jpeg over sharpened

[MelissaZeith]

this jpeg was over sharpened. when printed at consumer lab at 4x6 size the morie went crazy in areas. (zebra pattern)

what can I do in PS to fix this issue so that it will print acceptable?

[Damien Symonds]

Hi Melissa, did you take this photo yourself, and if so, did you take it in jpeg mode, or raw?

[MelissaZeith]

I did yes. It was originally taken in raw. I no longer have any other version than jpeg.

[Damien Symonds]

Ah, ok, pity.

What size is the jpeg you have?  Its pixel dimensions, I mean?  (File size in megabytes is irrelevant, and so is size in inches.)

[MelissaZeith]

Res is 300 pixel per inch.

image size is 4016 x 6016

[Damien Symonds]

Excellent.

When you sent the print file to the lab, did you just send that whole big file, or did you resize accurately for print?

[MelissaZeith]

not resized for print. client was send digital image. she downloaded image from gallery straight to computer and sent off for print from there.

[Damien Symonds]

Oh!

Ok, can you show me a 100% crop of the worst area?

[Damien Symonds]

Please please PLEASE read: https://www.damiensymonds.net/2011/02/selling-digital-images.html

[MelissaZeith]

she took a cell phone pic of the print, and on the arm is where is gave the zebra pattern. There was also a couple other "zebra" spot on the collar but the arm was the biggest area

[Damien Symonds]

Holy mackerel, yeah, that sure is over-sharpened.

Ok, here's what you need to do:

1. Duplicate the Background layer
2. Immediately go to the Layer menu, and turn the layer into a Smart Object
3. Then resize the image to 6x4 inch size at 300 pixels per inch, as you normally would for printing
4. Then take another 100% crop for me.  PLEASE follow the instructions properly this time.

[MelissaZeith]

shit.  sorry. let me do it again.

[MelissaZeith]

[Damien Symonds]

Now, with the smart object layer selected, go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur.

Starting with the slider at minimum, gradually take it up until the moire pattern has been removed.  (Of course this will blur the rest of the photo too, but we'll mask that shortly).

Then show me the 100% crop again.

[MelissaZeith]

[MelissaZeith]

1.5

[Damien Symonds]

No, on the 6x4 file!

[MelissaZeith]

i thought i did. 

[Damien Symonds]

No, check the pixel dimensions of that file.

[MelissaZeith]

[Damien Symonds]

Right. See?  It's the original full size.

[MelissaZeith]

then I'm lost. I have followed your directions above.

[Damien Symonds]

Sorry, I assumed you knew how to prepare for print.  It's true what they say - to assume makes an ass of u & me.

You must never use the Image Size dialog when preparing for print.  Only the Crop Tool.  Do you know how to use the Crop Tool?

[MelissaZeith]

I'm sorry. I took "resize image" as in image size.  I do know to crop using crop tool.

[MelissaZeith]