Ordering prints on line - Should i send RAW or JPeg?

[Deano]

I have a Canon EOS400D and have it set so that it takes a RAW image and a JPeg. As i want to order a few prints on line i just wondered which type i should send. I know the RAW image will take longer to upload but is it worth doing?

 

[redhed17]

Hello Deano, I would imagine most if not all photo developers would not take a RAW file for printing, online or not, apart from anything else they would need extra software to read the file. Also, to read the image as it was taken, it would probably need manufacturer specific software too. One of the main reasons for shooting a RAW file is that you can adjust the image after capture, if you aren't going to take advantage of that, then you may as well shoot in jpeg.

Online developers will print from jpeg and most probably tiff files. For maximum quality, it would be best to save the adjusted RAW file to a tiff file, though if the prints you are planning are around 6x4 or 7x5, then that extra information would be wasted. A good/high quality jpeg either straight out of the camera, or saved from the adjusted RAW file would be more than good enough for those print sizes.

Hope that helps. Sorry to waffle, but I can't get asleep.

 

[Wile E. coyote]

Think most of them will only accept Jpeg of Tiff files. As long as it is saved at the maximum Jpeg setting the quality will be more than good enough for a print of A3 size for your camera.

 

[EOS_JD]

I have a Canon EOS400D and have it set so that it takes a RAW image and a JPeg. As i want to order a few prints on line i just wondered which type i should send. I know the RAW image will take longer to upload but is it worth doing?

Edit the RAW file (using the appropriate software) and export as a jpg. Send that jpg to the printer - not the original