Nice sharp shots!

I'm in the process of creating a subset of my best family and travel photos to give to my family as JPG's. I'm a Lightroom Classic user, so all my photos are accessed via LRC. If you are a Lightroom user, you know that it is a non-destructive editor. All the edits I have made within LR are stored in the LRC catalog, and have to be exported to produce the set I'm going to give them.

There's one odd thing I've noticed when exporting - it makes the exported files bigger than the original JPG's - sometimes a lot bigger. One possible explanation is that when LR is exporting, adding the edits stored in the catalog may be causing the size increase.

I did a few experiments yesterday, changing the "quality" slider setting on the export screen for several JPG's, and noting the resulting file size. I've attached a screenshot of the results. Here's a couple things I've noticed:
- In each case the 100% quality setting is larger than the original file.
- Sometimes even the 0% quality setting is larger than the original file.
- The smaller the original file, the more massive the size difference, percentage-wise.

So, some questions:
1. Is the size increase vs. the original in fact due to adding the edits before exporting?
2. What does "quality" even mean in this context. The 0% quality photos looked pretty fair on screen.
3. I've been using 80% quality for the exports I've done so far, considering it a good trade-off between file size and the ability to print in a fairly large size. What do you recommend?

I also use an Optech strap, for the reasons you mentioned. Also, the Optech is nice and "grippy," and won't slip off my shoulder. I'm a confirmed believer that as far as logoed straps is concerned, it definitely doesn't pay to advertise.

I'm amazed to see that the number of views on this post have zoomed past 4,200! I was just musing that most photographers don't find them very helpful, but a significant portion of UHH readers feel otherwise - some strongly so. So, if the info helps, that's great!

Welcome, Mike!

I recently bought a couple of thumb drives through Amazon. Thanks to your post, I downloaded Validrive and tested them this morning. Sadly, they actually had about 20% of the advertised space. Thanks for the tip!

DXO Labs is a French photography software company, which markets a number of different software products. Here's the URL for DXO Labs: www.dxo.com. DXO Labs markets both the NIK Suite as well as well as DXO PhotoLab. They are two different products, sold separately, and the activation code of one won't work with the other. The current version of DXO PhotoLab is 7, by the way.

While I'm not an Elements user. (I use full PS), I disagree with "If you don't shoot RAW, you don't need it" ACR is loaded with features that can be applied to jpg's.

That would have been my recommendation. You beat me to it!

For sake of clarity, there is more than one kind of filter wrench!

I would use this kind.


I wouldn't use this kind.

Oh, it really doesn't bother me at all. Certainly in certain circumstances, such as photographing waterfalls, sports, or macro, it can be helpful, but more frequently, I see it used on landscape shots or stationary wildlife, and they seldom mention if a tripod was employed. So sometimes it can be helpful, but more often it can be misleading unless conditions are similar. I'm surprised at how many comments ensued from my post, because it was only a passing musing for me.

Maybe it helps figure which cameras take good pictures.

I've never seen the point when photo magazines and other publications like Arizona Highways print the shutter speed, f/stop, ISO, and lens information regarding the photos they take. Is this supposed to be educational? The settings were good for that particular time on that particular day, but maybe not so good at other times. They usually don't mention if a tripod was used. Am I missing something?

Maybe Rick Riggins/Discount Camera Repair/Colorado Springs and/or Denver? I don't know the status of his business.

The EPA is building the car while driving it.