iOS compresses photos when saving to "Camera Roll/Photos"

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Level 1

8 points

iOS compresses photos when saving to "Camera Roll/Photos"

Hi,

As many others right now I am investigating the compromises included for switching from OSx to iOS in my photo-workflow.

Workflow:

1. Import photo to iPad Pro 9.7 with SD-card reader

2. Import photos to VSCO app and edit photos

3. Print photos with my wireless photo-printer

4. Export photos to "camera roll/photos app"

5. Upload photos to dropbox for future backup and digital accessability

You might react to step 4 and 5 but if you export directly from any app to dropbox, something in iOS will reduce your resolution and strangely - increase the file size at the same time.

Now to my question which I can not find one answer to on the net!?:

- When exporting pictures from VSCO or other photo editing apps, the files are compressed. Resolution is still the same, but a file that for example was 6,5 mb is compressed to 3,5.

Anyone who knows what happens when you export photos back to iOS from apps?

Posted on May 19, 2016 10:48 PM

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Answer 1

hindriks Author

Level 1

8 points

May 20, 2016 12:31 AM in response to Yer_Man

Nope.

Something happens when exporting from App - Photos. I check this by sending the photo from "Photos" with e-mail where the "actual file size" is declared. In the example, 6,5 for the original and 3,5 for the one which I have only "put through" VSCO without making any adjustment. I have tried two other apps as well.

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Answer 2

Apr 4, 2017 5:55 AM in response to Yer_Man

I have the same issue except that it is actually sizing down the dimensions too. It will not appear larger than 1334 px on the long side. When saving to camera roll is shows "actual size" as smaller than my original file. This is a big issue for me. Does not happen with iPhone photos, they are full size at full res. Same problem exporting from VSCO. I thought that was the cause of the problem but the company can't replicate it, and I think it might be happening when saving to camera roll from gmail before even importing to VSCO. I don't know how to check the dimensions without VSCO.

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Answer 3

Apr 5, 2017 2:50 PM in response to bombadillo

I can now verify that this issue is not happening in relation to VSCO. It is an iPhone problem.

Any time I download an image to my Camera Roll which was not taken on my iPhone (for example, DSLR image), it sizes the dimension down.

Example:

Original Image: 2002 x 3000 px

*I email the image to myself*

Image size when downloaded on computer: 2002 x 3000 px (Correct)

Image size when downloaded to iPhone Camera Roll: 891 x 1334 px (Incorrect)

iPhone is taking the liberty of "saving me space" when I do not want to save space. I want to download the full size image and post it. Whether or not I save space on one image is up to me.

Every image I post to Instagram or anywhere else, the image appears slightly pixelated and low quality. Whereas images I take on my iPhone are huge and high quality and full resolution. It's ridiculous. Someone please find a solution to this! I really appreciate any responses, but I do not want a new app. There has to be a solution for the iPhone. So far, checking "download and keep original" has not made a difference.

Note: One other thing that happens is that a tiny white line appears on the right side of each image. If you look at it on the black background it is visible. As if someone had put it in photoshop and extended the canvas by a pixel.

I have updated all apps and restarted phone.

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Answer 4

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,972 points

May 19, 2016 11:07 PM in response to hindriks

something in iOS will reduce your resolution and strangely - increase the file size at the same time.

What do you mean by "resolution"? For some folks that term means bit depth, others it means nominal dpi, others think it has something vague to do with sharpness...

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Answer 5

hindriks Author

Level 1

8 points

May 19, 2016 11:18 PM in response to Yer_Man

Original file:

- Dimensions 4930*3287 (16mp)

- Horizontal/Vertical resolution: 240 dpi

- Bit depth: 24

VSCO (or other app) directly to Dropbox:

- Dimensions 3264*2176

- Horizontal/Vertical resolution: 96 dpi

- Bit depth: 24

VSCO (or other app) to "Camera roll/photos":

- Dimensions: 4930*3287 (same as original)

- Horizontal/Vertical resolution: 240 dpi

- Bit depth: 24

- Issue: lower file size and that must involve some sort of compression which seems to be caused by "Exporting from app to iOS".

In reality and for my 10*15cm print this might not be visually noticable but it's more a question of keeping files intact as much as possible. If I for example want to do a enlargement.

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Answer 6

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,972 points

May 20, 2016 12:28 AM in response to hindriks

Your problem is with VSCO or Dropbox, no? The app is sending the full-sized file to Photos but a reduced one to Dropbox if I read you correctly. Do I read you correctly?

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Answer 7

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,972 points

May 20, 2016 1:47 AM in response to hindriks

Actual size refers to dimensions of the Photo - length by breadth. Not the file size. But VSCO seems to be the common link here no?

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Answer 8

hindriks Author

Level 1

8 points

May 20, 2016 2:07 AM in response to Yer_Man

When you send an e-mail and attach a photo you get a pop-up when sending.

I understand that if you choose "small, medium or large" it will rescale the foto, probably both by reducing lenght/breadth as well as performing some sort of compression to image data. And you will here see what the file size will be.

but,

Lastly, it says "Actual size - 3,5 mb" in this case. How can that not relate to actual file size but just pixels?

VSCO, Polarr, Enlight. Same reduction when exporting from app back to iOS.

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Answer 9

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,972 points

May 20, 2016 2:56 AM in response to hindriks

Read what that pop up says. You can reduce the message size "by scaling the image..." not the file. Therefore actual size refers to the Image not the file. It's the same on Mail on your Mac. Tbe dropdown is named Image Size.

VSCO, Polarr, Enlight. Same reduction when exporting from app back to iOS.

Then I'd start with the makers of these apps...

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Answer 10

MichelPM

Level 10

81,535 points

Apr 4, 2017 6:09 AM in response to bombadillo

Try an app like this

ViewExif by Skyjos Co., Ltd.

https://appsto.re/us/Vnhw4.i

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