plz hlp - post-process res loss

[paladin]

OS = WinXP, Camera = G3, shooting in RAW only, convert pix from RAW to JPG in BB Pro, approx JPG file size 3.39MB. Using ZB 5.0..., PS5LE or 3rd party software (RedEye) to remove redeye my file drops to 1.9MB regardless of the program used. Even tried converting RAW to TIFF, opening in PS5LE, removing redeye then saving as JPG (always at highest quality) - still drops to 1.9MB. Do I have something set wrong somewhere? Is there a way to prevent the pixel/resolution loss? Sorry but PSCS is not an option for me.:( Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Gil

[robertwgross]

Suggestion. Shoot RAW. Convert to TIF. Do all of your editing and save as TIF. Stop there.

Don't convert to JPEG unless you have to send it over the net or take it to a print machine.

---Bob Gross---

[paladin]

Suggestion. Shoot RAW. Convert to TIF. Do all of your editing and save as TIF. Stop there.

Don't convert to JPEG unless you have to send it over the net or take it to a print machine.

---Bob Gross---

Unfortunately, I take all my pix to Wal-Mart for printing. Is it normal for so much "loss"? I didn't notice this much loss until switching to WinXP, ZB5.0..., & BB Pro. Does this happen with PS3? Thanks Bob.
Gil

[robertwgross]

Some users, using some editor programs, don't see what degree of compression the program is applying. Obviously, that can screw up the finished image.

If you start from RAW, convert to TIF, do everything you are ever going to do for changes, and then save as TIF, you still have a perfect loss-less image.

Only at the last stage, only if you have to take it to some printing maching, then convert it to JPEG. If possible, use the finest quality of JPEG your editor allows.

With my editor, JPEG compression degree is set as a percentage compression, so 1% would be the best, and 99% would be the worst. Routinely, I set my least important images into 10% compression, and my most important images are set to 5%. Other editors use the compression scale in a reverse direction, where Quality 1 is the worst, and 10 or 12 is the best.

---Bob Gross---

[paladin]

Some users, using some editor programs, don't see what degree of compression the program is applying. Obviously, that can screw up the finished image.

If you start from RAW, convert to TIF, do everything you are ever going to do for changes, and then save as TIF, you still have a perfect loss-less image.

Only at the last stage, only if you have to take it to some printing maching, then convert it to JPEG. If possible, use the finest quality of JPEG your editor allows.

With my editor, JPEG compression degree is set as a percentage compression, so 1% would be the best, and 99% would be the worst. Routinely, I set my least important images into 10% compression, and my most important images are set to 5%. Other editors use the compression scale in a reverse direction, where Quality 1 is the worst, and 10 or 12 is the best.

---Bob Gross---

Bob,
Yes, I've tried every variation I can think of (even DL Irfanview) and still lose at least 1MB or greater whenever I convert to JPG. Doesn't matter if I start with a TIF or JPG. I can't seem to find a way and/or program that doesn't lose way more than I like:mad: Ah well, guess I'll have to keep searching. Thanks for your suggestions.
What editor do you use? And do you know if PS Elements 3 will have the same loss? Thanks.
Gil

[paladin]

This program seems to work (only with JPG) BUT without any loss !!! I'll need to experiment more but hopefully it will do the trick.

Gil

[Bodog]

Paladin, you have to realize that everytime you modify ( no matter how slightly) and save a file in .jpg format, the file will be compressed to some degree. That is what .jpg does.
Done enough the file will be turned into "mush." A little bit of the information in the picture is lost each time it is saved. That is why Bob is recommending saving as a .tif instead of .jpg.

[paladin]

Paladin, you have to realize that everytime you modify ( no matter how slightly) and save a file in .jpg format, the file will be compressed to some degree. That is what .jpg does.
Done enough the file will be turned into "mush." A little bit of the information in the picture is lost each time it is saved. That is why Bob is recommending saving as a .tif instead of .jpg.

Bodog, sorry I evidently have not made myself clear. I have always understood JPG is a lossy format, which is why I shoot in RAW then convert to either JPG or TIF. TIF if I plan/need major post-processing, JPG for minor touch-up such as removing redeye. However, it has only been recently that the JPG files have dropped a meg or more in size after redeye reduction regardless of the program used. Even if I start with a TIF, correct redeye then save as JPG for printing the JPG will be at least 1 MB smaller than a file converted from RAW to JPG. This is only a recent problem and I don't know what is causing it. Prior to this I could correct redeye (in JPG format) in a program called "Redeye", or PS5LE or ZB5, save it at the highest quality and have a file size equal to or larger than the original. As stated before, now it is consistently much smaller and I don't know why. Usually I avoid post-processing as the pix are fine with the adjustments made in BB Pro but redeye is a drag when it appears. This recent dramatic drop in file size has me baffled and I'm just wondering if anyone else has had the same problem or knows of a solution. Well, I've rambled enough and probably made everything as clear as mud.:) Thanks for your help and if anyone has experienced anything similar and/or knows a solution please let me know. Thanks to all.
Gil