PSD vs BMP vs JPG when printing

CH
Posted By
Candace_Harris
Apr 23, 2004
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2160
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25
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I thought I understood that saving an image as a PSD was the best while still working on the image, due to JPG… file compression producing a lossy image. But today I saw in one of the tutorials that I should save in BMP format if still working on photo??????. In addition, I’m not sure if it is best to print finished image in the PSD format or would JPG produce the same results? Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
Candace

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TD
Thee_DarkOverLord
Apr 23, 2004
For print the best option by far is 300 dpi, cmyk Tiff.
CW
Colin_Walls
Apr 23, 2004
How are you printing?
T_DO’s answer assumes an external print shop.

If you are printing yourself from PS, the format has no effect on the printing as it’s already in the program.

BMP has no advantage, as it’s either compressed [so has the drawbacks of JPEG] or not, which would probably make it bigger than a PSD [which has some non-lossy compression.

Good guidelines [IMHO]:
Keep files in locally PSD if at all possible.
To send elsewhere, use PSD if you can; next choice is TIFF, but if you have a low-bandwidth means of transfer, you might need to resort to JPEG.
For th eWeb use JPEG for photos and GIF for graphics [with limited range of colours].
RL
Robert_Levine
Apr 23, 2004
For print the best option by far is 300 dpi, cmyk Tiff.

That’s a decent rule of thumb for press, but there are quite a few other ways to print. BTW, if you’re using InDesign PSD is actually easier. You only need one file.

Bob
PA
Peter Aitken
Apr 23, 2004
wrote in message
I thought I understood that saving an image as a PSD was the best while
still working on the image, due to JPG… file compression producing a lossy image. But today I saw in one of the tutorials that I should save in BMP format if still working on photo??????. In addition, I’m not sure if it is best to print finished image in the PSD format or would JPG produce the same results? Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
Candace

BMP is fine because, like PSD (and unlike JPG), it is loss-free. But PSD is usually preferred because it preserves all the Photoshop goodies like layers.

For your own working images there is never, as far as I know, any reason to save in a format other than PSD.


Peter Aitken

Remove the crap from my email address before using.
RW
Rene_Walling
Apr 23, 2004
BMP has no advantage, as it’s either compressed [so has the drawbacks of JPEG] or not, which would probably make it bigger than a PSD [which has some non-lossy compression.

Since when is BMP compression lossy???

BMP has several drawbacks, it can cause problems whn trying to import in Quark, it can’t keep an ICC profile, but lossy compression isn’t one of them AFAIK

Candace: the best file format, resolution and colour mode is the one your printer/service bureau wants.

Thee Dark One’s rule of thumb is pretty good for press (though I personally refer EPS files), I would just add that you should always embed the ICC profile
DN
DS_Nelson
Apr 23, 2004
BMP does not support layers, correct?
CC
Chris_Cox
Apr 23, 2004
Correct – only PSD, TIFF and PDF can support layers.
RL
Robert_Levine
Apr 23, 2004
(though I personally refer EPS files)

Why? Unless you’re using spot colors, there’s really no need.

I would just add that you should always embed the ICC profile

For CMYK? Again, why?

Bob
RW
Rene_Walling
Apr 23, 2004
Bob,

I prefer eps files, because when printing from Quark (yes, Buko, I know I should get out of the dark ages, tell that to our customers), Quark rewrites TIFF files and drops the profile, thus screwing up my CM workflow. EPS also imports faster and makes for smaller Quark files.

I want the profile embedded because when I need to reopen the file, I want to know where it’s coming from (colour wise) again because of my workflow.
RL
Robert_Levine
Apr 23, 2004
Well, I suppose if you’re stuck with Quark… 😉

Bob
KL
Katherine_Lawson
Apr 24, 2004
When I hear people say that they are using Quark, I just say with a derogatory tone: "Oh, you’re still using that program"????
I
ID._Awe
Apr 24, 2004
What is this kick Quark BS. Yeah, yeah, they’re losing the race with InDesign with all the extras, but Quark still is a great program.

Just went through this in the ID forum and interestingly, several Quarks spun free of the ID black hole for a few seconds.

Oops, wrong forum, now where is that Quark forum again?
MM
Mac_McDougald
Apr 24, 2004
Best not at the job interview.

Mac
WD
Walter Donavan
Apr 24, 2004
Save in PSD. Print in anything on your inkjet printer. Otherwise, ask your printer or publisher. I have a publisher who insists on JPEG.

I use BMP at home because it is simple and lossless (it doesn’t lose any bits; I’m not talking about color profiles or layers) and other programs can open it.

I like Quark. It’s simple and friendly. As an amateur, I don’t have to like Adobe’s layout products.


Walter Donavan
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It’s much cheaper than Amazon or B&N.)
CH
Candace_Harris
Apr 24, 2004
Thanks everyone for the help. But can you tell me if the quality of the image is greatly reduced if you convert image from PSD to JPEG before you print? These are really Old family photo’s of my great grandparents and the restoration took a lot of work. Thanks again.
Candace
P
Phosphor
Apr 24, 2004
"But can you tell me if the quality of the image is greatly reduced if you convert image from PSD to JPEG before you print?"

YES. You can get kind-of OK printing…sometimnes quite good. But. why not print directly from the PSD or TIFF file—if you have that—where you’ll have much more control over the print output? If you did THAT much restoration work, SURELY you have the PSD files to work from?

Old family photos? I assume you’re scanning them? You should have an option to scan directly as a TIFF from your scanners software, am I correct? Or is you scanner and software not really up to "Professional Grade"? (I don’t mean that to sound snooty, I’m just trying to goad you into revealing a bit more about your skills-level, your workflow, and what you are actually able to use as a beginning file from those photos).
MM
Mac_McDougald
Apr 24, 2004
See Phos’ reply.

Converting to JPEG can range anywhere from no visible difference to a flat-out terrible image, all depends on how you do it.

But why do it at all for this purpose?

Mac
P
Phosphor
Apr 24, 2004
Candace…

Please post a link to the tutorial (if it’s online) where you were instructed to save an image as a BMP formatted file. It really makes no sense at all to do that, but perhaps there is some information you’re leaving out that might put that instruction into better context.
QP
Q_Photo
Apr 24, 2004
Candace,
How are you printing the pictures? Inkjet conected to your computer? At the Walmart? How? Where?
CH
Candace_Harris
Apr 24, 2004
Hi Phos,
No offense taken. Appreciate the input. Just trying to learn. My skill level: I’m a greenhorn….about a year now…..self taught…by the bootstraps, books and forums.
My scanner is DEFINITELY not professional grade.Wish it was. $$$ went into purchasing my computer and PS7. Don’t laugh now………It’s a One Touch Visioneer 5800usb….but was better than nothing.
Now to the why JPEG and not PSD……..When I try to print from PS my photo is centered. I see no options to move it to the corner and have tried several suggestions which are not available as far as I can see. One was to move it in the print preview……..well I don’t see anyway to do this. This would waste a lot of paper. The few easy to use printing programs I have………well when I try to open my photo’s in them only the JPEG’s are available to me.
Last for as to the link……..I found it in RetouchPro forums……Tried to re-find today but too many postings….sorry and yes I’m sure I probably did miss a few things.
Any more suggestions would be appreciated. I’m anxious to print! Candace
CW
Colin_Walls
Apr 24, 2004
When I try to print from PS my photo is centered. I see no options to move it to the corner and have tried several suggestions which are not available as far as I can see. One was to move it in the print preview……..well I don’t see anyway to do this

Well, look a bit harder. It is really quite simple. In the print preview, just uncheck the centered option and set the position inches or just drag it to where you want.
CH
Candace_Harris
Apr 25, 2004
Colin,
I stand corrected. Thank you.
DN
DS_Nelson
Apr 25, 2004
Candace, don’t feel bad. I didn’t know that trick until about 3 days ago when it was mentioned here.
CH
Candace_Harris
Apr 25, 2004
Thanks DS.
SS
Suellen_Stewart
Apr 25, 2004
Candace,
Now that you’ve been pointed in the right direction to achieve what you want in Photoshop, this may be superfluous, but I would also like to recommend an easy, inexpensive little program from ACD Systems called FotoSlate. When you want to quickly and easily print multiple images of different sizes on one page, you can’t beat it, and it uses tif files and produces nice quality inkjet prints.

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