Resizing a PSD-They're lossy!

[Lynda99]

While resizing PSD files, they're degrading like JPEG's. I've always worked with PSD's with no ill effects.

Yes, I flattened the images before resizing.

Any help is appreciated.

[pixelzombie]

resizing by how much and which direction?

[Lynda99]

Image size is ~177x433. I'm resizing to half that to do my thumbnails, then back up to the original size. I lose on the way down AND up.

This is a function I've done many times before with no problem.

[unimatrix001]

if you are using pscs2 try converting the image to a smart object resize down to do thumbnails and the up to original size. smart objects do not lose any resolution when changing up or down... with in a reasonable amount.

[Lynda99]

I'm using PS 7.

I've never had this happen before. It's weird. Could it be some kind of memory problem on my computer?

[Nanls]

Originally Posted by Lynda99

I'm using Photoshop 7.

I've never had this happen before. It's weird. Could it be some kind of memory problem on my computer?

I'm not sure I understand. When you resize down are you saving that as a different file? Why resize down and then upsample again? In the image size menu do you have the "resample image" box checked or unchecked? I'm not sure I remember what options are in the >image > image size menu in version 7.
~Nancy

[Lynda99]

Yes, I save as a different file name. I upsample again because I discard many of the changes before closing. In other words, I retouch the larger photo. Then I sharpen more, add more contrast, etc, for the little pics, (before reducing, of course) since they look better like that. Sizes aren't exact, sometimes I'll tweak the sizes to look better visually.

Resample image is checked "bicubic". I unchecked it, but the outcome is the same.

With just simple size reduction (image>image size), I'm having a big loss of quality, much more than you would lose on a jpeg save. Does that make any sense, or do I need to go to bed?

[Dave.Cox]

To resize down for thumbnails, try using save for web, and resize using the save for web dialog. This way you are downsizing only the image that you are saving, and it is also much faster. In addition, since the original is not resized, no data get tossed.

Oops, I just noticed that you are using PS7. In which case, you will find the save for web option in Image Ready. Just switch to Image Ready, and use save for web.

[Lynda99]

No 'save for web" in my ImageReady.

I guess I'm over-thinking this. I just want to be able to retouch and resize in a non-lossy format.

[Photoshopman]

Originally Posted by Lynda99

Image size is ~177x433. I'm resizing to half that to do my thumbnails, then back up to the original size. I lose on the way down AND up.

This is a function I've done many times before with no problem.

Lynda, though you say you've done this many times before, is this usually the size of the files you're working with? 174x433 isn't very big, so there aren't many pixels to work with. Going up or down from there causes Photoshop to have to resample regardless. The result will be a fuzzy image. The quality will be worse from upsizing than from downsizing.

I always do all of my retouching, enhancement and other Photoshop work on the original sized image and save the resizing for last. After I finish the work, I flatten the image, save it as a different name, so all my previous work is preserved, then do my resizing. And of course, save the resized images under different names as well. When downsizing, I always run an Unsharp Mask filter on the image to restore some of the sharpness that was taken away from the downsampling. Nothing major, something like Amount 40%, Radius 1, Threshold 1.

Upsampling a file that size will almost never end well. You're sure to find artifacting and the more you upsize it, the more degraded it will look. There are those who swear by the technique of upsizing by 1% at a time. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

If it were possible to start with a bigger image, you'll have better results.

Good luck!

[Nanls]

There are a number of programs available to upsize an image that do a good job. I just switched to Blow Up by Alien Skin for use with my artwork. Of course the image has to be good to start. The old cliché "garbage in - garbage out" still applies.
~Nancy

_--------------------

www.PhotoArt123.com

[Lynda99]

AHA!

OK, I can easily start with a bigger image, they are huge files.

I think I know what happened now. I picked up some files to re-do. I was unconcerned with whether hey'd been resized previously, since I've never seen any degradation on the resized images. The reason I hadn't is because my originals were huge so I didn't notice the degradation, but it was there.

Is there any such thing as a non-lossy file type? Dang, I though PSD's were non-lossy. Silly me.

Nanls, I like that program. A lot of my stuff is bright on a white background.

[pixelzombie]

Live Picture had a non-lossy file for anything that was created from scratch, but that's going waaaaay back...