To save, select File/Save As and either choose via the bottom drop down menu, or in the top type .jpg or .gif after your file name. GIF is usually the one that will make your file size shrink the most BUT it does make your picture VERY blurry.

If you still have not reduced your file size enough, you will have to reduce your images pixel size. You can do this manually by going Edit/Select All and dragging the lower right corner to shrink the image.

Your last option with MS Paint if all other methods have failed is to make a "cropped" version like this:

To reduce the image PIXEL size (Pixel size is the images visual size):

In the top menu bar- Image/Image Size
Here you can modify the pixel size to whatever you desire.

To reduce the image FILE size (File size is the images virtual size):

In the top menu bar- File/Save As/Select jpg in the drop down menu under the bit you type in your image's name
Here you can modify the file size to reduce it to the required 17kb.

This adjustment option automatically should popup when you click "OK" after choosing to save your image as jpg.

To reduce the image PIXEL size (Pixel size is the images visual size):

In the top menu bar- Image/Image Size
Here you can modify the pixel size to whatever you desire.

To reduce the image FILE size (File size is the images virtual size):

In the top menu bar- File/Save for Web
Here you can modify the file size to reduce it to the required 17kb as shown below.

The "Save for Web" option is better to use than the "Save As" in this program because it is designed for internet usage.

I stumbled across this trick while trying to resize one of Veaf's BC entries. I didn't want to resort to a cropped version (I can be a little stubourn there :P) but this only will work if you have both Paint and either Corel/Adobe PSP/Something like them.

1. Save image as .bmp in MS Paint, then close the file.

2. Open image in Corel/Adobe PSP and save/reduce the image quality to 50% in .jpg form then close the file.

3. Open in MS Paint and go File/Save, close the file.

4. Open in Corel/Adobe PSP and again go to save it and further reduce the image quality.

5. If the image file size is still a bit too big you then reduce the images pixel sixe by 50-100px.

This way your image won't be teenie tiny, but it will be very blurry (but thats to be expected).

This one is the most common, it can be very broad in its meaning.
Some of the most common reasons are:

This one is fairly easy, it just means the file size of your image is too high.
You can go HERE to look at some resizing options.

After you have resized, place a better full size image on your petpage or look-up.
Don't forget to make note in your entry speech as to where this larger image is!

Again, this is easy to bypass.
Every so often the BC "fills up" but once the BC judge views them and rejects the inappropriate ones it will reopen.
This is usually after the weekend, mid week and just before the new BC is due to start.
I usually check back after an hour, but if it's after The Neopets Team's working hours then the next day NST it should be fine to enter.

The direct link for any pet (whether in or not) to go to their BC image is:

http://www.neopets.com/beauty/details.phtml?pet=petnamehere

Every user is given the right to vote for one entry per species. Once a vote is cast it cannot be withdrawn.
But if an entry you voted for is disqualified and removed, you regain that species vote.

The key to BC is to get votes from users who would not ordinarily vote. This must be achieved in a fair and unimposing manner in accordance to the BC rules.
A very good way to do this is to place your pets BC picture link into your neosignature like this:

This creates easy access and free advertising without actually asking. It is also handy for use other Neoboards, although you are not permitted to create a full fledged "vote for my pet" thread, just by posting on other users threads your getting that link discreetly out there.
Its also a good idea to put a nicer, crisper version of your entry onto both your look-up and the petpage of the pet that is entered.
In a lot of cases, the 17k limit can make an entry look fuzzy or blurry, allowing users to see the full size version will work in your favour.

In addition, you are permitted to vote for your own entry ONLY on your main account.

90% of BC is honestly who you end up against, BC IS a popularity based system.
It also depends on who votes, how many vote, the amount of advertising of your pet you do, and many other factors.

Other users are Non-silent, which generally means they tell you they voted (however incidences have been seen that users will "claim" they voted for a particular pet, but then tell the same to other pets in the same species to increase the chances of getting a vote in return)
Some believe that by counting your non-silent votes, it can give you an idea of how well your doing, but it has not been proven to work since the number of silent voters is increasing.

I am in no way saying don't post on your competitions boards because it's wrong. I am merely showing it in both views.
While some appreciate it, others may not feel that way. Just be wary.

This however, was completely out of line in my books at least.

Very rude indeed and defiantly not appreciated.

Have you ever posted on a board on BC and been told that because you didn't follow the first post instructions, your entry would not be considered? Or been accused of Adverspamming?

This is an old technique of sorts that is used by old time BCers to sift out users who are there to interact from those who post and leave aka adverspam.

What is Adverspam?
Generally its where a user has a set speech like this:

Hi Look at my pretty Usul!! It took me ages to do.
I would like your vote, ok thanks, bye!

They usually have it on copy/paste and they proceed to paste it on every active thread on the BC Board (sometimes on the same thread more than once....yes, its happened to me before o.o)

On BC, you'll find many users will say Blah blah blah post *star* if you read this blah blah oh and if you got this far type "meepit". They do this for 2 reasons.

1- It does let the board creator know if a poster is just slapping their entry down and leaving without looking at the board creators. And thus Adverspamming
2- It draws users to look at their entry, as most will put in "Make a comment on my entry or I won't look at yours"

Yes, it seems like a silly game, but it will save yourself a lot of grief in the end.
Always read the first post, do not skim!

Be sure to put your BC link into your NeoSignature or NeoHTML. Although you are strictly not allowed to make vote threads, you can get around it by doing your normal chatting.

By posting on threads in the board your mostly found in on a normal Neoday, you can discreetly get your entry noticed by users who recognize you and friends whom you've not seen in quite some time.

After all, BC is popularity based. And by doing this you are taking advantage of a fresh vote audience that would not normally vote.

But Beware

You can go too far with this method, I highly recommend you do not use this method. It's mostly seen on the Help Board.

A user will make a board asking for something (mostly help), the BCer will come along and post the reply "I don't know" or "Free bump".

Now neither of these are very helpful to the poor board maker, and its a very sly way to get a few votes. Many BCers look down on this form of advertising.

I and a few of my friends have been told that it wasn't the place to make those boards, and that it was spam.
That the BC threads should be compacted into the one thread.

I was under the impression both boards were general chat boards.

I have also never seen or heard of a Premium BCers board either being locked or deleted.
Its not as if any browsers can't see our boards intentions as most put "Vote for THISPETNAME" or "BC" in the board title, thus can easily be skipped over if your in no mood to vote.

And...Amanda agrees this.

If you have Charter access you might see that often there is a BC thread available for you to post on each week. The is a fresh one started every Friday so it wouldn't hurt to also post on this board as well as make your own one there :)

This particular rule is clearly stated in the FAQ's and on the submission form page.
You may ONLY submit your own art into a BC competition.

You CAN NOT enter some one else's Art, even if you have permission.

To learn more about Stolen Art, I highly recommend this page:
What is Stolen Art?

If you steal art or enter others art even with permission and get caught, you WILL be frozen.

I know some out there will say "But I do that all the time and nothing happens
I say in reply, Is it worth the risk?
If caught, your account WILL be frozen.

The goldban is in place for a very good reason, to prevent competition domination.
Essentially, it stops the users that "always win" from competing over and over and stopping others the chance for the top prizes.

*screenie* thanks to anjie

If you attempt to "switch" a pet out to a side and take a side pet to your main for the sole purpose to re-enter BC, you are breaking the rules!
You would be "avoiding" the goldban.

This email was in reply to a user who unknowingly "rotated" their pets to continue entering BC.
Amanda- The BC judge, is VERY clear here in regards to this rule.
If you choose to do this, you WILL be frozen.

*Screenie* thanks to sl0p.

So if you want to switch out a pet to BC another, wait until the pet you want to move off your main is unbanned.

*Screenie* thanks to repulsives

In other words, if you potion morph to get off a goldban to re-enter and The Neopets Team suspects this, you probebly will be frozen or at least warned.
However, lab changes are fine since they are random.

UPDATE! *IMPORTANT*

The rules have changed, goldban now applies to your pet in any species! So you could goldban in Techo then morph to a Tonu and still be banned!

I am unsure of how exactly The Neopets Team handles this rule breaking but I do know the Board Monitors will lock a topic, as seen here.

I am unsure as to whether your account will be suspended or frozen.
But I do know that a lot of users actively seek out another pet in the advertiser's category to vote for rather than vote for the board creator.

If you are caught trading for votes, you WILL be frozen.

I have also noticed an increase in users making "help" boards or "lending" boards to cover up the fact that its for vote seeking.
The large majority of the users that do this are those who would not normally make such boards.
It is usually up to the monitors to decide whether to lock the board topic or not, but a little something on the side I personally have noticed on the "lending" ones.
Its all good and all to loan an avatar item free to users, but to do so merely to get votes…is it really worth the risk?
8/10 cases where users do this, they ultimately have the item stolen from them.

This user simply posted on a BCers board and declared they had voted for their competition, and basically told them their art didn't deserve to win.
I repete here, EVERYONE has the right to enter, and BC was designed to be a popularity based system.

And their reply when asked nicely to leave....

This is just a small taste of the abuse some users get in a BC week, but it is all not called for and highly reportable.

I recomend if they keep it up after being asked once (nicely) to stop, report them immediately.

Its when this griping becomes harassment that it gets serious.
If you get neomailed about "how your entry didn't deserve to win" or "Your pic is dung" etc...Block the user and if you feel the need, report them.

You do not have to deal with this kind of harassment, you DESERVED your win!

I am sad to say, some users have taken post BC harassment to a new level of late...
There have been incidents of overall winners with as these bullies have labeled "bad art", have been "dunged
(inventory spammed with the item "pile of dung")

If you fall victim to this, block items, block the users, report and sell off the free items -cackles-

Her Neo staff account is contest_judge, this is the account she will mail you any messages in regards to the BC, but take note that you cannot Neomail this account.

If you don't want to be disqualified, hold off the zapping until your pets BC week ends.

I myself have delt with this.
Simply mail all the links: Original artwork (the one by you), the winners page, the pet's lookup and the thieves lookup.
Give Amana as much evidence and information as you can.

It will be taken care of as quickly as possible.

This page it seems is just not quite up to spotlight standards, but it doesn't bother me anymore. The lovely mail I get from users that have found this page useful make up for it :)

-sad- Maybe someday...