Printing: Jpg or Psd?
Apr 24, 2014 08:15:46 #
After post processing, psd files can be very large -- like over 300 mb, and I keep these for tweaking later. But do I need them for printing? High quality jpg versions from these files are much smaller. Is there any difference in printing from these psd compared to their jpg versions? I've always printed from psd and have never seen this discussed.
Apr 24, 2014 08:44:25 #
Jpg files are compressed, and do give up detail and introduce artifacts as compared to a PSD file. I'd say it depends on what you're printing. You probably couldn't tell much difference on small prints, but large ones, yes.
You could always flatten the PSD file for long term storage. That should bring it down some in size.
You could always flatten the PSD file for long term storage. That should bring it down some in size.
Apr 24, 2014 11:27:55 #
File size doesn't really have to be an issue nowadays. Get a 1TB or 2TB external hard drive and store your image files on that. I don't bother much with JPEG's anymore - after editing I usually save to (uncompressed) TIFF format, and make my prints from it. The only time I deal with JPEG format is when I want to send or upload the image, which I make a copy from the stored TIFF file. Whenever I do need a JPEG version, I simply create one from the TIFF, resizing and compressing the created JPEG file according to my specific file size needs. One advantage of storing images in TIFF rather than PSD is that one no longer needs to depend on Photoshop to access the image file in the future; just about any editing/viewing program can open and print from TIFF.
Apr 24, 2014 12:49:37 #
Virtually every pro lab requires a jpg in sRGB and the images (assuming you sent a great file) are beautiful.
I defy you to tell the difference between MOST files printed from a TIFF/PSD and a JPG. Now this assumes you kept the file as a TIFF/PSD up until the time you made the conversion to JPG.
I suppose with some images with a large expanse of sky (for example) that printing a 16-bit TIFF could be an advantage in preventing banding, but the majority of images will show no difference.
I defy you to tell the difference between MOST files printed from a TIFF/PSD and a JPG. Now this assumes you kept the file as a TIFF/PSD up until the time you made the conversion to JPG.
I suppose with some images with a large expanse of sky (for example) that printing a 16-bit TIFF could be an advantage in preventing banding, but the majority of images will show no difference.
Apr 24, 2014 13:09:29 #
CaptainC wrote:
Virtually every pro lab requires a jpg in sRGB and the images (assuming you sent a great file) are beautiful.
I defy you to tell the difference between MOST files printed from a TIFF/PSD and a JPG. Now this assumes you kept the file as a TIFF/PSD up until the time you made the conversion to JPG.
I suppose with some images . . . sky . . . preventing banding, but the majority of images will show no difference.
I defy you to tell the difference between MOST files printed from a TIFF/PSD and a JPG. Now this assumes you kept the file as a TIFF/PSD up until the time you made the conversion to JPG.
I suppose with some images . . . sky . . . preventing banding, but the majority of images will show no difference.
Thanks, Captain, I guess that's what I hoped to hear. And I assume you also mean decent resolution.
Now, please, for a bit more detail. What would be the minimum jpg quality that would satisfy this?
Apr 24, 2014 13:22:40 #
ygelman wrote:
Thanks, Captain, I guess that's what I hoped to hear. And I assume you also mean decent resolution.
Now, please, for a bit more detail. What would be the minimum jpg quality that would satisfy this?
Now, please, for a bit more detail. What would be the minimum jpg quality that would satisfy this?
Personally I never go lower than 11 (Apologies to Spinal Tap- remember that movie?).
Apr 24, 2014 13:24:18 #
CaptainC wrote:
Personally I never go lower than 11 (Apologies to Spinal Tap- remember that movie?).
LOL!! Gotta watch that one again!
Apr 24, 2014 13:39:16 #
ygelman wrote:
. . . Now, please, for a bit more detail. What would be the minimum jpg quality that would satisfy this?
CaptainC wrote:
Personally I never go lower than 11 (Apologies to Spinal Tap- remember that movie?).
Don't remember hearing of the movie, but I'll remember your advice. Thanks.
Apr 25, 2014 08:25:32 #
Captain pretty well explained it. Do your PP in PSD. When ready to print create a JPEG, in the max quality(12 in Photoshop). Costco is set up for sRBG. This is a smaller color gamut then RBG. If you supply in RBG some colors will be clipped. Although I now supply in sRBG I used to supply in RBG and never had a problem.
Good Shooting
Good Shooting
Apr 25, 2014 08:32:58 #
portcragin wrote:
Captain pretty well explained it. Do your PP in PSD. When ready to print create a JPEG, in the max quality(12 in Photoshop). Costco is set up for sRBG. This is a smaller color gamut the RBG. If you supply in RBG some colors will be clipped. Although I now supply in sRBG I used to supply in RBG and never had a problem.
Good Shooting
Good Shooting
Thank you, and to Captain too.
I print on Epson 3800, but with regard to Costco, do you specifically use their profiles? -- or just bring a straight jpg to them.
Apr 25, 2014 08:48:14 #
Just supply in a Straight jpg. I'm sure using their profiles would be a good step. Maybe some of the hogs will chime in and we can both learn.
Good shooting
Good shooting
Apr 25, 2014 10:17:29 #
The lab told me that I needed to save it to pdf or tiff. Was he up in the night?
Apr 25, 2014 11:18:05 #
ygelman wrote:
Thank you, and to Captain too.
I print on Epson 3800, but with regard to Costco, do you specifically use their profiles? -- or just bring a straight jpg to them.
I print on Epson 3800, but with regard to Costco, do you specifically use their profiles? -- or just bring a straight jpg to them.
For me - I just use Costco for printing 50-100 copies of a 4x6 or 5x7 marketing piece. Sometimes for family 4x6 stuff if I have a bunch and i just send them a jpg and specify NO CORRECTIONS so they just print what I send. My REAL pictures get sent to a pro lab.
I have used their profile and see no difference between their profile and just a jpg in sRGB. But then, I never send them critical work, either.
Apr 25, 2014 22:17:29 #
ygelman wrote:
After post processing, psd files can be very large -- like over 300 mb, and I keep these for tweaking later. But do I need them for printing? High quality jpg versions from these files are much smaller. Is there any difference in printing from these psd compared to their jpg versions? I've always printed from psd and have never seen this discussed.
I save as tif. You can tweak tif without losing anything. 8 bit tif from the d800 run around 100MB.
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