Michael M,
This is a great question that arises here from time to time. Allow me to share my workflow with you. This is a workflow that has evolved over several years of using PhotoShop and I think meets my present and future needs. Before I get started, let me share that I follow this workflow for my KEEPERS, not every image I take! For example, I returned yesterday from a morning shoot with about 80 images and only 13 actually got this treatment. (not bad actually, 13 keepers out of 80 shots!).
I do two things with my images: upload to the web (pbase or PSig or E-mail) and print. I am presently printing most images at 8x10 (actually 9.6 x 7.6 inches for the frames I like to use).
So first is to make the crop, using the crop tool in PS, set the dimensions for 7.6 x 9.6. You can play with the most artistic crop for your subject. You can even invert the numbers for a different orientation (portrait or landscape orientation).
When you are pleased with your crop, work with your levels/curves, color correction, contrast, etc. Basically this is the step where you do ALL of your photo-editing and enhancing, except sharpening. When I am finished with this step, I add a simple frame, but that can be the subject of another post. If you look at the size of your image (image---> image size), this box will show that your image is indeed 9.6 x 7.6 and the resolution (ppi) and actual pixels will be shown. At this point I save this image as a TIFF, using the exact same name as my original. This preserves the original file.
Now, to make your image for the web, continue working from your TIFF file, resize the image (Image ----> Image Size). Put a check in the "resample" box (and leave the check in the "maintain proportions" box), and change the pixel height to 600 pixels. The width will change automatically. The overall pixels should not be greater than 600 high and 800 wide, since this is the size of most smaller computer screens. Use the zoom tool to blow the image up to the size of your screen. You are now ready to sharpen the image (Filter ----> Sharpen ---> Unsharp Mask). Select the settings that look good to you. (Unsharp Mask settings are a topic in themselves, but you could start at Tolerance 2, Amount of 200, radius .3 and work with the radius to get the desired effect.) Now save the image for the web (File ---> Save As). I add the letter "a" to the front of my image file name to make sure I don't overwrite the original file, can easily tell that this image is for the web,and so I can refer back to the original or TIFF if I need to later. Now select the JPG file type and click SAVE. A dialogue box will appear that lets you choose the "quality" of the JPG. As you slide the quality slider from 12 (best) to 1 (worst), notice that the file size changes dramatically. I try to keep this file size at or about 200 kb and choose a quality setting accordingly. When you close the window, PS asks if you want to save the changes made to the TIFF file. Most certainly answer NO!
So now you still have your untouched original file, a file for the web, and a TIFF file for printing. Your TIFF file still needs one more step before you are ready for printing. Can you guess what this final step is?
Open that TIFF file. Take a peek at the Image Size box to reassure yourself that you are working on the full sized image and did not save your changes when you made the web.jpg file. Use your zoom tool and fill your screen with the image. Now do your final sharpening (Filter ---> Sharpening ---> Unsharp Mask). This time, start with threshold 2, amount 200 and pixel radius of .8 to 1. Notice how much more sharpening is required on this full-sized TIFF than with your web-sized image! Amazing huh? Well this is just one of the reasons that you do this in two separate steps. When you are happy with your USM settings, do a SAVE.
Now you have three files for the same image: the original, a jpg for the web, and a TIFF for printing. You can do anything you want with this TIFF file now: send it to your printer using any print utility, upload to a service bureau, or burn it to a CD for safe keeping.
THis sounds a bit complicated, but it is really very easy. You may need to follow my recipe a few times, but very soon it becomes second nature and you can do it in your sleep.
Best wishes,
Jim
PS: Yes, I use Qimage as my print utility. It LOVES these TIFFS!
I'm hoping to start printing my photos more then inthe past, as I
have, till now, been satisfied with storing and viewing on my
desktop.
I have been taking pics with my Oly c5050z on HQ setting 2560X1920.
When I attempt to print them my printer (HP 952c) crashes. Is it
possible that the pics are too large for the print memory?
Is it prudent to resize all photos down before printing them?
--
Technology Rules!
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galleries at:
http://www.pbase.com/sandman3
critiques at PhotoSig:
http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=15764 
