Has this been asked before?

[mrsmbm]

How do I get a super clear layout in the gallery? I use the size for web feature and size it to 600x600, but it looks grainy...what else should I do?

[Paula]

Do you save it on the maximum setting?

[FlirtatiousBrat]

I resize to 500x500 then slightly sharpen it..save for web with a 150mb optimization size

[mrsmbm]

Hmmm...good question! I'll have to check into that...

[AmyM]

I know nothing about photoshop CS2 or any of that so this might not help. I can't remember why I started saving mine like this but some scrappy sista told me to and it seems to work. I am in psp. I resize to 600ppi or dpi or whatever at 500x500 size. Then I go to JPEG optimizer and just up the anty until I get below 150k for the gallery. I don't know how it works but that particular method does for me. Good luck!

[FlirtatiousBrat]

I do the same thing in PS Amy except in there you can tell it a size to optimize to and it takes it as high as it can and not exceed the size limit

What program do you use Mandy?

[~Julie~]

Ok for a dummy here can you explain step by step how to do it. I use PS CS 2


Thank you!!

[EveRecinella]

I actually run a sharpen action on it and then save it using "save for web" in PS3!

[Paula]

Ok, step by step what I do (this is in CS3):

1. Create the LO and save as psd
2. When finished, flatten and save as a jpg. A screen comes up and I save it high quality, maximum image
4. Then save for web. The screen comes up and I make sure that it will save as a jpg and make sure that maximized is checked; then high resolution at 72 ppi. I usually save in 500x500 format because if I do 600x600, they are usually too big for the galleries.
5. Then save it with the _web at the end.

[wildblueeyez]

I know nothing about photoshop CS2 or any of that so this might not help. I can't remember why I started saving mine like this but some scrappy sista told me to and it seems to work. I am in psp. I resize to 600ppi or dpi or whatever at 500x500 size. Then I go to JPEG optimizer and just up the anty until I get below 150k for the gallery. I don't know how it works but that particular method does for me. Good luck!

Me too Amy! I have no clue how to reduce and sharpen in PSE 4.0 LOL...

[FlirtatiousBrat]

ok resize to 500x500

filter-sharpen
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s244/BratScrap/sharpen.jpg

file-save for web (or alt+shift+ctrl S)
click the arrow thingy and choose optimize to file size
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s244/BratScrap/arrow.jpg

then punch in 150 for optimization (most galleries have a 150kb limit)
click ok, name it, then hit save
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s244/BratScrap/150.jpg

sorry for the crappy screenshots my eyes haven't "woken up" yet

[Paula]

I'll give this a shot. Sounds like a better way to me. =)

[wvasweetness]

I'm totally trying the sharpening, Meghan... that's a great idea!

[mrsmbm]

Okay, this is why I love it here! You ladies are the BEST! Thank you so much for your help!!! (I use CS2 by the way, and I was so tired last night when I asked this question that I didn't think to mention it...)

Anyway, thanks for your amazing help!!!

[MelindaH]

Oh! I totally appreciate the optimize to file size hint ... I never knew that before. I just dragged the quality bar until it was under 150k. This will be great! Thanks!

[scarletsierra]

So I just uploaded a couple LOs and the font looks like it's in bold..very dark when it's not that way in my full sized PSD...anyone know why? Do you think sharpening would help with that? It's bugging me, lol.

[nov05mama]

I will have to try this! Thanks for sharing!!
I usually don't resize in PS...I upload my original layout to my Flickr Pro account and then resize it there for the gallery...that way I automatically have the link and I don't have to have 2 separate files on my computer...

[Paula]

So Meg, do you do the sharpen on your full size jpgs as well? Or just the ones you shrink for web?

[~Julie~]

Thank you so much Meghan! I will have to try that out!

The screen shots will def help me :)

[ditzyscrap]

Sara, did you try flattening the image first? If you go straight to "save for web" or resize without flattening, sometimes your fonts/shadows go a little wonky. I always merge all visible layers (Ctrl+Shift+E is the shortcut), then resize to 600x600, THEN do "save for web".

[Paula]

Ok, so I am braindead!! I meant Meg in my post above! LOL

[scarletsierra]

Thanks so much Bree! I actually don't usually flatten the image because for some reason I've always thought it made my shadows look like they have less depth, but you're right about the wonkiness when I resize for web. Thanks again!

Sara, did you try flattening the image first? If you go straight to "save for web" or resize without flattening, sometimes your fonts/shadows go a little wonky. I always merge all visible layers (Ctrl+Shift+E is the shortcut), then resize to 600x600, THEN do "save for web".

[ColleenSwerb]

Jessica Sprague had a post about optimizing your web jpgs and I follow that. It's flatten, change to 72 dpi, free transform and scale down to the size you want (I have an action that takes it down 15% and makes it 540x540), unsharp mask, save for web, optimize to file size of 150. A while back someone in DST made an action out of it, so I just run that and I'm good to go. I tweaked it and made my own for when I need 600x600 LO's for my designers.