Resizing in Photoshop

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I have been asked to cover a local event and supply a number of Jpg's to a printer for insertion into a magazine, they have requested this ( extract from their e mail)

In terms of specification, it would be great to have jpgs of at least 2 Mb in size, with a dpi of 300. An A4 cover image would ideally be at least 5 Mb. The easiest way to send the images to me would be via WeTransfer.

My question is this how do I resize in terms of Mb's - my camera produces RAW file of 6000 x 4000 pixels and a Mb size of 24.34 Mb - sorry if this is a dumb question?

Les
 
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The final size shroud be a 2:3, 300 ppi and A4? If so…
  1. open file(s) in PS
  2. select menu "image" > "image size" and fill the parameters in the boxes + OK
  3. save file(s) to destination
  4. Close file(s) BUT DO NOT SAVE if you want to keep the original(s)
Voilà! :cool:
 
I would add an extra step in Kodiak's workflow and that would be to duplicate the file after you open and work with the duplicate... saves worrying about overwriting your original.

A thought, rather than simply saving the file (depends on if they are asking for compressed or uncompressed file sizes) would be to use the 'legacy' save for web dialogue as you can set and optimise the file size.
 



I forgot to mention the CMYK colour space for painting in colours
 
Photoshop's Save for Web will give you the file size of the output image. It is below the preview of the image on the left. You adjust the Quality slider until the file size shown is acceptable.

Save for web will allow images up to 8000 pixels long, which is way more than what is needed for A4 at 300dpi.(2480 X 3508 px)
 
Thanks all- some very informative responses :)
 
I would add an extra step in Kodiak's workflow and that would be to duplicate the file after you open and work with the duplicate... saves worrying about overwriting your original.

A thought, rather than simply saving the file (depends on if they are asking for compressed or uncompressed file sizes) would be to use the 'legacy' save for web dialogue as you can set and optimise the file size.

Thank you - I shoot in RAW so I will always have the original RAW file to fall back on :)
 



The final size shroud be a 2:3, 300 ppi and A4? If so…
  1. open file(s) in PS
  2. select menu "image" > "image size" and fill the parameters in the boxes + OK
  3. save file(s) to destination
  4. Close file(s) BUT DO NOT SAVE if you want to keep the original(s)
Voilà! :cool:

Thank you I know how to do that- I think I may have worded the question incorrectly- what I need to know, is how to re-size images to make a 2Mb file size, as specified by the client?

Les
 
... what I need to know, is how to re-size images to make a 2Mb file size, as specified by the client?
Like this, perhaps?
Photoshop's Save for Web will give you the file size of the output image. It is below the preview of the image on the left. You adjust the Quality slider until the file size shown is acceptable.
 
Nothing in the email suggests that they want a 5mb file. That would be the ideal minimum they need for an A4 cover.
I’d just export a full size jpg at 300dpi and quality setting of 12 and you will be fine. Your camera may produce 23Mb files but the jpg won’t be anywhere near that size.
 
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Nothing in the email suggests that they want a 5mb file. That would be the minimum they need for an A4 cover.
I’d just export a full size jpg at 300dpi and you will be fine. Your camera may produce 23Mb files but the jpg won’t be anywhere near that size.


yes it does
 
yes it does

No I’d doesn’t. It says the want a file of at least 2Mb but ideally at least 5Mb for an A4 cover.

No printer needs an exact file size, they just need to ensure that the file you send them is at least large enough for a quality print at a certain size. If you send a larger file, that’s fine.
 
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No I’d doesn’t. It says the want a file of at least 2Mb but ideally at least 5Mb for an A4 cover.

No printer needs an exact file size, they just need to ensure that the file you send them is at least large enough for a quality print at a certain size. If you send a larger file, that’s fine.

sorry If I came across in a bad way :) the remit is around 50/100 images of the certificate presentations and social event that follows, one image in portrait mode will be use as a cover for their magazine,

I'll just send full sized 6000 x 4000 pixel jpgs I think


Thanks all for the advice :
 
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sorry If I came across in a bad way :) the remit is around 50/100 images of the certificate presentations and social event that follows, one image in portrait mode will be use as a cover for their magazine,

I'll just send full sized 6000 x 4000 pixel jpgs I think


Thanks all for the advice :

if you do want to reduce the file sizes then all you really need to be concerned about is the pixel dimensions.
The brief requires an image for a maximum of an A4 print at 300dpi.

A4 is 8.27" x 11.69"

8.27" x 300dpi = 2481px
11.69 x 300dpi = 3507px

So if you resize your images to 2481 x 3507 (or thereabouts depending on the image ratio) you will reduce the file size and also have sufficient pixels for an A4 print. The file sizes will still vary from image to image as no two images are the same. An image with large areas of a similar tone (eg. Low key or high key image) will be quite a bit smaller than a more complex image with many colours and shades due to how the compression algorithm work.
 
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Have you been asked to convert the files to CMYK too? If not, and they are doing that, they'll presumably resize at the same time. I'd probably be inclined to clarify with them exactly what needs to be supplied. Having said that, if you want to be in complete control of the images, you may be better off converting them to CMYK yourself as the difference between an RGB and CMYK file can be quite alarming. They may just convert and hope for the best due to the time it will take to re-jig the colour in PS and the output can be quite different to the supplied image due to the reduced gamut of colour in the CMYK space.
 
if you do want to reduce the file sizes then all you really need to be concerned about is the pixel dimensions.
The brief requires an image for a maximum of an A4 print at 300dpi.

A4 is 8.27" x 11.69"

8.27" x 300dpi = 2481px
11.69 x 300dpi = 3507px

So if you resize your images to 2481 x 3507 (or thereabouts depending on the image ratio) you will reduce the file size and also have sufficient pixels for an A4 print. The file sizes will still vary from image to image as no two images are the same. An image with large areas of a similar tone (eg. Low key or high key image) will be quite a bit smaller than a more complex image with many colours and shades due to how the compression algorithm work.

Thank you Elliot, a very useful bit of information, I intend to resize all JPG's to 3,500 pixels along the longest edge, which I believe will fulfil the clients needs, they asked for JPG's to a minimum of 2Mb and 5mb for the magazine cover.

My remit, to photograph staff members - Area Managers - Directors receiving/giving award certificates on a small low stage, general casual shots of members chatting and enjoying the afternoon buffet etc.

Equipment I'll be using: Sony a99 DSLR ,24-70mm f2.8. 16-50mm f2.8, 70-200mm f2.8 and 35mm f1.8 a couple of flash guns with wireless triggers etc

Have you been asked to convert the files to CMYK too? If not, and they are doing that, they'll presumably resize at the same time. I'd probably be inclined to clarify with them exactly what needs to be supplied. Having said that, if you want to be in complete control of the images, you may be better off converting them to CMYK yourself as the difference between an RGB and CMYK file can be quite alarming. They may just convert and hope for the best due to the time it will take to re-jig the colour in PS and the output can be quite different to the supplied image due to the reduced gamut of colour in the CMYK space.

No I was just asked for JPG's no colour profile was mentioned, I will give them a call on Monday to clarify the situation, thank you for mentioning that :)

Les
 
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I get File - Export -save for web ( Legacy)

I'm using Photoshop CC

Les
 
I would simply (!) do any colour corrections etc. necessary (or shoot in raw+JPEG - the SOOC JPEGs might be good enough and need no time spent on conversion/correction) and Save As JPEG at the highest quality (12) as you seem to be planning to do anyway (post #15). Don't forget that they'll want/need portrait for full page shots such as the cover. Don't worry about resizing to A4, let them decide on the exact crop they want to use (you might prefer to include less sky but they might want a relatively clear area for some text) - the A series is not 2:3. If you feel the need to crop to the exact size for A4, it's 210mm x 297mm.
 
I would simply (!) do any colour corrections etc. necessary (or shoot in raw+JPEG - the SOOC JPEGs might be good enough and need no time spent on conversion/correction) and Save As JPEG at the highest quality (12) as you seem to be planning to do anyway (post #15). Don't forget that they'll want/need portrait for full page shots such as the cover. Don't worry about resizing to A4, let them decide on the exact crop they want to use (you might prefer to include less sky but they might want a relatively clear area for some text) - the A series is not 2:3. If you feel the need to crop to the exact size for A4, it's 210mm x 297mm.

Thanks Nod, I shoot RAW and will be just doing the colour corrections if required- saving as a high quality 6000 x 4000 pixel jpg- I'll leave the cropping to them :)

Les
 
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