Discover the necessary steps and techniques to properly prepare a digital image for print, including viewing and setting image size, understanding the pros and cons of resampling, and saving as PSD and TIFF, in our detailed Photoshop tutorial.
This exercise is excerpted from Noble Desktop’s past Photoshop training materials and is compatible with Photoshop updates through 2020. To learn current skills in Photoshop, check out our Photoshop Bootcamp and graphic design classes in NYC and live online.
Topics covered in this Photoshop tutorial:
Viewing/setting image size, Resampling pros & cons, Saving as PSD, Saving as TIFF
Exercise Overview
A standard print image is CMYK and has a resolution of 300 ppi (pixels per inch). Digital camera images are RGB and often come in as 72 ppi or higher. We will modify an image taken with a digital camera and properly prepare it for print.
From the Photoshop Class folder, open the file koala - facing camera.jpg.
Go to Image > Mode > CMYK Color. If you get a message, click OK.
Go to Image > Image Size. Do NOT click OK until we say!
Notice that the Resolution for this file is 72 but the Document Size is 32.444 by 48.667 inches. This means you’d get a large print, but low quality.
At the bottom, uncheck Resample.
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For Resolution, type 300. You’ll see that the Document Size reduces to 7.787 by 11.68 inches. This means you’d get a smaller print, but high quality.
That’s the largest size this photo can be printed at full quality. It was important to uncheck Resample (which means to add, remove, or recalculate pixels). We don’t want to add/remove pixels. Instead, we’re shrinking the pixels. At 300 ppi, pixels are too small to be seen. Refer to the sidebar at the end of the exercise for more info.
Click OK.
Go to File > Save As.
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Use the following instructions to save this image as a PSD (Photoshop Document) or TIFF. What’s the difference? PSD works great with other Adobe apps. TIFFs are more widely accepted in non-Adobe programs and often have slightly smaller file sizes if LZW compressed. Both maintain full image quality.
Save As PSD
Under Format (Mac) or Save as type (Windows), choose Photoshop.
Name it yourname-koala.psd and click Save.
If asked to maximize compatibility, keep it checked on and click OK.
Save As TIFF
Under Format (Mac) or Save as type (Windows), choose TIFF.
Name it yourname-koala.tif and click Save.
- Set Image Compression to LZW then click OK. LZW is a lossless compression that shrinks file size while maintaining full image quality. It’s widely accepted, but may not be compatible with all applications.
Close the file.
Changing Size & Resolution
Resampling OFF: As shown below, turn off resampling to change the size of pixels, instead of adding or removing them. Small pixels = clean, crisp prints.
Resampling ON: Turn on resampling to add or remove pixels. Fewer pixels = smaller file size (good for web graphics).
