PhotoShop Elements Sizing help

[Zen Librarian]

Whenever I save a photo in PS Elements it basically shrinks the photo size in half.  For instance, I can scan a photo at 6.7mb but when I save it, it's only 3.71mb.   What gives??   I save it at the maximum photo size, is it incapable of saving anything larger?

HELP!!

:end:

[GerryM]

My work flow is to post process in either PS E5 or CS2. I make the changes that I feel are needed, then click on "images", resize to my choice and save to "documents". Regardless of the "thumbnail" or whatever it is, the saved image is full size. Does this make any sense? You are probably lioght years ahead of me anyway, as I am a large % Luddite.
Gerry

[Don Day]

File size can be misleading due to how jpeg compression handles different kinds of texture in an image, and whether elements is saving at a higher compression than the original compression rate.  Did you happen to notice at what compression PS Elements defaulted to when you saved? Try two different test saves, one at a setting of 5 or lower and the other at the highest setting. The second save might be many times the size of the first one.  A large resolution picture saved at low compression still has "high resolution," but the image quality will be low. So you need to watch your compression at save time religiously--chances are, it is not the resolution that was cut (look at the file properties to verify), but the image quality at the original resolution, due to lower, lossy compression.

I hope this was not already obvious in your search for clues.