Resizing Your Images For DA

Thought that I would take a few minutes here and write this, especially after the evidence that basically presented itself on one of my latest shots. I have had this conversation a few times now with a few folks who don't understand why resizing your images is best for DA. It is, quite simple as this, if you honestly want your photographs to look the absolute best possible, you will NOT upload full size images that are presented as deviations that people see inside their message centers. Yes it creates an extra file on your hard drive, because you must downsize 'for the web', but honestly, do you want your images to look the best that they can, or not?

I want to direct you all to a conversation that myself and NicolasAlexanderOtto had on one of my photographs here I NEVER upload full size images to DA and let DA choose the size it is displayed at. EVER. But lately on a few shots I have had to do just that very thing, as it is required for the Sony Photo Contest (insert sad face here) When I prepare my images for DA this is my exact workflow with uploading images.

A) When original full size file is edited, in Photoshop (or any editing program for that matter) I choose "file > save as". I then save it to a folder that is all full size images that are used as a prints source file.

B) I then take that original file (being as I just saved it) and I resize it and sharpen it accordingly for the web. I usually choose about 900px longest for landscape orientation and 750px longest for portrait orientation. (I won't go into web sharpening here as there are about a bazillion different methods..upcoming journal for that) After I have it at that size, I choose again, "file > save as". I then browse to a different folder that is all websize images and save it there.

C) When I log in to DA and want to upload an image I submit the websize image, as that image is the one that is ready to be viewed in peoples message centers. I make 100% sure that down below I select "View as original size" for the deviation. After that is uploaded, I then upload the full size prints file.  I am presented with a screen that asks me if i wish to submit a print, click yes, and click where it says "Adjust image" and choose your prints source file that is in the que, select, done.

A little evidence and thought. If you let DA resize your images, you are essentially saying "I don't want them to look the best that they can look, and I want them to look soft". I hate to to completely blunt about it, but you are.

Let's examine things shall we?

This is the image on DA, that looks completely soft because I let DA choose the display size. And the difference is day and night.


Now here is that same image on my personal website which is hosted by zenfolio, where I let zenfolio do the resizing, it is a LOT better as I would expect it to be, but still not as I would like it.



Now here is the image that I resized myself inside Photoshop and sharpened for the web. As you can see, this compared to the first example is completely day and night, and IQ is a LOT better in this one.



In fact, let's take this even farther and actually compare the 1st and 3rd images side by side shall we? These are side by side screen caps compared, and apparently it isn't just a sharpening issue but also a color shift issue as well! Look at the top left of both photos...yikes! That is pretty huge how the image on DA is color shifting!



I think that is pretty clear as day and night right there. Don't you? Don't upload full size resolutions and let DA choose the size that people see them at, just say no, it softens your shots and makes them look awful. Truth! It's what's for breakfast this Monday morning!

Johnny