I've never really experienced a mushiness problem with downsized files. It seems that if one starts with a nice sharp, high-res image, it's hard to wreck it by making it smaller. I had to downsize some 72 meg tiffs for web use this weekend. I tried doing it with Bicubic, Bicubic Smoother, and Bicubic Sharper. The three resulting jpegs (13 inches on the long side, 72dpi) were identical to my eye, even when wearing my glasses :-). But since the consensus appears to be that Bicubic Sharper is better for downsizing, I'll continue to use it, while using Bicubic Smoother for upsizing. Paul
> Hi, > > When the file size is reduced in one step, using Bicubic or Bicubic > Sharper, there is no mushiness. It's only when reducing by steps, or > increments, did the mushiness appear. Focus Magic is an interesting > program, but I'd much rather use good Photoshop techniques and implement > them well than to rely on plug-ins and programs to do the work for me. > Since posting the original question I've learned a couple of techniques > that can only improve the quality of reduced files without having to rely > on outside programs or plug-ins, and which also allow for very precise > local sharpening, contrast control, and the like. > > Thanks for your suggestion. For now, at least, I'll pass on it. > > Shel > > > > [Original Message] > > From: Lon Williamson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Date: 11/15/2004 2:45:09 AM > > Subject: Re: OT: Reducing File Size with Photoshop > > > > Here's a neat trick: Reduce the file size in one big > > mushy step, then use Focus Magic. It does a very nifty > > job of demushing in this situation. > > > > Shel Belinkoff wrote: > > > > > I recently heard that the best way to reduce a large file to one that's > > > substantially smaller is by using a step-by-step process rather than > just > > > making the reduction in one step. I've numerous 4000ppi scanned B&W film > > > images of about 40mb and I want to reduce it to 100ppi with a wide > > > dimension of 800-900 pixels. Does anyone know what the procedure is for > > > doing a step-by-step reduction? I tried it by going from 4000ppi to > > > 2000ppi to 1000ppi, etc., but the results were soft and mushy. Is > there a > > > better way to reduce the size and rez of such files? > > > > > > Shel > >
