[X4U] [OT] Basic Photo skills... Re-Saving JPEG's

[Jens Selvig]

I store my digital images chronologically in folders that are labeled 
like this:

2004.08.08.01 Riverfront park trail
2004.08.08.02 Downtown Billings

At this point I just keep the digital file names as they come out of 
the camera, except that I add a digit because I am beyond the initial 
9999 files that my Nikon D70 counts up to. So the file names become:

DSC_10444.jpg instead of being DSC_0444.jpg
DSC_10445.NEF instead of being DSC_0445.NEF

I use Retrospect to back up the files initially to a backup set.

For viewing I use a program called QPict, which allows me to view the 
RAW digital files quickly. (and the other formats such as jpg and psd 
too) Every so often, when I have around 4 gigs worth of files (not that 
often when you shoot in RAW format actually since each file is around 6 
megs) I make a backup to DVD, including the QPict index file. QPict 
index file stores a low res copy of each file so I keep them on my hard 
drive for browsing purposes.

When I modify a file I copy the orginal jpg or RAW format file to a 
seperate directory and save it out as a photoshop format file for 
editing purposes. You really need to be careful not to do multiple 
version saves of jpg files. You will loose much more data in your files 
than you'd like! I use baseline standard and maximum quality for saving 
the jpg files. I suppose if you are saving them for email purposes you 
would really want to go with smaller files hence you more compression.

The print shop I use for enlargements only accepts jpg files, so I just 
add an index character to the name if I end up saveing different 
versions of the file for printing:

DSC_0444.PSD
DSC_0444a.jpg
DSC_0444b.jpg

I have a separate Retrospect backup set for these manipulated files.

When I first got the D70 camera I saved mostly to jpg file format but 
over time the increased manipulative qualities of the RAW format got my 
attention. The RAW format about halves the number of images that can be 
stored on the compact flash cards but IMHO is well worth the 
inconvenience of have to change cards more often.

HTH,

Jens


On Aug 5, 2004, at 10:39 AM, revDAVE wrote:

> Basically, I would like to modify /repair some of the inferior ones in
> Photoshop which I can easily do - such as contrast - sharpen - color 
> levels
> etc.
>

Jens Selvig
...lost in Montana...