Best Image Size for Smugmug

[Souwalker]

I have a 350D and I take jpg at it's largest. I know that if I upload images to smugmug at the largest size, it'll take along time and smugmug resizes all images to 600x400. I've tried resizing prior to upload to 600x400 but the pictures are never as sharp, smooth as I would like or anything like other smugmug users I've seen, after uploading. I've tried a little sharpening after resizing but the pictures comes out abit jaggered and salt and pepper effect. I've be struggling for the last 3 days finding the right combination of size/sharpening to no avail. Driving myself nuts!!!:confused:
Any tips would be highly, gratefully appreciated.
Rgds
Patrick

[lungdoc]

AFAIK Smugmug will accept any size and offers the ability to view or download in original size. 600 x 400 is "Medium" and is the default, "Large" is 800x535.

Here's an example of Large, the original link is http://www.lungdoc.smugmug.com/gallery/1958915/1/99538111/Original

http://lungdoc.smugmug.com/photos/99538111-L.jpg

I tend to post in full size, jpg setting of about 90% to give a file size that's 2-3 MB, this is enough for web viewing, most printing by relatives etc. and a reasonable compromise for my "offsite backup of last resort" use of Smugmug.

Mark

[Souwalker]

Hi Mark
You're right. The default is medium but if I do not resize the image before upload, it'll take too long to upload. And if I have alot, I might even exceed the limit unlees I split it up? May still take hours instead of minutes.
Rgds
Pat

[rfreschner]

smugmug resizes all images to 600x400.

smugmug's default display is 600x400, but it still retains your image's original size.

[rfreschner]

Hi Mark
You're right. The default is medium but if I do not resize the image before upload, it'll take too long to upload. And if I have alot, I might even exceed the limit unlees I split it up?

What kind of connection do you have? How many images are you uploading? What level account do you have; Basic, Power, Pro? These all factor into your decision. I wouldn't resize your images but you might save them as JPEG 10 to cut down on the size.

[liza]

I just resize the images in the 2 to 3 MB range and upload 10 at a time. It doesn't take long with a fast connection.

[Souwalker]

What kind of connection do you have? How many images are you uploading? What level account do you have; Basic, Power, Pro? These all factor into your decision. I wouldn't resize your images but you might save them as JPEG 10 to cut down on the size.

I've got cable broadband. I suppose I can upload 10 at a time if I don;t resize. I have Basic account. I'll try to save them as JPEG 10. Can I do tha with Irfanview?

Thanks
Pat

[Souwalker]

I just resize the images in the 2 to 3 MB range and upload 10 at a time. It doesn't take long with a fast connection.

Hi Lisa
How would you achieve resizing the images in the 2 to 3 mb range?
Save as jpeg10 (or something) per the other reply?
Rgds
pat

[rfreschner]

I've got cable broadband. I suppose I can upload 10 at a time if I don;t resize. I have Basic account. I'll try to save them as JPEG 10. Can I do tha with Irfanview?

I usually just select all of mine and upload at one time. Sometimes the java uploader hiccups and sometimes it doesn't. My most recent upload was of 60+ images ranging from 1 to 5 mb. They were all saved as JPEG 10 and the size difference varies based on the content of the image. The Basic account allows for 6GB of transfers per month (that includes others viewing, I believe) so you shouldn't have any problems there. I don't have Irfanview installed, but it looks like you should be able to edit and save your images this way.

[Packhorse-4]

I recommend uploading the original image to SmugMug. With all of the resizing you plan on doing, you are adding a significant amount of time to the process. You're basically swapping your upload time for image resizing time. Not to mention the additional storage space needed on your computer to save duplicate copies of all of your images, admittedly smaller versions, but copies none the less. Another advantage to uploading the originals is that if you ever lose your images, hard drive failure, whatever, you will have a full size original saved on SmugMug that you can download.

I have uploaded 60 plus images at one time. I set the images to upload and then found something else to do for a while. Take some more pictures, read a book, whatever, just let the computer do its thing and when it's done, check the files and add the next batch.

[Bob_A]

I keep my images as large as possible without violating their 8MB limit and just live with the long upload times. That way I at least have an off-site location for storage of jpegs in large format in the event I was robbed or there was a fire. A jpeg from every one of my old negatives that I've scanned also gets uploaded to Smugmug.

When I purchase a FF camera I'll switch to a pro account which allows for 16MB per image uploads.

[Souwalker]

Many Thanks.
I think I will continue uploading original size. I used to do this until I returned from a Europe trip this year in June/July where I took a little over 1000 pics :D Excessive I would think. For that particular lot, I had to downsize those pictures otherwise I would be uploading for years..:)
Rgds
Pat

[RTMiller]

I had to downsize those pictures otherwise I would be uploading for years..:)
I never tried this but if I had 1000 photographs that needed to be uploaded, I would e-mail Smugmug help and ask them if it would be possible to send them a DVD with all the pictures and see if they could put them in a gallery for me. They are extremely helpful and it wouldn't suprise me too much if they can help you out somehow. It certainly wouldn't hurt to ask.