Quicky: Does 'export' in iPhoto compromise quality?

[KettyKrueger]

Yeah or nay?

I've had a good search but couldn't find any answer.

Thanks.

 

[apfhex]

Only if you export to a lossy format. TIFF and PNG are both lossless, JPEG is lossy.

 

[r.j.s]

You can just drag the photo(s) to the desired folder or the desktop. It will copy the original file, and you wont lose any quality.

 

[KettyKrueger]

Thanks for that.

When I used 'export' before, I used the setting 'current', so I guess that would be lossless? I think when I used it before, I checked the files sizes afterwards and they were the same as the original.

I just want to make sure before I go and ruin ALL my photos!

 

[r.j.s]

Thanks for that.

When I used 'export' before, I used the setting 'current', so I guess that would be lossless?

Actually, no. I believe current makes a copy of the file - same as dragging it out. You shouldn't lose any info from the file that is in iPhoto, but it isn't lossless.

Lossy/lossless depends on the file format.

JPG is always lossy, every time you save a change, a little more info is thrown out, and the file gets a little bit smaller.

A lossless format is TIF or RAW - but these files are huge.

 

[KettyKrueger]

Cheers for that.

Yeah, I didn't mean the file was lossless in a traditional sense, I just meanrt the act of exporting the file would result in a file that would be identical to the original, i.e. lossless.

I tried exporting a photo and importing it back in to iphoto and the files were exactly the same. Same dates, title, file size, resolution, etc. So I guess I've answered my own question!

Thanks again for the replies.

BTW, what are RAW files? I think my camera take shots in JPEG format. I guess top-end camera shoot in RAW?

 

[JNB]

BTW, what are RAW files? I think my camera take shots in JPEG format. I guess top-end camera shoot in RAW?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAW_image_format

Depends on your camera, but pretty much any DSLR will shoot RAW, and there's a few P&S out there that will, too. What's your camera make & model?