Mongo would be very grateful for some technical advice about file sizes generally. First, a quick explanation of what Mongo is doing and what he wants to know/achieve.


Using a D800E in RAW full frame. This gives a very large file (unfortunately). Mongo still likes to use ViewNX2 for some very quick RAW edits - then- converts to Tiff - then - imports into Photoshop to complete the edits and saves that image as the master copy in Tiff format (16 bit) with the longest side being 3000 pixels. Notwithstanding some heavy cropping during photoshop editing, this can still finish up being a 45MB file. (Yes, Mongo knows ViewNX2 is a very slow method but it does what he wants it to do; particularly the ability to do small RAW edits and convert). Sometimes use Adobe Camera RAW.


Mongo did a quick experiment on one of the finished files by converting it from 16 bit to 8 bit and the file sized dropped from 46mb to 23mb with no noticeable deterioration in the image. Is this a viable thing or does it adversely affect the quality and ability to manipulate and reproduce the master copy later with the same quality ??

In short, is there any way that the finished file (that Mongo described in the second paragraph above) can be saved/stored as a full quality Tiff file (still 3000 pixels on the long side) but much smaller ??


All advice gratefully accepted