Working with digital images

[Kathy Wesserling]

My primary editor is PSP9 with CS2 as my secondary.  

Upon downloading, I immediately batch-save all images as TIFF in a separate Edit Folder within the new folder. I was told early on that fewer pixels were lost during the editing process using TIFF.

When all editing, resizing, & compressing is completed, I do a SaveAs back to jpeg.   However, all EXIF data is lost using TIFF.   As I often post to photo contests and challenges, the original dates are critical.

The Question - What is the best file type for "Best Quality" editing images that does not lose EXIF?

[Mike54]

Hi Kathy and welcome to the Q&A Board.

With PSP9 do this when saving your image - File > Save As > Give the new file a name and select JPEG as the file type. Make sure "Encoding" is set for standard and the "Save Exif information" check box is checked.
Now click on the "Run Optimizer" Button. Under the Quality Tab check "Save EXIF Data". Providing you are using the standard format (Not progressive or lossless) the EXIF data should always be saved by default. Give it a go and let us know whether it does the trick.

[Kathy]

Mike, thanks for the reply.  I have used that and it does work.  But, my guess is that you're implying that I can edit a copy of the jpg (and not worry about losing pixels and using tif.)  That sets me at ease.  

Happy New Year - and thank you.  Kathy

[Mike54]

Going back and re reading this one I'm not quite sure we're on the same page Kathy. I always work on my images as tif files and save as jpg. I'm just believe the tif is a cleaner starting point.
Now, as to losing the EXIF data when you work on a tif I can't say that's ever happened to me. Can you explain your workflow so I can try to duplicate it?

[Kathy Wesserling]

Mike, sorry it took this long to get back. I've managed to screw this up royally.  

I always found the EXIF data by right-clicking on an image, then selecting Properties / Summary - Advanced.

After upgrading my PSP8 to PSP9, adding CS2, and changing cameras from Samsung Digimax 301 to SVP-6030 - I probably changed preferences somewhere along the line (ya'think?!!!)

By workflow, do you mean uploading all images as jpg from camera, then batch-saving as Tif files?  I worked only on the tiffs, then resaved renamed image to jpg.  There was always a warning box about losing EXIF due to size or preferences as chosen.

Lord, this is causing brain-freeze!  I'll get back to you, when I figure it out.  Please continue to breathe in the meantime - I'd rather not kill such a helpful person!

Thanks, Kathy