save for web optimized vs. save as baseline optimized. PLEASE HELP!!

Hey guys,

Here is my question 2 part question. I am just getting into the design field so please bare with me. I was told these forums are great and I should be able to find the right answers here so I hope you guys can help me out.

When saving images for the web, I know that it is best to..

file>save for web>save it as a jpeg high 60, depending on what kind of image> and make sure the optimized button is checked...

I was told that there is not point in saving images just as...

file>save as> and then choosing 12 on the quality bar which is titled 'image options' under the JPEG OPTIONS pop up which appears when doing this.

1. What is the difference. Why does saving for web make the image size so much more smaller. I tried test and it doesn't seem the quality changes so what makes the image smaller in size when saving for web?

2. Is saving like this

file>save for web>save it as a jpeg high 60, depending on what kind of image> and make sure the optimized button is checked...

the same thing as saving like so

file>save as> and then CHOOSING 8 on the quality bar (this is also jpeg high) which is titled 'image options' AND CHOOSING BASELINE OPTIMIZED UNDER THE SECTION WHICH IS TITLED 'FORMAT OPTIONS'....

baseline optimized being the most important part.

Would this be the same thing. Why or why not?

I know this will help me get a better understanding on design.
Thanks much in advanced guys.

hi,
let me see if I can explain it....
note: certain things are in reference to ps cs
first!! understand what jpg is! jpg is a lossy format, and primarily used for just emailing and webpages.... for the simple reason quality generaly not good

next... what we mean by lossy format is that the greater the compression of the file , the lower the quality!!!!!! your slide bars used to be labeld compression but companies felt it would be more understandable if the term was changed to quality!! so bottom line the higher the quality the less compression and bigger the file size!! ...
note: in compression the higher the compression the more data bits are thrown away... that why quality goes down..

now as far as using the quality slide bar..... that is not a linear bar!!!
your not going to see much difference between 9 and 12 setting but but you would see a significant difference between 5 and 12 setting and between a 1 and 12 setting you should definitely see a big difference ie... bluriness, loss of detail in thin lines or edges , coloring, etc....

the reverse using compression numbers 0-50% probably nothing noticable, 50-75% maybe a little bit but at 90+% compression defintiely see lower quality .....

now for the difference between save as and save for the net...
"save as" is really just basic choosing what you want for quality... your scale a rough scale 0-12 ...... simple as that

"save for the web"...... you have more control, also it give you a preview of the results of your settings , this is usefull to actually see to get the best possible quality and yet a good small file size..... you can also control the bluriness, the quality slide bar is more sensitive ie goes from 0-100 ...., also you can resize the picture ...... and optimize, and making these various changes you can see the file size change and what the picture looks like before actually saving... definitely can save your time when preparing to save to the web or uploading files to various sites that have various pictures size and file size requirements..

well hope that helps you...

paperstreet said:

Hey guys,

Here is my question 2 part question. I am just getting into the design field so please bare with me. I was told these forums are great and I should be able to find the right answers here so I hope you guys can help me out.

When saving images for the web, I know that it is best to..

file>save for web>save it as a jpeg high 60, depending on what kind of image> and make sure the optimized button is checked...

I was told that there is not point in saving images just as...

file>save as> and then choosing 12 on the quality bar which is titled 'image options' under the JPEG OPTIONS pop up which appears when doing this.

1. What is the difference. Why does saving for web make the image size so much more smaller. I tried test and it doesn't seem the quality changes so what makes the image smaller in size when saving for web?

2. Is saving like this

file>save for web>save it as a jpeg high 60, depending on what kind of image> and make sure the optimized button is checked...

the same thing as saving like so

file>save as> and then CHOOSING 8 on the quality bar (this is also jpeg high) which is titled 'image options' AND CHOOSING BASELINE OPTIMIZED UNDER THE SECTION WHICH IS TITLED 'FORMAT OPTIONS'....

baseline optimized being the most important part.

Would this be the same thing. Why or why not?

I know this will help me get a better understanding on design.
Thanks much in advanced guys.