Photo compression tweaking help?

[TAB Studio]

I have read alot of articles here and at other web site about photos before I asked this. I noticed in a thread mention about compression rates and how to get better quality photo uploads here. I don\'t get it is there a easy formula for successful sizes and quality? (sounds kinda funny but you know what I mean,yes?)

 

[Braveheart712]

This is what I do if it helps...

I start of with my original picture. Next I open it in Photoshop and correct the color and contrast. Then I open up image size and scale the image so that it is 600 pixels wide, the maximum allowed at CMON. I then use the function save for web, which allows me to tweek my JPEG compression so that I can save the image as close to 100k as possible. Once this is saved, I then upload it to CMON.

 

[Astonia]

I do exactly like braveheart, but a good idea is to copy your picture before you start fixing it. In the past I\'ve ruined some pictures by shrinking the original too much and then you can\'t go back and correct it or the picture will be all grainy.

 

[TAB Studio]

I need photoshop then. I am only using m ms photo editor. I can balance and resize there but not save for web. I have a gif program that optimizes compression but don\'t think ms photo editor does or at least I do not know how if it does. I will have to check eBay for a copy of photoshop (it is pricy isn\'t it?)maybe used it will not be so much.

 

[airhead]

TAB, I am using MS Picture-It. Much less $$ than Photoshop, but much less features. Picture-It does allow me to set the compression (0 = none - higher numbers = more compression.)

Contrast
Color balance
Crop
Set for 500 pix wide
compress for 100 meg (usually 2)

 

[KatieG]

Also, I have heard other people mention the program GIMP for photoediting, which is shareware/freeware available on the web for download. I\'ve never used it since I do have photoshop (need it for work), but its supposed to be perfectly fine for these kinds of things, as it always comes up in this context. Sides, might as well try it if its free, right?
--Katie G.

 

[TAB Studio]

Sides, might as well try it if its free, right?

You bet I\' m all upons. I will download and let you know how it is. :flip: thanks

 

[Braveheart712]

I agree with KatieG, I have heard of GIMP and there are people who reference that very same program in the \"How to\" articles on this site. Please let us know how well GIMP works for you, I would definitely try this free option forst. As far as photoshop goes, I think eBay is a good choice for finding a \"new to you\" copy. I am a Mac user and know that the web export option became available starting on version 6.0 but I am unsure just how long this option has been around on the PC end.

 

[TAB Studio]

I went and got the program last night thought wow...but the the install program started to give a line that I needed version 2.0 B-4 I could install. It was late so tonight is a new eve. I shall relay my progress. From what I can see the shell is nice the platforms supported many just I need to put my nerd hat on a little earlier in the evening.

 

[Valander]

Originally posted by KatieG
Also, I have heard other people mention the program GIMP for photoediting, which is shareware/freeware available on the web for download. I\'ve never used it since I do have photoshop (need it for work), but its supposed to be perfectly fine for these kinds of things, as it always comes up in this context. Sides, might as well try it if its free, right?
--Katie G.

I use the GIMP all the time, since I\'m most often in Linux. There is a version available for Windows as well. More info at http://www.gimp.org

It\'s really powerful, actually. Does pretty much everything that Photoshop does (yes, I\'ve used both, and I like GIMP better), though it\'s a bit less intuitive on the controls.

 

[TAB Studio]

OK I am gimping along and I also found another one but it is not as powerful Irfanview (free as well).
I had some issue with the install Gimp needs its own environment installed first GTK+_241setup a few of the files on the gimp installation crashed and I have had one err report for unstable files. But da*m it looks as if it could slice and dice. I will read the help manual later and I am sure more than once. Thanks to all. PS it comes with a gif animator as well. :flip: