Design Gallery-Adobe-Part--6

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<u>Design Gallery</u>

Adobe-Part--6

Clean Type for the web

A type size below 12 points becomes blurry, when used on the Web. To maintain the visibility, try to keep the tracking between 20 to 50 points. This will not only keep the size small, but will also maintain the visibility of the type.

Trim for the Web

Another way to keep file sizes small is to use the Trim function from the Image menu. It will crop your Web graphic as tightly as possible, for the smallest possible file size. It does this by looking at the pixel colour in the upper left corner of your image, and cropping down until it hits another colour.

Layer-based slices

Photoshop can automatically flatten and slice an image meant for the Web, by using Layer-based slices.
If you create a layer-based slice, when you move the layer, Photoshop will automatically adjust all the slices to accommodate your move, and also create a new slice layer. From the Layer menu, choose New Layer Based Slice in case of changes in the layer. Also, if you let Photoshop do the slicing, you don't have to drag out slices-Photoshop does exact and automatic slicing.
The new Slice options in Photoshop 7 allow you to link and unlink your slices. Linking the slices allows them to share the same colour palette and dithering options, which prevents visible seams that occur between the lines due to changes.

Get rid of those annoying marching ants

There are times when the selected portion in an image shows annoying lines called selection border, popularly known as marching ants. By pressing [Ctrl] + [H], your selection remains but the marching ants disappear. This command is known as 'Show Extras'.

Using the WBMP format

Photoshop 7 supports a new file format called WBMP. This is designed specifically for mobile devices such as cell phones and PDAs. This format supports only 1-bit colour-a pixel is either black or white. You can use masks from type layers, shape layers and alpha channels, to vary the Dither percentage across an image. This technique produces higher-quality results in critical image areas, without increasing file size.

Straighten those jagged Lasso tool selections

To get a smooth border when using the Lasso tool, draw the area you want to use as your selection, and press [Q] to enter Quick Mask mode-your selection will now be surrounded by solid pink. From the Filter menu, under Noise choose Median. As you raise the radius of the Median filter, the edges smoothen out. Once the edges are smooth, press [Q] again to return to Standard Mode.

Placing Lens Flares

The location of the lens flare centre can be controlled precisely. Go to the Info palette and click on the cross hair in the lower left hand side of the palette. In the screen for measurement values, insert values in pixels or inches. Place your cursor over the exact spot where you want the lens flare to appear. If you look in the Info palette, you will see the exact position in inches. Note this value and go to the Lens Flare dialog box. Press [Alt] and click in the Lens Flare preview window.
In the Precise Flare Center dialog box, enter the X and Y coordinates that you have noted. Click OK, and you will see the lens flare right where you wanted it.

Working with the Lightning Effect filter

You can create your own preset styles after configuring the lighting, in Lighting Effects filter, by clicking on the Save button at the top of the dialog box. Also remember that pressing [Tab] jumps you from one light to the next, and pressing [Backspace] deletes the selected light. You can add new lights by dragging the light icon into the preview or by holding down [Alt], and dragging an existing light.

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