Best practice for uploading photos

[bobrandklev]

Currently I use Elements and upload to SmugMug via the built in menus in Elements.

Problems are the key words don't transfer properly and I shoot in RAW mode so I'm uploading RAW .cs2 files to SmugMug.

Is the best practice to export the photos I'm going to upload to .jpg and then I can rename the files to help with key words. Then upload using one of the upload tools? Will these tools help me set key words, captions, watermarks if wanted and pricing or do I have to login and change these?

[Andy]

PSE is not actually uploading a RAW file, it's still JPG :deal

Your saved JPG in PSE should carry keyword, and caption, up to SmugMug, if you use the built-in uploader within PSE or if you upload via any of the other SmugMug uploaders.

I like the ease of use & reliability of "Simple" myself.

[bobrandklev]

PSE is not actually uploading a RAW file, it's still JPG :deal

Your saved JPG in PSE should carry keyword, and caption, up to SmugMug, if you use the built-in uploader within PSE or if you upload via any of the other SmugMug uploaders.

I like the ease of use & reliability of "Simple" myself.

Ok but when I look at a photo and click "Photo Info" they are all .CR2 or .PSD files. When I crop or color change any image I save as a .PSD file.

Are they really jpg files?

[Andy]

Ok but when I look at a photo and click "Photo Info" they are all .CR2 or .PSD files. When I crop or color change any image I save as a .PSD file.

Are they really jpg files?
If you save it as a jpg it will be.

[jfriend]

Ok but when I look at a photo and click "Photo Info" they are all .CR2 or .PSD files. When I crop or color change any image I save as a .PSD file.

Are they really jpg files?

You don't seem to understand. Your files in Elements are whatever you save them as. .CR2 or .PSD sounds like what you are using, but when you upload them to Smugmug, the code knows that Smugmug only accepts JPEGs so it probably makes a temporary copy and converts that to JPEG for the purposes of the upload.

[bobrandklev]

You don't seem to understand. Your files in Elements are whatever you save them as. .CR2 or .PSD sounds like what you are using, but when you upload them to Smugmug, the code knows that Smugmug only accepts JPEGs so it probably makes a temporary copy and converts that to JPEG for the purposes of the upload.

I understand but I think everyone's missed my first question:
"Is the best practice to export the photos I'm going to upload to .jpg..."

I also think you should click on this link and see what I'm talking about. My files are still listed as .cr2 or .psd so I'm not sure that Elements is making any changes. http://bobrandklev.smugmug.com/gallery/3916197#227289098 and then click on "Photo Info"

The photo info shows it as a .CR2 file but is SmugMug auto converting to a jpg and keeping the file name .CR2?

I don't think Andy is following me either or maybe I'm missing something obvious here?

Are there other PS Elements users out there shooting in RAW mode or does everyone shoot in jpg mode?

If you shoot in RAW do convert to JPG BEFORE you upload to SmugMug?

Thanks

[rfreschner]

The photo info shows it as a .CR2 file but is SmugMug auto converting to a jpg and keeping the file name .CR2?

Based on the file sizes, I'd say yes it is.

If you shoot in RAW do convert to JPG BEFORE you upload to SmugMug?

Yes. AFAIK, SmugMug does not support RAW files.

[gman33]

I think Andy answered this in another thread...I am sure he did, but I save all my RAW images to jpg, quality set to 10 (Photoshop). The image is still nice but not as big. When I get an order, I replace the image with a higher quality

Hope this helps...I use Simple upload as well :clap

[Andy]

I understand but I think everyone's missed my first question:
"Is the best practice to export the photos I'm going to upload to .jpg..."

I also think you should click on this link and see what I'm talking about. My files are still listed as .cr2 or .psd so I'm not sure that Elements is making any changes. http://bobrandklev.smugmug.com/gallery/3916197#227289098 and then click on "Photo Info"

The photo info shows it as a .CR2 file but is SmugMug auto converting to a jpg and keeping the file name .CR2?

I don't think Andy is following me either or maybe I'm missing something obvious here?

Are there other PS Elements users out there shooting in RAW mode or does everyone shoot in jpg mode?

If you shoot in RAW do convert to JPG BEFORE you upload to SmugMug?

Thanks

This filename is Key West_0648.CR2, filetype jpg, size,~3+mb. Elements is reporting (erroneously) a .CR2 extension your given filename (Keywest.CR2).

I don't know why Elements does this. Looking at the metadata, lots of stuff is tossed out, shouldn't be.

Elements 5 or Elements 6 :ear

[bobrandklev]

This filename is Key West_0648.CR2, filetype jpg, size,~3+mb. Elements is reporting (erroneously) a .CR2 extension your given filename (Keywest.CR2).

I don't know why Elements does this. Looking at the metadata, lots of stuff is tossed out, shouldn't be.

Elements 5 or Elements 6 :ear

I'm on Elements 5 and thought about going to 6 but I'm going to save my $$ and just go to Lightroom next. I wish there was an upgrade from Elements to Lightroom!

[bobrandklev]

After thinking my process through, reading other posts and the posts above I think this is my best process plan for getting photos from the camera to the computer to Smugmug.

1-Download photos from my camera to Elements in RAW format
2-Edit, crop, correct photos as needed
3-Attach tags (keywords) and then click File>Write Tag and Properties info into photo
4-Export to JPG
5-Star Explorer upload to SmugMug galleries

I've used the upload feature built into Elements but my tags don't always get uploaded and my files appear to be RAW or PSD when they are jpg. So this is the reason to Write Tag and properites into photo.

Export to JPG: Should I set the export to quality 10 or 12 or ? and orginal size or ? I want to offer hi-res image purchases so I don't want to hurt my quality but do I need a jpg 12 and original size?

I love Star Explorer as it runs in the background and I can keep working in Elements!

Finally the question of Lightroom, are many of my steps above solved by buying this software or will I still be doing the same steps? I've held off buying due to the cost but I'm going to pay $50 for StarExplorer soon but if I can avoid this and apply to Lightroom that would be cool!

I'll stop there as this is already too many questions!

[devbobo]

After thinking my process through, reading other posts and the posts above I think this is my best process plan for getting photos from the camera to the computer to Smugmug.

1-Download photos from my camera to Elements in RAW format
2-Edit, crop, correct photos as needed
3-Attach tags (keywords) and then click File>Write Tag and Properties info into photo
4-Export to JPG
5-Star Explorer upload to SmugMug galleries

I've used the upload feature built into Elements but my tags don't always get uploaded and my files appear to be RAW or PSD when they are jpg. So this is the reason to Write Tag and properites into photo.

Export to JPG: Should I set the export to quality 10 or 12 or ? and orginal size or ? I want to offer hi-res image purchases so I don't want to hurt my quality but do I need a jpg 12 and original size?

I love Star Explorer as it runs in the background and I can keep working in Elements!

Finally the question of Lightroom, are many of my steps above solved by buying this software or will I still be doing the same steps? I've held off buying due to the cost but I'm going to pay $50 for StarExplorer soon but if I can avoid this and apply to Lightroom that would be cool!

I'll stop there as this is already too many questions!

uploading using lightroom, you will eliminate part of step 3 (click File>Write Tag and Properties info into photo) and step 4.

You should download and try the 30-day lightroom trial and test it out with the SmugMug Plugin (http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=76934)

Cheers,

David