Thank you for writing that. Not only has it provided me with some answers to questions, it has also given me somewhere where i can send other people who need questions answering.
I look forward to seeing the PDF file, it would be a great resource to have stored on my HD.
From your notes, my interpretation is that it is better to process a file in 16-bit, but save it in 8-bit. If this is so, will information be lost if the file is opened and used again?
Please bear in mind that I am a novice bot keen to learn!
I guess the ideal is saving in 16 bit - but it takes a huge amount of disk space if you do. In practice 8 bit should be fine for most people.
Doing so does mean you have lost some information should you wish to re-edit the file in the future - but there is no degradation of image quailty as there is in opening and resaving (as opposed to simply closing) jpegs.
There is a large number of options when it comes to saving - flattened files, layered files, 16 bit, 8 bit, jpegs - and good reasons for individuals to make their individual choices betwen them. And of course if you shoot Raw - you save this and the conversion data as well
From your notes, my interpretation is that it is better to process a file in 16-bit, but save it in 8-bit. If this is so, will information be lost if the file is opened and used again?
Please bear in mind that I am a novice bot keen to learn!
Regards
John
John, my suggestion is to make color and tone adjustments and edits in 16 bit and save in 16 bit if you might do more color / tone adjustments. If you are unlikely to re-edit the color / tones of an image, you can save both hard drive space during storage, and memory during photoshop edits if you drop down to 8 bits. This can make a big difference if you are editing with a bunch of layers. If your image is flat, or has a small number of layers, the difference isn't likely to be a huge deal between 8 and 16 bits in terms of storage size. ( Yes, I know it is 50% regardless of how many layers, but with 1 or two layers, no big deal. With a dozen layers, the files are starting to get very big... )
I often flatten and save in 8 bit PSD after my edits because I figure I can always go back and grab the original CRW file and re-edit the original 12 bits. Yes, I have regretted this on some images where I cannot seem to re-edit and get something as happy as the original edit. Like THIS image that I have at websize, but not in full rez, and cannot get a re-edit that I am happy with! )
And to be clear, yes, you will lose data when you drop down to 8 bits. If you aren't going to be altering color / tones I wouldn't worry about it. Can you be sure you won't be altering color / tones next time you edit?
Hey Hendrik!
Thanx for doing this. I have a PDF with but with no embedded links that i made by hitting the print point button and then writing to a PDF file that i can send you for starters. It is 23 pages including all comments and 200KB.
Tim
Great info, one question on the Adobe-sRGB issue. I usually use WHCC or MPIX and have good results, mostly landscape pics.
I have been using sRGB as thats what they require.
What online labs do you recommend that use the Adobe space, I would like to try print a couple pics and compare if I can.
Thanks.
If you get good results, I wouldn’t change. You can see what colors are changed when you compare Adobe RGB to sRGB with the Gamut Warning tool in PS. Remember, only colors outside sRGB, but inside Adobe RGB are changed.
You can try to use a pro lab, but expect higher prices for their services. The biggest gain is when you do your printing yourself. Today’s inkjet printers are very good and I get superior results when I compare my prints to all print labs in my town.
You can start a new topic, maybe some members have suggestions. Did you try Google?
I'm currently working on the PDF (yes, really started!). I include some more images and try to use a nice lay-out. I let you all know when it's finished.
