a silly printing question...

[robes]

I have been experimenting with trials of PSPX (first) and PSE4 (now) and just realized that I can no longer pull up the pages I made with PSPX because the program is no longer active on my computer. I decided to go with PSPX and it is on its way, so I'm not worried about that. BUT... my PSE creations are MUCH better with a little experience and I don't want to lose them when I stop the PSE trial. SO, I guess my question is: Can I just burn them to a disc now and be able to print them at a print shop (they are 12x12 layouts, so I can't do them at home anyway). Is that how it works? I hope that makes sense!:confused:

[Pam]

Save your PSE layouts (PSD files?) as a high quality (200 to 300 ppi) jpg file for your trip to a print shop -- but most likely PSPX will be able to read them and even recognize the individual layers.

[robes]

I tried to save it as JPEG, but I can't see where I can specify ppi (I did format the layout as 200-300 ppi, is that what you meant?) Anyway, when I hit save it gave me a screen with "image" options including "quality"(I picked "max"), "format" (default was "baseline") and "size" (it said"~1589.1K/280.76s @...then I could choose multiple numbers, but default was 56.6Kbps). Does that make any sense to anyone? I have no idea what any of it means!! Help!

[Pam]

Were you using "save for web" or just a regular save? If you formatted your layout as 200-300 ppi, it will remain as such. Yes, save the larger size for printing, but as I said, PSP will be able to read Photoshop files and you'll be able to save them from there for printing (with PSP you can resize and see a menu that shows the ppi, the pixel size, and the inches/centimeter size.

The "default 56.6Kbps" was about shrinking an image for web viewing -- at a dial-up rate of 56.6 kilobytes per second. Check to see if there is a "save" or a "save as" that isn't just for web or email.

[robes]

I did a regular "save as" (as far as I can tell). I just received by PSPX, so I'll download it and see what I get. Thanks for your help.

[Rosemary]

Hi robes,

In PSE open your image, choose "Save As" From the file menu or shft-ctrl-s
Under the filename choose .jpg as the type. Ignore eveything else.
Click 'Save'
In the dialog box, set quality to 12 or pull the slider all the way to the right. Ignore everything else.
Click on 'Save'.

You're done. You have a high quality Jpeg for printing.

You should be able to open your Photoshop file in PSP, but I'm not sure what it would do to your layer styles. But your layers should still be intact.

If you want to know how to make a web thumbnail in PSE, please post again and I'll go over it.

[robes]

Thanks for your help. What is a "web thumbnail"? Is that just like "saving for web"... which from what I understand is just saved with less memory or something? (can you tell I'm new at this?) I think I would be interested in eventually posting some of my stuff. I am now using PSPX again...does it save the same way?
Thanks again.

[Emma]

you should save 2 or 3 copies

1. PSP/PSD file for editing later; you can print from your home printer straight from this file

2. small web-quaity JPG. Check the Resizing for the Web tutorial for PSP and PSE to compare. In PSE it's File>Save for Web, in PSP it's File>Export>JPEG Optimizer (when you upload your image the gallery software makes a web thumbnail for you; web designers often make their own, some web design software makes them automatically)

3. optional: large print-quality JPG for sending to pro printers via uploading or CD/thumb drive etc. Just use File>Save As and choose JPG for that