You can also do a 'save for the web' instead of a 'save as' if you want - the only differences is that the EXIF is stripped in the 'save for the web' option as far as I can see, file sizes will be very similar in both methods.
It may produce much smaller file sizes for you but it most certainly does not for me and I have tried it thousands of times (especially when I was starting out) - assuming the jpeg compression is the same for each file then all you would save is the EXIF data which is negligible. As I see it the main difference is when you use 'save for the web' the programme determines the amount of compression depending on some simple selections but when you use 'Save as' you are in full control of the amount of compression (e.g. file size).Roy C - thanks for reiterating my suggestions.
In my limited experience of saving for web, I don't think it's true to say that this method produces similar file sizes to using 'save as'. It will obviously depend on the size of the original image, but in my experience 'save for web' can produce much smaller file sizes.
Kevin, just a little tip if using 'save as' for a jpeg.As you reduce the jpeg quality there will be an indication of the file size somewhere on the screen, you need to be aware of this size and just carry on reducing the quality until the file size reaches what you want.Thanks Niels.
I've only used Save for web once (I did say I had limited experience!). I needed to get an image below a certain file size for uploading to a web page, and could not achieve this by using Save As, even with the maximum amount of compression possible. In desperation I tried Save for web and was pleasantly surprised that this achieved the file size easily.
As you suggest, it may have achieved this by reducing pixel number. I must check this when I'm next on the PC containing the images referred to.
Kevin
You are right about the auto conversion from 16 bit to 8 bit Thomas, it is the same in CS4 - You have to do a Image > Mode > 8 bits/channel, I have been doing this for so long that it has become second nature to me.Hi,
One rather big difference between Save of Web and Save As is that SoW will automatically convert 16-bit images to 8-bit. At least in CS2 you have to do that manually before using Save As if you want to save as JPEG. That said, I always use Save As for two reasons: 1) it offers me more control, and 2) I have experienced a couple of times that the resulting image was considerably duller and grayer when I used Save for Web compared to Save As. Interestingly, this has only happened when I have saved lager images (say 1200*800px) for slide shows, and not when I have save normal (900*600px) for the web...
Thomas
Kevin, just a little tip if using 'save as' for a jpeg.As you reduce the jpeg quality there will be an indication of the file size somewhere on the screen, you need to be aware of this size and just carry on reducing the quality until the file size reaches what you want.
If you are already fully conversant with the two methods then please ignore this post but your comment about not being able to reach a file size by using save as but it was easily achievable when using save for the web suggest to me that maybe a little help is in order.
Hope this helps.