Photoshop File Formats, Color Modes, and Document Management

JPEG

Common for mobile devices and cameras, uses lossy compression.

HEIC

Used by Apple devices, also uses lossy compression.

RAW

Preferred by photographers for its flexibility and quality, uses lossless compression (e.g., .NEF for Nikon, .CR2/.CR3 for Canon, .ARW for Sony, and .DNG for Adobe's non-proprietary format).

PSD

Photoshop's native format, supports all features like layers and masks, limited to 2GB.

TIFF

Supports all Photoshop features, can save larger files up to 4GB.

Adobe Cloud Documents

Designed for transferring large files across devices, saved in Adobe's cloud.

PNG

Ideal for web graphics with transparency, not typically used for photographs.

GIF

Used for animations and web graphics, supports limited colors and transparency.

File Formats and Compression

JPEG and HEIC formats use lossy compression, which reduces file size but can affect image quality. RAW files use lossless compression, preserving more information and flexibility for editing.

Working/Master File Formats

PSD and TIFF formats are used for saving multi-layered documents in Photoshop, maintaining high quality with lossless compression.

Output File Formats

JPEG is commonly used for sharing images online due to its small file size.

Opening Files in Photoshop

Go to File > Open to open files in various formats like JPEG, HEIC, RAW, PSD, TIFF, etc.

Saving Files in Photoshop

To save your work in different formats, go to File > Save As.

Exporting Files in Photoshop

For output-specific formats, go to File > Export > Export As to choose formats like JPEG, PNG, GIF, etc.

No Lossy Compression

Raw files do not discard information through lossy compression, preserving the highest image quality.

Greater Flexibility

With more information, colors, and tones to work with, raw files allow for extensive edits and enhancements without compromising image quality.

Proprietary Formats

Most camera manufacturers have their own raw file formats, ensuring compatibility and optimal use of the camera's capabilities.

Bit Depth

The bit depth specifies how much information is available for each pixel in an image.

Higher Bit Depths

Higher bit depths (like 16-bit) provide more color and tonal information, which is beneficial for editing.

Color Modes

Different color modes (grayscale, index color, RGB) determine how color information is stored.

RGB Mode

RGB mode, with its three channels, can display over 16 million colors, making it ideal for most photographs.

Editing Flexibility

Working with higher bit depths (like 16-bit) allows for more significant edits without losing image quality, as it maintains more color and tonal information.

8-bit

Can show 256 shades of gray or colors.

16-bit

Can show over 65,000 shades of gray or trillions of colors, giving more detail and flexibility when editing.

Color Mode

This determines how colors are stored in an image.

Grayscale

Uses one channel to show shades of gray.

Index Color

Uses one channel with a limited palette of 256 colors, good for simple graphics.

RGB

Uses three channels (Red, Green, Blue) and can show over 16 million colors, ideal for detailed images.

Adjusting Bit Depth and Color Mode in Photoshop

To adjust bit depth and color mode in Photoshop, open your image, go to the top menu, select Image, choose Mode, and select the desired bit depth (8-bit, 16-bit, or 32-bit) and color mode (e.g., RGB, Grayscale, Index Color).

Converting Bit Depth

Converting from a higher bit depth to a lower bit depth will discard information, which cannot be recovered by simply converting back.

Different Devices, Different Colors

Devices like monitors and printers display different subsets of colors due to their varying technologies and materials.

Color Spaces Overview

The video discusses four main color spaces: sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto, and CMYK, each with different ranges of colors.

Choosing the Right Color Space

sRGB is suitable for screen display but not ideal for editing.

Adobe RGB

Adobe RGB offers a larger color space, suitable for high-quality monitors and inkjet printers.

ProPhoto

ProPhoto provides the largest color space, ideal for photographers but may cause color shifts when converting to smaller spaces.

CMYK

CMYK is used for conventional printing but is limited in color range.

Additive vs. Subtractive Processes

Screens use an additive process (combining red, green, and blue light to create white), while printers use a subtractive process (combining cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks to create black).

Device Quality and Materials

Manufacturers use different materials and technologies, resulting in varying color representations.

Color Spaces

Devices support different color spaces (sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto, CMYK), each with a different range of colors.

sRGB Color Space

The sRGB color space is a relatively small color space compared to the full range of colors visible to the human eye.

sRGB Usage

Most monitors and screens can display all the colors in the sRGB color space, making it a good choice if you're only publishing images for screen viewing.

Color Space in Photoshop

To choose a color space in Photoshop, go to the Edit menu, select Color Settings, and choose your desired color space from the dropdown menu (e.g., sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto).

ProPhoto or Adobe RGB

For photographers, you might prefer ProPhoto or Adobe RGB.

sRGB

If you're designing only for screens, sRGB might be the best choice.

Output Considerations

Knowing how your image will be output (screen, halftone printing, inkjet printing, or continuous tone printing) helps determine the appropriate document size.

Screen Display

For screen display, focus on the width and height in pixels; the resolution (PPI) is less important as screens map one document pixel to one screen pixel.

Halftone Printing

Halftone printing needs 1.5 to 2 times the line screen in PPI.

Inkjet Printing

Inkjet printing typically requires 240-360 PPI.

Continuous Tone Printing

Continuous tone printing typically requires a resolution of around 300 pixels per inch.

Ways to Display Images

Four common ways to display images are: On Screen, Halftone Printing, Inkjet Printing, and Continuous Tone Printing.

On Screen Display

Focuses on the width and height in pixels to match the screen's resolution.

Halftone Pattern

Uses a halftone pattern made up of dots for printing presses.

Inkjet Printing Resolution

Inkjet printing requires a resolution between 240 and 360 pixels per inch.

Continuous Tone Printing Resolution

Continuous tone printing typically requires a resolution of around 300 pixels per inch.

Importance of Output Medium

Knowing the output medium for images is crucial because it helps you determine the appropriate document size, resolution, and other settings to ensure the best quality for the intended use.

Halftone Printing Knowledge

Halftone printing requires knowledge of the line screen (LPI) and resolution (PPI) to ensure the dots don't bleed into each other, affecting print quality.

Inkjet Printing Quality

Higher resolutions can improve quality, especially for close viewing distances.

Changing Document Size in Photoshop

To change the document size in Photoshop, go to the Menu Bar, click on Image, select Image Size, adjust dimensions, and confirm changes.

Adjusting Document Dimensions

In the dialog box that appears, you can adjust the width, height, and resolution of your document.

Resampling

When resampling is off, you can change the print size without adding or subtracting pixels. When resampling is on, Photoshop can add or subtract pixels to resize the image.

Adjusting Resolution

Changing the width or height while resampling is off will adjust the resolution. With resampling on, Photoshop will create or discard pixels to maintain the resolution.

Output Specific Adjustments

Use the Image Size command to resize documents for different output devices, such as screens, printing presses, inkjet printers, and labs.

Image Size Command Access

To access the Image Size command in Photoshop, go to the Image menu and select Image Size or use the keyboard shortcut: Command + Option + I on Mac or Control + Alt + I on Windows.

Changing Width or Height without Resampling

When you change the width or height of an image without resampling in Photoshop, you are not adding or subtracting any pixels. Instead, you are simply redistributing the existing pixels.

Resolution Change

Adjusting the width or height will change the resolution (pixels per inch). For example, increasing the width will decrease the resolution, while decreasing the width will increase the resolution.

Pixel Count

The total number of pixels remains the same since no new pixels are added or removed.

Changing Width or Height Steps

To change the width or height of a document in Photoshop, go to the Image menu, select Image Size, and adjust the Width and Height fields in the Image Size dialog box.

Resample Option

If you want to change the dimensions without adding or subtracting pixels, make sure the Resample option is turned off. If you need to add or subtract pixels, enable the Resample option.

Using Image Size Steps

To use the Image Size feature to change document dimensions in Photoshop, go to the Image menu, select Image Size, or use the keyboard shortcut: Command + Option + I on Mac or Control + Alt + I on Windows.

Undoing Actions

You can undo actions using the Edit menu, keyboard shortcuts (Command + Z on Mac or Control + Z on Windows), or by clicking on states in the History panel.

History Panel

The History panel tracks the last 50 commands by default, allowing you to revert to previous states. You can change this number in the Preferences under Performance.

Non-Destructive Editing

The ability to go back in time using the History panel enables a flexible editing environment where you can experiment without permanent changes.

Undo Action in Photoshop

To undo an action in Photoshop, you have several options: Edit Menu, Keyboard Shortcut (Command + Z on Mac or Control + Z on Windows), or History Panel.

Editing in the History Panel

To edit using the History panel in Photoshop, open the History Panel, select a State, and use Command + Z (Mac) or Control + Z (Windows) to undo or redo actions.

Saving and Exporting Documents

Key takeaways include using non-destructive editing, saving options like PSD, PSB, PDF, or TIFF, and exporting to formats like JPEG, PNG, or GIF.

Gradient Fill Layers

Use gradient fill layers to add color tints without altering the original image.

PSD Files

Save your work as a PSD file to keep all layers intact, which is useful for making changes later.

Save As

Use 'Save As' to avoid overwriting your original file, especially important if you started with a JPEG, which doesn't support layers.

Export As

Use 'Export As' to save your work in formats like JPEG or PNG for sharing, adjusting quality and size as needed.

File Management

You can choose to save your edited files in the same folder as the originals or in a separate folder, depending on your organization preferences.

Saving Documents

Go to the File menu and select Save As, choose the desired file format (e.g., PSD, TIFF, JPEG), and optionally save to the cloud.

Exporting Documents

Go to the File menu and select Export, then choose Export As, select the format (e.g., PNG, JPEG, GIF), adjust quality and size settings, and click Export.

Reverting to Previous State

Click on a previous state in the History panel to revert to that state.

Linear History Panel

The History panel is linear, so any future states will drop off if you make a change to the document after reverting to a previous state.

Adjusting Quality and Size

When exporting, you can adjust the quality and size settings as needed for easier sharing.

Accessing History Panel

You can access the History panel from the Window menu by selecting 'History.'

State Representation

Each state in the History panel represents an action you've taken.

Command + Z

Use Command + Z on Mac or Control + Z on Windows to undo actions sequentially.

Shift Key Function

Adding the Shift key while using Command + Z or Control + Z will allow you to move forward in time.

Saving to Cloud

You can save to the cloud by clicking on Save to Cloud Documents.

File Format Options

You can choose from file formats like PSD, PSB, PDF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, or GIF when saving or exporting.

Maintaining Layers

Save layered files as PSD, PSB, PDF, or TIFF to maintain layers.