Save

Key shortcut: Ctrl+S

This allows you to save the picture to disk.

When you save you have a choice of size:

• Same size as original master. Select this option to keep the maximum resolution of your image, important if you want to print this photo in future.
• Current zoom size. This will save it at the current size you set using the size/zoom options.
• Specific pixel size. You can enter a width or height in pixels and it will save it at that size.

Live preview

Whichever size option you select, the picture will change to show you the actual save size. Initially it defaults to 'same size as master' in which case it usually enlarges the picture in the window to reflect the real size.

If the image is too large to fit, you can drag on the preview window to scroll to any part of the image.

This live save preview shows you the actual size and quality at which the picture will be saved.

JPEG quality

If you select the Save Options button, the save dialog will temporarily close and you see this JPEG quality control:

As you drag the quality slider the live preview is updated to reflect the actual quality of the image. The lower the quality, the smaller the file. If you drag the slider right down to a quality of 10 or below you will see obvious blotchiness in the picture.

If you are saving pictures for use on the internet or email you can usually bring the quality setting down below 75 to make a good saving in file size without much visible loss of quality.

How to save at a specific size

• Before you select this Save option, first resize the picture to the required size on screen (see Size/Zoom).
• Then select this Save option and click the 'Current zoom size' option
• Click Save

or

• Select the last size option on the Save dialog and enter the required pixel width or height

Notes

• It remembers where you last saved a picture and defaults to showing that same folder. This may be different to where you last opened an image from, so you can easily open from one location, process the images as required, and save back to another folder without having to continually navigate.
• Images are saved at the fixed aspect ratio. So if you enter a width, it will calculate the corresponding height value, and vice versa.
• It is NOT recommended to save with a JPEG quality value high than 75%. Doing so can dramatically increase the size of the file, while making little or no visible quality improvement.
• Unlike other photo software the Xara Picture Editor does not suffer from cumulative JPEG distortion. This means you can save a very low quality image, say at quality 10, and when you load this in future, XPE automatically recovers the original high quality version from the original master. See non-destructive editing for more details.

Size tips

Screen: As a very general rule of thumb when saving pictures for use on screen (web, email or just viewing) you can assume a resolution of approximately 100dpi (dots per inch). So if you want your picture to be about 4 inches across, save at 400 pixels wide.

Print: If you are saving picture to print then assume a resolution of 150 to 200 dpi (this is true no matter what resolution your printer claims). So if you want good quality print at 4 inches save the picture at about 800 pixels wide.

Other: If you want to zoom into your picture or print very large prints, or do any further work on the picture at a future time, then save at 'same as original master'. There is generally never a requirement to save a picture larger than original size.