "resize" and get a menu that let's you do it! STEP 4: Save the new image where you want it.

Don't tell me "you want an editor, not a viewer" or "use Gimp", which is way too complex when you simply want to resize an image to fit as desktop wallpaper.

Such a program should be in the default install of any package.

Linux has nothing that is even close to IrfanView. No, I don't want to use Wine.

* cropping and inserting a small amount of text should also be in every such program.

Now I feel better

[thx-1138]

...on Mint 18.x, Pix (installed by default), can replicate the very exact steps that you described...

Linux has nothing that is even close to IrfanView. No, I don't want to use Wine.

There are numerous apps that provide such functionality, eg. Fotoxx comes to mind as a random example.
XNView, which is very IrfanView alike, also has a linux version, but i haven't kept up to date with it's development to be honest...

[Pierre]

Now that you feel better: Try Pinta:
- Menu - Graphics - Pinta
"Easily create and edit images".

[Pjotr]

With the default Pix:

Launch Pix, click on image, click in the panel on the Tools button (three dashes) - in the dropdown, click Resize images...

[Flemur]

Don't tell me "you want an editor, not a viewer" or "use Gimp", which is way too complex when you simply want to resize an image to fit as desktop wallpaper.

I won't tell you to use gimp, but I will tell you that resizing an image in gimp is about as simple as it can be.

Rt-click on image -> open with gimp
Then in gimp
Menu.Image -> scale image -> enter your size .
Then
File -> Export. (or "Overwrite")

You really can't get much simpler than that without a mind-reading interface: the amount of "work" you do is the same as with irfanview (which is my image viewer).

[ccoyle]

...on Mint 18.x, Pix (installed by default), can replicate the very exact steps that you described...

Not that I can see. Can't find it in any dropdown off File, Edit, View, Go, Bookmarks, or Help. Using Pix 1.6.2

Really, it should be as simple as opening the image and hitting Ctrl-R or some other combination.

Don't get me wrong. I love Linux Mint, and use it exclusively on all of my non-work devices, but it has some rough edges. Image viewers and screen shots are two.

[thx-1138]

Hi ccoyle, it's 1.6.2 here as well, please check on the upper side of the image, there where the mouse pointer is:
You will have first to tick the "Toolbar" under "View"...

[ccoyle]

Don't tell me "you want an editor, not a viewer" or "use Gimp", which is way too complex when you simply want to resize an image to fit as desktop wallpaper.

I won't tell you to use gimp, but I will tell you that resizing an image in gimp is about as simple as it can be.

Rt-click on image -> open with gimp
Then in gimp
Menu.Image -> scale image -> enter your size .
Then
File -> Export. (or "Overwrite")
lf
You really can't get much simpler than that without a mind-reading interface: the amount of "work" you do is the same as with irfanview (which is my image viewer).

Disagree. Aside from the fact that Gimp uses the needlessly ambiguous "scale image" rather than the simple "resize", it lacks a simple menu of obvious choices once you get there: half, double, x%, best fit to desktop, and some common sizes.

[JerryF]

...
Don't get me wrong. I love Linux Mint, and use it exclusively on all of my non-work devices, but it has some rough edges. Image viewers and screen shots are two.

Screenshots are quite easy. There's a built-in app called Screenshot. Also, you can download an app called Shutter (which I use). If you want a quick shot of the whole screen, just press PrtScrn key.

[ccoyle]

Hi ccoyle, it's 1.6.2 here as well, please check on the upper side of the image, there where the mouse pointer is:
You will have first to tick the "Toolbar" under "View"...

Well there you go, and thank you very much. Never noticed that tiny and easy-to-miss icon.

[Moem]

That's great! Now you can mark this as [SOLVED].

[Flemur]

Aside from the fact that Gimp uses the needlessly ambiguous "scale image" rather than the simple "resize", it lacks a simple menu of obvious choices once you get there: half, double, x%, best fit to desktop, and some common sizes.

IOW, gimp is just like pix. (Other than the word "scale" vs "resize").

[phd21]

Hi "ccoyle",

I just read your post and the good replies to it. Here are my thoughts on this as well.

+1 for - There are numerous options for this.

+1 XnViewMP is a lot like Irfanview

Uploading a screenshot, image, or images to this forum (resizing or scaling images one or more at a time).
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=232332&hilit=screenshot

Hope this helps ...

[jimallyn]

ccoyle, in general you will get better results by asking, "How do I do such and such on Linux?" as opposed to ranting about what Linux supposedly doesn't do. On some forums, that would get you ignored. Here on the Mint forums, we're so nice that people will tell you how to do what you want to do anyway, but still, it would be better if you just politely ask.

[Reorx]

Linux needs...

Nice rant newbie!!! You made a typo early in the rant though... you typed "linux needs..." when you meant "I want... (that I have an intuitive understanding of)..."

In case nobody had mentioned it >>> Linux is not Windows!

[lmuserx4849]

Disagree. Aside from the fact that Gimp uses the needlessly ambiguous "scale image" rather than the simple "resize", it lacks a simple menu of obvious choices once you get there: half, double, x%, best fit to desktop, and some common sizes.

Gimp does support percentages. Just select percentage in the dropdown on the Scale Image window. You can enter 50% or 200%. You can enter mathematical expressions in the field. And they have well maintained documentation that can be accessed by clicking on the "Help" button.

[catweazel]

Now I feel better

GIMP > Image > Scale Image

HTH

[smurphos]

If you are using Cinnamon with Nemo you can resize directly from the File Manager right-click context menu. It requires a plug-in nemo-image-converter which I don't think is default but can easily be installed via the Software Centre, Synaptic or Terminal ( sudo apt update && apt install nemo-image-converter ).

Then look in Nemo \ Edit\ Plugins and tick its checkbox if necessary. Viola. Uses ImageMagick as it's backend.