Image Quality and Size is one of the photography basics. Image Quality depends on the file format and compression ratio used while saving photographs. File format includes JPEG and RAW. For beginners, saving photos in JPEG is recommended.
RAW format captures all image data recorded by the camera sensor without processing it, hence the file size is heavy compared to JPEG. RAW is mostly used by experienced photographers since the images are unprocessed and have to be processed later in software like Lightroom. JPEG is a compressed version of RAW; due to compression, some of the image data may be lost.
Image Size is measured in pixels which are tiny buckets in the camera sensor that collect and record light information. These pixels help record various colours and tones from a photographed scene. All the small pixels of different colours form the whole image. One megapixel is made of one million pixels. Image Size determines the physical dimensions of the photo.
In some DSLR cameras, JPEG images can be saved using Basic, Normal and Fine options; the size of the images increase respectively. However, these settings will vary depending on the DSLR camera you are using.
Image Quality and Size Settings (available on a Canon DSLR Camera)
You can save a Large-size High-Quality JPEG image for A2-size prints, Large-size Standard JPEG image for A2-size prints, Medium-size High-Quality JPEG image for A3-size prints, Medium-size Standard JPEG image for A3-size prints, Small-size High-Quality JPEG image for A4-size prints, Small-size Standard JPEG image for A4-size prints, Small-size JPEG images for emailing, RAW+JPEG which saves both RAW & JPEG versions of an image and RAW images which can be edited later in Lightroom software.
We bring you ‘Jo & His Camera’ Comic Strips wherein a Magical Camera gives DSLR photography tutorials to Jo.
To understand Image Quality and Size, Click on the below Image to see the Comic wherein the Camera explains Jo, the concept of Image Quality and Size with the help of practical examples.
