photos

[slaj]

Ok guys, here's a question I've been wanting to ask lately. As you might have noticed , the photos I have posted lately are to say the least lousy. Really not happy with the results. Now let me start from the beginning. I use a Fuji 610 digital camera. I use macro etc when I shoot. The thing is that when I upload the pics on the PC they are ok and sharp but too large to upload anywhere on the net. So I use photoshop to get them small enough to upload i.e. here on PF. That's when the trouble begins. The pics loose their sharpness and end up , well , like the ones of the musician I posted lately. Definately not good. Any tips anybody. Try not to be too technical about it. I'm daft near computers :lol: :lol:

Stephen Mallia

 

[Dan Morton]

Are you using Photoshop to do anything other than just reduce the size of the images? Are you using it, for example, to reduce the memory size (millibytes, gigabytes) of the image? Photoshop has several versions on the market and they have some subtle operating differences. I use PS Pro at work and PS elements (fewer subprograms, smaller, etc.) at home [it came with my camera]. If you or the program are choosing to reduce the memory size too much, the resolution of the image will be decreased (less sharp, more fuzz). I'm not saying you shouldn't use PS to reduce the resolution and thus the byte size of the image, just asking if you are doing that now. There are several, for want of a better word, "defaults" built into PS. Some work well and some you just need to turn off so they don't screw things up.

Does your PS have Enhance as a choice on the photo menu? I nearly always use this to improve the colors, sometimes the focus, sometimes to make brighter, etc., etc. Do you know how to do that?

We'll stop with those questions for now.

All the best,
Dan

 

[megroot]

Stephen,

I use this tool ( image resizer) after i have done with the picture. It is saved on your PC. When you see the picture in the Image vieuwer click on the right mousebutton. Resize is on the screen and choose what you want. Usually i take small.
Save it. That's all there is.

http://www.microsoft.com/netherlands/onder...powertoys2.aspx

Marc

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi Stephen

Once you have the image in photoshop, try this, reduce the image to around 700 x 600 pixel in size and change it to 120 pixels per inch, then save the image for web, which should be under the file drop down menu, this should smooth the image out for you to be able to post without a problem insize or quality.....

Hope this helps

Dave

 

[Blind Pew]

Hello again Stephen, if it's the actual image itself, as oposed to any technical magic afterwards, the following has helped me. I've experimented with lighting - which has made a big difference and also used the auto focus on the camera as well.
Hope this helps mate

 

[Dan Morton]

One more issue - a tripod. I assume you own one for your camera. If not, buy one because you just can never hold that sensitive camera still enough to get clear shots without one.

All the best,
Dan

 

[slaj]

Dan , yes I use a tripod and a lihghting setting. Apart from that, when I use PS ( Elements) I don't just use it to resize but many other things sharpening edges etc. And I also use the enhance option. What I need to do is take a few shots and experiment with them and see what happens. Thanks for the help.

Stephen Mallia

 

[slaj]

Marc, Dave thanks. I will try your methods too and see what works best for me.

Stephen Mallia

 

[Einion]

Hi Stephen, there's a lot you can do to improve an image once it's in Photoshop (even just Photoshop Elements) but it does depend a bit on how good the original is so aim to take the best photos you can; this generally means quite a bit of light but make sure it's diffuse light.

Originally posted by slaj@Dec 17 2006, 09:06 PM
I don't just use it to resize but many other things sharpening edges etc.

Sharpening should always be done last in case you didn't know.

Sharpening effects are related to resolution so they should be appropriate to the final size of the image; this is why I wouldn't recommend you use the Save For Web feature but rather work deliberately for a finished result (like us pros

).

For the same reason, if at all possible, you should reduce an image only once to get to the finished size. Reducing in two or more steps is a sure way to get a crappy end result.

Here's a good working procedure you might adopt:

• copy image (so that you retain the unmodified original, in case you screw up );
• resave as .PSD file - never continue working on a JPEG, it's a bad habit to get into;
• do your favourite tweaks - I'd suggest you use Levels generally (Curves are more powerful but harder to get one's head around);
• when you're happy with the general colour and contrast make sure you save;
• now reduce the dimensions to the final size you want to post it at* - 500 pixels wide or whatever (it doesn't matter what the resolution is, just make sure the pixel dimensions are what you want) and don't save;
• now sharpen - use Unsharp Mask if it's available, settings of 250-300%, 0.2-0.5, 2-6 (reading top to bottom) should be okay, then use Save As to save your .JPG and you're done.

*I don't know, what options are in Elements for interpolation (Resample Image popup menu at the bottom of the Image Size window) but use bicubic if it's available, not bilinear or nearest neighbour.

Hope that helps.

Einion

 

[Roy]

Hi Einion...thanks on behalf of everyone...for a great (and easy to follow) guide.
I'm sure we'll all find it useful.
Very much appreciated.

Roy.

 

[slaj]

Hey Einion, thanks. That was very helpful. Will try it out.

Stephen Mallia

 

[Dan Morton]

Einion - Many thanks for that! Very helpful! I hadn't noticed that changing the size twice reduces sharpness and resolution, but it does - just tried it. Questions - Why would you not want to use the save for web feature? Does fixing the width and length of the picture by pixels vs. mm actually make a difference in outcome?

All the best,
Dan

 

[Einion]

Welcome guys, glad to try to help. Any specific questions that might come up in relation to image editing or Photoshop specifically just shout, I'll usually see them within a couple of days.

Originally posted by Dan Morton+Dec 19 2006, 12:00 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Dan Morton @ Dec 19 2006, 12:00 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Questions - Why would you not want to use the save for web feature? [/b]

One good reason is that you can't sharpen the image after it's been reduced.

<!--QuoteBegin-Dan Morton@Dec 19 2006, 12:00 PM
Does fixing the width and length of the picture by pixels vs. mm actually make a difference in outcome?[/quote]
Not directly, just a different way of looking at the same task. But when doing something for posting online you're generally aiming toward pixel dimensions (should be in fact) so it's best to think and work that way, for this. You can't get a picture to show up at 5cm/2" wide, because it'll vary with different resolutions, but you can spec it to be X number of pixels which is often a requirement for posting to forums anyway, to avoid having to scroll horizontally.

Einion

 

[Ernest]

This is the way I do it

1.- cut the image.

2.- resize the image about 500 or 600 pixel will be ok about 120 dpi

3.- save for web in jpg good quality, not using seva as... Using SAVE FOR WEB

Another important thing, when you open the image the first you have to do in Photoshop is using in the principal menu VIEW ---->PROOF SETUP----->MONITOR RGB this setting it's very important to match colors with a generic RGB Monitor

Hope this helps

ER

 

[slaj]

Hey Ernest, considering that your pics are always awesome I will try your approach too. Thanks for the help

Stephen Mallia

 

[Christos]

This is really helpfull.I always have problems with pics.Thanks for sharing guys!
best regards
christos