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Meranda5C84
Participating Frequently
November 15, 2023
Question

Save Options For Printing Out Art

  • November 15, 2023
  • 5 replies
  • 914 views

I have run into a snag and I cannot seem to find an answer. 

 

I need a solution for saving files.  They have to be 300DPI, and 16bit, but the kicker is they have to be under 20MB.  

 

Almost every option I have tried, reduces the file down to basically nothing, or they mess around with the DPI or the bit option.  

 

I like the options that are under "save for web", and I have managed to figure out how to keep the DPI the same, but it still changes the bit to 8.  

 

Under the regular save JPG, often 12 is too much, but if I select 11, it reduces it by half.  

 

I own the JPG Mini Pro, which I love, but again, it reduces my files so small, that I wonder if they would be great for printing afterwards.  

 

I need to upload them to a website which has a maximum file range of 20, but my files need to be great for someone who wants to print them.  

 

What would you suggest?  

 

 

I have tried Baseline Optimized on its own, and it doesn't reduce it enough for me. 

 

The output of 12 would be full size, but 11 is too much of a file reduction.  If only they would allow 11.5 ....

 

 

Are there any plugins or scripts to remove some bloat from the files that I am missing without effecting print quality?

 

Gosh, I would love some advice here. 

 

Meranda

 

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    5 replies

    M
    Meranda5C84Author
    Participating Frequently
    November 26, 2023

    Update.....

     

    Lightoom does all these things that I was seeking for.  It allows you to export a file size under a certain peramerter, but it also allows you to crop. 

     

    Its saved me so much time.  Thank you for all of you who weighed in. 

    Per Berntsen
    Community Expert
    Per BerntsenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 15, 2023
    quote

    They have to be 300DPI, and 16bit

     

    By @Meranda5C84

     

    16-bit printing is only possible on Macs, and only with certain printers, and you'd probably need to print from professional software, like Photoshop or Lightroom Classic. The majority of printer drivers will most likely convert to 8-bit before printing.

    I'm on Windows and have never tried it, but an Internet search on the subject indicates that there is little, if any advantage to 16-bit printing, and if there is an advantage, you'd need to use a loupe to see it.

    There are also reports that printing in 16-bit produces wrong colors.

    If the website you're uploading to requires 16-bit, ask them to reconsider this requirement.

     

      Shangara Singh
      Shangara Singh
      Inspiring
      November 16, 2023

      I missread files have to be in 16bit and JPEG, which is an oxymoron. I don't know any business that requires 16bit files for printing. Maybe some art repro sites but then they will probably want files in GB, not MB, nor compressed. What they ask cannot be done: JPEG and 16BPC and below 20MB from files that are over 7200px on the long side.

      Shangara SINGH.
        davescm
        Community Expert
        davescmCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        November 15, 2023

        If some-one has asked for a 16-bit jpeg then go back to them as jpeg does not support 16 bit.

         

        Using Save for web will give you the most options for file reduction to jpeg so you can see what the impact of teh slider will be as you move it BUT Save for web (and Export) will strip the ppi metadata out altogether. It does this as it was designed for screen use in which ppi is irrelevant.  This does not affect your image as such, however on opening an image with no ppi metadata the application in which it is opened will assign a value (Photoshop assigns 72ppi to such images, other applications may differ).

         

        So, first check out the file type requirement. If it is indeed jpeg then use Save As . Have you examined 11 and 12 settings closely?  I doubt you will see a visible difference.

         

        Dave

         

         

          L
          Lumigraphics
          Legend
          November 15, 2023

          Save for Web will NOT strip out the PPI metadata (which is in the TIFF namespace) if you choose "All" or "All Except Camera Info" from the Metadata popup menu. I use this every day in production and have tens of thousands of files processed through SFW.

            davescm
            Community Expert
            davescmCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            November 15, 2023

            Good point @Lumigraphics 

            Dave

              Shangara Singh
              Shangara Singh
              Inspiring
              November 15, 2023

              JPEG vanilla doesn't support 16BPC, nor transparency. So start by converting document to 8BPC, and flattening it, or choose File > Save a Copy. 

               

              I would only choose quality level 12 if the image is going to be retouched by a world class retoucher! Quality level 7 will give you great prints, provided viewer doesn't use a magnifying glass to look! However, you can select level 10, but I wouldn't go above 10.

               

              Saving an 8256x5504px file, bigger than yours, at quality 10 gives me a file that's less than 12MB

               

               

               

               

               

              Shangara SINGH.
              M
              Meranda5C84Author
              Participating Frequently
              November 16, 2023

              When I personally work on a document, I like it to be in Tiff or PNG....  as saving a jpg over and over, forget it.  You loose so much over time.  But, I figure, a final document, if it has to be compressed, with file limitations, perhaps an 11 or 10 might be as far as I could go.  Thank you for your advice here Shangara, I really value your time.

              M
              Meranda5C84Author
              Participating Frequently
              November 15, 2023

              This program keeps the DPI the same, and I am pretty sure they keep the BIT the same, but there are file limits on uploading files. 

               

               

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