PRINT and RESOLUTION

Change the print dimensions and resolution When creating an image for print media, it’s useful to specify image size in terms of the printed dimensions and the image resolution. These two measurements, referred to as the document size, determine the total pixel count and therefore the file size of the image; document size also determines the base size at which an image is placed into another application. You can further manipulate the scale of the printed image using the Print command; however, changes you make using the Print command affect only the printed image, not the document size of the image file. If you turn on resampling for the image, you can change print dimensions and resolution independently (and change the total number of pixels in the image). If you turn off resampling, you can change either the dimensions or the resolution—Photoshop adjusts the other value automatically to preserve the total pixel count. For the highest print quality, it’s generally best to change the dimensions and resolution first, without resampling. Then resample only as necessary. 1. Choose Image > Image Size. 2. Change the print dimensions, image resolution, or both: To change only the print dimensions or only the resolution and adjust the total number of pixels in the image proportionately, select Resample Image and then choose an interpolation method. To change the print dimensions and resolution without changing the total number of pixels in the image, deselect Resample Image. 3. To maintain the current ratio of image width to image height, select Constrain Proportions. This option automatically changes the width as you change the height, and vice versa. 4. Under Document Size, enter new values for the height and width. If desired, choose a new unit of measurement. Note that for Width, the Columns option uses the width and gutter sizes specified in the Units & Rulers preferences. 5. For Resolution, enter a new value. If desired, choose a new unit of measurement. To restore the initial values displayed in the Image Size dialog box, hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS), and click Reset. Determine a suggested resolution for an image If you plan to print your image using a halftone screen, the range of suitable image resolutions depends on the screen frequency of your output device. Photoshop can determine a recommended image resolution based on the screen frequency of your output device. Note: If your image resolution is more than 2.5 times the screen ruling, an alert message appears when you try to print the image. This means that the image resolution is higher than necessary for the printer. Save a copy of the file, and then reduce the resolution. 1. Choose Image > Image Size. 2. Click Auto. 3. For Screen, enter the screen frequency for the output device. If necessary, choose a different unit of measurement. Note that the screen value is used only to calculate the image resolution, not to set the screen for printing. Note: To specify the halftone screen ruling for printing, you must use the Halftone Screens dialog box, accessible through the Print command. 4. For Quality, select an option: Draft - Produces a resolution that is the same as the screen frequency (no lower than 72 pixels per inch). Good - Produces a resolution 1.5 times the screen frequency. Best - Produces a resolution 2 times the screen frequency. View the print size on screen Do one of the following: Choose View > Print Size. Select the Hand tool or Zoom tool, and click Print Size in the options bar. The image is redisplayed in its approximate printed size, as specified in the Document Size area of the Image Size dialog box. The size and resolution of your monitor affect the on screen print size. Change the canvas size The canvas size is the full editable area of an image. The Canvas Size command lets you increase or decrease an image’s canvas size. Increasing the canvas size adds space around an existing image. Decreasing an image’s canvas size crops into the image. If you increase the canvas size of an image with a transparent background, the added canvas is transparent. If the image doesn’t have a transparent background, there are several options for determining the color of the added canvas. 1. Choose Image > Canvas Size. 2. Do one of the following: Enter the dimensions for the canvas in the Width and Height boxes. Choose the units of measurement you want from the pop up menus next to the Width and Height boxes. Select Relative, and enter the amount you want to add or subtract from the image’s current canvas size. Enter a positive number to add to the canvas, and enter a negative number to subtract from the canvas. 3. For Anchor, click a square to indicate where to position the existing image on the new canvas. 4. Choose an option from the Canvas Extension Color menu: 1. Foreground to fill the new canvas with the current foreground color 2. Background to fill the new canvas with the current background color 3. White, Black, or Gray to fill the new canvas with that color 4. Other to select a new canvas color using the Color Picker Note: You can also click the white square to the right of the Canvas Extension Color menu to open the Color Picker. 5. The Canvas Extension Color menu isn’t available if an image doesn’t contain a background layer. 6. Click OK. Original canvas and canvas added to right side of image using the foreground color WORKSPACE ABOUT TOOLS ABOUT RULERS PRINT & RESOLUTION LAYERS