exporting from aperture 3

I have a 2.96 mb file in aperture that I want to enlarge and print. I processed it and exported that version to my usb stick using the "JPEG Original Size" but when it ends up on my stick or anywhere else, it is now a 998 kb file. Is that normal? I want to print it big and there isn't high enough resolution for a 16X20. What am I doing wrong? I've never had a problem with this sort of thing before....

Sue, the file size is not just reflective of the resolution in pixels but also of the jpeg Quality setting that the software used when converting it -- it controls the amount of jpeg compression.

So, you want to look at your Quality setting. It doesn't need to be all the way to "Maximum" in order to get a good print, just something "High", although I don't have Aperture and so don't know the specifics.

Of course, having a lower resolution in pixels also affects the file size. You said you chose "JPEG Original Size", but you can double-check that just by opening the output file or checking its "properties" -- you can view the image dimensions in Aperture or iPhoto or wherever. I wouldn't be surprised if the image is in fact the "original size" in pixels, but that the Quality setting was lower than a "High" setting. If you put the quality to the Maximum, you'd end up with a very large file, even for an image that was down-sized for the Web!

Thanks Tony. It never occurred to me that the preset could be set higher. I dug around and sure enough, the slider was set at 10, and the highest quality is 12, so I changed it and will see what happens. Thanks again.

suecassidy wrote in post #14470696
Thanks Tony. It never occurred to me that the preset could be set higher. I dug around and sure enough, the slider was set at 10, and the highest quality is 12, so I changed it and will see what happens. Thanks again.

Sounds good, Sue. For a print of any "size" larger than, say, an 8x10/6x9 I'd say yeah it won't hurt to max the slider, as long as the file sizes aren't beyond a limit that the vendor may have or be too cumbersom to upload.

But, you can experiment. Like I indicated, the max amount may not be really needed, although you can experiment -- if you set say a Quality of 11, you will cut down on the file size. View the image enlarged to approximate your print size, then try again with a Quality of 12, and compare!

suecassidy wrote in post #14469791
I have a 2.96 mb file in aperture that I want to enlarge and print. I processed it and exported that version to my usb stick using the "JPEG Original Size" but when it ends up on my stick or anywhere else, it is now a 998 kb file. Is that normal? I want to print it big and there isn't high enough resolution for a 16X20. What am I doing wrong? I've never had a problem with this sort of thing before....

Aside from what Tony explained: Neither the 1Ds nor the 1D3 have enough resolution for a "native" 300ppi 16x20" print: That would take 4800x6000 pixels.
So either you or the printer (company or machine ) will need to interpolate the file.

Not going to be a problem in my experience, but something to be aware of.

Rene and Tony, thank you so much. I'm too stupid for my life, clearly, because I didn't realize that the lab I used must have been interpolating this for me all along and I didn't realize it. I needed a cheap print quickly and was trying to send it to Costco online and didn't understand why it was telling me the resolution was too low. I'm a film girl from way back and when I run into problems like this that I can't figure out myself, and I need a quick answer, I have nobody to ask but the Canon forum! I DID change the image size as suggested and it worked; I'll pick the print up in an hour. Yay!