Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Resolution

May 2, 2005 1:21AM PDT

A few months ago, I started a thread in this forum concerning Resolution. I could not understand why pictures taken on a 7.2 megapixel camera were pixelating on my monitor. I received lots of very clever detailed advice, some of which was way over my head. I solved the problem by changing from my photo editing software of choice, to Adobe Photoshop 6.
I now think I know what the problem was. My editing software of choice was MGI Photosuite 4, because it is simple to use (designed for the home user), and I was used to it. However, in the programme properties, there is a box labled "compress contents to save disc space". Even though this box is not ticked, when I download a picture of, for example 3.1mb, the software reduces this to 0.8mb. I have tried it a number of times with the box ticked, and not ticked, and it makes no difference. There is apparently a glitch in the software.
I just thought the less knowledgable amongst you would appreciate knowing the answer to a puzzling problem. It's not allways the idiot operating the computer that is at fault. Sometimes it's the computer! (Or is it?)

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Actually, the computer is not at fault. It is doing what it
May 2, 2005 3:02AM PDT

is told. It's the program that is at fault. I know that's what you meant, but we all too often blame the wrong things without thinking about it.

- Collapse -
Resolution
May 2, 2005 8:06AM PDT

Thanks for the feedback.

The adjustment the sofware was doing, was to the .jpg compression.
You found out why it is also called a quality adjustment.

I think you will like Photoshop much better.

...
..
.

- Collapse -
If it was using a jpeg, Photoshop can do this also. Probably
May 2, 2005 3:08PM PDT

your camera is storing pictures as jpegs. Photoshop will read these in OK, but it will leave them as jpegs. If you save the file from with Photoshop, it will compress the file a second time and your photo will slowly deteriorate.

Use the 'SAVE AS' command. Then tell Photoshop to save it as either a TIFF or a PSD file. Neither of these will throw away image data when they save it. Be sure to use the 'no compression' setting if you save as a TIF.

- Collapse -
Resolution
May 3, 2005 10:19PM PDT

Thanks, Kidpeat, for info. I tried "save as" command and saved file to Tif.. File size jumped from approx 3.1mp up to above 20mp. I probably don't have enough hard drive to store pictures of this size. I think (?) the camera Jpeg had reduced the 20mp down to 3.1mp, which I was happy with. And, as you say, it was the programme, not the computer, that was reducing it from 3.1mp to 0.8mp