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Thread: Help an idiot out please! PSE 9 Question.

  1. #1
    brigsy briggs
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    Default Help an idiot out please! PSE 9 Question.

    Hi,

    This site has an amazing host of great photographers I must say. I always lurk and occasionally post when I need help!

    Well I am trying to start some sort of workflow and also shoot in Raw. I did so today, and have been going mad trying to do a few things, which probably are basic things.

    I have just got PSE 9 and also have DPP which came with my 7D.

    1. I am having trouble converting any files to JPG. Have converted one adapted image as a TIF but there isn't even an option for JPG.

    2. Levels are totally greyed out. No way to use at all.

    This is all I can remember at this time of night. May be other questions! As you probably have guessed I am no expert at PS.

    Cheers

    Brigsy.

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    Hi Brigsy,

    Is your file in 8 bit or 16 bit? I believe it must be in 8 bit for it to be able to be converted to a jpg. Maybe that's why the option isn't available.
    Not sure why the levels would be grayed out.
    Kevin

  3. #3
    brigsy briggs
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    Hi, thanks. that seems to be the case. I can also use levels when using jpeg but not with anything else. Am I right in thinking that this is not a good way to maintain image quality?

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    Hello,
    I'm not that familiar with the specifics of PS Elements, what's not available that is available in regular Photoshop. I use CS5 and use Adobe Camera Raw to process my raw images going into Photoshop. I presume Elements also has it's Raw Converter.
    You should be able to perform levels on a TIFF file. As far as maintaining image quality, I can tell you what I do - I only create a jpg when I'm outputting the image, either for print or for the web. I always maintain the original RAW file, and if I don't finish with my work on an image in one sitting (in photoshop), I'll save it as a TIFF. I'll use this file for the next session, but I'll eventually convert to a jpg once done. Again, I always have the 'negative' or RAW image to go back to as well. If I've worked extensively on an image, I'll probably save a copy of it with layers included (as a PS file) if I ever want to go back and tweak it - in this way I don't have to start all over again with the original RAW.
    It seems like your RAW files are coming into PSE as 16 bit (which is good), where you can work on them - you'll just have to change to 8 bit once you want to save for output.
    Hope this wasn't too confusing...
    Kevin

  5. #5
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    Kevin,
    I don't have PS elements, but my understanding is that if a tool is grayed out, it is because that tool isn't supported for the bit depth of the image. It is also my understanding that PS elements has little 16-bit support. So if you want to work with 16-bit files, you'll need another image editor.

    If you choose photoshop CS5, check out the educational discount. If you are a student or enroll in a photo class, yoou should be able to get photoshop at a very reduced cost. Also if you are a teacher at a university or community college you should qualify for the educational discount.

    Roger

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    Hi - Thanks Roger!
    I think it is Brigsy that asked the original question - I already work in CS5 - I was only responding.
    So Brigsly - Roger has some good advice! :)

    Kevin

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    Quote Originally Posted by Kevin Giannini View Post
    Hi - Thanks Roger!
    I think it is Brigsy that asked the original question - I already work in CS5 - I was only responding.
    So Brigsly - Roger has some good advice! :)

    Kevin
    Oops. You are right. Sorry.
    Roger

  8. #8
    brigsy briggs
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    Thanks guys. No need to fight over me :p

    Really appreciate it.

  9. #9
    Robert Amoruso
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    If PSE 9 is like PSCS 5 or under, JPG is NOT an option in save as until the image is converted to 8-bit.

    If you are working in RAW, files should always be converted to 16-bit, Adobe RGB or other wide-format color space (not sRGB) and to TIF (photoshop native format PSD OK but I prefer to stay in TIF for compatibility to non-Adobe programs.

    You post-process the 16-bit TIF file.
    I always save the file in TIF before converting for JPG.
    Convert to 8-bit and sRGB color space.
    Downsize resolution to 72 ppi.
    Size image to 1024 pixels wide or 800 pixels high for BPN posting (other sites have different limits)
    Sharpen.
    Save as JPG to less then 200 kb file size (BPN limit)

    Go to http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ead.php?t=5598 and look under the first posting by Artie. He goes over his workflow for a small JPG for posting under "Free Excerpt: Creating an Action for your BPN J-PEGS". This should get you going.

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