How to save for the web

[petedam]

K guys.....after I finish editing my macro shots I usually shrinks the image down to 1200X800 and run a unsharp mask (150, 0.3,0) and then save. But my picture does not seem as sharp or vibrant instead it's dull. Is there a better way to do it? BTW I use CS4 (save for the web&devices?)


Thanks in advance.

[DANATTHEROCK]

If you don't get the info here you need, try www.photo.net (http://www.photo.net) and put this question in the "Digital Darkroom" forum. Like here, there are tons of knowledgable folks on that forum.

[LordV]

I wouldn't use save for web it reduces the quality too much.
Assuming are not having colourspace problems (ie you need to save in SRGB for the web not ARGB), I just reduce to 180 DPI, 9cm short side which gives 960 px on the long side and then resharpen (200,1,1 faded to 30%) and save at quality 10. normally gives a pic 100K - 200K in size.
Brian V.

[petedam]

If you don't get the info here you need, try www.photo.net (http://www.photo.net) and put this question in the "Digital Darkroom" forum. Like here, there are tons of knowledgable folks on that forum.

Thanks!

I wouldn't use save for web it reduces the quality too much.
Assuming are not having colourspace problems (ie you need to save in SRGB for the web not ARGB), I just reduce to 180 DPI, 9cm short side which gives 960 px on the long side and then resharpen (200,1,1 faded to 30%) and save at quality 10. normally gives a pic 100K - 200K in size.
Brian V.

I'll try it your way Brian since your pix looks outstanding.

[montse]

to save for the web i use Fireworks, it is a little bit like photoshop, you can have a look at different images in one window and change the resolution to see how they will look. In my opinion it gives a better result than photoshop.
For the web you only need 72dpi i am sure you know.
i hope this helps!

[Roy C]

Just to clarify, the dpi has no bearing on file size or quality - it is just used at print time. Like 'montse' has said 72 dpi is ok for the web but you can just as easy use 1000 dpi as the file size and quality will be the same for web viewing.
I agree with Brian that just doing a 'save as' and setting the jpeg quality as high as you can to produce the file size you want is better than using 'save for the web'

[petedam]

K I understand that dpi doesn't mean anything for the web. How do you guys shrink it down? Do you use save for the web? Using that method still requires you to reduce file size first still though? Do you do what Brian does minus the change to the dpi?

[Roy C]

K I understand that dpi doesn't mean anything for the web. How do you guys shrink it down? Do you use save for the web? Using that method still requires you to reduce file size first still though? Do you do what Brian does minus the change to the dpi?
When you are ready to save the image:
First resize to what you want - e.g. I use 900 pixels on the longest side. Then just 'save as' a jpeg and when the jpeg quality dialog comes up keep a eye on the file size and increase the quality until you have the file size you want (normally something like 200 kb). On some images you may be able to use a jpeg quailty of 10 or 11 but on other it may be as low as 5 or 6 to get to the 200 kb.