Preparing your image before uploading helps it display well, load quickly, and avoid unnecessary downsampling by the forum software.
For most NPN posts, we recommend exporting a JPG around 1 MB. The forum will accept files up to 100 MB, but images over 3 MB will be downsampled automatically. You’ll get better results by exporting from Lightroom, Photoshop, Capture One, or another image editor rather than relying on the forum software to resize a large file for you.
Recommended Image Settings
- Format: JPG
- Color Space: sRGB
- Dimensions: 2000px on the longest edge, or 1600px if you prefer a smaller file
- File Size: Around 1 MB is ideal; try to stay under 3 MB
- Quality: Start around 70. Lower toward 60 if needed to keep the file size near 1 MB.
sRGB is important because it helps keep color consistent across web browsers, devices, and platforms.
Lightroom Classic Export
- Select the image you want to post.
- Choose File > Export, or click the Export button in the Library module. Then choose Export To > Hard Drive in the pop-up menu at the top of the Export dialog box.
- Under File Settings, change Image Format to JPEG, set Quality to around 70 and lower toward 60 if needed, and set Color Space to sRGB.
- Under Image Sizing, check Resize to Fit, select Long Edge from the dropdown, and set it to 2000 pixels, or 1600 pixels if you prefer a smaller file.
The important settings are highlighted in red in the screenshot below.
Photoshop Export
- Choose File > Export > Export As…
- Set Format to JPG
- Set Quality around 7. Lower toward 6 if needed to keep the file size near 1 MB.
- Set the image size to 2000px on the longest edge, or 1600px if you prefer a smaller file.
- Set Resample to Bicubic Automatic
- Check Convert to sRGB
- Check Embed Color Profile
Capture One Export
- Choose File > Export > Export
- Click the plus button and select JPEG - 2048px for web use as a starting point for a new recipe.
- Rename the new recipe to NPN.
- Change the settings under Scale to 2000px, or 1600px if you prefer a smaller file.
- Ensure Format is set to JPEG and ICC Profile is set to sRGB.
- Set quality around 70, lowering if needed to keep the file size near 1 MB.
- Make sure the NPN recipe is checked, not just selected.
- Click the Export button in the lower right.
Affinity Photo Export
- Choose File > Export and use settings similar to the following:
- Set the format to JPEG.
- Set the longest edge to 2000px, or 1600px if you prefer a smaller file.
- Set quality around 70, lowering if needed to keep the file size near 1 MB.
- Use or convert to sRGB.
darktable Export
Use settings similar to the following:
- File Format: JPEG
- Color Space: sRGB
- Longest Edge: 2000px, or 1600px if you prefer a smaller file
- Quality: Start around 70. Lower if needed to keep the file size near 1 MB.
RawTherapee
Click the Queue tab and use settings similar to the following:
- File Format: JPEG
- Color Space: sRGB
- Longest Edge: 2000px, or 1600px if you prefer a smaller file
- Quality: Start around 70. Lower if needed to keep the file size near 1 MB.
DxO PhotoLab
- Click the blue export button in the lower right and use settings similar to the following:
- File Format: JPEG
- Color Space/Profile: sRGB
- Longest Edge: 2000px, or 1600px if you prefer a smaller file
- Quality: Start around 70. Lower if needed to keep the file size near 1 MB.
ON1 Photo RAW
- Choose File > Export and use settings similar to the following:
- File Format: JPEG
- Color Space: sRGB
- Longest Edge: 2000px, or 1600px if you prefer a smaller file
- Quality: Start around 70. Lower if needed to keep the file size near 1 MB.
Luminar Neo
- Choose File > Export and use settings similar to the following:
- File Format: JPEG
- Color Space: sRGB
- Longest Edge: 2000px, or 1600px if you prefer a smaller file
- Quality: Start around 70. Lower if needed to keep the file size near 1 MB.
