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JPEG Quality in Capture NX |
JPEG is Lossy: JPEG is a lossy photo format. Meaning that when a JPEG
is created, depending on the 'quality' setting you selected, the JPEG algorithm
is allowed to discard some photo quality in exchange for a (sometimes
dramatically) reduced file size.
And JPEG does a remarkable job -- a lot of photo information can be
discarded, while still maintaining a decent quality photo, resulting
in a small file size.
Quality vs Size: Given today's large hard drives and high speed
Internet, 'size' is no longer the top priority for me (like it was when
most web browsing was done via dial-up modems).
Instead quality is now my top priority, not file size.
Use Excellent Quality: Whenever I create a JPEG photo from within Capture NX
for use in a brochure, for a photo contest, etc, I always use 100%, 'Excellent Quality'
(see the dialog above right).
People who argue that a lower quality JPEG setting can be used instead
because the quality difference can rarely be seen -- are right. But
they are also totally missing the entire 'quality' point.
Anyone using the 'Excellent Quality' setting is looking to
produce the 'best quality' photo that can be produced, not a 'looks
like the best quality' photo.
Quality for the web: I find that a quality of 85% in NX results in good
compromise between file size and JPEG quality.
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