Resize and save tips needed

[AK_Tracy]

Good Morning Everyone.
I just did a challenge that involved a templet. I resized the layout to 600 x 600 and tried to save it as a jpeg. I couldn't get the size small enough to be loadable here. I resized to 400x400. Still too big to be a jpeg. So in desperation I tried a gif. Never saved as a gif before. I got it small enough to upload in the gallery. Are there tips and tricks to saving as a jpeg when its a template full of wonderful elements? I know regular layouts, the more things I add the larger the file. I would love some tips and tricks to quickly save as jpeg when its a loaded layout. I am running PhotoShop Elements. On a Mac, which probably doesn't matter.
Thank you!

 

[A-M]

Tracy, do you flatten the layered page first before resizing? I am on a Windows computer so I save as a JPEG first and then bring that into my program and use an Action to resize but I can do it manually as well - resize - DPI to 72 and then 600 x 600 pixels.

 

[AK_Tracy]

Tracy, do you flatten the layered page first before resizing? I am on a Windows computer so I save as a JPEG first and then bring that into my program and use an Action to resize but I can do it manually as well - resize - DPI to 72 and then 600 x 600 pixels.

I haven't and I am not sure what flatten the layers means. Is there a button that says flatten I really need to look around PSE more and see what it does.

 

[tanteva]

I haven't and I am not sure what flatten the layers means. Is there a button that says flatten I really need to look around PSE more and see what it does.

It's in the layer menu. Flatten first, then save as jpg. Sometimes something strange happens & it's still to big (have no idea why, but sometimes a 800×800 jpg is a couple of MB), then you can use the option "save for web" in the menu.

 

[AK_Tracy]

It's in the layer menu. Flatten first, then save as jpg. Sometimes something strange happens & it's still to big (have no idea why, but sometimes a 800×800 jpg is a couple of MB), then you can use the option "save for web" in the menu.

Okay that makes sense. Thank you.

 

[Vicki Robinson]

Are you using Save for Web? If so, could you post a screenshot of that entire screen, so perhaps we can figure out what’s happening I’m sure there something odd going on.

If you flatten the file, you’ll lose all of your layers (unless you save as a PSD or TIF first). But it shouldn’t be necessary to do that.

 

[MariJ]

Tracy I had the same problem when I started posting in new places.
I normally saved my PSD file as a separate JPEG always saving the PSD file too. Creating a JPEG automatically flattens the file.
I then put that JPEG in PSE, resize it to 72 dpi and then save and poste that one. That always worked at SG, but not other places.

Now, after resizing to 72dpi as above on that version I go to File > Save for Web > change GIF to JPEG > click the arrows next to Quality and move the slider until the page reaches just under 500K - not a teensy bit over!
You can see the numbers change on the photo to the right titled JPEG.
Then I "Save" in the dialog box.

It works, but I'm posting this whole process because it seems like a lot of overkill and I'm watching this thread to see if there's an easier way to do this!

 

[mimes1]

Good morning everyone. I build my layout at 300 dpi, resize to 800 x 800 @72 dpi. ( At SG I saved at 600) Saving to jpeg flattens the layout so I always save a psd file. At SG this is where I stopped and posted the 600 @72 without any problem. It sounds like most of us migrants have experienced the large file problem at posting in other sites since moving.
“Saving for Web” has taken care of it for me.
@scrapgardenlynne posted these instructions at SG and I saved them a while back but never needed them till now. Now I do this for every layout. Just be sure to add “WEB” or anything you like in the file name of the save for web file when you save it and voila, this should take care of it.

Hope this helps!

 

[bitzee]

@mimes1 I love your new siggy! Is this what you were doing when you were being a night owl

 

[AZK]

I use PSE, and I use the Save For Web function from the File drop down menu. You can set the dimensions in the window that opens up, but the most useful thing I have found for controlling the file size is this trick: In the upper right corner of the Save For Web window in PSE is this little drop down menu:

When you open it, you reveal a field where you can set your maximum size in kb. I use 249kb because I found that if I chose 250, it sometimes ends up a few kb too large (252 or so, for example). Easy peasy, and it customizes the file size to whatever works for that particular layout, regardless of dimensions. Sometimes it end up high, sometime medium.

I'm guessing there is a similar function in Photoshop.

 

[bitzee]

Are there any suggestions for sizing a siggie? I have never done one and would like to give it a try sometime in the future.

 

[AK_Tracy]

Thank you all for the awesome tips and tricks. Most layouts I do resize then save as a jpeg. It was just templates that were giving me issues and have in the past. I've never saved for the web as it scared me, didn't know what it would do. But now I see that's what I need to do with the larger size files. Thank you so much. I will be referencing this page lots until it becomes second nature. I always save two copies of my layouts one psd and one jpeg. That way if I ever have to change it its not lost.

 

[AK_Tracy]

Are there any suggestions for sizing a siggie? I have never done one and would like to give it a try sometime in the future.

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Here's the place where its talked about. About half way down the first message.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

I use PSE, and I use the Save For Web function from the File drop down menu. You can set the dimensions in the window that opens up, but the most useful thing I have found for controlling the file size is this trick: In the upper right corner of the Save For Web window in PSE is this little drop down menu:

When you open it, you reveal a field where you can set your maximum size in kb. I use 249kb because I found that if I chose 250, it sometimes ends up a few kb too large (252 or so, for example). Easy peasy, and it customizes the file size to whatever works for that particular layout, regardless of dimensions. Sometimes it end up high, sometime medium.

I'm guessing there is a similar function in Photoshop.

This is the same way I resize my layouts. I also use PSE. Medium usually works for me.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

Thank you all for the awesome tips and tricks. Most layouts I do resize then save as a jpeg. It was just templates that were giving me issues and have in the past. I've never saved for the web as it scared me, didn't know what it would do. But now I see that's what I need to do with the larger size files. Thank you so much. I will be referencing this page lots until it becomes second nature. I always save two copies of my layouts one psd and one jpeg. That way if I ever have to change it its not lost.

Tracy, you'll end up with three files - your PSD file, your 3600x3600 jpg file and the "save for web" size; 600x600 or whatever size you save. Is that helpful since you've never used "save for web"?

 

[AK_Tracy]

Tracy, you'll end up with three files - your PSD file, your 3600x3600 jpg file and the "save for web" size; 600x600 or whatever size you save. Is that helpful since you've never used "save for web"?

Yes and no LOL I dont know that I would save a jpg if I have only created it for here but your explanation makes total sense. Partly I just need to try the process to "see it" and then it will make more sense.

 

[AK_Tracy]

@LauraD and @Terri M here are some amazing ideas and tips for resizing since we were talking about it.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

Are there any suggestions for sizing a siggie? I have never done one and would like to give it a try sometime in the future.

Bitzee, the method I use is this:

Start out with a blank document in the size you need for your siggy. Mine is 600x200. That way I know that my siggy will be the correct size. Just create your siggy exactly like you're creating a layout, only it won't be square. Save your PSD file if you need to make changes, then save your jpg file (it will be the exact size you need for the board). No need to resize it then. Make sense?

 

[Cherylndesigns]

Yes and no LOL I dont know that I would save a jpg if I have only created it for here but your explanation makes total sense. Partly I just need to try the process to "see it" and then it will make more sense.

Yes, if you've never used that function, I'm sure it sounds "foreign" but it's the easiest and quickest way to save the size you need. You probably don't really need to keep the big files, like you said. Maybe go through this "process" until you get comfortable with it.

 

[AZK]

Just to make things a little more interesting, I save all my layered files as TIFF files instead of PSD. The overall file size is smaller, and you don't need to create a separate JPEG just to see the layout, because you can already see it when it's a TIFF. I only make JPEGs now for uploading and for the few times I want to print a page. These are the settings I was taught to use (I believe you're supposed to use the IBM PC setting even if you're on a MAC, but I could be wrong):

 

[Cherylndesigns]

Just to make things a little more interesting, I save all my layered files as TIFF files instead of PSD. The overall file size is smaller, and you don't need to create a separate JPEG just to see the layout, because you can already see it when it's a TIFF. I only make JPEGs now for uploading and for the few times I want to print a page. These are the settings I was taught to use (I believe you're supposed to use the IBM PC setting even if you're on a MAC, but I could be wrong):

View attachment 420819

Interesting, Angie. Worth considering, too. Sometimes, I save to TIFF only if the (template) I'm working on won't save no matter what I delete.

 

[AK_Tracy]

Okay, I clicked save for web and whoa so easy!!!!! Granted it wasn't as packed a layout as the templates but still, super easy. I clicked medium and made sure it was still under 250kb poof. One click, done ready to upload. Thank you!!!!! That was so awesome. No resizing and saving just one click.

 

[bitzee]

Just to make things a little more interesting, I save all my layered files as TIFF files instead of PSD. The overall file size is smaller, and you don't need to create a separate JPEG just to see the layout, because you can already see it when it's a TIFF. I only make JPEGs now for uploading and for the few times I want to print a page.

This is the best of both worlds. You get a layered file that is smaller and you get your preview. It makes perfect sense

 

[bitzee]

Bitzee, the method I use is this:

Start out with a blank document in the size you need for your siggy. Mine is 600x200. That way I know that my siggy will be the correct size. Just create your siggy exactly like you're creating a layout, only it won't be square. Save your PSD file if you need to make changes, then save your jpg file (it will be the exact size you need for the board). No need to resize it then. Make sense?

Thank you so much I will give it a try.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

Thank you so much I will give it a try.

Let me know how it's going for you. This is the "cleanest" way I've found to create siggies.

 

[JeanneMN]

Thank you all for the awesome tips and tricks. Most layouts I do resize then save as a jpeg. It was just templates that were giving me issues and have in the past. I've never saved for the web as it scared me, didn't know what it would do. But now I see that's what I need to do with the larger size files. Thank you so much. I will be referencing this page lots until it becomes second nature. I always save two copies of my layouts one psd and one jpeg. That way if I ever have to change it its not lost.

This will surprise you I'm sure Twin, but also save one psd and one full size jpeg, for the same reason, If I want to tweak it, I need the layers.

 

[JeanneMN]

Woot, woot, woot, 2 hydrangeas that used to be good bloomers, but haven't for almost 3 summers, and the name is Endless Summer, go figure, each have a couple of blooms. Two of the early ones are loaded with blooms, so I have "new bloomers".