Well who knew! I've been uploading at 500x500.... sorry to make everyone squint, lol!!

Well shoot - I'm very confused now!!! I've never noticed what percentage it saves at. I just save with enough pixels that it doesn't go above 150. Sometimes it's around 600x600, sometimes more, sometimes less. So, what percentage should I go with so that my lo's aren't blurry? I have noticed that my lo's seem blurry online and I'll bet that's what's causing it - ARGHHHH!! Can someone just talk me through the websaving process? Especially the optimize part.

I usually first change the image size to 72 dpi in photoshop elements 7. After that, the lo usually looks really, really small on my workspace. I then go to "save for web" and change the format from gif to jpg and fiddle around with the size until the total file size is under 150 so it doesn't exceed what the site allows (usually ending up between 550 x 550 and 650 x 650).

I upload at 600 x 600 because I thought that is what you were supposed to... Guess I never really thought about it!

I use PSE 5 and just do the save for web - then change the size to 600 x 600 and adjust the quality until the size of the file is just under 150. I don't think my images are too blurry. Hope that helps! :)

Kelli, you're doing an extra step by changing the image size to 72 dpi before going into "save for web" - that will change it automatically for you.

I follow this tut from Jessica Sprague
http://spraguelab.squarespace.com/bl...r-the-web.html

On that Jessica Sprague site, she changes the file to 72dpi first also. But Bree, you are saying that when you "save for web", it will automatically change it to 72?

Yep, it's what the "save for web" feature does first and foremost...changes to 72 dpi. :)

That's actually an updated version of the one that I follow. Lemme go run the action I have and see what order it does things......

Huh. Well my action does change it to 72 dpi first. Oh well. LOL!

You have a specific action that saves for web? huh...cool! So, I do or I don't need to change to 72 dpi first?

You don't, Kelli. Just go "save for web" (it may give you a warning about the size, you can just click through that) and then in there change the size to 600x600 and optimize to file size, changing from GIF to JPG. HTH!

Can I be uninformed and just ask....What does "unsharpen" do and how do you get it to "unsharpen?" Is it a tool in PS or PSE??

I'm so confused!

It won't let me do anything over 400x400. what am I doing wrong?

LMAO!

I do 600, as well.

Unsharpen is a filter tool, but it actually DOES sharpen. I forget why they call it unsharpen instead.

I have CS2 so I do filter>sharpen>unsharp mask
I use the all around general good time settings of 85%, radius 1, threshold 4.

Ditto

Which program are you using Kristin?

Oh no- I've been doing 500x500, even for my shop previews- I'll be changing that to 600x600 though! lol! :p

I hadn't realised how much I was winging it - like Kelli, I was just reducing sizes until under the 150kb limit and had no clue about (un)sharpening etc.

I'm going to have to reread this thread for the next pics I plan to upload!

I have a feeling I'm only using Photoshop at about 15% of its potential - may be I should dig out the instruction manual...

Sara, don't feel bad! I don't think anyone ever gets to a point where they know 100% of photoshop, lol. I just happened across a similar topic many moons ago over at DST, and have been doing it Jessica's way ever since.

Okay, now I'm on a mission to get the best results possible for viewing pleasure!!! :thumbup:

Until I read a post from Dani on her CT board, I was just shrinking to 72 dpi and not paying attention to the size. And, I always optimized to file size of 100.

This morning, {thanks to you guys} I tried uploading both ways. I tried shrinking to 72, resizing to 600x600, optimizing to file size 150 and unsharp masking (with Col's 85%, 4, and 1).

Here's the difference:

OLD Way:
https://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com...2009-_web_.jpg

New Way:
https://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com...p-mask_-15.jpg

I can totally see the difference in clarity.

What do you guys think??

Woooohoooooo! I love school!

Yup! Way better!! Unsharp mask is awesoooooooooooooooome, lol.

Ok, when do you do the unsharp mask? Before you do the "save for web" or after? If you do it after, then you've already saved it for web and you have to reopen it and resave it right?

You do it as the last step before "save for web".

total difference!!!! i love unsharp mask!!!

Here's an action I made to resize 600x600 (I THINK..if it's 500x500 lemme know and I'll upload my other one) and use the unsharp mask. I use it all the time. I'm lazy so if it's something that is repetitive I'll make an action to make it easier. It will flatten all your layers too when you run it :)

http://www.4shared.com/file/67643701...eSharpen2.html

Thank you for the action Meg..

I was saving 500x500.. but recently changed to 600x600. I must be doing something wrong with the unsharp mask because it seems pixelated to me when I unsharp then save for web. I dunno.. I def see a difference in the above LO. I guess I'll play around.

I do 600x600, but because I love lots of layers, sometimes its too big for the sites and then I go down until it will upload like on my Love to Shop LO today. Never thought of doing an unsharpen on it. Interesting.

Thanks for this Col! I tried it and I think I like it better than what I do. I just use the Smart Sharpen Filter.

Oh, thank you so much for that action Meghan!! I practiced it with it last night and it worked out great!!

No problem Susan :)
I've pretty much only seen the unsharp mask used to get things a touch sharper. If you read a lot of photography stuff, they refer to "defogging" or they defog a picture. That's the same as running the unsharp mask.

Woot!! Thanks for the action, Meghan!!!

I'm going to sound a bit out of the loop here, but how do you install that action in PSE? I've installed lots of actions for my photos before, but I always put them in the photo effects folder. I can't decide which folder this action needs to go into??

If anyone has a clue, could you hook a sister up??

Thanks, ladies!

Girls, I'm here to thank you! This unsharp mask thing totally works great! :)
I'm changing my way to save LO's for web starting today. In fact, I'll apply the filter in all my "for web" LO's I have in my machine. Just b/c it works great and I'll love to see the change in my pages LOL

I use PSP (12) and there's a unsharp mask filter too. I didn't use this until today and what difference it makes! More clear / less pixelated.
I just change the LO to 72 dpi and automatically the size changes to 576x576 and I save. But now I'll apply the unsharp mask filter. SO easy to do!!
You're all so smart! Thanks!


xoxo

600x600. always. even with a zillion layers. low quality sucks, but that's the size my CTs ask for when making ads or using them for store previews. ;)

i've always ran the unsharp mask on my photos (among other photo-editing processes), but not the entire layout. *shrug* i'm happy with them and that's what counts, right? :)

I havent read all through this post but wanted to make a mention that a little boost in saturation prevents the colours from dulling on web saves also.

Image>Adjustments>Hue/Saturation and move the Saturation (middle slider) up (to the right) just a smidge - somewhere between +5 and +9 is about all you need
Feel free to experiment - everyone has there own taste!

Cool, Sue! Thanks for that little tip!

The action I have saves the files at 512 - why? I dunno. It's just what it does. I need to update it to 600 so I can be like all the other cool kids around here LOL!