Canon File Conversion Question

larsonphotography

Answerd Thanks

Richard

Yep, that's about right, assuming you did not use any compression on the TIFF. Raw files are somewhat compressed and do not have separate layers for each color channel, while TIFF files do. JPEG files do not have layers either and are greatly compressed. I am a little confused about your last sentence about 8MB from a 6MB file, though. Depending on the complexity of the image and the quality of the JPEG, you could get a larger JPEG than its raw source, but usually they're much smaller.

David_S85

Agree on the conversion size. You probably converted it to a 16-bit uncompressed TIFF. You have the option to convert to an 8-bit TIF as well, although you will cut out some of the information that way. The Canon DPP (is that what you were using?) can't compress TIFF's with LZW like PhotoSHop and other image software can. LZW flavored TIFF's are lossless compressions and result in a much smaller file size. Are you keeping the original RAW .CR2 files?

ziggy53

FactoryPhil wrote: »

... how does a JPEG file get larger.

...

JPG is a variable compression method and the more detail an image has, the bigger the file becomes at the same resolution and compression setting. Processing an image with sharpening will increase "apparent" detail and anything that increases contrast in general will promote noise, and that increases detail as far as the JPG compressor engine is concerned. (The compression algorithm cannot distinguish between real image detail and random noise or "grain".)

ziggy53

I moved this to the Finishing School forum as it has to do with software and image processing.