UPDATE! The problem is specific to the browser you are using. IF YOU USE the Firefox browser, then a brand new Plug-in based uploader is used. The information below specifically references images uploaded using that plug-in (see images on the left). IF YOU USE the Google Chrome browser then the old Java based uploader is still used and the images will look like those on the right.
If you're a big Facebook user, you have probably recently noticed a change in how images are uploaded. I'm writing this blog post to tell you that the differences don't stop there.
Facebook's uploader has never been great (making images less sharp and less contrasty than the originals), but their new uploader is much worse.
Here are several side-by-side views of what images uploaded via the NEW uploader look like (on the left) in comparison to the same images uploaded via the OLD uploader (on the right):
(click image for large view)
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(click image for large view)
Take special note of the skin tones. The new uploader almost turns them gray-ish.
Here is a link to my Facebook album (inside there are links to original FB uploads too): http://www.facebook.com//album.php?aid=133800&id=545821588
If you are experiencing the same quality issues on your Facebook uploads, please take a moment and report it to the Facebook team using this link: http://www.facebook.com/help/contact.php?show_form=photos_bug
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Facebook is Ruining Your Pictures
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8 comments:
I like the ones on the right better.
Did I win?
My point exactly. The ones on the left (uploaded via the new FB uploader) have issues skin tones and other colors that make them feel more like they were taken with a cell phone.
I noticed that but didn't really think twice about it... Thanks for the heads up!
Great examples the problem Dave. I have always been bothered by the degradation of my photos when uploading to Facebook, and it looks like it is only getting worse. I have especially seen the problem with B&W images, but this saturation and contrast issue now is really bad.
Hey David - thanks for the post. Do you have any idea if this impacts using the plug in for Lightroom 2? ie. Are my pictures the best they will be if I use Lightroom 2 with this Facebook plugin or should I use the the facebook uploader with Firefox?
Thanks!
Dan
In my testing, I found the quality was higher (i.e. sharper images) using the LR uploader, but the colors still changed.
What is odd is that this disagrees with what I would expect based on the fact that the old uploader (via Chrome) gives the correct colors (making me think it's not a back-end process) but the new uploader and Lightroom uploader both suffered the same color less (which would make me think it IS a back-end process). So I'm not sure what to think of it.
Great info Terry, I did not know this!
http://www.jakegarn.com
Well, It is nice to know I'm not going nuts. I've been hating my images the last little while on Facebook. Thanks for the heads up David.
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