Introduction to ImageReady CS2

Taking a look at the screen when you first start ImageReady (see Figure 6.1), the standard menu bar is across the top of the screen. Directly under the menu bar is the Tool Options bar, which is context sensitive. This means that the options listed in this area change depending on what tool you have selected. To the far right of the Tool Options bar is the palette well, where you can "store" palettes (same as in Photoshop).

Figure 6.1. The ImageReady CS2 user interface.

Along the left side of the screen is the toolbox (see Figure 6.2), which contains all of ImageReady's tools and performs several other functions as well. The color proxy indicates the foreground and background colors (you can also choose colors by clicking on them), and the two icons surrounding the proxy enable you to set the colors to the default black foreground and white background, and to swap the foreground and background colors. Directly below the proxy icons are two buttons that toggle the visibility settings for image maps and slices, and two additional buttons for previewing your image in ImageReady and the web browser of your choice. Under those are the different view modes: Standard, Full Screen with Menu Bar, and Full Screen. You can toggle through the view modes by repeatedly pressing the F key (the letter F, not the Function key). The last button at the bottom of the toolbox enables you to edit your file in Photoshop.

Figure 6.2. The ImageReady CS2 toolbox.

Along the right side of your screen are some of ImageReady's palettes. We discuss what each of them does and how to use them as we go through this chapter.

Did you Know?

As you remember, we spoke about custom workspaces in Chapter 4, "The Key That Makes It All Work: Integration," and how you can save your screen setup, including palette locations, which palettes are open or closed, and so forth.

Finally, the document window (see Figure 6.3) is where you work on your file. ImageReady lists the filename, the view percentage, and the preview mode right in the title bar of each file. Directly under the title bar are four tabs, each for a different preview mode: Original, for seeing your file in full quality; Optimized, for viewing your file as it would appear in a web browser; 2-Up, for comparing two different optimized settings simultaneously; and 4-Up, for comparing four different optimized settings simultaneously (see Figure 6.4). In the upper-right corner of the window is a button that looks just like a palette fly-out menu button, which you can use to specify different output settings and easily access the File Info dialog box for adding metadata to your file.

Figure 6.3. The ImageReady CS2 document window.

Figure 6.4. Comparing three different optimized settings with the original image using the 4-Up view.

Along the bottom of the window, you'll find a pop-up zoom menu and two pop-up image information menus (see Figure 6.5), enabling you to view two types of vital information about your file simultaneously. For example, you could choose to display the image dimensions so that you're readily aware of the size of your graphic. Additionally, you could choose to view an approximation of how long the image will take to download at specific connection speeds.

Figure 6.5. The image information pop-up menus give you instant feedback on various settings and options.