 BetterPhoto Member |
how to save photos I have photos I put in my computer as JPEGs; I then open them make changes, print them out for display at galleries, or make them into greeting cards, etc. I never "re-save", I just close the original file, and then re-open and work with it, print out, and close. I thought that would save me from losing data in my original file. However, someone just told me that every time I open this JPEG file and close it, I lose data from the original file. Is this true??
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Hi Anne... I've heard the same thing, and cannot answer for sure... but, one thing that jumped out at me---if you are making changes to an image and then not saving it (in theory, leaving your pristine original as is)---why NOT save those changes you made, if for no other reason so you don't have to redo the changes a week later, if someone needs a reprint of something you tweaked a week ago? And, at that point, you could save as say, TIFF format, which never loses any quality from repeated openings/closings.
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Christopher A. Vedros |
No, it's not true. The idea that you lose information every time you OPEN a JPG has gotten to be a fairly common misconception, though. I've even seen it printed in an otherwise very respectable photography book. The truth is that NOTHING happens to a JPG file (or most other files) when you OPEN it. No changes are made to a file unless you SAVE it. When a JPG file is saved, a compression scheme is applied to the data so that it will take up less storage space. Depending on the image editing program you are using, you may be able to adjust the amount of compression that is applied. More compression results in more image degradation. Less compression results in less image degradation. In the workflow that Anne Marie describes, since she is closing the original file without saving, the original files will NOT be affected. She can open them over and over and they will always be the same. I do want to point out, though, Anne Marie, that there is a very simple step you can take to save yourself some trouble. When you open a file, and make changes to it, you can click "Save As", change the filename (maybe add "editied" to it) and save the new image. Then, if you want to print more copies of it later, you won't have to recreate the changes that you made to the image. You will still have the original, and now you will also have the edited version. You should look at your image editor first to see if it gives you the option of adjusting the amount of compression used when saving JPGs, and set it to use the least amount of compression possible. Please be aware that if you make changes and save your file, then later open it, make more changes and save again, then open it, make more changes and save again, etc. you will eventually degrade the quality of your final image through these repeated saves. Chris A. Vedros
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Christopher A. Vedros |
That should be "edited", and not "editied". ;-)
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Diane Dupuis |
Sounds like a lot of work for nothing. Open your file (never ever save over your original) and then save it as a .tiff or psd. It will keep all your layers and work and you can come back to it as often as you like - they are lossless formats.
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