Just a question regarding emailed photos

[PJ Staley]

Typically, ISP providers limit the size of email contents, usually attachments. Mine will only allow 5 Mb. If a customer emails me a photo that has been sized small enough to email, and I have to increase the ppi for print quality, will Photoshop perform that task to the degree that I will get good results or will it make the photo look.... weird?

[kschulz]

Photoshop increases the resolution of a photo using a "resampling" algorithm, which in simple terms creates new pixels based on the values of pixels already in the image. However it cannot recover image detail that was discarded from the original when it was resized by the sender. The results can vary widely depending on the amount of detail lost and the amount of resampling needed to reach the desired DPI, but you can be assured it will never be the same as the original. It's usually better to control the size using file compression rather than by scaling down the rez. Keep in mind though that lossless compression is best (PNG or TIFF-LZW) if you can get to the desired size. JPEG gives you smaller files, but employs a 'lossy compression' technique that introduces undesirable artifacts into the image.

That said, if you must increase the resolution I generally find it best to use Photoshop to do the resampling (bilinear, bicubic, bicubic sharper, bicubic smoother, etc.) rather than have the image crudely scaled by the output driver.

- Kurt

[Caitlin]

Instead of using email, use www.yousendit.com - it allows you to send files up to 1gb.

[chrishoggy]

You can have customers upload the files direct to your PC. I do this via my own server software and Yabb customer support forum (very simple to use/setup), or you can use something like MSN messenger to make it very easy. That way you have no file restrictions at all
Both of these methods cost nothing to setup and use.

Abyss web server Here

Yabb forum software Here

Messenger Here

Abyss server can also act as a host for your website . Unlimited space and bandwidth on your site at no cost

[Kraellin]

chris,

i just want to make sure i'm understanding you correctly. it's the abyss one that allows you to use your own computer as a web site? i've been looking for something like that.

Craig

[chrishoggy]

Yes, abyss acts as a very easy to use Web server. Once set up, the user guide shows you how to add things like PHP, CGI and Perl etc if you need them.
Once running, your IP address becomes your web address ie: http://82.38.2**.** is my address (sorry for the **'s but I have to keep it as a private server . This would show you the test page for abyss on my PC. It runs in the background and uses next to no system resources. You can create your site, then just copy n paste the site files in to the htdocs folder in Abyss.
When your happy with your site, you can get one of the free sort URL's from the likes of .co.nr

[Kraellin]

thanks chris! i have a fixed ip number and got a fixed one on purpose because i wanted to have my own computer and ip # to use as a web site eventually. i wouldnt really, absolutely need a url name, though i do see some advantages.

Craig

[chrishoggy]

Good bit of advice is to use a second hard drive as the server. It keeps it away from all your other files, and makes it easier to administer.
Have a good read of the user guide before installing. It's all in basic easy language, and will help you in the setup and running of the site

[PJ Staley]

Thank you so much for the "yousendit" link. I would never have known about that had you not told me. I sincerely appreciate that. By the way, jumped over to your web site. Nice work!

[Caitlin]

Thanks PJ

[Swampy]

If you use a Mac, you can use your .mac account Public Folder to exchange files. One gig of storage comes with the base account (includes both file storage and email storage, but you can adjust the amount alotted to either by accessing your account. I keep about 200megs for email and the balance for files).

My sister, who uses a PC running XP) and I exchange files this way. We are working on a family tree project and she grabs or uploads stuff to my .mac public folder all the time. It is also how I transfer 50meg PhotoShop TIFF files to publishers. I use a little third party utility called "FileChute" that lets me drag/drop the zipped file on the chute, it uploads the file to my .mac account and provides a URL link directoy to the file. I can then paste the URL into an email and send that to the publisher. All they have to do is click on the URL in their email and the file automatically downloads to their desktop! Handy stuff and very simple for getting stuff out to people.

[Cameraken]

Hi Everyone.

I am looking for a web site where I can upload a file and then anyone can access it.
I have looked at Smugmug etc. But they all seem to be picture based. I want somewhere that I could upload zip files or any type of file.

Yousendit.com is close but I need to supply the recipients email. Is there anywhere where I don’t need to specify the recipients address (for free, of course)

Ken.

[Kraellin]

ken,

what you want may be right under your nose....maybe. most isp's provide 'personal web space' to their users. i've had isp's give as little as a few megs up to about 80 megs. and, sometimes you have to ask for it. but most in the u.s. give it with an account. you'd need to check with your isp for any limits and so on, but that might be the quickest solution.

outside of that, try the web hosting sites. the last i looked these are very cheap and some even free (with banner ads of their choosing sometimes).

and here's a site that might work for you. i've never used it, so dont blame me if it's a dog : http://media.putfile.com/HydroFoam

you could also look at this link. it is a review of some of the hosting sites available: http://www.websitehostingreviews.com/getHosts11-1.html

and here's one that claims to be free also. again, i've never used this, so caveat emptor applies: http://www.streamload.com/

craig