Bruner Project
Converting Files Using Photoshop

Spring 2000

Before the image files can be displayed on the Bruner website, they must be converted into a more "usable" format. Using image manipulation software, in this case, Adobe Photoshop, we can "clean-up" the image, alter the brightness/contrast, reduce the dis play size, ... in essence, do whatever is necessary to make the image appropriate for visual display. More importantly, Photoshop will allow us to convert the very large and cumbersome TIF image into a much smaller and faster-loading file format.

Basics:

  1. Use WSFTP95 to copy TIF images from the server (../bruner/tiff) to the z:/ drive of your PC. (see File Transfer procedures)
  2. Convert images from TIF to non-archival JPEG or GIF formats using Adobe Photoshop.
  3. FTP the files back to the server and place them in the appropriate directories. (See File Structure for more information.)

Converting Images from Archival to Non-archival (display) Format

  1. Assuming that the TIF images are on the z:/ drive, select one and open it in Photoshop.

  2. Important Note: Even though you may be working with a very large file, do not reduce the image size until the end of the editing process. Because reducing the image size requires "removal" of data, performing edits/enhancements before t he size reduction step will result in a much better quality image.

  3. Below are the most frequently used edits for this project. Users of this software will undoubtedly discover additional features. For the scope of this project however, we will concentrate on the basics. (Refer to the numerous books available for mor e information on Photoshop's capabilities. Some of the more useful titles are listed at the end of this document.)

    Viewing the image:

      From the toolbar, select View -- Actual pixels. The image will be displayed at it's actual screen size. This section also has zoom-in and zoom-out functions.

    Editing and Retouching:
      The "Tools" box displays most of the editing functions available. If "Tools" are not displayed, select Window from the top toolbar. Select Show tools and the "Tools" box should appear. Refer to the "Help" section on "Editing and Retouch ing" for information on how to use these tools. The most frequently used tools are the:
        marquee-for selecting areas;
        move-for moving selected areas;
        eraser;
        paintbrush;
        and the color selector.

    Copy/Cut/Paste:
      Use the marquee to select areas you wish to copy/cut. From the main toolbar, select edit -- copy or cut. Click on the image you wish to paste into and click edit -- paste. Use the "Move" tool to place the pasted image.

    Adjusting Brightness/Contrast:
      Select Image from the top toolbar. Select Adjust -- Brightness contrast. Move scales accordingly to lighten/darken the image. Clicking on the "preview" box will allow you to view the brightness/contrast levels as you adjust them.

    Changing Image Size
      Select Image -- Image Size. The dialog box will allow you to alter the image size by changing the pixel dimensions, print size and/or resolution. Note: Be sure that the "Constrain Proportions" box is checked. See the Scanning Standards for the size/resolution standards for display images.

    Changing Mode
      Use "Mode Change" feature to convert the TIF images to grayscale/color GIF or JPEG files. Select Image -- Mode. To convert to .gif, select Grayscale or Indexed Color. For JPEG, select RGB Color. When you save the file, use t he File -- Save As feature and specify the file type to be .gif or .jpg.

    Tips:
    1. Again, adjusting image size should come at the end of the editing process, although it should occur BEFORE the mode change.
    2. Changing mode to RGB Color (JPEG) results in data loss each time the file is saved. Because the image will become grainy after multiple saves, try to minimize use of the "save as JPEG" feature.
    3. Photoshop 5.0 has a "multiple undo" feature which allows for reversing numerous edits. To view the edit history, select Window -- Show History. From this dialog box, edits can be reversed without closing the image and starting over.

    Usefule PhotoShop 5.0 Reference Sources:

    1. Greenberg, Adele Droblas and Seth Greenberg. Fundamental Photoshop 5, 4th ed. (Berkeley, Calif.: Osborne/McGraw-Hill), 1998. (The previous edition of this book is available in APL.)
    2. Lynch, Richard. Adobe Photoshop 5 How-To (Indianapolis: SAMS), 1999.
    3. O'Quinn, Donnie and Matt LeClair. Photoshop in a Nutshell: a Desktop Quick Reference (Cambridge: O'Reilly), 1997. (copies available in Lockwood and UGL.)
    4. Stanley, Robert. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Adobe Photoshop 5 (Indianapolis, IN: QUE), 1999.

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    Return to Scanning Procedures

    Created April 5, 2000
    Brenda L. Battleson - Digitization Coordinator
    URL: http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/bruner/images/photoshop.html

    Please send comments, suggestions or questions to: askcts@acsu.buffalo.edu