Image Size Problems and CS4 Color Issues

[Nena2007]

Ok, so this is post has two unrelated questions...

1. When I shoot RAW, my original image is about 17-20 MB, when I edit in Photoshop the file ends up being about 1-2 MB... what gives?

When I print the photos they look fine, but I have yet to print bigger than an 8x10. I do crop the images to an 8x10 to give a more accurate idea of what the image will look like printed. Also, I checked other images before I started shooting RAW and they were jpgs around 3-4 MB usually. I was shooting with a Canon Rebel xs but now I use a 50d. ??? Any insight?

2. When I upload my RAW images into Photoshop it pulls up the first RAW menu to edit the images, from there when taking that image into Photoshop (i'm using CS4) it says "The document 'IMG_xxxx.CR2' has an embedded color profile that does not match the current RGB working space. Embedded: Adobe RGB (1998) Working: sRgb IEC61966-2.1" Then it asks me if I want to use the embedded profile, convert the document colors to the working space or discard the embedded profile" I was selecting to use the embedded profile but when I upload them, the colors don't look as rich as they do in photoshop. Should I choose another option when I first open the image? Is there a way to get rid of this error, it is rather annoying as it pops up for each image every time.

Sorry for the lenghty questions, I hope one day to be the giver of advice instead of just the advice seeker!! :)

Thanks guys!! :)

[rbalcom]

The color profile is assigned by Camera Raw based on what you have set up. There is a blue link item under the picture that looks like this:

Adobe RGB (1998); 8 bit; xxxx by xxxx (xx.xMP); xxx ppi

If you click on it, it will open a Window that will allow you to adjust your Workflow Options which include the Color Space, Color Mode (Depth), Image Size and Resolution. When you open the RAW image in Photoshop, it compares your Embedded Color Profile to the Working Color Profile you set in the Photoshop Preferences. The error message is telling you they are different. Unless you publish your images to the Web, I would suggest changing the Working Color Profile in the CS4 Preferences to Adobe RGB (1998).

I'm not sure about the image size change, but would guess that it may have something to do with your resolution setting when you crop. If your RAW image opens at 300 ppi and you crop it, you may be changing it to 72 ppi (Web setting) which would reduce the file size. OR, if you have it set to 72 ppi when it opens, the image size would be very large (63.5 in. by 44 in.); cropping to 10 in. by 8 in. would be a huge reduction in file size.

Hope this at least points you in the right direction.

[Nena2007]

Dick - That helps me out a ton! Now I do upload my pictures to the web, for my website and also for my clients to order. What would your recommendation be in that case?

I am going to check out what you said about image size, that makes sense.

Thanks for taking the time to answer me!

[rbalcom]

I guess what you set your workflow/preferences for would depend on what your final product is most often. For printing, Adobe RGB (1998) and 300 ppi works good. For publishing to the Web, sRgb IEC61966-2.1 and 72 ppi is good.

What I do is post-process for prints, save the layered file, flaten the image and crop for each size print and save those files as tiffs. If I wanted to publish to the Web, I would convert the flatened image to sRgb and 72 ppi; then save it as a jpeg.

Lightroom makes all of this a lot easier.

[epoh]

If you are saving as jpg they will be much much smaller than the RAW file. JPEG is by definition a lossy compression. If you'll save your PSD files you'll a much larger file (often larger than the original RAW file.)

[Nena2007]

But if I keep the files as something other than a jpeg, sich as a psd or tiff, how do I uplaod them to have them printed... I assumed they had to be a jpeg?

[epoh]

Originally Posted by Nena2007

But if I keep the files as something other than a jpeg, sich as a psd or tiff, how do I uplaod them to have them printed... I assumed they had to be a jpeg?

I wasn't saying to send a psd to the printer, I was just saying if you save it as a psd you'll see the appropriate size. JPGs are compressed, and thus smaller. Most printers require JPG or TIFF to print. Make sure your JPGs are full quality when you save them.