How to Save Images - SBB Digital Scrapbooking Forums | Scrapbook-Bytes

tootsem · #1 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006

I'm using PhotoShop Elements but I'm not quite sure how to save JPEG's. It gives so many options for image options, format options, size, quality, a slider from small to large, etc. I plan to sell my images on my digital scrapbooking website. Could someone please let me know how I should be saving these files? Thank you!
Hi Everyone and thanks for your help. In answer to your questions to help me, I hope to have a digital scrapbooking webite and sell my images for digital scrapbooking. I have been saving my backgrounds as JPEG's, but don't know if I need to save them the maximum file size, baseline, progressive, etc. I have also been saving my elements as png's, and both png's and jpeg's as 300, so I'm okay there, but I'm not sure what image option and format option to save the jpeg's in. I have not seen that people create or use tiffs for digital scrapbooking, maybe that's something new? I use PhotoShop Elements 3.0 and Digital Image Pro. Thanks for any help you can give me on the jpeg's.

arti-bytes · #2 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006

Which version of PSE are you using?
And are you planning on selling your items as digital scrpbooking kits or web graphics?

If you are just getting started, you may want to check out our tutorials for both Photoshop and Photshop Elements. It is a great resource, and will find all of the answers you need.

Pesto126 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006

You'll need to do a bit more than just save your files as jpegs if you want to sell them to people... scrappers want pngs for transparency. If you are selling digital images.. people will want them in TIFF format for uncompressed glory.

More info will help us help you.. let us know.

shelleyrae · #4 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006

You can check out our element submission guidelines and our article Why 300ppi for nfomation on "standards" for digital scrapbook products.
To sum it up the industry standards are,
All digital elements, papers etc at 300ppi
Elements requiring transparency must be in png format 300ppi
Papers in JPG - compression 10 or higher - 300ppi

Tif isnt used because of file size.

arti-bytes · #5 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006

Thanks for adding more details.

You want baseline optimized for the jpgs, and saved at maximum file size since PSE only goes up to the 10 quality level. (CS2 goes up to a 12 level).

For my own items, I actually do create and save as tiff files, but use jpgs and pngs for the items that are sold to customers and/or given at chats for a posting bonus. Layered tiff files and layered psd files are currently being used when selling the layered templates.

Another thing you want to be certain to do is callibrate your monitor, as there is a big difference in what you see and what your customers will see if you skip this step.

Good luck, and don't forget to submit some freebies to the downloads section to gain some recognition from all the scrappers here at the site.

tootsem · #6 (**permalink**) 11-21-2006

Thank you Colleen and everyone else who answered my questions. Unfortunately, I've been saving my jpeg's incorrectly, but going forward, I'll be sure to save them maximum size and optimized.

cybermom · #7 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006

i disagree heartily with the idea that files must be saved at maximum size in PSE. Your best bet to convince yourself of this is to save at 10, 9, and 8 and then print a little swatch of it (around 4"x4" should do it) to see for yourself when the compression results in a "lossy" image, e.g. one that shows a degradation of quality. I routinely save at 8-9 compression because I don't think I need 8 MB for a piece of patterned paper and the old hard drive fills up WAY too fast with such huge files. My papers are rarely over 4 MB. My prints look as got as my screen; in fact I am always super excited to see my papers and elements in print! As far as .pngs go, this file format is just used for elements or thing that have transparency to them -- not sheets of paper.

arti-bytes · #8 (**permalink**) 11-22-2006

If you are selling an item, you want to be certain that it is the best quality possible for the end user's use. What looks or prints non-lossy on your system, may not look or print the same on your customer's computer.

I am really noticing this with my new computer as it has much better video card than my previous computers, even tho the old computers also had top-end graphics cards. I am amazed at the visual difference in papers and elements and photographs that looked perfectly fine on the older computers.

Printing a swatch will help, as long as you have a top-end printer capable of out-putting to 300ppi files.

The main thing I am trying to say, is that if you try to make your products at the highest standards, chances are you will have more success in selling your products and build up a nice little base of return customers who were happy with their initial purchases.