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Zooming Along- or How to Make Your Photos Stand Out Online

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker, DelMonte CALBRE#00752739

Zooming Along!

First of all a big THANKS to Mark Passerby for writing about this great tool in his blog. I had actually heard about it before, but thought who needs it? But Mark was so excited over it - I went to the site. And not only was there a free version - you can set the whole thing up fast and easy in Photoshop CS3.

Open your file, make any adjustments needed.
Then to save it go to File > Export> Zoom. You will get a dialog box like this one.


zoom
Click on Folder to decide where to save it. I put it in my web folder, made a new folder and called it "zoom".

Base Name will be the current name of your file.

I left the quality at the default of 10.

Under Browser Options -decide how big you want the basic photo to be.

I wanted larger than the default of 400 x 400 so I chose 500 for the example below.

What's great is a web page with the photo is created just from zooming along in Photoshop.

Obviously there are other ways if you don't have Photoshop (yes, it's expensive). Use the slider to zoom in. You can use the arrow keys to move around - or you can just use your mouse and grab the photo and move it around to see close up of the ceiling, the wood floor, etc.

 
The above photo is for a very elegant (and huge) master bedroom in a listing I have. This photo was what made me decide to use this asap!

It's such a big room, you miss much of the detail.

Now using zoom I can go in close and look at the floor and almost touch the walnut planks.

I can zoom in for a closer look at the great view or look at the incredible detail in the ceiling.

Awesome!
DARN YOU MARK PASSERBY :) Now I have to go retake all my photos as they just aren't good enough now that I can zoom them and see such beautiful detail.

This home is 8200 sq. ft. So if you don't "see" me hanging around Active Rain for awhile you'll know where I am.

I am now going around humming "zoom, zoom, zoom, zooming along. zooming along" (to the tune of Staying Alive - Saturday Night Fever).music notes
 
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Jane Heiss-Armitage
Ayre/Rhinehart Realtors (Midland County, Bay County,Saginaw County, Mi.) - Midland, MI
Selling Homes in the Great Lakes Bay Region

I think it does about the same as Just Snooping,  you can move the pictures around and also do a virtual tour by stitching the photos together.    Jane

Oct 20, 2008 01:29 PM
Sabrina Kelley
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Woodland Park, CO
Woodland Park Colorado Mountain Homes and Land

These are the types of priceless tips I value beyond belief.

So much of our marketing has to be visual. Make it the best you can.

Oct 20, 2008 02:15 PM
Kirsten Mellinger
SkyView Real Estate - Simi Valley, CA
Ventura County Real Estate

Thanks for sharing...I have book marked both websites & can't wait to start playing around with them over the next couple of days!!!!

Oct 20, 2008 04:11 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Eileen,

I just found you on another blog, and what a find!  You're a regular Active Rain Educator!  Thanks for posting; I'm off to check out your other posts.

Mike in Tucson

Oct 20, 2008 11:38 PM
Kris Kombrink ~ The Kombrink Team
RE/MAX Excels - Chicago's Western Suburbs - Geneva, IL

Intersting tool, I haven't come across this in the past.  Will give it a try.

Oct 21, 2008 02:44 AM
Eileen Begley
Coldwell Banker, DelMonte - Carmel, CA
Monterey Real Estate

Thanks Mike for the nice compliment!
Thanks to everyone else for your comments and thanks to Mark Passerby for bringing this to our attention originally.

Oct 21, 2008 09:27 AM
Gene Allen
Fathom Realty - Cary, NC
Realty Consultant for Cary Real Estate

That is a pretty neat tool.  I have not seen it before but it looks interesting.  I guess that is why you pay the big bucks for Photo Shop.

Oct 21, 2008 10:00 AM
Joe Boylan
SpringsHomes - Colorado Springs, CO

Eileen,

Thank You, Nice tool! This is a great compromise between still photos and a full blown virtual tour. Cuz sometimes 640 X 480 just doesn't get it done.

 

Oct 22, 2008 12:57 AM
Leah J. Armstrong
House to Home ReDesigns & Real Estate Staging Vancouver B.C. - Port Moody, BC
Home Staging Port Moody B.C.

I like this tool!  Will play with it a bit.  Many thanks for sharing.  - Leah

Nov 04, 2008 06:44 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

I don't know how they do that, but it's pretty cool. I will have to play around with it for my home inspection business.

Jan 01, 2009 03:30 PM