have alot of photoshop questions

[spoiled_momma]

hey all.. I really hope you all don't get tired of me I'm a total beginner at editing my pics any other way than auto correct so needless to say i have lots of q's.

I have a Nikon D70 I normally take my pictures in Jpeg but I want to start trying RAW. I have Photoshop CS and Image ready. So my first question would be Which one of these should I be using? I opened them both and they "look" the same.

so my next question is this. I have tried to edit a raw picture and I have saved it as a .PSD file. Shouldn't I also save it as a jpeg so that I can post it online to get some CC and to get it printed? I tried to save it as a jpeg but it isnt an option when i go to save as... So how do I save it as a jpeg?

Ok we will go with those questions for now..

thanks for any help

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I don't use Nikon but with Canon, when I shoot RAW, I convert it to Uncompressed TIF using Canon's software. From there I open Photoshop, play around with it and save it as level 12 JPEG.

 

[Anewman]

When I shoot RAW(pretty much always) I preview in Adobe Bridge and open the files in ACR.
Since ACR creates .xmp files that are saved with the Raw files, I do not feel the need to back up the raw file into another format. Next time I open that raw file, it will still have the EXACT same settings applied to it the last time. I do back up my images(RAW and XMP) to DVD about once a quarter.

Now for printing or displaying I convert to the format/size/profile that is needed. I create actions for each Size/rez/compression/etc... needed. So If I need a 4x6 @ 320dpi in SRGB with a 18 pixel white border as a level 10 jpeg, BAMM I press one button and that image is converted to all of the above and saved into my upload folder. Same for 5x7, 8x10 and all the other sizes I print. But once I print or upload I usually delete the jpeg.

 

[jfulcer]

You should only ever save a picture as a JPG as a final product that you are done with and want to make smaller. A JPG is a 'lossy' type of file - which means it will compress and you will lose quality on the image. Saving it once will most likely not be noticeable, but if you save it multiple times, you will start to notice a difference.

As to whatever native format to keep it in, that's really your preference. I like to save as a PSD because it will save layers/etc so I can edit it again and again if I need to. If it's as a TIF, you don't really have that choice.

Also, I would have to say that unless you are planning on doing any professional large scale image printing, that the highest quality JPG your camera can save would normally work just well. If you're just doing web work, or some 8x10s of your WDW trips on occasion, the jpg should be just fine.

My photoshop 7.0 has an option for 'save as' and JPG. If CS does not (I can't justify the cost increase), there may be a 'save for web' option that allows you a JPG choice.

 

[Anewman]

I tried to save it as a jpeg but it isnt an option when i go to save as... So how do I save it as a jpeg?

Ok we will go with those questions for now..

thanks for any help

Wow i missed your question 100%.

Yes CS and CS2 let you save as a Jpeg, if you choose.
But you can not save a 16bit image as a jpeg, you must either convert it to 8bit(CS2= Image\MODE\8bit) or just open it in 8bit to begin with. When you first open the raw file you are in ACR, check the drop boxxes there to make sure you are in 8bit(if that is what you want). Once the image is in 8bit mode you should be able to save as a jpeg.

 

[spoiled_momma]

Wow i missed your question 100%.

Yes CS and CS2 let you save as a Jpeg, if you choose.
But you can not save a 16bit image as a jpeg, you must either convert it to 8bit(CS2= Image\MODE\8bit) or just open it in 8bit to begin with. When you first open the raw file you are in ACR, check the drop boxxes there to make sure you are in 8bit(if that is what you want). Once the image is in 8bit mode you should be able to save as a jpeg.

thanks that was it I did have it as 16 bit and when I changed it to 8bit.. There is was I could save it as a jpeg.. Now I can post and get some opinions thanks..

 

[spoiled_momma]

If CS does not (I can't justify the cost increase), there may be a 'save for web' option that allows you a JPG choice.

I have to say thats what I was thinking.. You mean This program is how much and you can't save jpeg.. but we know you can .

thanks for your comments and advice