I've discovered another way to do it, that helps with larger-scale pictures (like ones that are very close-up.)
1. Open the picture with Windows Picture Manager.
2. In the Picture menu, select Crop.
3. Crop the picture so that the end measurements have the proportions of roughly 10 x wider than they are tall. (ie 5000 x 500, or 3000 x 300, or 7000 x 700), to select whatever part of the picture you want to include. This way you can select a piece out of the center, without going all the way to both edges, right and left.
4. In the Picture menu, select Resize. In the Custom measurements box, change them to read 1500 x 150. If you want to crop a little more off of either end, you still can, as long as it is still at least 1200 wide and 150 tall.
5. Be sure to Save As, like above.
Basically the same concept, but better for pictures where you want to cut a close-up piece out of the center, rather than using the entire width of the picture.
