How to reduce a photo for your NaNo profile on MAC

Posted November 7, 2014 by Laurel Wanrow in Online Presence Tips, Writing / 2 Comments

Have you posted a NaNo photo? Or are you floundering like I was? The instructions are blessedly clear that the photo must be 100 x 100 pixels and less than 30KB. But how to do that? I vaguely remembered my NA kid’s instructions and another writer friend and I stumbled through the steps with success.

Though my dear NA kid thinks I’m a Luddite and nuts for posting these instructions, I know they will help someone! Sorry, I only know how to do this via MAC Preview.

Open a copy (Don’t want to mess with the original!) of your photo in Preview. Open Tools on the Menu bar and choose Adjust Size.

Screen Shot 2014-11-06 at 8.28.08 PM

In the window that opens, select ‘Custom’ in the top bar and in the below and to the right, ‘Pixels.’ Note my original photo is 163KB–no wonder it wouldn’t load!

Screen Shot 2014-11-06 at 8.30.44 PM

Next type in your desired pixel size – 100 x 100.

Screen Shot 2014-11-06 at 8.29.15 PM

Click ‘OK.’ The photo adjusts and–voila!–we have a 10KB photo! Rename this copy, with the size so you can find it at a glance.

Screen Shot 2014-11-06 at 8.31.27 PM

It loads in a snap onto the NaNoWriMo website, giving your buddies a brighter view of you!

* But finding this location is tricky, one of my CPs Nooce reminded me in the comments. On the top bar, click where it says “Hello, Your Name!” That opens your account settings. Scroll down. Under ‘Picture’, click ‘Choose file’ and then upload the photo you have renamed. Be sure to hit ‘Save’ at the bottom afterwards.

I save my various social media photos in a file. Both the original, duplicates to work with and the reductions. It’s a time saver when you open up on the next site.

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2 responses to “How to reduce a photo for your NaNo profile on MAC

  1. I had trouble with the NaNo pic upload too. I couldn’t even figure out where to upload, since everytime I clicked on the upload photo box it prompted me to Donate to Get a Halo!

    In the end I had to get a nineteen-year-old at the write-in I attended to help me reduce the picture size and find the settings page. But I’m sure your post will help someone!

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