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08/30/2006 11:27:07 AM · #1 |
I have read several book on digital photography. They all recommend after downloading the photos and post processing save the file in "TIFF" format not "JPG" One author claims "JPG" format loses minute quality each time it is opened. Also the best format for prints is "TIFF."
What file format type do you use for prints?
Thanks
Bob |
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08/30/2006 11:29:33 AM · #2 |
This has been in a lot of other threads, but JPG loses quality every time you SAVE, not open.
TIFF is lossless and can be saved and resaved without loss of quality.
I recommend that you save as a jpg at the end of the editing process. Anytime you want to stop and come back to editing you should save as a PSD or tiff file.
Printing from a JPG will be OK as long as it is first generation.
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08/30/2006 11:30:40 AM · #3 |
each time it is EDITED not opened/viewed
i use jpg /but typiclly saved & converted from raw prior to prining (if sent out) &
& printed from raw at home |
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08/30/2006 11:47:43 AM · #4 |
I keep an original unmodified version (raw), a photoshop-edited version (psd), and generate as many temporary .jpg versions as needed for different printing/publishing needs.
If I needed to re-edit a photograph I would return to either the raw or photoshop file.
What file type you need for prints depends on whether you are sending photographs to a vendor or your own printer. If you are using a vendor, check their requirements.
Message edited by author 2006-08-30 11:52:09. |
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08/30/2006 12:01:07 PM · #5 |
I usually copy raw files to Tiff then do my pp after that I save to highest quality Jpeg and burn it to a disk and head out to get them printed. If I am printing from home I print the tiff. But that usually is too expensive so I normally hit Walgreens or one of the other Kodak processing stations around the area.
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08/30/2006 12:20:44 PM · #6 |
TIFF files are huge! That's because they're actually compound documents that are designed to handle multiple images and data in a single file. IOW, there may be all sorts of data in there along with the pixel data that defines the actual image.
For instance, RAW files from my 5D are 10 to 15 megabytes.
IMG_1373.CR2 = 15,338 KB
The same CR2 file converted to a 16-bit TIFF is almost 75 megabytes!
IMG_1373.tif = 74,564 KB
The TIFF converted to 8-bit JPG at quality 12 is about 10 megabytes.
IMG_1373.jpg = 9,800 KB
The TIFF converted to 8-bit JPG at quality 10 is about 4 megabytes.
IMG_1373.jpg = 4,128 KB
I don't think there's any advantage to printing from a TIFF file as compared to a JPG file. Also, most online photo sites do not allow you to upload TIFF files. SmugMug only accepts JPG, GIF, and PNG files for photos.
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08/30/2006 12:50:58 PM · #7 |
| As long as the JPEG is not compressed like crazy, it should be ok. If you're at home and can print whatever you want, print with the PSD or a TIFF. |
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08/30/2006 01:35:25 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Phillydigishooter:
I have read several book on digital photography. They all recommend after downloading the photos and post processing save the file in "TIFF" format not "JPG" One author claims "JPG" format loses minute quality each time it is opened. Also the best format for prints is "TIFF."
What file format type do you use for prints?
Thanks
Bob |
The above assumes you save the photo in the camera as RAW or TIFF. Converting from JPG then saving in TIFF doesn't get you enough extra IQ to worry about.
When postprocessing you may want to save in the photo editor's native mode, so you can keep layers, etc (this is before you resize and sharpen).
Not that some Tiff is not lossles. RAW produces 12 bit (more or less) data, so an 8 bit TIFF loses some data. |
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08/30/2006 02:16:21 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by hankk:
Not that some Tiff is not lossles. RAW produces 12 bit (more or less) data, so an 8 bit TIFF loses some data. |
This is a little off. Lossless refers to compression. TIFF are all lossless, either uncompressed or compressed with LZW compression.
What you are referring to is the difference between 8 bit and 16 bit TIFF files. It's still lossless as far as compression goes even in 8-bit mode. What you lose is color bit depth, if you chose to save as an 8-bit TIF file.
Message edited by author 2006-08-30 14:16:45.
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08/30/2006 06:38:53 PM · #10 |
Thanks everyone for your comments. They are very helpful.
Bob |
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06/11/2009 08:01:04 PM · #11 |
Old thread, but I wondered where we are in two years. I tried to search Google for people who had done print comparisons for JPG vs. TIFF files but didn't find anything contemporary (most was from 2004, the stone age of digital).
I've considered the difference to be too small to matter even for large prints. Can anybody provide any evidence to get me to change my mind? If not I'd much prefer to deal with 30MB JPG files for printing versus a 300MB file. |
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06/11/2009 09:06:10 PM · #12 |
As I've heard it, with Photoshop CS the best-quality JPEG was made to use lossless compression, so there should be no difference in quality between that and a TIFF. Once you start using any greater degree of compression there is at least a chance of imgage degradation, though it may or may not be noticable.
Really the only way to test is to submit exactly the same image for printing, varying only the degree of compression (and file format) and see where the compression artifacts become visible. This will probably occur with different levels of compression depending on the number of colors and amount of detail in the image.
Many online printers will only take JPEG format. |
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06/11/2009 10:28:36 PM · #13 |
I have printed some large prints from JPG files and never had an issue. Most printing services especially online won't even accept TIFF files. Save as 10 or better jpg format in sRGB format and send off to printing. Perhaps high end gallery stuff might be different, but I've done 20x30 and 30x40 from jpg files that you can scrutinize closely with no complaints from a picky person such as myself. I've been told I'm quite the measurebater. :P
Matt |
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06/11/2009 11:02:12 PM · #14 |
I agree with what you say Matt. Occasionally the gallery guy I work with complains that my files aren't in TIFF and I try to explain JPG is just as good. Sometimes he makes me worry I don't know what I'm talking about.
Your post leads me to a second question I had. These days is it preferable to work on print files in sRGB rather than Adobe RGB? |
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06/11/2009 11:06:53 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
Your post leads me to a second question I had. These days is it preferable to work on print files in sRGB rather than Adobe RGB? |
You probably have to ask what printer profile/color space the printer/print facility is using. Adobe RGB has a larger gamut, but if the printer isn't using it you could get unexpected results.
I use sRGB because that's what my camera saves in anyway, and it's the lowest-common-denominator right now. It is a more limited color space, but if you can get your image looking good in it then it should look good just about anywhere, including on the web ... |
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06/11/2009 11:08:41 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
Occasionally the gallery guy I work with complains that my files aren't in TIFF and I try to explain JPG is just as good. Sometimes he makes me worry I don't know what I'm talking about. |
Just save in TIFF with the LZW compression option and the file will be about the same size as your best-quality JPEG, and your gallery guy will be happy ... |
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06/11/2009 11:09:11 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I agree with what you say Matt. Occasionally the gallery guy I work with complains that my files aren't in TIFF and I try to explain JPG is just as good. Sometimes he makes me worry I don't know what I'm talking about.
Your post leads me to a second question I had. These days is it preferable to work on print files in sRGB rather than Adobe RGB? |
Most printing services won't even use aRBG files or even CMYK depending on what you are printing, and sadly most won't even take the time to check the color space and print as you send them, ending in prints that are way off if you don't send it in their format. Always check with the service ahead of time to see what they require.
Matt |
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06/12/2009 12:01:02 AM · #18 |
| So which Proof Setup should I be in then? I know for DPC I use Monitor RGB, but what about printing? |
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