Core_Computer Studies: Opening a new file in Photoshop
To Open a new File:
When Photoshop first lauches it does not open a document automatically. You need to open a new file. Go to the menu and choose:
File > new
You are then faced with a dialogue box in which you will need to address physical size, resolution, colour mode and background colour.
Physical size
Students get easily confused between the image size and the physical size of a document. often three types of measurment get confused. File size is measured in bytes and Image size is measured in pixels on the screen. In other words both file size and image size relate to the digital world. Physical size relates to the physical world and can be set in measures such as inches or centimetres. The dimensions that you set in this dialogue box will determine the physical size of your image when printed regardless of the resolution or how large the image looks on screen. Photoshop provides a number of preset sizes in the drop down menu next to Presets. Select an image size from here.
Resolution
Resolution is the number of dots or pixels per unit of length that are used to make up the image and is usually described as dots per inch or dpi. All images are shown at 72 dpi on the computer screen. At this resolution you cannot quite see the individual square pixels with the naked eye but at slightly lower resolutions you can.
High quality printers require 250 - 300 dpi files for catalogue quality printing. You need to decide what quality you want and therefore what resolution to set your new file at. If you have chosen a resolution higher than 72dpi the computer will still show 72 dpi on screen so the image will look larger than it will print (even when it says 100%) because the screen cannot show more pixels per inch.
Colour mode
Colour mode can be set to RGB, CMYK or grayscale. Usually we work on screen in RGB for colour work and later convert to CMYK if we are preparing the art work for printing.
Background
Background can be set to white, transparent or the background colour
Related Topics:
These notes are written for students who undertake the Core Computer course at School of Art, Australian National University. Students of the course should feel free to contact any member of staff with comments questions and general suggestions..
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