Theodore!

[Iguanasan]

Does this qualify as a portrait?

Left side (Attached) -- Right side (PicasaWeb)



I really have to stop uploading images.

[Marko]

It's a very cute shot but not a portrait imo - and I see immediately how the right image is sharper.

Iggy - just curious - (right clicking show the direct file to be 35k and the picassa file to be 50k) What was the original JPG size BEFORE you uploaded directly? It WAS greater than 35k right?

I'm almost positive compression is the issue (because when I upload my own stuff it's sharp) and I'd love to a test in this thread by manipulating the board settings after you answer.

Many thanks - Marko

[Iguanasan]

Humor is a tad difficult on the web some times. (I knew it wasn't really a portrait) Have to add more smiley's next time

I uploaded from the office as I took this shot on the way to the office this morning but I'm reasonably certain it was in the 80K to 90K zone. I am quite sure it's because the board software resizes my photo for me. I just take my original in Picasa and export at 800 which is almost always bigger than 35K but usually less than 100K.

[Iguanasan]

Based on Picasa's resizing at home it was probably more like 170KB (the first example). Here's my test: 4 Images uploaded.

170KB -> 35.4 (800px wide)
121KB -> 120.3KB (640px wide)
79KB -> 79KB (480px wide)
44KB -> 43.6KB (320px wide)

Looks like if you stay under 125KB or so (640px wide) then the board doesn't resize the image and it looks fine. Maybe I just need to present smaller images?

[Marko]

Thank you Iggy for that demo that shows clear evidence that compression is the culprit.

The magic number is now 200K (I just increased it).

It was the automatic resizing of the image that was about 150K. that made them unsharp. Only images that exceeded that limit got whacked on the compression.

I've just upped it to 200k. This means so long as the image is around 197K (it uses a few K on the compression) or smaller, no compression should occur and you should see the same image as if you tossed it into any blank browser window.

Thx again - Marko

[AcadieLibre]

Just one comment, the right side of of the face is just way overexposed, distracts and throws the image way off balance. Nice photo but just to harsh of sunlight on the right side of the face.

[jjeling]

THANKS MARKO!!!! Now when I post images, I wont get yelled at for the image not being sharp enough, or colors desaturated, unless of course it is my fault. But Im perfect, so it must be the camera, or the computers..................................

[Iguanasan]

Just one comment, the right side of of the face is just way overexposed, distracts and throws the image way off balance. Nice photo but just to harsh of sunlight on the right side of the face.

It was the morning sun streaming across the harbour. If I increased the shutter or increased the f-stop the left side would have been too dark. Not sure how to handle that situation. I suppose a reflector would have been good but how big would the reflector had to have been?

Would some kind of filter work here? I now have an SLR so filters are now a real option? Would a polarizer have helped?

[Iguanasan]

Thank you Iggy for that demo that shows clear evidence that compression is the culprit.

My pleasure, Marko. I think to get something large enough the 200K limit is more reasonable. Most of my 800px wide resizes come in around 180K or so (at least the ones I did tonight). I will post more directly to the forum now! Thanks again for the extra space. Can I offer a donation for the extra hard drive space?

[Marko]

No donation is needed at this point but many thanks for the offer.

I think 200K is very reasonable but I can up it to 250k if needed. Personally I have almost never in my life uploaded any image greater than 150K because I want the images to look decent when viewed but bad when printed.

Thx
Marko