I feel dumb even asking this question but I have some larger Tiff and Raw files on cards that I would like to send a couple jpegs over to someone via email. They can't open raw due to lack of programs at their end.
I am sure it is a simple process in photoshop, but can someone walk me through it.
Open the image in PhotoShop
Make a duplicate of the image and close the original
Make any adjustments you need to make, and then save the file
(Note: you can save the file as a PSD file, if you like)
Resize the file (I use bicubic Smoother)
Flatten the image
Convert the colospace to sRGB
Sharpen to taste
You can use Save for the Web, or use Save As and select jpeg.
I don't use RAW files, so someone else will have to help you out in this case.
It depends on how the other person will use them. If for viewing only, I'd shrink them a whole bunch. The posting size limit here at NPN has become my standard for emails.
My workflow is simpler and shorter than Preston outlines, but then again I'm starting with a processed image:
Resize image, then hit Save As. On that window, change the file format to jpeg and hit save, then pick your compression in the next dialog box that pops up.
That's it. Since it's a jpeg rather than a tiff or RAW, you don't even have to rename the file. That's actually an advantage organization-wise because it will be stored and listed back on your computer immediately adjacent to the original file.
If you don't want to resize, just hit Save As, then change the format to jpeg and procede. Photoshop will produce a new jpeg file without affecting the original tiff or RAW.
BTW- I long ago stopped using the Save For Web feature in Photoshop, but recently had to resort to it on a submission. I emailed some large (35mb) jpegs to a client and they had problems with them. They got back to me and recommended using Save For Web. I did so, and it solved their problems. I haven't a clue what was going on, but evidently for them it made a big difference. Happy to comply when a paycheck was pending.
Posted by James Fillip on January 15, 2008 at 3:29 PM
I have been using the " Save for Web" feature in PS.
Hank, Is there a disadvantage to this that I do not know about?
There has been chatter about it on and off here at NPN for years, Jim. I'm not an expert, but I experienced shifts in color and contrast when using SFW. Evidently there's a solution, but I didn't pursure it. Someone had recommended using Save As instead, and when I tried it the issues went away. Never went back to SFW till last weekend. One more question on the list I use for my client interviews!
Hopefully someone else will weigh in with the "real deal" on it.
Posted by Fred Stearns on January 15, 2008 at 9:34 PM
From the way that I understand it, SFW changes your color profile to the 256 VGA color profile of the original computer color monitors. I have heard it from quite a few sources, though I am at a loss to remember who they were. I have no way to verify it, except that the colors palate is flatter. It is probably also shifted during the conversion. I think that the need for this reduced color palate is no longer with us. However, the files are smaller! I believe that it also strips off other information in the effort to reduce the files size, like the embedded EXIF information. This helps those of you who are still forced to use dial up connections.
If I have this wrong, please feel free to step in. I would like a better understanding of teh difference as well.
That rings true with what I recall too, Fred. I don't usually have to ship such large files (35mb jpegs), but the client wanted them and specified SFW. I quizzed my contact today, and he said "You'll have to ask our captive computer geek, because I won't understand him even if he can tell me why." Not much help, but there you have it. All I know is that their system burped when I sent the files the first time using Save AS, then worked fine when I prepped them again using SFW. Their check didn't bounce, so I'll continue to do it that way for them!
Posted by David Bostedo on January 15, 2008 at 10:05 PM
Fred is partially correct - Save for Web does strip out the EXIF and xml info, helping to get file sizes smaller, or to use less compression at the same file size. Using less compression is the usual goal of using Save For Web; I know I've had images posted here that I used Save For Web on just to try to keep some detail in.
Save for web does not necessarily change the color profile; It can remove it, or assign it to sRGB (I think that's in the settings somewhere). It certainly can't make it VGA, Fred, or everything would look like 80's computer graphics. Since it won't have an embedded profile or it will be sRGB, and most things assume sRGB (including browsers), colors produced in other profiles will appear funky on the web. That's why images need to be converted to sRGB for posting on the web - that way the colors have been converted and brought in line with what the web browser is going to show.
I don't know about older version, but those should be the only differences between current versions of "Save As" and "Save For Web". I've never seen much difference between them myself, as long as the image being saved is in sRGB.
I have another question. My drop down in Save as does not give me jpeg as an option. I have Tiff,RAW, psd, pdf but not jpeg. Is that because the file is too large?
I just checked and CS2 lists 20 format options in the drop down of the Save As dialog screen, with jpeg 5th from the top and tiff way down there at #18 or #19, and lots I've never heard of mixed with more familiar formats between.
Edit:
AHAAAA! One quick thought. Are you dealing with a flattened image or do you still have some layers? That would limit your format options.
Posted by David Bostedo on January 25, 2008 at 2:08 PM
Donald - I think that I've heard you have to convert to 8-bit to save as a JPG, since they aren't 16-bit. I think you can save layers (in Elements I can) but it flattens them all temporarily to do the save, then expands them back.
Posted by Fred Stearns on January 25, 2008 at 10:48 PM
In CS3, you do indeed have to convert to 8 bit. If I try to save in color, I get this message that I can only save a copy. I just merge the layers and save in jpeg. That way I don't have to rename all the files I saved in jpeg. Before doing all this, I convert to sRBG as I do all my work on Adobe RGB. sRGB seems to work better for color in jpeg. I hope that this helsp.
If you dont have any form of database software, best buy some because it will make managing your digital collection much easier. iView MediaPro is what I use. Simple and efficient.
BUT what's not so often talked about is the ability of this type of software to help with daily tasks like sending jpg's by email.
Want to send a jpg to someone, from a tiff, RAW, psd, jpg etc etc?
* Highlight image with one click, click 'send email', choose resolution/size required from pop-up menu, choose 'include metadata/dont include metadata', press 'go'.
While you watch, the jpg is created, your email programme is opened, a new email message created, and the jpg pasted in. It takes as long to do this as it does to read this, to HERE (from the * above beside Highlight).
You can select 1 image or 100, and select 'put all images in one email' or 'put all images in separate emails'
You can even append a text file with each email including all the metadata, if you want. Automatically.
Editing software such as PhotoMechanic allows these functions too.
For general low-res jpg output it's fantastically quick. Doing anything else is wasting your time.
I do this with clients to let them see pix, and can do it as they speak to me on the phone and the images appear in their mailboxes in seconds. Some clients have even gone to print with the email jpg as its good enough.
Discussion
12 repliesI am sure it is a simple process in photoshop, but can someone walk me through it.
Thanks
Don
For Tiff files...
Open the image in PhotoShop
Make a duplicate of the image and close the original
Make any adjustments you need to make, and then save the file
(Note: you can save the file as a PSD file, if you like)
Resize the file (I use bicubic Smoother)
Flatten the image
Convert the colospace to sRGB
Sharpen to taste
You can use Save for the Web, or use Save As and select jpeg.
I don't use RAW files, so someone else will have to help you out in this case.
-PB
My workflow is simpler and shorter than Preston outlines, but then again I'm starting with a processed image:
Resize image, then hit Save As. On that window, change the file format to jpeg and hit save, then pick your compression in the next dialog box that pops up.
That's it. Since it's a jpeg rather than a tiff or RAW, you don't even have to rename the file. That's actually an advantage organization-wise because it will be stored and listed back on your computer immediately adjacent to the original file.
If you don't want to resize, just hit Save As, then change the format to jpeg and procede. Photoshop will produce a new jpeg file without affecting the original tiff or RAW.
BTW- I long ago stopped using the Save For Web feature in Photoshop, but recently had to resort to it on a submission. I emailed some large (35mb) jpegs to a client and they had problems with them. They got back to me and recommended using Save For Web. I did so, and it solved their problems. I haven't a clue what was going on, but evidently for them it made a big difference. Happy to comply when a paycheck was pending.
Hank, Is there a disadvantage to this that I do not know about?
Thanks,
Hopefully someone else will weigh in with the "real deal" on it.
If I have this wrong, please feel free to step in. I would like a better understanding of teh difference as well.
Save for web does not necessarily change the color profile; It can remove it, or assign it to sRGB (I think that's in the settings somewhere). It certainly can't make it VGA, Fred, or everything would look like 80's computer graphics.
I don't know about older version, but those should be the only differences between current versions of "Save As" and "Save For Web". I've never seen much difference between them myself, as long as the image being saved is in sRGB.
What version of Photoshop are you using?
I just checked and CS2 lists 20 format options in the drop down of the Save As dialog screen, with jpeg 5th from the top and tiff way down there at #18 or #19, and lots I've never heard of mixed with more familiar formats between.
Edit:
AHAAAA! One quick thought. Are you dealing with a flattened image or do you still have some layers? That would limit your format options.
BUT what's not so often talked about is the ability of this type of software to help with daily tasks like sending jpg's by email.
Want to send a jpg to someone, from a tiff, RAW, psd, jpg etc etc?
* Highlight image with one click, click 'send email', choose resolution/size required from pop-up menu, choose 'include metadata/dont include metadata', press 'go'.
While you watch, the jpg is created, your email programme is opened, a new email message created, and the jpg pasted in. It takes as long to do this as it does to read this, to HERE (from the * above beside Highlight).
You can select 1 image or 100, and select 'put all images in one email' or 'put all images in separate emails'
You can even append a text file with each email including all the metadata, if you want. Automatically.
Editing software such as PhotoMechanic allows these functions too.
For general low-res jpg output it's fantastically quick. Doing anything else is wasting your time.
I do this with clients to let them see pix, and can do it as they speak to me on the phone and the images appear in their mailboxes in seconds. Some clients have even gone to print with the email jpg as its good enough.