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Posting Images, size does count


ChrisC

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OK, I think it's time to have a laugh at my expense as I'm sure I am doing an equivalent of photographing with my lens cap on. I have a size problem I want advice about.I look forlornly at other members large images on display here, but mine always come out as shrivelled.

 

The instructions for posting stipulate that 244.1 Kb is the maximum file size for posting, and so it is that when I try and post at larger than this; the image is refused. Upon downloading an image to try a Photoshop variation on in another thread, I was perplexed as to why I had to shrink it in order to re-post to the forum. I post images at 72 pixels/inch in sRGB sized below the 244.1 ceiling, and yet I sized an image download from someone else and it is a whopping 1.77 Mb.

 

Below is an [inconsequential] image sized at 243.9 Kb - see, it's ashamed of it's weediness. Help me take my lens cap off. Help me make supersized postings like the normal people do.

 

.................. Chris

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Guest guy_mancuso

Chris go 900 pixels at the longest point , convert to srgb than save as jpeg just below the 244 K limit usually about a 8 compression

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It sounds like the JPEG compression ratio is causing this. Your program of choice seems to be defaulting to maximum quality. Like Guy M says, try lowering the quality from max (usually 10) to somewhere in the middle. Far be it for me to promote quantity over quality, but sometimes that's what's needed :D

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Guest WPalank

I learned this trick form my website hosting service.

As Guy stated, make sure your pixel dimension is 900 at the longest.

 

You didn't state what software you use, but in CS2 and CS3 go to File>Save for Web (inCS3 it's "save for web and other devices"and in the large dialogue screen that comes up, just under the "Done" button and to the right you will see a small arrow pointing right. Click on that and then in the dropdown menu select "Optomize to file size". In the box that appears put 244K (or 240K to be on the safe side) and hit OK. The jpeg compression is automatically selected at that point. Then just save the image. These are directions for the Mac,PC may be slightly different.

 

In CS3 you can choose a preference that automatically converts the image to sRGB, in CS2 you may have to convert before doing all these steps.

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Guest guy_mancuso

Jack Flesher actually made me a action for downsizing for the web, something that i do in Cs3 than i pick the 900 wide or 900 tall setting and bingo. Makes life easy or you can also do the convert to web which works nice but It does not flatten you images in case you did layer masks or something like that.

 

Say you have a 16 bit master Adobe RGB file . Than you need to do several steps which if you create a action you need to change flatten than change to 8 bit than convert to srgb than change image size than save as a jpeg.

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Guy's right - PS actions are the way the easiest approach. For a lot of jobs I need to provide Adobe RBB 1998 full-resolution + up to A5 printable and web-ready sRGB. Basic workflow is to export the JPEGS from Lightroom and then (via Bridge) run an action that sends images in the right colour space and resolution (+any sharpening you think necessary) to Mid and High folders. Of course you can multithread output from LR to different folders, but I've not found a way of replicating PS's Auto > Resize feature where you can set different vertical and horizontal pixel sizes.

 

Best.

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Guy, Guy, William, Chris - Thank you for replying, it seems that Jpeg compression is my 'lens cap' in this instance. Silly me; I hadn't even thought about that. My file writing preparation was in Photoshop; Convert to sRGB, Image Size 72 pixels per inch, Image Size % slider to get down to <244Kb. Compression effect on file size had been forgotten. Thanks for your help.

 

............... Chris

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That image has banding in the sky and the compression takes the edge off the detail in the rocks. What do you use for this? I used to use PS2 and Save As... with a quality setting of around 75%, at a max edge length of 800. That would almost always work.

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Guest guy_mancuso

Chris try this convert to srbg , convert to 8 bit than go into image size itself on the top where it shows pixels make the longest side 900 and okay that than save as jpeg. Don't play with resoltion just leave that alone . Try again

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Carsten - Thanks, yes I see it. I think I beat this file up too much in a too laboured process. I saved this one in CS1/Save For Web - not immediately intuitive for me. I'll consider your suggestion.

 

.............. Chris

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Guy - Thanks, did as you said. The file still had compression issues. I'll have another look at this tomorrow. Maybe CS1 was improved upon for CS2 & CS3.

 

But I'm not downhearted. England are in the finals of the Rugby World Cup [and I played a blinder in front of my telly].

 

............. Chris

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Guest WPalank
Makes life easy or you can also do the convert to web which works nice but It does not flatten you images in case you did layer masks or something like that.

 

Guy,

I couldn't agree more about actions.

 

But at least in CS3 (and I'm pretty sure CS2), "convert to web" does flatten the image, convert to sRGB, 8 bit and jpeg all at once. All you have to do is save off the jpeg, but when you close the original image, hit "don't save" thereby maintaining the master file.

 

I just did it with a 16 bit TIFF I had to download to my site.

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