Tips On Converting Photos To JPEG

Willy_MN

Senior Member
I have been struggling with losing quality with my pictures when converting them to JPEG after processing in either PSE7.0 or Photomatix Pro. Are there any tips for compensating for this or is this just something that is "just how it is"? Thanks, in advance, for any advice you can provide.

BTW, this is a great forum...I've learned quite a lot from reading already and look forward to getting to know you guys and gals!
 

Dave_W

The Dude
Hmmm....that's a good question. I guessing you have your JPEG setting at 100% quality when and do not have any maximum size limits set, right? Maybe if you posted some examples it might help?
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Are you resizing with the conversion? A bad combination of resizing algorhythm and quality settings can certainly mess with what you see on the back end. Make sure that image resolution isn't set low as well.
 

Willy_MN

Senior Member
Thanks Dave & Jake...I will do some more playing around here. I have noticed it most with the photo below. I tone mapped this image in Photomatix because it was originally somewhat blown out. The resulting TIFF file came out with very accurate coloring and sharpness to it...I was very pleased with the result. But, when I go to convert it, it seems to get a little noisy and the shade of the bark coloring changes. Also, the snow cover ends up with more of a bluish tint than the TIFF file.

FWIW, I have typically been converting to JPEG first and then resizing after it's converted. Anyway...great hobby with a ton of things to learn. Thanks again guys!

dsc_0327_tonemapped_800x530.jpg
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
I've never used Photomatix, so someone with experience in that should likely help. I do my conversion one of two ways. My primary methodology is using Lightroom and exporting a JPG from either the RAW or TIFF file, adding a watermark and resizing in the same step. I am happy with those results and notice no change in color profiling. The other method I use would be when I'm in Photoshop where I'll, 1) save the TIFF file, 2) resize the TIFF file to the size I want, 3) save as a JPEG, and 4) discard any changes to the original TIFF if it asks me. TIFF is an uncompressed format.

Resizing as you are involves, 1) compressing the TIFF file information as you convert to JPEG, and 2) modifying a compressed version of the file. Depending on your compression/quality level, the more compressed/lower the quality the more you lose with each conversion. Heck, if you have a JPEG file with a quality setting of 60, each time you save the file you lose additional information as it recompresses on each save (try it - the file size will get smaller and smaller and smaller with no other changes to the the image).
 

WhiteLight

Senior Member
I too have noticed very many times that photomatix introduces a lot of noise in most types of conversions.
Especially if shot at high iso or at a higher shutter speed hand held.
There should be noise introduced by lightroom.
Give Nik hdr Efex Pro a try.. You maybe quite pleased.
Certainly hdr Efex introduces waaay lesser noise

Sent from my Incredible S using Tapatalk 2
 

ABN Panzer

Senior Member
While I have Photomatix Pro I have not resized through it. Will give it a shot tonight.
Untill yesterday I have solely used CS6 for my resizing and have allways converted then resized. Cant say I ever noticed any real loss. (My photos are a hobby so opinions may vary).

Last night was the 1st time I used LR4 to batch resize and convert. Pics, similar to my experiences with CS6, did not seem affected by the process.
 

SkvLTD

Senior Member
Just as my 2 cents- using CS6, I don't notice much quality loss either on both converting to jpeg or resizing (though I resize less and less these days).
 

JohnFrench

Senior Member
You can use a free photo editor named IrfanView. And then adjust the tones, hues and colors as you like. I have been using it for years.
 
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