Retaining maximum sharpness when posting images on the web ...

Hi guys,

I'm wondering how everyone posts images on the web. Now, I do graphics for living so I'm definitely an advanced Photoshop user but I'm doing this particular thing the very best way? I have no idea...

This is what I do: I adjust the large image for color balance, levels, contrast and other stuff, may sharpen it a bit, and crop it. Then I reduce the image size, make sure it is 72 dpi RGB at whatever pixel size I need it (usually both sides are bellow 600 pixels) and then I Save For Web (Photoshop) where I may compress the file by about 10% to make the file size smaller and retain max image sharpness.

Now, when you have to "res up" or artificially size UP an image, there's a trick a lot of people use and that is to increase the image size by 110% in multiple steps. That seems to work best.

My question is:

Is there a similar trick that people use that help the image retain maximum possible quality when you size down because you definitely lose quality when you do that?

Cheers

Retaining maximum sharpness when posting images on the web ...

Hi guys,

I'm wondering how everyone posts images on the web. Now, I do graphics for living so I'm definitely an advanced Photoshop user but I'm doing this particular thing the very best way? I have no idea...

This is what I do: I adjust the large image for color balance, levels, contrast and other stuff, may sharpen it a bit, and crop it. Then I reduce the image size, make sure it is 72 dpi RGB at whatever pixel size I need it (usually both sides are bellow 600 pixels) and then I Save For Web (Photoshop) where I may compress the file by about 10% to make the file size smaller and retain max image sharpness.

Now, when you have to "res up" or artificially size UP an image, there's a trick a lot of people use and that is to increase the image size by 110% in multiple steps. That seems to work best.

My question is:

Is there a similar trick that people use that help the image retain maximum possible quality when you size down because you definitely lose quality when you do that?

Cheers

Sharpening should be the last step after resizing. Try USM 100 .7 1 to start with.
Better methods are in the Stickys.

I'm sorry, what is USM 100 .7 1?

Set your view to 25%, 50%, or 100%.
USM = (Menu) Filter > Sharpen / UnSharp Mask. Try those settings from top to bottom in the dialog box that comes up.

Just sharpen the image again after you have resized. And ignore DPI settings they don't mean anything.

My method

command+option+i to resize
filters>sharpen>sharpen

Never use save for web. its a cruel trick in my mind....