TIP 142: Optimizing Images with Save For Web


The Save For Web dialog appears every time you create a Smart Object (see Tip 141) in GoLive. Whether you create a Web graphic in Photoshop, ImageReady, Illustrator, or GoLive, it's essentially the same interface. Using Save for Web in GoLive (Figure 142) lets you quickly and easily optimize your source files to image formats such as GIF, JPEG, and PNG. The powerful optimization algorithms let you maximize quality and minimize download times all in one dialog. Let's take a quick tour through the major features.

Figure 142. The Save For Web dialog optimizes all your Smart Object source files into Web-friendly target files.


GIF vs. JPEG

You should select GIF when compressing images such as buttons, banners, logos, and other images with lots of flat color or repeating patterns. Choose JPEG when you're compressing photographic images and files with smooth gradients.


Across the top of the Save For Web window are four tabs that show you (in order from left to right) the Original uncompressed image, an Optimized view with real-time compression preview, a 2-Up view, and a 4-Up view to compare multiple compression settings side by side.

Adjusting Image Size in Save For Web

To change the dimensions of the target file without affecting the source image, enter the new image dimensions in the Image Size tab in the bottom right corner of the Save for Web window. Make sure you click the Apply button instead of hitting Return or Enter because Return/Enter confirms all the changes, not just the image size changes.


On the right side you can select an optimization preset from the pull-down menu or create your own settings with the available options. You can choose from JPEG, GIF, PNG-8, PNG-24, and WBMPbut JPEG and GIF will be your most likely choices.

As you adjust your optimization settings, you can see a real-time compression preview in the image previews on the left and estimated file size and download time at the bottom of the dialog. Use the preview and the download estimates to decide which optimization settings work best for each image.

On the left side there's a small toolbar with four tools. Use the Hand tool to pan around the image; double-click the Hand tool to fit the entire image in the window. Also notice that as you pan in 2-Up and 4-Up modes, all the images pan together so you can compare areas of detail with different optimization settings. Click with the Zoom tool to zoom in and Option/Alt-click to zoom out.



    Adobe GoLive CS2 Tips and Tricks The 250 Best
    Adobe GoLive CS2 Tips and Tricks The 250 Best
    ISBN: B008CMGJS0
    EAN: N/A
    Year: 2005
    Pages: 301

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