How are you uploading your images for printing.

[Srikanth Koka]

Hi,

I download a picture from the camera to the PC and it is about 2.3MB in size. Then I want to make some adjustments in DCE or other photo editors and save it in tiff format. I would like to print the photos at 4x6 and 8x10 sizes. I generally use Sams-Club (24c per 4x6 with free shipping). The maximum image size allowed in 2MB. So I have to save it as a jpeg within 2MB. Am I loosing too much information by recompressing it from tiff to jpeg and restricting the size?

What is the best way to resize the image such that I can get the best possible quality under 2MB size?

 

[Jean Ricket]

I believe, and I'm not an expert ...

You're losing 0.3 MB worth of pixels--but whether it makes a difference to what the eye sees in the print, I think that depends on the picture. If you have lots of fine lines and details, it might be noticeable and objectionable.

My guess is that at 4x6, your eye wouldn't notice the difference but at 8x10, in some pictures you might. If you are selling your prints, you might use the Sams-Club for proofs and pay a bit more for the full-pixel prints somewhere else. I'm spending a small fortune at .45/print for 200 prints at a time, and I think Sams-Club proofs may be what I need. But save your originals in case you want to use those extra pixels. Good luck. - Jean R

Hi,

I download a picture from the camera to the PC and it is about
2.3MB in size. Then I want to make some adjustments in DCE or other
photo editors and save it in tiff format. I would like to print the
photos at 4x6 and 8x10 sizes. I generally use Sams-Club (24c per
4x6 with free shipping). The maximum image size allowed in 2MB. So
I have to save it as a jpeg within 2MB. Am I loosing too much
information by recompressing it from tiff to jpeg and restricting
the size?

What is the best way to resize the image such that I can get the
best possible quality under 2MB size?

 

[Petteri Sulonen]

Hi,

I download a picture from the camera to the PC and it is about
2.3MB in size. Then I want to make some adjustments in DCE or other
photo editors and save it in tiff format. I would like to print the
photos at 4x6 and 8x10 sizes. I generally use Sams-Club (24c per
4x6 with free shipping). The maximum image size allowed in 2MB. So
I have to save it as a jpeg within 2MB. Am I loosing too much
information by recompressing it from tiff to jpeg and restricting
the size?

What is the best way to resize the image such that I can get the
best possible quality under 2MB size?

At 4x6 the loss of data by JPG compression is insignificant. On certain pictures you might see artifacts if you look for them with a loupe (if the print quality is really good). On 8x10's they will be visible to the naked eye, but only if you look for them.

It is a good idea to resize. You won't get any benefit of having more than 300 dpi in your source file, so resize to 1200 x 1800 pixels for 4 x 6 and compress very little or not at all. For 8 x 10, either find somewhere that accepts bigger files or use full resolution and higher JPG compression.

Petteri
--
http://www.seittipaja.fi/index/

 

[john grayson]

it's hard to say since you haven't said what the original file format is, it would also be helpful to know what camera you are using and what quality setting you shot your pictures at. i'm guessing the original file format is jpeg due to the fact that the original file sizes are only 2.3mb in size, if they were raw or tiff the file size would be larger. my question to you is if they are originally jpegs then why are you saving them as tiffs and then back to jpegs, why not just resize the original jpeg and save? also the maximum image size allowed of what is 2mb? that doesn't make any sense. you also haven't said what quality jpeg you are resaving your files as, which pretty much will determine the answer to your question. if you save your jpegs at 100% then no you won't see loss in quality, if you save your jpegs at 50% then yes you will see loss in quality.

Hi,

I download a picture from the camera to the PC and it is about
2.3MB in size. Then I want to make some adjustments in DCE or other
photo editors and save it in tiff format. I would like to print the
photos at 4x6 and 8x10 sizes. I generally use Sams-Club (24c per
4x6 with free shipping). The maximum image size allowed in 2MB. So
I have to save it as a jpeg within 2MB. Am I loosing too much
information by recompressing it from tiff to jpeg and restricting
the size?

What is the best way to resize the image such that I can get the
best possible quality under 2MB size?

 

[gary ng]

Don't worry about JPEG, it is not as bad as it sounds being a lossy compression. With a high enough quality setting(that varies among editors), you are going to see the limitation of the printing process before you see the JPEG artifact.

Just don't use JPEG as an intermediate storage format as repeated encoding in JPEG would gradually make the image worse.

Hi,

I download a picture from the camera to the PC and it is about
2.3MB in size. Then I want to make some adjustments in DCE or other
photo editors and save it in tiff format. I would like to print the
photos at 4x6 and 8x10 sizes. I generally use Sams-Club (24c per
4x6 with free shipping). The maximum image size allowed in 2MB. So
I have to save it as a jpeg within 2MB. Am I loosing too much
information by recompressing it from tiff to jpeg and restricting
the size?

What is the best way to resize the image such that I can get the
best possible quality under 2MB size?

 

[Srikanth Koka]

it's hard to say since you haven't said what the original file
format is, it would also be helpful to know what camera you are
using and what quality setting you shot your pictures at. i'm
guessing the original file format is jpeg due to the fact that the
original file sizes are only 2.3mb in size, if they were raw or
tiff the file size would be larger. my question to you is if they
are originally jpegs then why are you saving them as tiffs and then
back to jpegs, why not just resize the original jpeg and save? also
the maximum image size allowed of what is 2mb? that doesn't make
any sense. you also haven't said what quality jpeg you are resaving
your files as, which pretty much will determine the answer to your
question. if you save your jpegs at 100% then no you won't see loss
in quality, if you save your jpegs at 50% then yes you will see
loss in quality.

I am using Dimage 7i. Capturing photos at 2560x1920 jpeg. The reason I am saving it as tiff is because I understand that tiff is lossless. I do some quick fixes like sharpening etc and save as tiff. If need arises I will re-edit them. Doing this over and over in JPEG format, I believe will eventually result in loss of image quality.

The max size of 2mb is the per photo upload to Samsclub and Walmart websites. In other words they do not allow me to upload a file larger than 2MB to their site for ordering prints.

Currently I am letting the photo software (DCE and Photo Impact) decide the best quality for 2MB max size (size based compression). My question is, what is the best way to limit the .jpg file size to 2MB yet get the best possible prints.

In other words:
i) Should I use size based compression of JPG at 2560x1920 and 72 DPI?
ii) Or, should I resize to a lower resolution and higher DPI (> 300 DPI)?

If resizing is the best option then what are the ideal resolutions and DPI for 4x6 and 8x10?

Thanks,
Srikanth

Hi,

I download a picture from the camera to the PC and it is about
2.3MB in size. Then I want to make some adjustments in DCE or other
photo editors and save it in tiff format. I would like to print the
photos at 4x6 and 8x10 sizes. I generally use Sams-Club (24c per
4x6 with free shipping). The maximum image size allowed in 2MB. So
I have to save it as a jpeg within 2MB. Am I loosing too much
information by recompressing it from tiff to jpeg and restricting
the size?

What is the best way to resize the image such that I can get the
best possible quality under 2MB size?