RAW Conversion to JPEG and Use

[pophoto]

I have a Canon 5D2 and shoot primarily in RAW format. I use DPP to make adjustments and convert them to JPEG.

I upload my pictures for storage and sharing on Flickr. I also "attempt" to include them as attachments via email. HOWEVER, my two internet providers "limit" the size of attachments, so I am restricted from attaching just a few pictures ... and ... have to send several emails.

When I do my RAW conversion to JPEG, I save them as follows:

Image Quality: 10
Output Resolution: 350 dpi
Size: 5616 x 3744

I do realize that saving files depends on how the final picture is going to be used, i.e., on the web, for printing, etc. However, I find this causes multiple saving of files.

I do need some help since I admit that I do not fully understand how to properly save my valuable picture files.

[hpulley]

You need to lower the Image Quality and/or the resolution while saving to make the files smaller if that's what you're asking. You should know that flickr does its own processing on files after you upload them so while the site is cool (I use it too) it really shouldn't be considered a backup. I backup to external hard drives and DVDs.

[krb]

Since you are uploading them to flickr, they are taking care of providing you with resized images so you can always just email/post/share a "large" or "medium" version from your flickr page.

[gjl711]

I'm not sure what your asking exactly. Save as in archive? Or just uploading to Flickr?

[kf095]

Originally Posted by pophoto

I do need some help since I admit that I do not fully understand how to properly save my valuable picture files.

If you would like to have your own backup I would suggest to check RAID (Mirrored HD) networked storage solution. It is 100USD for two bay unit. Plus two 1TB HD. Would be 80USD for each. It is almost plug and play solution.
DVD is good option, but slow.
I’m also using internet storage from Google (20 USD per year for 20GB, if I’m not mistaken) too keep some valuable Jpeg files.

[pophoto]

A little more clarification (I hope as opposed to confusion). I have an iMac with 1TB storage internal. I don't use that for storage of my pictures. I use two 1TB LaCie HD's - one primary and one for back up.

I upload my pictures to Flickr primarily for sharing ... and ... as a triple backup of my photo's.

My question essential is --- when I convert my RAW photo's to JPEG are the setting I mentioned too much in terms of image quality and resolution for sending in emails - uploading to flickr - printing.

I "think" not sure that each of these options (emails, uploading, printing) would essentially be saved in different outputs of image quality and resolution. If I save them with different settings, then I will start to have multiple files of the same picture with different file outputs and size.

I suppose I am looking for guidance on a workflow that will allow me to "email" pictures to friends so that they could download them to their computer; print them on my home printer, and send them for storage to flickr (assuming that is a good storage and sharing media).

I hope, but not sure I am explaining my question. If not, I can try again. Let me know.

[gjl711]

Originally Posted by pophoto

I suppose I am looking for guidance on a workflow that will allow me to "email" pictures to friends so that they could download them to their computer; print them on my home printer, and send them for storage to flickr (assuming that is a good storage and sharing media)...

Why not just send the link to your Flickr picture? It's pretty easy to download from there and a link is much smaller.

[kf095]

Originally Posted by pophoto

A little more clarification (I hope as opposed to confusion). I have an iMac with 1TB storage internal. I don't use that for storage of my pictures. I use two 1TB LaCie HD's - one primary and one for back up.

I upload my pictures to Flickr primarily for sharing ... and ... as a triple backup of my photo's.

My question essential is --- when I convert my RAW photo's to JPEG are the setting I mentioned too much in terms of image quality and resolution for sending in emails - uploading to flickr - printing.

I "think" not sure that each of these options (emails, uploading, printing) would essentially be saved in different outputs of image quality and resolution. If I save them with different settings, then I will start to have multiple files of the same picture with different file outputs and size.

I suppose I am looking for guidance on a workflow that will allow me to "email" pictures to friends so that they could download them to their computer; print them on my home printer, and send them for storage to flickr (assuming that is a good storage and sharing media).

I hope, but not sure I am explaining my question. If not, I can try again. Let me know.

Google Documents - dump to this folder RAW file and send link to download by e-mail to anyone.

http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-uZ...ut=list&num=50

[Jim_T]

Keep the RAW files as 'negatives'. For e-mailing or uploading to flickr, you probably want to convert to jpeg and resize them to around 1200 X 800 pixels.

The DPI is meaningless as far as image resolution and file size are concerned.

Changing the DPI does nothing to the pixels or quality of the image file. The DPI defines the print size. When you set a 5616 x 3744 pixel image to 350 DPI, all you are doing is making the print size 16.04 inches X 9.93 inches. If you don't plan on printing your images at that size, then changing the DPI is a waste of time.

[egordon99]

Originally Posted by pophoto

When I do my RAW conversion to JPEG, I save them as follows:

Image Quality: 10
Output Resolution: 350 dpi
Size: 5616 x 3744

.

You should NOT be emailing full 21MP JPGs to folks unless they absolutely need that big of a file. I just resize to 800 pixels (on the long side). DPI is meaningless, and IQ can probably be set to 8 or so (I use Lightroom and I use 80 for quality)

So for emailing (and even Flickr uploading), 800-pixels wide should be enough.

[krb]

Originally Posted by pophoto

My question essential is --- when I convert my RAW photo's to JPEG are the setting I mentioned too much in terms of image quality and resolution for sending in emails - uploading to flickr - printing.

I "think" not sure that each of these options (emails, uploading, printing) would essentially be saved in different outputs of image quality and resolution. If I save them with different settings, then I will start to have multiple files of the same picture with different file outputs and size.

They are okay for printing but are far too large IMO for emailing or uploading. I normally size the images to 1500 pixels on the largest size for uploading to the web and will often use a reduced sized image from flickr for emailing or posting.

While you are correct that this means creating two different versions of each image, I have found that:

- I don't keep the reduced size web images on the hard drive since I already have the higher resolution file.
- The amount of sharpening I want for a 1500 pixel image displayed on a computer monitor is not the same amount of sharpening that I want for an 8x10 or larger print.
- The color profiles I use for an image on the web is generally not the same color profile I will use for images being sent to the printer.

What I keep on the hard drive and in my archive is the original raw file and the edited version of the file in a .tif format. This edited version will be in the the color space that it was when I converted it from a raw file, will have no sharpening applied and have no water marking of any kind.

When I want to upload an image to the web, I resize to 1500, apply a watermark if I think the image is worth it, sharpen for that size and do a save for web that converts the image to a normal RGB color space.

When I want to print I sharpen for printing, apply a watermark if I think the image is worth it, and convert the image to the profile for the printer I am sending to then save the image as a jpg.

[tonylong]

Pophoto,

Some of my thoughts (for what they're worth):

The only practical reason for converting to a full size/quality jpeg that I can see is for printing. Consider the fact that you can do your home printing directly from DPP without converting the Raw to jpeg. If you are wanting to give a full quality image to someone else so they can print large then sure uploading to something like Flickr is better than trying to email, but I wouldn't think that would be the bulk of your images, I'd think that would be an on-demand type of thing. Consider the fact that an 8x10 photo printing at high quality only requires 2400x3000 pixels, which is considerably smaller in size than your out-of-camera image.

I do everything I can through my Raw converter, including home printing. I keep and back up my Raw files. The only jpegs I archive are those I use for my Web galleries (web-size medium quality) so they are quite small files, maybe averaging 300 kb, and they are also a great size for sharing (email and such) so I keep them in an external drive for such things. I also occasionally use an editor for special needs -- I have Photoshop -- and so I have a number of tiffs on hand in my library, but that's a small minority of my images. As a whole my library is made up of my Raw files alone.