Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Step Five:
The last Workflow Options choice is what
you want the resolution of your processed
file to be. The topic of resolution is some-
thing entire training DVDs are dedicated
to, so we won't go in-depth about it here,
but I'll give you some quick guidelines.
If your photo will wind up on a printing
press, use 300 ppi (you don't really need
that much, but many print shops still think
you do, so just play it safe at 300 ppi).
When printing to an inkjet printer at larger
than 8x10" size, I use 240 ppi (although
some argue that the sweet spot for Epson
printers is 360 ppi, so you might try print-
ing the same image at both resolutions
and compare). For prints smaller than
8x10" (which are viewed at a very close
distance), try 300 ppi. If your photos are
only going to be viewed on the web, you
can use 72 ppi. (By the way, the proper
resolution is debated daily in Photoshop
discussion forums around the world, and
everybody has their own reason why their
number is right. So, if ever you're bored
one night….)
Step Six:
When you click OK and then click Open
Image in the Camera Raw dialog, your
photo is processed using those settings
and opened in Photoshop (here's the
processed photo in Photoshop with the
Image Size dialog open, so you can see
the settings). These workflow settings now
become your defaults, so you don't have
to mess with them again, unless: (a) you
want to choose a different size, (b) you
need to work in 16-bit, or (c) you need to
change the resolution. Personally, I work
at the original size taken by my camera, in
8-bit mode, and at a resolution of 240 ppi,
so I don't have to change these workflow
options very often.
