Lightroom Exporting File Size- Please Help

[Nikonfan]

*There are a ton of LR threads already so I apologize for starting another or if this has already been brought up. I couldn't find it in a search.

Here is my problem. I import Raw files from my D300 into LR. The files are typically 10 - 15mb. After processing I export them as a .JPG High resolution. The files are then typically only around 2-3mb. What worse is that if I have cropped an image at all it may only be 1.5mb. It would seem that enven on high quality there is way too much compression going on when it is converted to .JPG. Can anyone tell me what's going on and if there is a way around this?

I know that I can export as a non destructive file type but I need JPGs. Help please before I go crazy(crazier).

Thanks!

[mmuhlenkamp]

A RAW file has a lot more info than a jpg (even if they are at the same resolution). Make sure you export without reducing the image size and keeping the "quality" at 100%. If I had lightroom at work I'd get some screen shots for you. As long as you keep your original RAW file you can always export again later into a file type better suited (or sized) to what your needs are. I hardly ever need my FULL resolution files unless I feel like making a print larger than 8x10. Why are you needing such large files?

[Nikonfan]

Melissa,

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I forgot to add that I am not checking the resize box. I am trying to print a 20x30. Even though the printers claim a 3mb file is large enough they still come out looking bad.

[Rson]

Looking bad what do you mean, pixelized or color sucks.

JPG is about a 100:1 compression from original. When I export from my D300 raw>jpg my files are about 6 meg @ 2848x4288

will you send me a raw image so that I can import it and export it to see what I get. Might be a setting you are missing.

[mmuhlenkamp]

Yeah, that is a bit too much compression it sounds like from the file size you're starting from. At work I have about a 6.8MB RAW file (old Rebel XT) and when I save to the highest res JPG from Photoshop it goes down to a 3MB file. Your files should be more in the 6-8MB range after conversion.

What's the actual resolution/pixel count of the exported file?

[Nikonfan]

Originally Posted by Rson

Looking bad what do you mean, pixelized or color sucks.

JPG is about a 100:1 compression from original. When I export from my D300 raw>jpg my files are about 6 meg @ 2848x4288

will you send me a raw image so that I can import it and export it to see what I get. Might be a setting you are missing.

Thanks! I'm glad to send you a file. I'm at my "desk" job now but I can do that when I get home. Can you send me your email address?

By looking bad I mean that it just looks like the print is too large for the file size. It's not sharp. If you stand back 10 feet from the image it looks great. There isn't much noise either.

Originally Posted by mmuhlenkamp

Yeah, that is a bit too much compression it sounds like from the file size you're starting from. At work I have about a 6.8MB RAW file (old Rebel XT) and when I save to the highest res JPG from Photoshop it goes down to a 3MB file. Your files should be more in the 6-8MB range after conversion.

What's the actual resolution/pixel count of the exported file?

That's what I'm thinking. It just seems like way too much compression.

[Rson]

hackerjack@verizon.net

I will import then export, I will show my export settings I used.

Have you tried to bring it into PS then save as JPG? Same results?

[John Godwin]

I am not sure what your 'problem' is. Are you wanting or expecting a larger file size?

Know that when converting RAW files to JPEG the JPEG file will always be smaller.

In Lightroom under the File Settings box make sure the Quality slider is set to 100 and the Limit File Size box is unchecked.

Under the Image Sizing box the Resize to Fit box is unchecked.

These settings should get you the largest file size available.

[Nikonfan]

Originally Posted by Rson

hackerjack@verizon.net

I will import then export, I will show my export settings I used.

Have you tried to bring it into PS then save as JPG? Same results?

I always import into LR first and then export as a JPG. I will try it with PS when I get home just to see what the result is.

Originally Posted by John Godwin

I am not sure what your 'problem' is. Are you wanting or expecting a larger file size?

Know that when converting RAW files to JPEG the JPEG file will always be smaller.

In Lightroom under the File Settings box make sure the Quality slider is set to 100 and the Limit File Size box is unchecked.

Under the Image Sizing box the Resize to Fit box is unchecked.

These settings should get you the largest file size available.

I am doing all those things that you suggest. The problem is that I am ending up with a file that is only 2-3mb and I would like to print larger than a 8x10 on occasion. This isn't doable with a file that small.

[John Godwin]

There may be other problems besides file size.

If the initial quality is lacking then the final product will be lacking.

A photo that looks good at 4x6 may not look good at 20x30.

As you go larger in print size all of the below can cause issues with the quality of the print.

1. Proper Exposure
2. Excessive cropping
3. Over or under sharpening.
4. White Balance
5. Focus
6. Motion blur
7. Lens quality

I found two different sites with these recommendations for a 20x30 print. One from Kodak and one from Smug Mug.

Kodak
For a 20" x 30" print, the image resolution should be 1600 x 1200 pixels minimum.

Smug Mug
20 x 30 1280x1920

If your files meet these minimum file size requirements then you should not have any problems with the print if the other factors that affect quality have been addressed.

[Nikonfan]

Originally Posted by John Godwin

There may be other problems besides file size.

If the initial quality is lacking then the final product will be lacking.

A photo that looks good at 4x6 may not look good at 20x30.

As you go larger in print size all of the below can cause issues with the quality of the print.

1. Proper Exposure
2. Excessive cropping
3. Over or under sharpening.
4. White Balance
5. Focus
6. Motion blur
7. Lens quality

I found two different sites with these recommendations for a 20x30 print. One from Kodak and one from Smug Mug.

Kodak
For a 20" x 30" print, the image resolution should be 1600 x 1200 pixels minimum.

Smug Mug
20 x 30 1280x1920

If your files meet these minimum file size requirements then you should not have any problems with the print if the other factors that affect quality have been addressed.

Thanks again for the suggestions. I think the problem really comes down to file size (pixels per inch or dots per inch for those the prefer to use dpi). Everything I have read reccomends at least 100 ppi for a 20x30 print. With a 2.5mb file you get 64ppi which is what Smug Mug is reccomending. The Kodak numbers you quoted are a litte better at 80ppi. Maybe I am just picky and in the camp with those that say it should be at least 100ppi. As for the other things you mentioned, on the photo I printed:

1. It was exposed properly
2. It wasn't cropped
3. I did not do any post sharpening as it was already a very sharp image even zoomed in.
4. White balance is fine and didn't require adjusting
5. Focus was perfect and a large DOF (f/18)
6. Tripod with Timer (no blur even zoomed in)
7. Professional grade lens

Again, the problem with the print is the fact that the file size isn't large enough which goes back to my original question. Why is Lightroom compressing the image so much?

[Nikonfan]

If for some reason I am unable to figure out a way to get a larger jpg file when exporting from LR, I may be able to use this technique for increasing the file size through upsampling/interpolating. (kind of an old article but the principle is the same).

http://www.creativepro.com/files/sto...PSimageres.pdf

[John Godwin]

What size in pixels per inch is the photo that you are referring to? Is it the 100 pixels per inch that you are looking for?

[Nikonfan]

I'm not sure if I understand your first question but yes, I'm looking for 100ppi on a 20x30inch print. That comes out to a 6mp JPG.

It just seems like I should be able to import a raw image from my D300 (which is a 12.3mpx camera) into LR, do a few edits with little to no cropping and export a 6mp jpg image.

[John Godwin]

When you exported your RAW file to a JPEG file what were its dimensions in pixels per inch?

I am not interested in its byte size. That is easy to change with either the amount of quality you are looking for or even exporting the file to a TIFF format.