Ch 16: Creating Output

Photoshop CS6 EssentialsBy Scott Onstott

Ch 16: Creating Output

Selecting a Printer Driver• You must install printer drivers prior

to attempting to print with a new printer device.

• Printer drivers are software that interface between the operating system and the hardware of the specific output device.

• You can download drivers from the printer manufacturer’s web site.

• If your printer comes with a CD or DVD, you should still go to the manufacturer’s website to check for the latest driver software.

Ch 16: Creating Output

Configuring Print Settings• Print Settings is a button in the Photoshop

Print Settings dialog box.• Print Settings opens a dialog box specific

to your operating system containing user-configurable driver parameters.

• Begin by selecting the paper size. Paper size also determines which feeder you’ll be using if your printer has more than one (sheet and/or roll feeders)

• Select the media (paper) type. Quality paper makes a huge difference.

• Select any device specific parameters (read the manual).

Ch 16: Creating Output

Color Handling• Printer Manufacturers build color

management into the output hardware so that you will get a reasonable result when printing a color image from a word processing program for example.

• Photoshop is generally better at managing color than printer hardware. It is possible to have Photoshop manage color but this must not only be selected but the device must also be told to not manage color in Printer Settings.

Ch 16: Creating Output

Position and Scale• There are checkboxes for

Center and Scale to Fit Media in the Position and Scale area of the Photoshop Print Settings dialog box.

• In cases where you want to have a border or wish to position the image on the paper, leave these unchecked.

• Drag the preview image to reposition. Drag its corner handles to resize the image in the preview.

Ch 16: Creating Output

Saving Images for the Web• No one likes receiving large email

attachments that fill up mailbox quotas or waiting for very large images to download on the web.

• Whenever you email someone a photo or post a photo online you should optimize it for small file size and reasonable quality.

• File > Save for Web offers you many choices on how you will tradeoff quality for small image size.

Ch 16: Creating Output

WBMP Format• The Windows bitmap format is a

2-bit format meaning the pixels are either black or white but without any gradations of gray.

• Bitmaps images are the most primitive form of image and the most efficient.

• Bitmaps are good for faxes and traditional newspapers or retro illustrations.

Ch 16: Creating Output

PNG Images• PNG images come in two formats in

the Save for Web dialog box: in 8 and 24 bit versions.

• PNG-8 images have a maximum of 256 colors. You can reduce this number down to 128, 64, or fewer colors to reduce file size.

• PNG-24 images have millions of colors are are therefore larger.

• PNG and GIF images support transparency.

• PNG images are the best choice for contiguous areas of solid color (logos).

Ch 16: Creating Output

JPEG Compression• JPEG images are the best choice

for photographs.• Increasing JPEG compression

greatly reduces file size.• JPEG compression is lossy,

meaning quality is lost at higher levels.

• You should choose the highest compression that still appears acceptable.

• Use the 4-Up tab to compare compression levels.

Ch 16: Creating Output

Resampling in Save for Web• Fewer pixels necessarily means a

smaller file size, all things being equal.

• You can resample images (reduce the number of pixels) within the Save for Web dialog box

• Type a new width or height and press the tab key to resample.

• A new file size and preview image appear in realtime.

• You can alternatively change the percentage text box to resample as well.