sizing pics in photoshop

[traip93]

I have a question, after I trnasfer a photo into photoshop, I try to shrink the pic down to fit on the web.

I go to pixels and get the rigure 650x400 (estimation) pixel size, but my file size is still way to big. I think it can only be 150K, but my pics even though I save them a JPEG or JEG and they are 600x400 pixel size the file is still 440K...

what am I doing wrong. Inorder to get the file under 150K, I have to make it really small..

[traip93]

optimizing, i guess is the direction I need to go in...does photoshop have an optimizing option? or do I have to add some more software..I'm new to this dig picture thing, please type slow.

[gregt]

Check your pixels per inch. If it's bigger than 72, set it to 72. That will optimize it for display on a monitor and make the file size much smaller.

[SaltBlock]

Ditto on the 72 ppi. Also, when you "Save As" your picture (and you click OK), a screen should come up called "JPEG Options" that will allow you to set the "Quality" of the image from 0-12. I'm not actually sure if this is the "Optimization" you were refering to, but it will allow you to greatly vary your file size (while keeping your pixel dimensions the same).

Good luck,

AEB

[MiddletonMark]

Yep, any monitor can only `see' at about 72 dots per inch. But if the images really are 640 x 480 pixels ... the jpeg should be smaller.

Is it a more modern version of photoshop [like version 5.5 or higher]?
It should allow you a `save for web' option ... ctrl-alt-s on PC.

There it will give you a quality setting [and display how it will look at that level of optimization & the file size in the lower left under the pic. Generally if you slide a 640x480 pixel picture to about 50% ... I'd doubt it gives you file sizes larger than about 60 or 70k. If you `normal save' a jpeg and leave the compression at 12 [maximum] ... it's not going to make it much smaller ... but you can also `normal save' the image at between 5 and 8 for a much smaller picture.
I prefer the `save for web' as I can then preview what the picture looks like while deciding how compressed to make it.

I also have re-started to use another piece of software for Web-compression ... Ulead SmartSaver Pro ... it's cheap [like $30 downloaded online] ... and IMO makes files smaller but look a little better than photoshop. Can crop ... but little more than crop and save for web ... but a great little cheap program.

NOTE: Gumhead did a great writeup of this too, at:
http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/sh...threadid=22356 Though you might have seen this and it didn't tell you what you need.

Anyway - hope this helps!

[MiddletonMark]

Originally posted by traip93
I go to pixels and get the rigure 650x400 (estimation) pixel size, but my file size is still way to big.

I'd think he'd have them at 72dpi ... or near enough [good for posting!] given he's talking about pixels here ... not inches.

Had to re-read to see it, but I don't think the 72 dpi issue is the problem ... I'd guess traip you're saving them all at `12' compression or the least amount of compression available. Drag the slider down ... it should display file size then at that level [give it a few seconds ...]

[Reefdude5]

Is photoshop worth it, my dad got the 60 dollar one, not the real thing!

[MiddletonMark]

You can do most things with Photoshop Elements [i think that's the cheap one]. IMO just about as good unless you need `industrial uses' like using Actions and other automated file working.

Not exactly sure what the cheap one has ... but far better than most things IMO. I'd assume that it still does much of the levels - white/black point setting, resizing the same. Layers, such ... I'd check it out versus the `full one' online or somewhere ... but for the price difference - it's a much better deal.

Once you get really good ... then find the `full' Photoshop ... or else if you're in college or such, you can normally buy a much discounted full version for `educational' uses.

For nearly all of my reef photos, I have no need of much of photoshop. I might set the white/black points, maybe move the levels so the picture isn't too dark/light ... but I leave the colors alone and just resize and save with Photoshop. Kinda like having an end loader to dig a 2 foot hole ... fun but overkill.
[but not at work, where right now I'm waiting forever to deal with a 800mb scan ....]