Size and quality for Attached Images!!

[Flora]

Please, help us to help you!!!!

*** It's practically impossible to work on attached images which are only slightly bigger than postage-stamps .... so, please, read the following very carefully ***

Originally Posted by jeaniesa

Many people seem to have questions on how to resize images under the 100KB(*) limit needed to upload images to RetouchPRO. I wrote this a few days ago and since more questions are popping up, I thought I’d post it for everyone.

(*)The attachments' size limit for RP Threads or Posts is 100KB ... (200KB for the gallery).

As a thumb rule, the biggest size and best quality, I think, can be achieved still remaining in the 100KB limit, is JPG format, 800x600 pixels at about 60% quality setting ...

If you are working with Photoshop 7 or higher, one way of doing it is the 'File > Save for Web' Option:

• Open your Image in PS, go to Image > Image Size, make sure that the 'Constrain Proportion' box is checked, and, as a starting point, type 800 as the higher pixels value depending on the format of your picture. (Image 1)
  
  
• Go to the File > Save for Web option. (Image 2)

From the Options on the right side of the 'Save for Web' window choose:

• JPEG as Preset and check the Optimized Box. (Image 3)
  
  
• Click on the small arrow on the right of the 'Preset' window and, from the cascading Menu, choose 'Optimize to File Size'. (Image 4)
  
  
• Type 100 in the 'Desired File Size' Box ... (Image 5) ... and let Photoshop do the work for you!

If necessary, tweak the 800X600 size or, if nothing works, the problem-area can be cropped to fit the size ....

Hope this helps...

[byRo]

Originally Posted by Flora

As a thumb rule, the biggest size and best quality, I think, can be achieved still remaining in the 100KB limit, is JPG format, 800x600 pixels at about 60% quality setting ...

For those posting to the "art" threads , where brush strokes and textures play a large role in the final image, the jpeg qualities will usually be a lot lower - I, myself, have sent in some attachments crushed down to below 10%.

Rô

[Flora]

Hi Roland,

....After seeing all the details I've worked on for hours disappearing, cruelly crushed below 10% .... I would cry rivers as well!!!!!

[BIZZYB]

I Did Every Step. I Really Am Not Confused By Any Of It. Could It Be The Way I Scanned The Photo. When I Do It Step By Step It Makes The Photo 158k. Now The Picture I Have Posted Is Not From This. It Is One I Resized On My Own Thourgh Resizing In Photoshop. I Just Do Not Undersand Why It Is Not Working For Me. Maybe I Willt Ry Another Photograph And See If It Does The Same Thing. Until Then, I Just Want To Thank All Who Has Tried To Help Me. I Really Need Help On This Photograph, So When I Get Back Home Toningt I Am Goin To Do What I Have To Do To Get One Posted. Thanks Again Diana

[Robt]

CS2 has changed the save for web feature and I have no idea how to get an image to 100k now. I suppose I could open it and deal with it in CS but that seem counter productive.

I'm trying to get there from a 16 bit that is 56 meg unflattened and about 26M flattened. any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Panpan]

I explained it for cs2 in this post.
As far as I can see, it's the same as Flora's, except the resize is in the Save For Web window and affects only the output jpeg.

Pierre

[KCorner]

thank you very much for that tips...
i have a question.. why should we make it 100k
what is the benifits from it?

[Kraellin]

KCorner,

the 100k size is to conserve server space. it's not unlimited, ya know. it's also easier on those still using 56k modems.

Craig

[Marthig]

Made a search for zip files size and could not find anything dealing with that specific subject.

My query is this. I have noticed in one of the zillion of posts I visit every day here at RP that it is possible to attach a .zip file. What I can't find is whether the 100kb limitation also applies to that type of files.

I have made a set of brushes that want to share for all interested in RP but don't know how to make them available. The .zip file is 3+ mb is that possible to post ?

Thanks for any help you can provide

Regards - Martha

[Caitlin]

I think it would be safe to say that the 100kb file size limit applies to all files - irrelevant of format.

[Steve Conway]

Now, how about those of us who do not use Photoshop.

Any manipulations that work in Paint Shop Pro for keeping the file under 100k even after a lot of manipulation, filters etc nt it. That is where the problem comes in for me.

Steve

Originally Posted by Flora

Please, help us to help you!!!!

*** It's practically impossible to work on attached images which are only slightly bigger than postage-stamps .... so, please, read the following very carefully ***


(*)The attachments' size limit for RP Threads or Posts is 100KB ... (200KB for the gallery).

As a thumb rule, the biggest size and best quality, I think, can be achieved still remaining in the 100KB limit, is JPG format, 800x600 pixels at about 60% quality setting ...

If you are working with Photoshop 7 or higher, one way of doing it is the 'File > Save for Web' Option:

• Open your Image in PS, go to Image > Image Size, make sure that the 'Constrain Proportion' box is checked, and, as a starting point, type 800 as the higher pixels value depending on the format of your picture. (Image 1)
  
  
• Go to the File > Save for Web option. (Image 2)

From the Options on the right side of the 'Save for Web' window choose:

• JPEG as Preset and check the Optimized Box. (Image 3)
  
  
• Click on the small arrow on the right of the 'Preset' window and, from the cascading Menu, choose 'Optimize to File Size'. (Image 4)
  
  
• Type 100 in the 'Desired File Size' Box ... (Image 5) ... and let Photoshop do the work for you!

If necessary, tweak the 800X600 size or, if nothing works, the problem-area can be cropped to fit the size ....

Hope this helps...

[oceanstarr]

I tried to make my first post looking for a critique the other day and found that when I shrunk the file down to your reqs, the detail was so diminished in my file that it was pointless to post it. Do your forums allow a person to host something elsewhere like imageshack or something like that or is it only possible to post things using your file upload system? I have a ton of ways to host large images if that's possible/allowed.

[Doug Nelson]

You can host your image elsewhere and attach a link, but also please attach a version (so the thread remains useful in the future, regardless of external links).

[oceanstarr]

Thank you for the help.

[BigAl]

Originally Posted by Doug Nelson

You can host your image elsewhere and attach a link, but also please attach a version (so the thread remains useful in the future, regardless of external links).

External linking an image between [img] [/img] tags does not seem to work?

[oceanstarr]

I gave up trying to post things here, but it's still a wonderful resource for photoshop tricks and I appreciate that.

[Aarius]

All checked out on file size but I really would like to know how to attach the file to my posts.

[Doug Nelson]

After you've typed your post, click "Manage Attachments" under Additional Options.

[Aarius]

Thankies for the info Doug.

[Chilihook]

As stated before: Linking to an image does not show the image, just the link that then opens in another window. Is there a setting that would make this work?

[Sandykl]

hope this is big enough sandykl

[chillin]

Originally Posted by Chilihook

As stated before: Linking to an image does not show the image, just the link that then opens in another window. Is there a setting that would make this work?

Yes, see the rules.

[sherim]

How do I get a gallery started and where do I go to upload items. I also have many great challenge photos to share, where do I do that?

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by sherim

How do I get a gallery started and where do I go to upload items. I also have many great challenge photos to share, where do I do that?

sherim, welcome to RetouchPRO

Gallery: at the top of the page... 'Site Nav'>'Gallery'... upper right a button 'Upload Photos' (follow the directions after the page loads)

Challenges: If you have an image you'd like to suggest for a Challenge, use the Contact Us link at the bottom of this page.

[ME_wwwing]

if you have photoshop CS4 and are working on a large PSD file.
Duplicate the file>Flatten>Image Size> in the bottom menu select Bicubic Sharpener - Then in the top boxes find the longest length. change that length to 1500. (you need to try different numbers depending on the image size.) click ok.
Save AS Jpeg 12.

NOW open Save for Web > look at the file size. to large > try changing the Quality to 75 1st. recheck file size. to large > NOW go to the longest length and adjust for file size.

what your hoping to get is a largest HQ image at 100kb.
if you can't keep the Quality above 75 go back to making the Flatten image to a smaller number. then repeat the Save for Web setting.
you might even find your images are to large for posting. but they look good on large monitors!


now for sharpening
do not sharpen before you downsize. downsize and Sharpen BEFORE Saving.

this method gets rid of artifacts in most cameras.
in CS5 there is a new feature called Smart Sharpen. look inside the pull down widow for the words Lens Blur. select that. check the more accurate box.

copy that layer>zoom into image 100% to an area where there are thin black lines. ex. eyelashes. >change mode to Darken Color-Opacity to 85%>Smart Sharpen 99% - then adjust Radius slider until you see a little artifacts starting-stop>
copy THAT layer>change the mode to Lighten Color-Opacity to 40%.

now adjust Opacity Slider in both Layers until you like what you see.

IF your image is soft when uploaded to the web. some web sites are are causing this to happen. Resharpen your image more until your image on the web looks as sharp as you can get it without artifacts.