How do you get such nice images on line?

jbswearjbswear Registered Users Posts: 167 Major grins
edited January 7, 2008 in Technique
It seems that when I look at the images many of our more seasoned members post, they look like printed images on the screen. Great clarity, great color, great contrast and focus.

When I post pics up, sure, they look nice, but nothing like what these others.

When I process my pics for use online, I'll turn them into 10meg or so JPEG files, then use Microsoft's Picture Resizer to reduce them to about 100k or so. Then I'll put them on a photo hosting site, like Photobucket or Myspace. Then I'll like it to this page.

What else can I do to improve how they look online?

These are all pics I took in RAW, and when processed to TIFF files, made stunningly beautiful prints, but the images here leave much to be desired.

HELP?!?!

l_a8f33422c2cd7ec21d59fd5bbe75591f.jpg

l_efd8b6d192a2d22f4755be1edfad7152.jpg

l_f5f3f27bbbbdf2c0747c85c4b4744ff5.jpg
Semper fi,
Brad
www.facebook.com/SwearingenTurnings -- Hand made pens by yours truly

Comments

  • Eric&SusanEric&Susan Registered Users Posts: 1,280 Major grins
    edited January 5, 2008
    I use www.smugmug.com of course:D

    I upload the orignial files and then when posting here or elsewhere I select the medium size for photo posts.

    Eric
    "My dad taught me everything I know, unfortunately he didn't teach me everything he knows" Dale Earnhardt Jr

    It's better to be hated for who you are than to be loved for who you're not.

    http://photosbyeric.smugmug.com
  • jbswearjbswear Registered Users Posts: 167 Major grins
    edited January 5, 2008
    What size are the files that you upload? The original, as in RAW? The only thing I shoot in is RAW.

    I'm seriously contemplating pulling the trigger on a Smugmug account. Heck, the price isn't bad at all.

    Eric&Susan wrote:
    I use www.smugmug.com of course:D

    I upload the orignial files and then when posting here or elsewhere I select the medium size for photo posts.

    Eric
    Semper fi,
    Brad
    www.facebook.com/SwearingenTurnings -- Hand made pens by yours truly
  • denisegoldbergdenisegoldberg Administrators Posts: 14,372 moderator
    edited January 5, 2008
    jbswear wrote:
    What size are the files that you upload? The original, as in RAW? The only thing I shoot in is RAW.

    I'm seriously contemplating pulling the trigger on a Smugmug account. Heck, the price isn't bad at all.
    SmugMug is definitely a good home for your photos...

    You can only upload .jpg files, no RAW.

    See http://www.smugmug.com/help/upload-photos.

    Also, info on print quality - http://www.smugmug.com/help/print-quality.

    --- Denise
    https://www.denisegoldberg.com ... https://denise.smugmug.com

    Musings & ramblings at https://denisegoldberg.blogspot.com
  • ~Jan~~Jan~ Registered Users Posts: 966 Major grins
    edited January 5, 2008
    It has to do with sharpening for web, which Smugmug does for you. clap.gif
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited January 5, 2008
    JBS,

    My images range from 0.5 Mb to ~5.0 Mb jpegs stored on line on smugmug.

    When I post an image here like this one, about 5Mb in the original online jpg, it is downsized and loaded from smugmug to what you see here.

    236663618-XL.jpg

    This is almost the full frame image from 1DsMkll and the online jpg is easily capable of a 24x36 inch print

    Your 10Mbit image files are being resized to 100Kb you say and then uploaded. That is where the quality is going - when the image is resized for uploading, because your image hosting sites are not storing your original files. Just downsized versions of them, perhaps?
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • BradfordBennBradfordBenn Registered Users Posts: 2,506 Major grins
    edited January 6, 2008
    I do not have any proof beyond my personal view of the screen, but I have found that Microsoft's reduction is not as good as other programs. I think part of it is that one can tweak a little more on the process. I can't put a finger on it but it just seems that way to me.

    My personal hunch is that Microsoft's is probably optimized for speed but others are optimized for image quality. That is not meant as an insult just that one usually has to make tradeoffs when creating software.
    -=Bradford

    Pictures | Website | Blog | Twitter | Contact
  • Chrissiebeez_NLChrissiebeez_NL Registered Users Posts: 1,295 Major grins
    edited January 6, 2008
    you probably already know this but make sure you convert your photos to sRGB colourspace for viewing online. i've made the mistake a few times and RGB images look great on print but look drab online, with muted colours. good luck! thumb.gif
    Visit my website at christopherroos.smugmug.com
  • jbswearjbswear Registered Users Posts: 167 Major grins
    edited January 6, 2008
    Thanks for the advice guys!

    I'll be opening a Smugmug account, then.

    sRGB? Hmmm...Didn't know about that. Gonna have to figure that one out.
    Semper fi,
    Brad
    www.facebook.com/SwearingenTurnings -- Hand made pens by yours truly
  • ZanottiZanotti Registered Users Posts: 1,411 Major grins
    edited January 6, 2008
    Want a $5 Discount?

    Use this code:

    You can save a friend $5 on a SmugMug subscription [/B] It's simple: have your friend enter your personal coupon ( 13Mcs8E4r2bFs ) in the 'Referred by' field on the signup form (Important: They can't enter any other information, such as your name. Just your email address or coupon).

    Thanks!
    It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he is potentially. We should be obsessed with stretching towards that goal through the world we inhabit.
  • TommyboyTommyboy Registered Users Posts: 590 Major grins
    edited January 6, 2008
    Zanotti wrote:
    Want a $5 Discount?

    Use this code:

    You can save a friend $5 on a SmugMug subscription [/B] It's simple: have your friend enter your personal coupon ( 13Mcs8E4r2bFs ) in the 'Referred by' field on the signup form (Important: They can't enter any other information, such as your name. Just your email address or coupon).

    Thanks!

    You beat me!

    You'll LOVE your smugmug account. Great folks, great service.
    "Press the shutter when you are sure of success." —Kim Jong-il

    NEW Smugmug Site
  • Chrissiebeez_NLChrissiebeez_NL Registered Users Posts: 1,295 Major grins
    edited January 6, 2008
    Photos uploaded to smugmug are automatically converted to srgb by smugmug so that should fix the problem for you if it were the case thumb.gif
    Visit my website at christopherroos.smugmug.com
  • Jack'll doJack'll do Registered Users Posts: 2,977 Major grins
    edited January 6, 2008
    Can that coupon be used by more than one person? I'm wanting to switch over from photobucket myself.
    jrg.smugmug.com

    Jack
    (My real name is John but Jack'll do)
  • ZanottiZanotti Registered Users Posts: 1,411 Major grins
    edited January 6, 2008
    Jack'll do wrote:
    Can that coupon be used by more than one person? I'm wanting to switch over from photobucket myself.


    Yes, it would be good for you as well. Thanks!

    Z
    It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he is potentially. We should be obsessed with stretching towards that goal through the world we inhabit.
  • Chrissiebeez_NLChrissiebeez_NL Registered Users Posts: 1,295 Major grins
    edited January 6, 2008
    you can use mine :Dmwink.gif

    coupon number: gXl1G7HkbRu3s
    email adress: c.roos@umail.leidenuniv.nl

    You can save a friend $5 on a SmugMug subscription and earn $10 yourself! It's simple: have your friend enter your email address ( c.roos@umail.leidenuniv.nl ) or your personal coupon ( gXl1G7HkbRu3s ) in the 'Referred by' field on the signup form (Important: They can't enter any other information, such as your name. Just your email address or coupon).
    Visit my website at christopherroos.smugmug.com
  • jbswearjbswear Registered Users Posts: 167 Major grins
    edited January 6, 2008
    I just signed up and and am in the process up uploading about 300meg of picture files...

    This'll take a while...

    clap.gif
    Semper fi,
    Brad
    www.facebook.com/SwearingenTurnings -- Hand made pens by yours truly
  • jbswearjbswear Registered Users Posts: 167 Major grins
    edited January 6, 2008
    Here they are, linked from Smugmug. Any difference from the first that I posted?

    It may be my imagination, but they seem a bit brighter. The uploaded JPEG's were between 6 and 8 megs.


    240548486-M.jpg


    240554776-M.jpg


    240531570-M.jpg
    Semper fi,
    Brad
    www.facebook.com/SwearingenTurnings -- Hand made pens by yours truly
  • FuronoFurono Registered Users Posts: 119 Major grins
    edited January 7, 2008
    They look better now. Brighter and clearer.
    Steve Nelson
    Tour Leader - DPRK
    Uri Tours
    SmugMug - photos.japanphotos.jp
  • Chrissiebeez_NLChrissiebeez_NL Registered Users Posts: 1,295 Major grins
    edited January 7, 2008
    if you put the previous page in a new window you can see its ever so slightly brighter and sharper. I checked it for you in CS but you already had them in srgb. rolleyes1.gif
    Visit my website at christopherroos.smugmug.com
  • ZanottiZanotti Registered Users Posts: 1,411 Major grins
    edited January 7, 2008
    Hey! They look great.

    Thanks for using the coupon, I am sure you will love SMugmug. Keep posting,

    Z
    It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he is potentially. We should be obsessed with stretching towards that goal through the world we inhabit.
Sign In or Register to comment.