How to get images ready for Moodle

This refers to Moodle 3.11 from August 2022 onwards

Images and Moodle

Whether you are uploading images, graphics or pictures directly, or including them in documents or presentations, there are a few recommended preparations to make to optimise image upload and download.

The best way to reduce image downloading times is to create smaller files. Older file types, such as BMP files, can be quickly converted to modern files types with substantial file size decreases. Saving images as JPG or PNG files is usually best. JPG is the most common file format used on the internet for reasons of efficiency: although there is a loss of quality involved, it is usually only noticeable where there are large blocks of colour or if the 'compression rate' of the file is set too high. If you do not want to lose any image quality but still want file sizes as small as possible, the PNG format is your best bet. It is hugely more space efficient than BMP files.

How to save files as different formats (PC)

The simplest way to change file format is to open your image in Paint. This can be found by either searching for 'Paint' in the search box at the bottom of the screen, then when Paint is open, click on 'File' and then 'Open' and find the file.

Or, by going directly to the File Manager and open the selected image file using Paint.

Once the image is open, you can click on 'File', then choose 'Save as' and then select the format you want to save the file as.

Image resizing

Another way to reduce the file size is to make the dimensions of the image smaller. This is worth considering if you want faster PowerPoint or web page display times too, as the software has to do less work to display the image.

How to resize an image (PC)

Paint is a simple way to reduce an image size.

1. Choose 'Select' then choose the option 'Select all'. This will allow you to ensure all of the image changes size. 

Step 1

2. Next, you need to choose Resize, and in the box that pops up choose to resize by percentage (if you are unfamiliar with dimensions described with the term pixels). It is important to ensure the box 'Maintain aspect ratio' is ticked to keep the image from skewing. When ready, click 'OK'

3. Now save the image, ready for uploading into Moodle. Open the File menu then click "Save As"

Other similar tutorials

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