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Compressing without losing quality (Tutorial) (Read 1218 times)
Nov 10th, 2006 at 5:15pm

M.R.Maiornikov   Offline
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Hi guys.

Well after numerous requests for the SimV members about how i save my screenshots without loosing the initial quality, i decided to write this tutorial explaining the process.

Well let's begin.

First of all you'll need the following software:

1-Photoshop (http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/)

2-IrfanView (http://www.irfanview.com/)

Steps:

1-Well the first step i take is that i capture a screenshot using the "V" button in FSX. The screenshot are automatically stored in My Documents/My pictures/ Flight Simulator X folder.

2-Then i open them using photoshop programm. Then i resize the using the Image->Image Size option. (i usually resize my screenshots from 1280x1024  to 700x560 pixels)

3-Following that step, i save the resulting scrrenshot in a .PNG format (this will make it loose half of the file size while no graphical loss of the picture)

4-So now it's time to fire up the IrfanView programm.Start the programm and open the .PNG screenshot that you just saved. Next go to File->Save as and choose the JPG-JPEG file format. Now doing this you will see a small window appear. Here are the settings i use for that window:

...

5-Next go back to photoshop and open the .JPG screenshot that you just saved.

6-Now this is the most important part of all. How to save you screenshot within the 100k limit.Go to File and the you will see the option Save for web.Here's a screenshot:

...

7-Now click on it. You are suppose to get the following window:
...

8-Now on the top right tools panel you will see an arrow.

...

9-Click on it, it will bring another menu.Select Optimize for file size:

...

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10-Then just click save and save your screenshot.

Hope this will help you guys.


Wink


Here are just few examples:

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« Last Edit: Nov 11th, 2006 at 6:38am by Clipper »  

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Reply #1 - Nov 10th, 2006 at 5:31pm

Hagar   Offline
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I just spotted this. Hope you don't mind me butting in. I like the idea of the tute but if you have Photoshop I'm wondering why you need IrfanView. Your method seems a tad complicated unless there's some advantage to doing it that way.

While I'm about it, a lot of members here seem to use Photoshop. From what I understand it's very expensive* & not something most people could afford for processing a few screenshots. What's the secret?

*PS. £569.88. Shocked My camera cost less than that.
 

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Reply #2 - Nov 10th, 2006 at 5:38pm

M.R.Maiornikov   Offline
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Quote:
I just spotted this. Hope you don't mind me butting in. I like the idea of the tute but if you have Photoshop I'm wondering why you need IrfanView. Your method seems a tad complicated unless there's some advantage to doing it that way.

While I'm about it, a lot of members here seem to use Photoshop. From what I understand it's very expensive* & not something most people could afford for processing a few screenshots. What's the secret?

*PS. £569.88. Shocked My camera cost less than that.


Look my friend this tutorial was made for people who asked me how i save them.So i described my process simple as that. As for photoshop i got mine for virtually free.(great thing having a brother who studies in game design.)

also i find this comment really unnecessary, the same question could have been adressed by PM system.
 

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Reply #3 - Nov 10th, 2006 at 5:41pm

Hagar   Offline
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Quote:
Look my friend this tutorial was made for people who asked me how i save them.So i described my process simple as that. As for photoshop i got mine for virtually free.(great thing having a brother who studies in game design.)

also i find this comment really unnecessary, the same question could have been adressed by PM system.

Fine. Sorry I asked. I won't bother you again.
 

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Reply #4 - Nov 10th, 2006 at 5:59pm

Cobra   Offline
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Photoshop, Hagar, is stupidly expensive, and I would have to suspect most people running it have less than legitimate copies lol

I use photoshop Elements, which is a slightly cut down version, but came on my PC...think thats also quite a common way of getting it Smiley

And thanks for the tutorial M.R.Maiornikov, sure it will help a lot of people out.
 

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Reply #5 - Nov 10th, 2006 at 6:54pm

Alonso   Offline
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Will try it.... looks great that Photoshop method...
 

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Reply #6 - Nov 11th, 2006 at 3:43am

Theis   Offline
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And now write a freeware tutorial for us mortal people, that doesn't have £500.. Roll Eyes Roll Eyes
 

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Reply #7 - Nov 11th, 2006 at 4:23am

Mees   Offline
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Quote:
I use photoshop Elements, which is a slightly cut down version, but came on my PC...think thats also quite a common way of getting it Smiley





Same here.



Thanks for the tutorial M.R! Cheesy
 

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Reply #8 - Nov 11th, 2006 at 5:44am

MrJake2002   Offline
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Can't the whole thing be done on irfanview? I'm not fortunate enough to have photoshop.
 
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Reply #9 - Nov 11th, 2006 at 6:38am

Clipper   Offline
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Great tutorial M.R. I 'll give it a go and let you know how I made out. I'll put this thread in the "Library" as well.. Smiley
 

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Reply #10 - Nov 11th, 2006 at 6:59am

Ashar   Ex Member
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Excellent tut MR! I for one do own Photoshop and am readily available to give it a go Smiley
 
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Reply #11 - Nov 11th, 2006 at 6:59pm

Stormtropper   Offline
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For those of you with photoshop...just resize to 800x600, skip the infranview malarky, and go straight to the "save for web."

Swap view to 2-up or 4-up, and manually determine file size with the "Quality" box. Just keep on plugging in lower quality numbers until you get down under 100 kb (for the 2-up window, the image along with all its data, file size etc.., is the image on the right, and for the 4-up is the top right)...

It's common sense people, if file size becomes smaller, the image is compressed. Going through the .PNG and Infranview .JPG just screws with quality for no good reason, and the actual file size difference is, more than likely, non-existant.
 

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Reply #12 - Nov 11th, 2006 at 7:04pm

M.R.Maiornikov   Offline
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Quote:
For those of you with photoshop...just resize to 800x600, skip the infranview malarky, and go straight to the "save for web."

Swap view to 2-up or 4-up, and manually determine file size with the "Quality" box. Just keep on plugging in lower quality numbers until you get down under 100 kb (for the 2-up window, the image along with all its data, file size etc.., is the image on the right, and for the 4-up is the top right)...

It's common sense people, if file size becomes smaller, the image is compressed. Going through the .PNG and Infranview .JPG just screws with quality for no good reason, and the actual file size difference is, more than likely, non-existant.

well i don't know what your problem is, but if you don't believe in this tutorial then don't use it. I wrote it for people asking me how i save my images. Pure and simple. Also saying that everything i wrote here is pure crap just isn't polite of you.

also if you want to give advice, just start your own thread create your own images and write your own tutorial. I put great effort to make this and i don't need noone like you saying everything you do is bullshit. So...if you have a better way then start a new thread and write your own tutorial. Can't wait to read it....
 

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Reply #13 - Nov 11th, 2006 at 7:15pm

Stormtropper   Offline
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Oh believe me, I don't need this tutorial, I got my own 'lil method that has worked out quite well for me.

Yes, that wasn't very polite of me, but this is awfully arrogant of you to think that your method is completely flawless.

I'm just trying to save some people from the ditch that you're digging for them. No biggie...
 

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Reply #14 - Nov 11th, 2006 at 7:21pm

M.R.Maiornikov   Offline
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Quote:
Oh believe me, I don't need this tutorial, I got my own 'lil method that has worked out quite well for me.

Yes, that wasn't very polite of me, but this is awfully arrogant of you to think that your method is completely flawless.

I'm just trying to save some people from the ditch that you're digging for them. No biggie...

man what is your problem the only person arrogant here is you, saying that you have your lil methode but refusing to share it with us. Atleast i try to help people out.So who's really arrogant here. And i didn't say my method is flawless. Like stated many times i just wrote to explain to people how i save my screenshots becausethey asked me to do it.

un frikin believable, the people in this world. Acusing you for trying to help others. Just unbelievable.
 

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