Converting Photos Into Different Formats

Hi Jennifer! Yes, you can change the format by using your computer you can edit/change files (your pictures). Some cameras allow you to change the format just by going to the menu ( mostly likely DSLRs). Hope this helps!

Thanks Alohi. That does help... to an extent. I think I'm confused, some of my photos upload and others are either too small (most likely my cell phone photos) and others are too big, which are from my new camera. For instance one photo pops us with a message saying "The image is larger than 25 MB.." Is there a way to make those larger photos smaller and if so will it compromise the way they look? I dislike sounding so uneducated when it comes to working with my photography, but this is all new to me. I've been photographing for a long time with the cheap, point and shoot and no to free editing available. Anyways, I hope that made sense. Thanks again for the help, it truly is appreciated. Peace :)

What format are the photos that are too large?

Most of us work with some type of editing software after we take our photos off the camera. Those editing programs allow you to save your work in a variety of formats. I believe FAA only accepts .jpg and .png as uploads...and no larger than 25 MB.

Shooting in jpeg? We're going to have to change that now aren't we ;-)

Seriously though, in your image editing software you should be able to change the quality level you save the image at to help reduce file size. If for instance you're saving a jpg with the quality set and 100% or 10 depending on the software, just knock it back to 9 or 90%. You'll never see the difference in print quality and you'll be surprised in how much that 10% reduction reduces the file size.

The photos are .png and some .jpeg, both larger than 25 MB. So I get that FAA doesn't accept anything larger than 25 MB, my question is how do I make them smaller than 25 MB? And is it possible to do without special software? Like I said I've never used real editing software, so that's why some terms and whatnot escape me. I do thank you for your time and help though. I truly appreciate it. Have a wonderful day. :)

LoL... shooting in jpeg, you caught me Jeff, I'll work on that immediately. Thanks :)

Don't forget that FAA adds 1.3 MB's to your upload - so the image you upload must truly be around 23.7 MB max to stay under the 25 MB rule. It might help to know what camera you are using. There are free software editing programs, some that may have even come with your computer. I have a presumption that here on FAA most photographers use Adobe PhotoShop or one of it's iterations like Lightroom. I use a program called PhotoPlus by Serif - which is, to me, more reasonable and easier to navigate. there is a learning curve to any photo editing software. I upload most of my images in .png - the image retains a better resolution of color - many - perhaps most here though do upload in .jpg.

One of the things you never do is enlarge the pixel resolution of the image out of the camera when increasing the size. If it shoots at 96 - you maintain that 96.

they don't have to be png - png is lossless and overkill for this site, they are also huge. keep them jpg. if your over the limit on a jpg, then you'll have to reduce quality. so if your in photoshop and it says save at a level 12, do it at 11 and it should be fine. i think you can download gimp and a few others, those are editors.

often the camera comes with software of some kind to do at least general things to the image. it's better to shoot in raw and save as a jpg.


---Mike Savad

I think your best bet is going to be finding some image editing software and learning to work with it. This will take lots of time and possibly a small investment of cash, but if you're serious about producing salable images it's the only way to go.

If you pick a popular image editing program there will be tons and tons of tutorials available at youtube and elsewhere online.

I think your real homework is researching the cost and usability of various post processing tools. Then you can learn how to resize and change image format in what ever program you choose. It will save you a lot of time in the long run, even though it may seem like a daunting task right now.

Thanks for your time and information Roy, it's greatly appreciated. I actually use a Windows 8 Pro Surface Tablet as a computer for the mean time. My phone (camera) has been a Windows Phone for at least the past 3 years or so, I currently have the Nokia Lumia 920, not the brand new cool 1020 with extra camera power. As I mentioned, if I do edit my photos, most likely my really abstract ones, they are done using a free app on my cell phone. I'm lucky enough to have just received a new Canon EOS Rebel T5i, which, obviously, I'm still learning how to use. Other than my cell phone, I haven't had a real camera since my old film Canon T70 stopped working almost 10 years ago, so yeah, I'm a little behind. But am trying to get it all figured out.

Thanks Mike, I'll keep that in mind. Any software I get would need to be downloaded via internet and free or really cheap and capable with my Windows 8 Surface, it would be the only way possible, I have no access to a desktop or laptop. Plus, all those fancy PhotoShops look too complicated for me. Of course I really take pride in my work being as natural as possible, which is why I've never bothered with PhotoShops, except for the abstract ones of course. Even those come from my original photos so the more natural the better, in my opinion. I truly appreciate your help.

Thank you guys!!! Have a wonderful day!! :)

Thanks Andrew!! That makes sense for sure. I'm definitely serious about improving my work. I've reached out to the "Community" not in hopes of being handed the answers straight up, but rather be given a push in the right direction. I've got some extra time on my hands due to a car accident and have been doing some research. YouTube really does have some great tutorials on Photography. Again your feedback is greatly appreciated!! Thanks! Peace :)

You're welcome. Their are no answers that can be handed straight up, so you're on the right track! I hope you enjoy the journey. It will give you something positive to do while recovering from your car accident. :)