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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> How do i get the best quality from 200kb jpg?
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Showing posts 1 - 11 of 11, (reverse)
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09/30/2009 01:04:19 PM · #1
I got the Jpeg Blues... i see so many incredibly crisp and sharp images in these challenges, yet even though mine start that way (sometimes)i can't get them to look like that as a 720 jpeg. I usually just save as jpeg and adjust the quality until it's below 200kb. any suggestions on getting it lower size and keeping highest quality?
thanks.
-Drew
09/30/2009 01:05:48 PM · #2
If you are using Photoshop or Elements, use the "Save for Web" option and set the value to 200kb
09/30/2009 01:23:24 PM · #3
Your resizing method could also have some effect. I resize usually using the bicubic method, then sharpen with a radius of .35 to .5 pixels and an amount of 100-150. If it is an advanced challenge, I often create a duplicate layer and utilize that to selectively sharpen only what I want to. That helps keep my subject crisp but skies nice and smooth.
09/30/2009 01:24:56 PM · #4
For sharpness at web res, I highly recommend using the "Marc Adamus sharpening routine", or something similar. It's by far the best sharpening technique I have used. For those of you that do not know of this, the idea is that you resize to a bit larger than your final size, over-sharpen, then resize to your final size. The results are amazing. I've heard of many flavours of this technique. The one I use most often is I resize to 1.67 times my final size, sharpen, duplicate layer, sharpen the new layer, resize to final size, smart sharpen the top layer at 0.2px and 80%. Certain areas are usually over sharpened now, so what you do then is apply a layer mask on the top layer and mask out those areas. This technique is obviously not allowed under Basic Editing, but no problem for Advanced.

This will also only produce those magical results if you have a relatively sharp shot to begin with. Hope this helps.
09/30/2009 01:37:21 PM · #5
Originally posted by DrewLong:

... as a 720 jpeg.

My entries are typically 704 pixels. Why 704 and not 720? Because 704 is exactly 25% of the origianl capture size, and my intuition says that being able to average an even, whole number of pixels (4 in this case) to create each new pixel is going to result in a quicker and more accurate calculation.

I also find that sometimes running the UnSharp Mask filter twice at lower settings instead of once with more "normal" settings gives better definition without creating halos.

Also, to add some "pop" (e.g. to landscapes) try using high-radius UnSharp Mask; for a DPC entry-sized image, try (Photoshop settings) Amt. 15%/radius 60 pixels/Threshold 0.
09/30/2009 01:40:36 PM · #6
This gives me pretty good results:
Oversharpen just a tad in Photoshop (maybe 1.5px at 80%) with a Threshold of 0.
Resize in Photoshop using Bicubic Smoother.
Save at full (12) quality.
Open in FastStone Image Viewer.
Now here's the good part: "Save As..." in FastStone gives you options for color compression. So you can choose whether you want to sacrifice color accuracy (default) to cut down on file size while keeping it sharp, or keep color accuracy high and lose some sharpness. Sounds like you'd never use it, but I did for my Free Study entry this month and it's way better than what Photoshop gave me.
09/30/2009 03:11:44 PM · #7
Excellent! These are great.. I already saved it my usually way... now i can try these and use the best version for my free study submission today which happens to be my first submission at all in over a year and a half! :)
Thanks everyone!
09/30/2009 04:18:23 PM · #8
Genuine Fractals does a great job of sharpening andresizing in a single step.

I'm becoming a big fan of high pass sharpening at full size, which seems to reduce amount of final sharpening needed.

Edit: save for web as mentioned above does a great job for saving, but I do this after I resized/sharpened the photo.

Message edited by author 2009-09-30 16:19:40.
09/30/2009 04:43:45 PM · #9
wow...couldnt be happier with the results. i pretty much followed the Marc Adamus method... but took into mind the other suggestions as well such as making the math easier for comp by resizing to an even division etc..
but seriously.. i thought my original photo was good but now it looks horrible and blurry in comparision. this is the pop i've been looking for and feel like an idiot for not asking or looking into it until now and putting all this time and thought into correction and cropping jusssssst right and then saving a blurry sanford and son jpeg..
Thanks again everyone. i'll post the two versions after the voting week.
-D
09/30/2009 10:46:39 PM · #10
Originally posted by Ken:



I'm becoming a big fan of high pass sharpening at full size, which seems to reduce amount of final sharpening needed.


I, too, prefer high pass, but be aware it is illegal in basic.
09/30/2009 11:16:22 PM · #11
Add me to the list of those who uses the Adamus technique.

R.
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