Learn Photoshop Now - Optimizing Photoshop Graphics For the Web

Optimization is a process which can take only a small amount of time if you are looking for nearly perfect results or can take a bit more time if you are looking for perfect results. Whichever route you choose depends on how you want your graphic to look, it is your choice. Both Adobe Photoshop and Adobe ImageReady have built-in tools which help optimize images for viewing over the web. The best bet is to use whichever software you are most comfortable with. If you are already familiar with Photoshop then using ImageReady is unnecessary.

The easy way:

The Photoshop "Save As" control lets you save an image as either a GIF, JPEG, or PNG file. You can designate image quality, background transparency or matting, color display, and downloading method depending on which file format you select. The controls for each of the resulting dialog boxes are pretty much self explanatory. I recommend saving your image this way (using a different name) and then saving it using the next steps as a way of comparing the two. Doing it this way will give you a good indication of which option gives the best results.

For greater control and more precise optimization I use the Save for Web command. It's found in the File menu just below the "Save As..." item.

The ensuing window offers a variety of choices. The options are all fairly self explanatory.

Click on the tab at the top of the image area to choose a display option: I recommend 2-Up which allows you to see both versions of the image side by side.

The area below each image in the "Save for Web" dialog box gives you information concerning how the file will perform online. Some items you should see include the original image file name and file size; and the optimized image optimization options, the size of the optimized file, and the estimated download time using a selected modem speed. I use the 28.8 setting to be sure.

Now play with the "quality" options to the right and test the different settings.

Nothing will actually change or affect the file until you select "Save Optimized" -- so play around until you have a good visual understanding of what to expect.

You can also set scaling at this time, and Photoshop does a pretty good job of sampling your image down to the correct size. Remember: never enlarge.