Factors That Influence Image Quality

The quality of a photo matters a lot. Nobody likes distorted, blurred and over-compressed photos at all. There are many factors that affect image quality, which we are going to talk about in this post.

Let’s get started…..

1. Image scaling

First things first, you need to decide on - where these photos will be used. Depending on the platform where these photos will be used, like - web or mobile – you’ll need to adjust the aspect ratio and photo size.

Aspect ratio: It is the proportion of the image’s width and height that is put in a format of two numbers like 16:9 or 4:3. The idea is that you need to use the right aspect ratio for having a good quality image. However, different mediums require different aspect ratios.

Common aspect ratios are like 1:1 is an image with 1:1 aspect ratio. It means image will have equal width and height. The image will be square and is a perfect fit for an Instagram post. Then, 4:3 is the aspect ratio usually used for computer monitors, TV’s and tablets. And for high-definition devices, the aspect ratio will be 16:9.

Common photos sizes for web: Common photo sizes are mostly described in pixels (1920×1080) and they have different values than aspect ratios. However, some content management systems like WordPress asks for image compression during an upload. For a good image quality for web, stick to common photo sizes. 1920×1080 is a full HD resolution used for TV broadcasting, smartphones, and Internet platforms like YouTube and Netflix, with 16:9 aspect ratio. Whereas, 1280×720 is an HD-ready resolution that fits desktop wallpapers, tablets, laptops, and smartphones with aspect ratio 16:9. 1080×1080 is a common photo size that is square and has 1:1 aspect ratio, used for social media posts.

2. Sharpness

Another important factor is sharpness that influences image quality. Sharpness is nothing but a combination of resolution (size in pixels) and acutance (a contrast of a photo). The resolution depends on lens characteristics, acutance however, is different for every person. A sharpened images look better and of a higher quality.

3. Digital noise

Noise is a common problem, especially when taking photos in low light conditions, like at night. One may be tempted to increase the ISO and capture more light, but it’s not that will work. ISO can be determined by trial and error only, depending on weather and light situations. For a better image quality with less noise you experiment with settings and find the golden middle during your shoot.

4. Distortion

Distortion is a disadvantage, it is a deviation that makes straight lines bend. It usually happens when the parts of captured objects are at different distances from the spot you’re shooting at. It can be avoided by moving further away from the object/subject.

5. Compressing images

Compressing means grouping or removing certain parts of a photo in order to reduce its size. There are two types of compression:

Lossy compression: Mostly DSLRs give you the choice between RAW and JPEG formats. RAW are however easier to enhance but will also weigh more. Whereas, JPEG is the in-camera compressed format, which is less heavy than RAW.

Lossless compression: As the name says, it is about reducing the size of a picture without it losing quality. So, when you convert an image to PNG, BMP, or TIFF, the original and the compressed file will look the same. These formats compress the image size via reconstruction and without sacrificing the quality.

6. Dynamic Range or exposure range

Dynamic range, also known as exposure range, is an important factor that defines the overall image quality. It is basically a ratio of light intensities determined by the camera characteristics and the features of photographed objects, it should always be balanced.

7. Color Accuracy

We all know that color accuracy is extremely important factor. For best results one should shoot in RAW and post-process the images later. Original colors can be preserved while editing in Photoshop or Lightroom. Whereas, with JPEG, it is difficult to preserve the natural shades and highlights as some data gets deleted during the in-camera compression.

8. Lens flare

Finally, it is lens flare, it mostly occurs when the light source is too bright. So, photographers prefer taking pictures during the golden hours – the hour after sunrise or before sunset – in a perfect light to have neat lens flare.