Can not save TIF to JPG in Photoshop CS3?

[georgec]

I edited a TIFF file in PS3 and try to save to a JPG, but I found that JPG is not in the list box (PSD,PNG... are valid format) when save. Anyway I can save it to JPG? I tried Save for Web and Service, but it may not be the right one
Thanks -George

 

[joeroback]

If your image has layers or something other that is not allowed in JPEG it won't be an available option.

1) you can "Save Copy As" and save the copy with the image flatten
or
2) Layers > Flatten Image, then attempt to save.
or
3) Save for Web works fine also.

--
http://roback.cc/photography/

 

[Tony Fluerty]

youre in 16 bit .drop down to 8 bit by flatten layers or go to mode and choose 8 bit.
--
snap

 

[Idaho360]

Go to your file in your menu bar click on it, go down to "save as" and click on it an in "save as type" pick jpg. Roger

 

[rdspear]

OP mentioned in the post that JPEG is not present in the Format drop down as a file type, so instructions to just pick JPEG in the drop down probably won't work.

If you're working with TIFF's, it's quite possible it's a 16-bit file. JPEG is only 8-bit. You need to select Image> Mode> 8 bits/channel in the menu.

You should then see JPEG as a Format in the Save As dialog.

It's also possible that you have layers that need to be flattened, as mentioned above. - Layer> Flatten Image

 

[georgec]

After choosing 8bit, I am able to save as JPG. Thanks so much to all of you. -George

 

[severoon]

...that PS is infuriating in this way in many, many situations. When some seemingly unrelated configuration is set a certain way, PS simply takes all of the unavailable options off the table with no indication as to why they're not there.

You'll find in your PS travels that it's important to understand what each color space, file format, bit depth, etc, is capable of and make sure you know whenever you do something (or frustratingly, do NOT do something) that limits your choices.

When I was a PS noob, one of my first moments of crisis had to do with when I started trying to apply filters to 16-bit images. (Back then, most filters weren't available for 16-bit.) PS showed nearly all the filters as disabled with no explanation as to why. This, after I'd been working in 16-bit for several hours with no need of any filter, I hadn't realized the two were connected.

For a while, I got in the habit of scanning the menus whenever I changed some setting to see if I'd lost options...

 

[JimH]

Photoshop seems to take kind of a "harsh" approach to all of this rather than a user friendly way of doing it.

In Paint Shop Pro, for example, if you're editing a 16 Bit TIFF and want to save a JPG from it, you just choose "save as" and lo and behold, right there in the list is JPG. If you then tell it to save a JPG, it does the conversion from 16 bit to 8 bit for you "on the fly" because that's obviously what needs to be done. And the beauty of this is that you're still working with a 16 Bit file.

With PS, you must convert to 8 bit mode, make your save, and then go into the history and revert back a step or two to get back to 16 bit mode if you plan on continuing your work in 16 bit mode.

I find the PS way of doing it a bit "stubborn". It's as if they won't lower themselves to just do what you want. Instead, they insist on letting you know that they know that JPG is 8 bit, and darn it, they're not going to convert it for you, you've got to do it yourself because you should know better than to try to save a 16 bit file to an 8 bit format.

I think they're just being difficult ;-)

Of course, there's always PS's "Save For Web" which does do the conversion for you on the fly - but it removes the EXIF with no way to tell it to leave it in place - unless you're willing to really go the distance and use the "edit in ImageReady" feature. And now you've spent ten minutes accomplishing what you wanted to do in seconds when you started

--
Jim H.

 

[severoon]

I agree that PS is a bit harsh, but I don't agree the approach you suggest. Part of the zen of Photoshop is that it gives you complete control and doesn't do automagic conversions, throwing away bits of information, without you knowing about it. I certainly wouldn't like it if PS started assuming it's ok to start tossing half the color info overboard.

Instead, what I would prefer to see is all of the options always available. If I select something that is not allowed, PS should be able to pop up a dialog saying:

You can't save this image as a JPG for the following reasons:

• JPG format allows 8-bit color only, this image is 16-bit. Convert to 8-bit? [ ] (checkbox)

• JPG format allows sRGB or AdobeRGB color profiles, this image is assigned the BloodRedRage color profile. Convert to: [ ] sRGB [ ] Adobe RGB

• JPG format can't allow frozzle gadgets in your floppity-do. Remove froozle gadgets from the floppity-do? [ ]

This way, users that go an errant way can be returned to the fold and learn a little something about the limitations without hitting a complete stop and having to post in a forum somewhere. And PS still gives the user total control.

There's also another movement afoot in the GIMP world to allow different modes of execution. One would be the completely harsh way PS works now, but you could also flip it into documentation mode (in which everything comes with long-winded explanations) or automagic mode (in which it operates as you suggest--massaging whatever needs to be massaged to make things happen), and you could flip back and forth at will while using it. Lotta work to get there tho. I'm not holding my breath.

Photoshop seems to take kind of a "harsh" approach to all of this
rather than a user friendly way of doing it.

In Paint Shop Pro, for example, if you're editing a 16 Bit TIFF and
want to save a JPG from it, you just choose "save as" and lo and
behold, right there in the list is JPG. If you then tell it to save
a JPG, it does the conversion from 16 bit to 8 bit for you "on the
fly" because that's obviously what needs to be done. And the beauty
of this is that you're still working with a 16 Bit file.

With PS, you must convert to 8 bit mode, make your save, and then go
into the history and revert back a step or two to get back to 16 bit
mode if you plan on continuing your work in 16 bit mode.

I find the PS way of doing it a bit "stubborn". It's as if they
won't lower themselves to just do what you want. Instead, they
insist on letting you know that they know that JPG is 8 bit, and darn
it, they're not going to convert it for you, you've got to do it
yourself because you should know better than to try to save a 16 bit
file to an 8 bit format.

I think they're just being difficult ;-)

Of course, there's always PS's "Save For Web" which does do the
conversion for you on the fly - but it removes the EXIF with no way
to tell it to leave it in place - unless you're willing to really go
the distance and use the "edit in ImageReady" feature. And now
you've spent ten minutes accomplishing what you wanted to do in
seconds when you started

--
Jim H.