2000 px previews, full-size originals
Preview vs original: what did I download?
A shoots.page gallery shows JPEG previews up to 2000 px on the long edge, and Download JPEG or a -jpegs.zip file gives you those same previews. Download original or a -originals.zip file gives you the exact JPEG, PNG, HEIC, TIFF or WebP files your photographer uploaded, byte for byte, and a full-size JPEG of each RAW photo.
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What the download menu does
When a gallery offers more than one format, a menu next to the download button sets what you save. It starts on Original files; switch it to JPEG previews for the smaller copies, or to RAW files for the untouched camera RAWs, if your photographer offers them.
Previews are fine for looking through photos and sharing them in chats or on social feeds. For printing, editing or archiving, get the full files through original downloads.
Preview vs original at a glance
| Preview (JPEG download) | Original (original download) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel size | Up to 2000 px on the long edge | Whatever your photographer exported, often full camera resolution |
| Format | Always JPEG, also for PNG, HEIC, TIFF, WebP and RAW photos | Exactly what was uploaded: JPEG, PNG, HEIC, TIFF or WebP; a full-size JPEG for RAW photos |
| File size | Small, quick to load | The uploaded file itself, usually much larger |
| Button or ZIP | Download JPEG; the ZIP name ends in -jpegs.zip | Download original; the ZIP name ends in -originals.zip |
| Good for | Browsing, chats, social posts | Printing, editing, archiving |
How to tell which one you have
Start with the name. A ZIP ending in -jpegs.zip holds previews and one ending in -originals.zip holds originals. A single JPEG download always ends in .jpg, while an original keeps its own extension, such as .png or .heic. The full-size JPEG of a RAW photo ends in .jpg too, and a RAW file has a camera extension such as .cr2, .nef or .dng.
Then check the pixel size. A preview is at most 2000 px on its long edge, so a photo larger than that is an original. On a Mac, open the photo in Preview and choose Tools > Show Inspector to see its file size and image resolution. On Windows, right-click the file, choose Properties and open the Details tab.
Why previews exist at all
Previews make browsing fast. If a gallery loaded dozens or hundreds of full-resolution camera files at once, a phone on mobile data would crawl, so the grid loads small thumbnails and an open photo loads its 2000 px preview. Previews also make every format viewable: RAW, HEIC and TIFF photos show as JPEG previews, so anyone can see them without special software.
How to verify a download is exact
To be certain your file matches the one your photographer uploaded, open our free compare photo files tool and pick the two files. It calculates each file's SHA-256 fingerprint in your browser without uploading anything; if the fingerprints match, the copy is exact down to the byte. The full-size JPEG made from a RAW photo is a new file, so it never matches the RAW.
Common questions
Is the preview lower quality?
Yes. It is a resized JPEG, at most 2000 px on the long edge, made for quick viewing. It looks sharp on phones, tablets and laptops and works well online, but it lacks the pixels and fine detail that prints and heavy editing need.
How do I get the original?
Set the download format menu to Original files, then use Download all photos, or open a photo and use Download original. If there is no Original files option and the button reads Download JPEG, your photographer did not turn original downloads on.
My downloaded file won't open. What now?
If the file ends in a RAW extension such as .cr2, .nef or .dng, it is a camera RAW file, which many photo viewers cannot open. Switch the format menu to Original files for a full-size JPEG of the same photo, or to JPEG previews for a smaller copy, whichever your photographer allows. A .heic original opens on Windows only after you install Microsoft's HEIF and HEVC extensions; the JPEG preview opens anywhere.
Can I print from the preview?
It may do for a small print, but a 2000 px preview has too few pixels for large prints. For anything you plan to frame, gift or display, use the original file.
Reading this as a photographer? You can deliver your own sets with previews and original downloads built in, using shoots.page photo delivery.