Image files

You can optimize your workflow to improve performance by minimizing file size, editing individual channels, and using image compression selectively. Additionally, because layers and channels add significantly to the size of a file, you can minimize file size by merging layers and deleting channels when you no longer need them. And finally, if you are preparing images for color separation, you can work in RGB mode until you are ready to print and then change the images to CMYK mode. When converted from CMYK to RGB, a file's size should decrease by about 25%.

Minimizing file size

You can minimize the size of your files by reducing their resolution, measured in pixels per inch (ppi). Photoshop requires more memory and disk space to process high-resolution images, therefore increasing the time it takes Photoshop to display, process, and print them. Increasing the resolution of an image doesn't always improve the quality of the image, and instead only increases its file size. You want the resolution of your images to be the highest value your printer can use. Resolutions higher than that only add information to your image that your printer can't use, but must process, and thus increase print times.

If you plan to print continuous-tone images (for example, photographs), begin by using a resolution that is 1.5 to 2 times the screen frequency, measured in lines per inch (lpi), that you'll use to print the image. For line-art images, such as drawings, use the same value as your printer's resolution, measured in dots per inch (dpi). For example, if the resolution of your printer is 600 dpi, and you plan to print the image using the printer's default screen frequency of 85 lpi, save continuous-tone images at a resolution between 127 ppi (85 lpi x 1.5) and 170 ppi (85 lpi x 2), and save line-art images at a resolution of 600 ppi.

Recommended resolutions for continuous-tone images:

To reduce the resolution of an image in Photoshop:

1. Open the image, then choose Image > Image Size.
2. In the Image Size dialog box, decrease the Resolution value, then click OK.

Purge Undo, Clipboard, or Histories

Undo, Clipboard, and Histories all hold image data. To free RAM, choose Edit > Purge to purge the Undo and Clipboard. Purging Histories can free RAM or scratch disk space depending on how recent your history data is. To reduce disk space usage, reduce the number of History States available in the General preference.

Keywords : Tutorials, Mezzoforce Tutorials, Optimize performance, Photoshop CS3, Windows XP, Vista, guide

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