Re: [Gimp-user] jpeg loss on multiple export (Was: HATE the new save vs. export behavior)

[Gary Aitken <gimp dreamchaser org>]

On 5/3/2012 8:15 AM, Jay Smith wrote:

> Jonathan, I hope that you realized that when editing a JPG, repeatedly
> saving/exporting to JPG (your step 4) reduces the quality (actually
> compresses / deletes data). Maybe this has been working for what you are
> doing, but I beleive it is contrary to what most users do -- because
> they don't want to diminish quality/data.

I've always been puzzled by statements like this.

GIMP doesn't reload the file after exporting, does it?
If not, then the image in the GIMP's buffer should be the same high 
quality image it was prior to the export.
Given that, as long as you don't exit the GIMP or reload the image from 
the exported file, multiple exports to a lossy format shouldn't cause 
loss of quality.

For example, if you do an export to jpeg and compress down to 15%, with 
the preview option set you can clearly see the loss of quality in the 
written image.  However, when the export is complete, the image in the 
buffer reverts to the high quality it was prior to the export.

Is there something I'm missing?

Gary