jpg file size

thebaz

When saving jpg's from PS , what size do you go for ?

I used to use medium but now am using Maximum quality size 12 ---
in my ever ending quest to save disk space , is this overkill, and would size 10 or lower be better ?

Apart from increasing disk space , is size 12 adding anything to my jpg's , and would a lower size be more suited .
Any reccomendations ?

rockbeer

It depends on the intended purpose of the file.

tbh you're best off saving the files in a lossless format e.g. psd or tiff, as every time you save a jpg you lose some quality. The only time I save as a jpeg is when I'm creating an image for a web site or to send by email, in which case I'll look for a balance between file size and quality. For all other purposes I use a lossless format (e.g. psd or tiff). Lossless files can be huge so if disk space is really a major issue you could burn the pics on to CD or DVD instead of filling up your hard drive with them.

The quality setting in PS has a direct effect on how much information is discarded. Low quality can be pretty bad. If I'm trying to shrink a file right down to send in an email, I might get away with low quality settings. For general web work something in the mid to high range usually does the job.

ThOnda

Always in PSD. I create jpegs only for some occasion, so I know what size and quality do I want.

thebaz

rockbeer wrote:

Lossless files can be huge

thats why i save as jpg, i have thousands of images , and got a new pc recently with 150 GB , and i'm going through it at an alarming rate mainly with images .. no movies ....

so i went fro psd , to medium jpg , to high jpg (12) ....

would moving quality down from 12 to 10 , loose much quality , and more importantly give me signicant extra space ...

Morlar

You can get an external 500gb hdd for about €100 in the likes of pcworld - (might be a little over that but it will be in that ballpark). I only make jpegs for the web and save the raw and the processed .tiffs, (psd's with layers are monsters).

ThOnda

Please, don;t do that!!! Burn few DVDs, buy an external HDD, but please, don't save only JPGs if you already had PSDs or RAWs!!!
Get a "cake" of DVD for instance in t-sco and burn PSD. PLEASE!!!

nilhg

I convert my .ORFs to DNG (automatically while importing into LR) which just about halves the file size. I back up the keepers to two network drives, one at home here and one in my brothers house up the road. LR saves the develop information inside the DNG file so no need to worry about xmp sidecar files.

Files for the web or emailing are exported to a temp folder which is emptied once a week.

Calina

I keep the psd files if I have created them. Any jpegs are systematically saved in quality level 12.

Ruu_Old

Get a few of these, good price.

thebaz

jeez , i guess i'll start burning cd's again -- i was hoping someone would say "drop the size down to 8 , no quality loss , and half the file size " -- no such luck -- you get nothing for free in this life

ThOnda

I have this toy
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=318906

Paulw

All the images I save are full size jpg, unless I'm posting to a website with a limit, where I'd say them as 9/10 depending on end size required.

But, I've got an internal 300gb disk just for photos, plus two external disks for backup storage. All my files are in their original format (CR2 or jpg), as well as any processed files (PSD or final jpg). Sure it's only space.

thebaz

ThOnda wrote:

I have this toy
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=318906

at the rate i'm going with my new hard disk, i'll probably get one of those Thonda ! under a 100 , is it slow ?
i've heard a few people say the external usb storages are slow eneough .... i should have bought some more disk space when buying pc :mad:

ThOnda

If you can, get the 500GB one.
Transfer speed about 24 MBps, no problems working with the files in the external HDD, movies and music burned via USB connection. There's even FireWire version, if you have it in your Computer, but it's a little more expensive.

Paulw

Firewire is not really any quicker than USB2. I've both on my PC and it's not worth buying a firewire card if you don't already have it.

To add an extra disk or 3 to your internal machine is generally very easy, depending on what is already inside your box. I bought my Dell with the normal 160GB internal, and I've since added a 300GB SATA disk and a 120GB IDE.

If you want help with that or some advice even, just send me a PM.

ThOnda

I went for external HDD 'cause I have only company PC so far.
Internal ones are even cheper and better protected. However possibility of travelling with all my shots... :-)

magicbastarder

i've about 80GB of shots. have them on my computer, on an external HD, and on my dad's computer, in case my place burns down/is broken into/vanishes due to an act of a wrathful god.

FreeAnd..

Id highly reccommend the 2.5 inch version of the WD, its the passport rather than the notebook. They are under 100 euro for 160GB and they do not require a powersource, ideal for connecting to a laptop or for mobility...

Borderfox

I have 5 externals (2x 500gb 2x 320gb 1 x 200gb) and they are great to have. I also have a 120gb portable one for bringing work with me to work on. All my work is saved in raw and only selected pictures go to jpeg or tiff

thebaz

Paulw wrote:

If you want help with that or some advice even, just send me a PM.

Thanks Paul -i'm ok for the mo , its just everytime i check space i'm down 1 gig or 2 , since i upped the picture quality -- i remeber when thats all you got 1 GB

I'll probably go down the external road , but if i go internal i'll give you a shout if i get stuck

sineadw

PSD + Jpeg at 12! You'll never regret keeping a file, but you'll sure as hell regret losing one..

Spyral

I shoot jpeg anyway and I have a dump folder with the days subfolder eg:

"D40" > "2007_08_12 Fishing Trip" > files

and then when processed they are stored as high qual jpegs as they wont be tinkered with again

"D40 'Developed' " > Nature // Misc // Macro // Portraits > files

so the whole jpeg compression thing I dont care about, if people are that paranoid shoot film

thebaz

Spyral wrote:

so the whole jpeg compression thing I dont care about, if people are that paranoid shoot film

it not paranoid , its just i'm eating up disk space !!
but as stated here , theres no alternative but more disk space

philstar

do jpg's and other digital photo files.......degrade over time??

Spyral

does film ? if stored properly a neg can last 100 years..

additonally you aren't at the mercy of machines. you have it solidly in your hand.

finally if space is the problem HIGH QUAL JPEG !

Muineach

I'm a bit overkill on backups, I keep all the RAW files, the PSD files and then generate out JPEGS with Image Processor on Photoshop at "12" as well.

Then they're copied to a Mirror RAID array, then copied to 500gb external drive, and finally once a month a burn DVD's (2 set's, you never know) of all the files.
Oh if you really want large PSD files, when you crop make sure you select the "hide" and not delete option :rolleyes:

Some of you may have seen the fox photo's I put up, he was around yesterday, ended up with 2.7gb of RAW files, that's without any PSD files :eek: