Datasheet
10
Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Photoshop CS5 Extended White Paper
16. Reduce color bit depth
In Photoshop CS5, the number of functions that can be performed on 16- and 32-bit images has been
increased. However, these images require considerably more processing power and hard-drive space than
standard 8-bit images. For images destined for output to standard devices or the web, you can use the Image >
Mode menu to lower the bit depth to 8 bit for maximum performance. The exception to this general rule is
when you are working with 3D images, as the Ray Tracer engine renders at 32-bit color depth. So if you are
working with 3D, start with a 32-bit file with a resolution of 72ppi, and when it comes time to output the
finished document, use the tone mapping features in Photoshop to reduce the bit depth to 16 or 8 bits.
17. Deselect Export Clipboard
Whenever you exit Photoshop CS5, anything you have cut or copied is
placed on the operating system clipboard. The benefit of this feature is
that the content is then available to paste into another application, but
exporting the image to the clipboard is time-consuming and processor-
intensive. If you don’t require or use the system clipboard to copy and
paste between Photoshop and other applications, you can turn off this
function by deselecting Export Clipboard in the Options area under
Photoshop/Edit > Preferences > General. Note that dragging layers or
entire images between documents bypasses the clipboard entirely and
is more efficient, even if Export Clipboard is enabled.
18. Adjust or turn off font preview
Each active font on your computer requires system resources.
Photoshop CS5 also uses resources to draw previews of each font in
the font and style menus in the Character panel and in the Options bar
when a Type tool is enabled. To maximize performance, use font
management software to activate only the fonts that you need. In
addition, you can adjust the size of the font menu previews, or turn off
previews, by choosing Photoshop/Edit > Preferences > Type. Under
Font Preview Size, use the menu to adjust the size of the previews, or
deselect the option to turn them off altogether.
19. Optimize image files
Many factors impact the size of your Photoshop CS5 image files, including resolution and pixel dimensions;
color depth and mode; number and complexity of layers, channels, and paths; number of Smart Objects; and
more. Very large files take longer to open, and they redraw more slowly as you work with them. They also
require much more hard-drive space for storage. Ways to optimize image files include:
•Minimize le dimensions—Resize the image to the desired size for output rather than working with a very
large image and resizing it downward at the end of editing.
•Minimize complexity—Merge layers that no longer need to be kept separate, and eliminate channels and
pathsthatarenolongerneeded.Notethatthisincludesblanklayers,whichalsousesignicantdiskspace.
•Choose RGB over CMYK—If your images are going to the web rather than oset printing, use the RGB color
model. With one less color channel to save and maintain, an RGB image is 25% smaller than an equivalent
CMYK image.
•Minimize print resolution—Keep your image to the optimal minimum size for the output device, ranging
from 72dpi for screen display to 600dpi for high-quality laser printing. Never use a resolution higher than the
printing device is capable of outpuing.
• Start with low-resolution 3D les and resize to suit—When working with 3D content, start with smaller,
low-resolution documents such as those generally used for the web. e smaller size will provide beer and
more responsive performance when manipulating and editing the 3D content. As the 3D components are
vector-based imagery, the completed image can be resized nondestructively to a dierent resolution.
DeselecttheExportClipboardoptioninthe
General section of the Photoshop Preferences
dialogboxtostopstoringcopieddocumentsto
theoperatingsystemclipboard.
Turningofontpreviewsorselectingasmaller
preview size helps reduce the resources used for
thistask.