File format for final version of image?

DxO PhotoLab
1

Hi,
I am adapting my present workflow to include saving edited versions of my images in a standard file format ready for printing. My question is which one to use? I’m leaning towards using tiff as there is a small chance that JPEG compression will spoil an image.

What do you use and does anyone know if the compressed tiffs created by Photolab are lossless?

S

2

This is what the manual advises:
" * With or without compression: We advise the uncompressed option. The output files will be larger but you will be able to open them in all image processing software, unlike compressed TIFF files.

  • 8 or 16-bit encoding: 8-bit encoding only allows 256 levels per color channel, compared to 65.536 in 16-bits. Of course, the choice is only made possible if the source image is 12-bit or 14-bit (RAW files), or 16-bit (TIFF files). We advise you to choose 16-bit encoding to maintain the highest possible quality workflow."

S

3

For my workflow, I did not overanalyze my decision. I export final images as 16 bit. This gives me full quality, and diversity for future use. Hard drive space is inexpensive so I don’t concern myself with compression. :grinning:

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4

PL8 can export 8-bit TIFFs optionally with LZW compression, which is lossless. No compression can be used for 16-bit TIFF exports.

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5

Thanks for your responses; I think I will use the 16bit tiff option for the same reasons as Bob mentions.

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