It was my understanding that images below the filesize defined in max image size kb would not be resampled, but I am not seeing this. For example, I have that setting set to 3000 KB; I have a jpg that is 2.4 MB, but when I post the image, then use the download button in the lightbox, that resulting jpg is 1.4 MB. Even with smaller files, this is the case, 863 KB original, 542 KB download. The images appear that they have been resampled as well, with slight changes in color and clarity. For a group of discerning photographers, this is not good as they notice every little change to their images. Any ideas why this may be happening and any way to avoid it? I fully appreciate that images above 3 MB should be downsampled, but below that, it would be best to leave them alone if possible.
I did some more reading, and I understand that discourse creates thumbnails for the lightbox that are presumably downsampled. Is the download button in the lightbox downloading that resampled version and not the original? Also, if I click the ‘view full size’ and download that image, it’s a .webp, except in Safari, then I get a jpg, but it’s still smaller than the original. Just trying to wrap my head around all of this! Thanks!