16. Controlling Image Output

Once you create your Adobe Photoshop masterpiece, you will have to decide the output for the image file, and how the image will be printed. These are not easy considerations. For example, an image created with a resolution of 72ppi, might be fine if output to the Web, but would not be of sufficient quality for output to a high-quality laser printer. In addition, images saved in the RGB color space, would not work, if the image were to be printed on a 4-color (CMYK) press.

Raster images (Photoshop files) do not handle change very well, so it’s important to design with a goal in mind. Designers call this process a workflow. When you start a Photoshop project you should have a good idea of where the project is headed to a press or inkjet printer, a copy machine, or a monitor. Knowing this information helps you design with the end in mind. That’s not to say you can’t make changes to a Photoshop document; however, when it comes to color space and resolution, the less change the better the output quality.

When preparing images for the Web, it’s important to understand that file size and format are important considerations. People aren’t very patient when it comes time to downloading Web pages. Creating good-looking, yet fast-loading images keeps visitors on your Web site, waiting for more. Photoshop gives you the ability to perform image compression using formats such as the JPEG (Joint Photographers Expert Group), and GIF (Graphics Interchange File) formats. That will make your images as small as possible, while still retaining great image quality. In image preparation it’s all about control, and Photoshop gives you the tools to make the job easy.

Working with Page Setup in Macintosh

Photoshop images can be printed out to virtually any device. For example, an image could find its way to a laser or inkjet printer, a 4-color press, even run-of-the-mill copy machines have input for image printing from application software. What you need is Photoshop, an open image, and a good idea of where you want the image displayed. This may seem easy, however, a few careful adjustments will make all the difference in the world.

Work with Page Setup in Macintosh

Open a document.

Click the File menu, and then click Page Setup.

Click the Settings list arrow, and then click Page Attributes.

Select from the various Page Attributes options:

Format For. Click the list arrow, and then select a printer from the available options. If your printer is not accessible from the list, click the Edit Printer List, and then add your printer (you may need the printer CD, or access to the Internet, to load the latest drivers).
Paper Size. Click the list arrow, and select from the available options. The default printer will determine the available paper sizes.
Orientation. Click the Portrait, Landscape Left, or Landscape Right button.
Scale. Enter a percentage value to increase (over 100) or decrease (under 100) the size of the printed document.

Click OK.

Working with Page Setup in Windows

You can use the Page Setup dialog box in Windows to select the size and location in the printer of the paper you want to use. You can also select the page orientation (portrait or landscape) that best fits the entire document or any selection. Portrait orients the page vertically (taller than it is wide) and landscape orients the page horizontally (wider than it is tall). When you shift between the two, the margin settings automatically change. Margins are the blank space between the edge of a page and the image. The printer only prints within these margins. Different printer models support different options and features; the available options depend on your printer and print drivers.

Work with Page Setup in Windows

Open a document.

Click the File menu, and then click Page Setup.

Select from the various Page Setup options:

Size. Click the list arrow, and then select from the available options. The default printer will determine the available paper sizes.
Source. Click the list arrow, and then select from the available options.
Orientation. Click the Portrait or Landscape option.
Margins. Enter Top, Bottom, Left, and Right paper margins for the custom item.

Click OK.

Setting Document Print Options

PS 12.1, 12.2

When you select the Print command, Photoshop displays a preview dialog box (New!) (like the Print with Preview dialog box in CS2), which gives you the opportunity to view the image (on screen), and decide whether to print or return to the drawing board. The white area in the image preview is the printable area, while the shaded border at the edge is the paper margins. You can adjust the position and scale of the image and see the results. The size of the image is determined by the document size settings in the Image Size dialog box. When you scale an image in the Print dialog box, the changes only affect the printed image, not the actual image. If you want to use the same print settings the next time you print, Photoshop can remember your settings.

Set Document Print Options

Open a document.

Click the File menu, and then click Print.

To change the image orientation, click the Portrait or Landscape button.

Select from the various Position options:

Center Image. Select the check box to instruct the output device to center the image on the paper.
Top. Instructs the output device to print the image from the top of the page.
Left. Instructs the output device to print the image from the left of the page.

Did You Know?

You can manually scale and position an image. Select the Show Bounding Box check box, and then clear the Scale To Fit Media, and Center Image check boxes. Then simply drag the image in the View window to reposition, and then click and drag a corner to resize.

Select from the various Scaled Print Size options:

Scale to Fit Media. Select the check box to instruct Photoshop to scale the document to the selected paper size.
Scale. Enter a percentage value.
Height. Enter a specific height for the image.
Width. Enter a specific width for the image.
Show Bounding Box. Select the check box to create a viewable bounding box around the image.
Print Selected Area. Select the check box to only print the previously selected area of the image.

Click Page Setup to set any set up options.

Click Print to open the Print dialog box.

Click Done to return to your document without printing.

To access other print buttons, do any of the following:

Reset. Hold down Alt (Win) or Option (Mac), and then click Reset to reset print options.
Remember. Hold down Alt (Win) or Option (Mac), and then click Remember to save print options without closing the dialog box.
Print One. Hold down Alt (Win) or Option (Mac), and then click Print One to print without displaying a dialog box.

For Your Information: Displaying vs Printing an Image

Although the image displays on a monitor, you still get to see an accurate representation of how the graphic, and all its associated layers, and effects will appear. Remember, a monitor uses additive color (RGB), and most output devices, such as printing presses, use subtractive color (CMYK). However, if you have a good, color-calibrated monitor, you should have a good idea of how the image will look.

Setting Print Output Options

On the right side of the preview Print dialog box (New!), Photoshop not only gives you access to its powerful color management tools, it also lets you create color bars, calibration marks, add file name labels, and even place a custom border around the image. Click the Color Management list arrow, and then click Output. Photoshop displays a listing of all the options available, including the ability to print vector data or change document’s encoding. For example, if you want to print a vector image, such as shapes and type, with optimal results, you can use the Include Vector Data option to send the image to a postscript printer. It’s just one more way that Photoshop gives you control over document output.

Set Print Output Options

Open a document.

Click the File menu, and then click Print.

Click the list arrow at the top-right of the Print dialog box, and then click Output.

Select from the various Printing Marks options:

Calibration Bars. Prints a gradient tint bar to compare color ranges.
Registration Marks. Prints marks to align color separations.
Corner Crop Marks. Prints marks where the page is to be trimmed.
Center Crop Marks. Prints marks where the page is to be trimmed.
Description. Prints text provided in the File Info dialog box.
Labels. Prints the file name at the top of the page.
Emulsion Down. Prints images to film. Use to make type readable when printing to photographic paper facing away.
Negative. Prints an inverted image. Use if you want to print separations directly to film.

Select from the various Function options:

Background. Selects a background color to be printed outside the image area.
Border. Prints a black border around the image.
Bleed. Prints crop marks inside rather than outside the image.
Screen. Sets the print screen frequency and dot shape.
Transfer. Adjusts the dot gain or loss to compensate for a poorly calibrated output device.
Interpolation. Resamples the image to reduce the jagged appearance of a low-resolution image.
Include Vector Data. Select to print a vector image. If the option is grayed, the image doesn’t contain vector data.
Encoding. Selects the method for transferring data to a printer. Binary is the typical method for Postscript printers.

Click Print to open the Print dialog box.

Click Done to return to your document without printing.

Printing a Document in Macintosh

PS 12.1, 12.2

The Print command is probably the most used of all Photoshop’s print options. In addition to normal printing functions, such as Copies and Pages, the Print command gives you other menus that let you control specific printing functions, such as output ink and color management. Understand that the options available for the Print command will be partially determined by the default printer. For example, if your default printer uses more than one paper tray, you will see options for selecting a specific tray for the current print job. In spite of the differences, there are some universal options to all print jobs, and these are covered here.

Print a Document in Macintosh

Open a document.

Click the File menu, and then click Print.

A print preview dialog box opens (New!).

Specify the print options you want, and then click Print.

Click the Printer list arrow, and then select from the available printer descriptions.

Important

Changes made here, override any changes made in the Page Setup dialog box.

Click the Presets list arrow, and then select from the available preset options.

Click the Print Options list arrow, click Copies & Pages, and then select the various options: Number of copies, Collated, Print All or Range of pages.

Click the Print Options list arrow, click Layout, and then select the various options: Pages Per Sheet, Layout Direction, and if you want a Border.

To print the document at a later time, click the Print Options list arrow, click Scheduler Options, and then select the options you want.

To set paper related options, click the Print Options list arrow, click Paper Handling, Paper Feed, or Cover Page, and then select the options you want.

To set color related options, click the Print Options list arrow, click ColorSync, and then select the color options you want.

Click the Print Options list arrow, click Summary, and then view the summary of settings.

Click the following options to finalize your print: PDF, Preview, Cancel, or Print.

PDF. From the menu, select the PDF option you want.

If you need additional help along the way, click the Help button.

Did You Know?

You can save print options as a preset (Mac). In the Print dialog box, select the options you want, click the Presets pop-up menu, click Save As, type a name, and then click OK.

Printing a Document in Windows

PS 12.2

Printing a paper copy is the most common way to preview and share your documents. You can use the Print dialog box to set how many copies to print, specify a range of pages to print, and print your document. Understand that the options available for the Print command will be determined by the default printer, and operating system. Different printers will display different options, there are some options that are fairly universal, and these options are covered here.

Print a Document in Windows

Open a document.

Click the File menu, and then click Print.

A print preview dialog box opens (New!).

Specify the print options you want, and then click Print.

If necessary, click the Name list arrow, and then click the printer you want.

Type the number of copies you want to print.

Specify the pages to print:

All. Prints the entire document.
Pages. Prints the specified pages.
Selection. Prints the selected item.

Click Print.

Printing Part of a Document

PS 12.2

If you only want to print part of an image in a Photoshop document, you can use the Print Selected Area option in the Print dialog box (New!) to quickly perform the task. All you need to do is select the part of an image you want to print, select the Print command on the File menu, select the Print Selected Area check box, and then send it to the printer.

Print Part of a Document

Open a document.

Select the Rectangle Marquee tool on the toolbox.

Select the part of an image you want to print.

Click the File menu, and then click Print.

Select the Print Selected Area check box.

Click Print.

Did You Know?

You can scale an image if it’s larger than the printable area of the paper. If a warning appears, indicating your image is larger than the printable area, click Cancel, click the File menu, click Print, select the Scale To Fit Media check box, then click Print. You can also click the File menu, and then click Page Setup to change your paper size.

Printing One Copy

PS 12.2

If you want it quick without any questions, then the Print One Copy command is for you. No hassle, just a printed copy of the image, using Photoshop’s default print settings. The Print One Copy command does not open a dialog box, so when the option is selected, the printing process starts and attempts to print the document. If you try to print an image that is larger than the paper’s printable area, an alert dialog box appears. If this happens, you have the option of continuing the printing process, or canceling. Otherwise, the Print One Copy command is a one click solution to a fast printed copy of your active document.

Print One Copy of a Document

Open a document.

Click the File menu, and then click Print One Copy.

Photoshop prints a single copy of the image without a dialog box.

Important

If you have made any changes to Page Setup, or modified the printer settings in any way, Photoshop will ignore its defaults and print using your modified settings.

Timesaver

In the preview Print dialog box, hold down Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) to display Print One.

For Your Information: Printing a Larger Image

Occasionally, when printing a document, you will see an alert dialog box informing you that the image is larger than the paper’s printable area. When this happens, you have the choice of continuing or canceling. If you choose to continue, the image will be clipped. In most cases it’s best to cancel the print command, and then adjust the image size to match the printable area of the image.

Understanding File Formats

Saving a Document with a Different File Format

After all your hard work, you now need to save your document. The saving process involves selecting a specific file format, naming the file, and choosing a destination. Choose a file name, which will help identify the document (looking in a folder of 100 images and seeing files names, such as image_a, image_b, really doesn’t help). Select a destination, such as a hard drive, removable media, or even rewritable CD or DVD. Determine the format of the document file. While name and location are important, the file format is crucial to the future of the image. The file format determines how the document is stored, and what information is saved with the file. Choosing the wrong format, may even prevent you from correctly outputting the file.

Save a Document with a Different File Format

Open a document.

Click the File menu, and then click Save As.

Enter a name in the Save As (Mac) or File Name (Win) box.

Click the Format list arrow, and then select a format.

See the table on the previous page for assistance.

Click the Where (Mac) or Save In (Win) list arrow, and then select a location to save the document file.

For Your Information: Organizing Documents

Organization is a big part of any Photoshop project. For example, you might be working on several images, along with a dozen supporting images and text. When you work on a project, create a project folder and save all the parts in that folder. That way everything is in one place, so it’s easy to access, easy to move, and easy to store.

Inserting File Information into a Document

PS 1.4

When you save a document, you have the ability to save more than just color information. You can save copyright, camera, and even image category information. This data is saved with the file as metadata in the XMP format (Extensible Metadata Platform), and can be accessed by any application that reads XMP data. In addition, if the image is a photograph, you can save data on the type of image, where it was shot, the camera used, even information on shutter speed and F-Stop. That information will not only protect your intellectual property, but will supply you with vital statistics on exactly how you created that one-of-a-kind image.

Insert File Information into a Document

Open a document.

Click the File menu, and then click Info (Mac) or File Info (Win).

Click Description, and then enter information concerning the author and any copyright information.

Click Camera Data 1 and 2, and then enter information about the camera that took the image.

If the picture was taken with a digital camera that records Metadata, much of this information will already be filled out.

Click History to view historical information on the active document, such as last opened and saved, and a list of adjustments performed on the image.

Click IPTC Contact, Content, Image, and Status to enter information concerning the image’s creator, description and keywords, image physical information such as: city and date created, copyright and usage terms.

Click Adobe Stock Photo to display information about Stock Photo images.

Click Origin, and then enter data pertaining to the origin of the image.

Click Advanced to view high-end information on the active document, such as EXIF, and PDF document properties.

Click OK.

Did You Know?

You can add metadata to files saved in the psd, pdf, eps, png, gif, jpg, and tif formats. The information is embedded in the file using XMP (eXtensible Metadata Platform). This allows metadata to be exchanged between Adobe applications and across operating systems.

You can use the XMP Software Development Kit to customize the creation, processing, and interchange of metadata. You can also use the XMP kit to add fields to the File Info dialog box. For information on XMP and the XMP SDK, check the Adobe Solutions Network.

Understanding File Compression

Compression is Photoshop’s way of reducing the size of a document file. Kind of like the ultimate weight-loss program... just click a button, and the file is half its original size. Photoshop employs two types of compress schemes: lossy and lossless. Lossy compression reduces the size of the file by removing color information... information that can never be restored to the saved document. Lossy compression schemes can achieve file reductions of 80 percent or greater.

The lossless method reduces file size by using compression algorithms that reduce the size of a file without removing image information. Lossy methods are used primarily for images displayed in browsers, or Web images. The relatively slow speed of the Internet forces Web designers, to employ lossy compression methods to reduce images down to their smallest values. Lossless methods are used when the reduction of a file is important, but not so much that you would consider removing information. For example, reducing the size of a group of high-quality TIFF images, so they fit on a rewritable CD. Lossless compression methods can reduce files sizes up to 50 percent, or even a bit more.

Both methods compress documents based on the actual image information. For example, images that contain a lot of solid color information would compress quite well using the GIF (Graphics Interchange) or PNG8 formats; where an image with a lot of soft blending colors, such as a photograph, would be best compressed using the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format.

Lossy

Lossless

Preparing Clipart for the Web

Clipart is defined as non-photographic image information, with a lot of solid-color areas. For this process the GIF or PNG8 formats would serve best. The GIF (Graphics Interchange File) and PNG (Portable Network Graphics) formats use an RLE (Run Length Encoding) scheme. When the file is saved areas of solid color are compressed into small units and then restored to the file when it is opened. The GIF format supports a maximum of 256 colors. While that may not seem like much, most GIF images, such as clipart and text, contain far less color information. By reducing the number of colors available for the GIF color table, you can significantly reduce the image’s file size. For example, a GIF image of black text might only require a maximum of 2 colors (black and white). Experiment with the GIF Colors option to produce small, fast-loading image files. Since the GIF format has been around for a long time, using it almost guarantees the image will open on a visitor’s browser. The PNG format is newer, and has some new encoding schemes that make even smaller files, but it is not supported by all Web browsers.

Prepare Clipart for the Web

Open a clipart document.

Click the File menu, and then click Save As.

Enter a name for the file in the Save As box.

Click the Where (Mac) or Save In (Win) list arrow, and then select a location to save the file.

Click the Format list arrow, and then click CompuServe GIF.

Click Save.

Select from the following Indexed Color options:

Palette. Click the list arrow, and then select from the available color palette options, including Web (Safe), Mac, and Win System palettes.
Colors. If you selected a local color, or custom palette, click to select the number of colors saved with the image. The maximum number of colors is 256.
Forced. Click the list arrow, and then select what colors will be forced to remain in the image.
Transparency. Select the check box to preserve any transparent areas.
Matte. If the image contains transparent areas, clicking this list arrow lets you select a color to fill the areas. For example, you could fill all transparent areas of the image with black to match the black of a Web document.
Dither. Click the list arrow, and then select how you want the remaining images color to mix.
Amount. Enter an Amount percentage to instruct the GIF format how aggressively to Dither the image colors.
Preserve Exact Colors. Select the check box to force the preservation of the original image colors (based on how many colors were chosen using the Palette option).

Click OK.

Preparing a Photograph for the Web

PS 13.1

Reducing the size of a photograph presents its own particular set of problems, and Photoshop comes to the rescue with the solution. For Photographic images, the best format to use is the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format. This format reduces file size by removing image information (lossy compression). For example, a 1MB uncompressed TIFF file, can be reduced to 20 or 30K using JPEG compression. That reduces the download time of the image on a 33K modem from15 minutes, to 10 seconds. While that is quite a reduction, it also means most of the image colors have been removed and the remaining color are used in a dithering scheme to fool the eyes into seeing colors that are no longer in the image. Highly compressed JPEG images look good on a monitor, but fair poorly when sent to a printer.

Prepare a Photograph for the Web

Open a photographic document.

Click the File menu, and then click Save As.

Enter a name for the file in the Save As box.

Click the Where (Mac) or Save In (Win) list arrow, and then select a location to save the file.

Click the Format list arrow, and then click JPEG.

Click Save.

Select from the following JPEG Options:

Matte. The JPEG format does not support transparency. Click the Matte list arrow, and then select what color to fill transparent areas within the active document.
Quality. The Quality option determines the amount of image information loss. Enter a value from 1 to 12; the higher the value the more information is retained, thus creating a larger file.
Baseline (Standard). The format is recognized by most browsers.
Baseline Optimized. Produces optimized color, and a slightly smaller file size, but is not supported by older browsers.
Progressive. Displays a series of increasingly detailed scans as the image downloads. The visual impression is of a blurred image, slowly coming into focus (not supported by older browsers).
Scans. If Progressive is selected, select the number of scan passes for the image.
Size. Allows you to view the download time of the image, based on standard Internet bandwidths.

Click OK.

For Your Information: Using the JPEG 2000 Format

The JPEG 2000 is a file format that provides more options and greater flexibility than the standard JPEG format. It produces images with better compression and quality for both Web and print publishing. The optional JPEG 2000 format plug-in can be found on the Photoshop CS3 installation CD in Goodies/Optional Plug-Ins/Photoshop Only/File Formats. Currently, only computers with the necessary plug-in can display a JPEG 2000 file on the Web.

Preparing an Image for the Press

Images saved for press are in another world. For example, images displayed on a monitor use the RGB (additive) color space, while images sent to press use the CMYK (subtractive) color space. The format of choice is the DCS (Digital Color Separation) format. The DCS format is a version of the standard EPS format that lets you save color separations of CMYK images. DCS comes in two flavors, DCS 1.0 and DCS 2.0. Both create five separate files: one each for the four color plates, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black, and one for a combined, or composite image. However, the DCS 2.0 format allows you to save alpha and spot-color channels, as well as giving you the option of saving the five separate files under one combined file name. You can also use DCS 2.0 format to export images containing spot channels. It’s important to understand that the only device that can print a DCS file is a PostScript printer. As with anything related to press operations, always contact your friendly press operator and ask what format to use.

Prepare an Image for the Press

Open a document.

Click the File menu, and then click Save As.

Important

Images saved in the DCS format must be in the CMYK color mode.

Enter a name for the file in the Save As box.

Click the Where (Mac) or Save In (Win) list arrow, and then select a location to save the file.

Click the Format list arrow, and then click Photoshop DCS 2.0.

Click Save.

Select from the following DCS 2.0 Format options:

Preview. Click the list arrow, and then select what type of low-resolution image to use in the layout application.
DCS. Click the list arrow, and then select how you want the color plate information saved.
Encoding. Click the list arrow, and then select how the image data is encoded for delivery to the output device (contact your service bureau).
Include Halftone Screen. Select the check box to include any halftone screens.
Include Transfer Function. Used with high-end commercial production jobs.
Include Vector Data. Select the check box to include any vector data contained within the active image.
Image Interpolation. Select the check box to create an anti-aliased version of the Preview image (does not impact printing).

Click OK.

Preparing an Image for the Inkjet or Laser Printer

While not everyone has access to a 4-color press; even casual computer users have or have access to, an inkjet or laser printer. Inkjet and laser printers apply ink to the paper using dots of color. In fact, one of the measurements of quality for this type of output is its printing resolution. For example, a photo-quality inkjet or laser printer can run with a resolution of 1,400dpi and higher, or one thousand four hundred dots of color information per linear inch. There are several file format options for output to print, however none is so versatile as the TIFF format. The Tagged Image File Format, uses lossy or lossless compression, and lets you save multiple Photoshop layers, as well as alpha channel information. In addition, there is hardly a layout application in the marketplace, Macintosh or Windows, that will not open a TIFF saved image.

Prepare an Image for the Inkjet or Laser Printer

Open a document.

Click the File menu, and then click Save As.

Enter a name for the file in the Save As box.

Click the Where (Mac) or Save In (Win) list arrow, and then select a location to save the file.

Click the Format list arrow, and then click TIFF.

Click Save.

Select from the following TIFF Options:

None. No compression is performed to the image.
LZW. Performs lossless compression to the image. When used, the receiving application must have the corresponding LZW option or they will not be able to uncompress the file.
Zip. Performs a standard Zip (lossless) compression to the image. Receiving application must have an unzip utility.
JPEG. Performs lossy (image loss) compression to the image.
IBM PC. Select PC if the image is to be used on an IBM system.
Macintosh. Select Macintosh if the image is to be used on a Macintosh system.
Save Image Pyramid. Check to save the image using several image resolutions, and lets you decide, when reopening the image, what resolution to use.
Save Transparency. Check to preserves any transparent areas in the active image.
RLE. Run Length Encoding (RLE) helps to compress solid areas of color across multiple layers.
ZIP. Uses the Zip format to compress multiple layers.
Discard Layers And Save A Copy. Creates a copy of the file without the layers, essentially saves a composite image file.

Click OK.

For Your Information: Getting the Best Results on a InkJet or Laser Printer

Since your monitor displays an image using light and a desktop printer reproduces an image using inks, dyes, or pigments, it is impossible for a desktop printer to reproduce all the colors that can be displayed on a monitor. However, by incorporating certain procedures (such as color management) into your workflow, you can achieve predictable results when printing your images to a desktop printer. For more information on getting the best color results, see Chapter 18, “Managing Color from Monitor to Print.”

Understanding Monitor, Image, and Device Resolution

PS 12.3

Remember that raster images are all about resolution. Images have a specific scanned resolution (spi, samples per inch), your monitor has a resolution (ppi, pixels per inch), and output devices such as inkjet printers (dpi, dots per inch), and high-end presses (lpi, lines per inch). While all these terms may seem a bit complicated, they’re not; they simply explain how much resolution, or information is contained within the image.

Most computer monitors are set to a fixed resolution of 72 or 96 ppi. Say you scan an image a 4 by 4 inch image at 288spi (that’s 4 times the resolution of a 72ppi monitor). If you attempted to display the image at 100 percent view, the monitor would take the image pixels and adjust the width and height to match its resolution, so the image would be 16 by 16 inches (288 divided by 72 = 4). With monitors 16 inches is not an exact number, but it’s close enough for this example. If you attempt to reduce the zoom size of the image to make it fit the monitor size, Photoshop will have to remove pixels from the image to make it fit. This typically causes the image to generate jagged lines; especially around angles lines. The moral of this story is when adjusting an image for viewing on a monitor, for example a slide presentation, never change the zoom of the image to fit the monitor, always adjust the resolution by selecting Image menu, and clicking Image Size.

When it comes to output, such as to an inkjet print, the rules are a bit more forgiving. Many output devices have print resolutions of 1,440 or higher. However, we’re not talking about fixed monitor pixels (ppi), we’re talking about dot of ink hitting a piece of paper (dpi). Most inkjet printer, because of the dot gain of the inks (that’s the amount of space a dot of ink spreads when it hits the paper), does not need image resolution greater than 300spi. Unlike a monitor, if you use higher resolutions than needed, the image typically will not suffer, quality wise, you’ll just be printing an image with a larger file size. However, that can be a time-wasting problem. For example, a 300spi 8 by 10 image will have a file size of about 20MB, the same image scanned at 1200spi will produce a 329MB file size. When you print the two images, you will probably not notice any quality difference; however, it will take, on average, 6 minutes longer to print the 1200spi document on most midrange printers.

The bottom line is that resolution represents the amount of information contained within a linear inch; however, various devices handle that same resolution number differently. The good news is that understanding those differences helps you to create a useable workflow. Knowledge is power.

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