Photoshop question:

[tripperfunster]

Ollo!

I've been making this comic, and when I add the text, then save it as a lower rez jpeg, the speech bubbles get really dirty around the text. I"m not sure why it does that nor how to stop it exactly.

Any ideas? There must be a way to save something 'for the web' and still keep the text clear?

thanks in advance

Comments

[vividescent.livejournal.com]

What program do you use? What type of file is the file you are working on? How much are you resizing it?

To start off, keep your image file as a psd or png or riff for as long as possible, only saving it to jpg once you've resized it.

Secondly, you should do all your lineart, coloring, and any editing first, then resize the image then add the text. Then save as a jpg. This should make the text clearer and the area around it cleaner. Make sure everything's on a single layer before making your final save.

[chibitoaster.livejournal.com]

Also, if you're using photoshop, be sure to flatten the image - collapsing all layers before you size down. Save a .psd version of it, then flatten image, then resize for the web. Otherwise you'll always have a little jagged edges.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

I am working in photoshop CS3? The file is a psd? I think? I photograph the line art, then colour in ps.

It starts off fairly large, 3700px? and I re-size to 800. I think that doing the text after re-sizing will EXACTLY fix my problem. Thank you so much, it never even occured to me to do that. durrr

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Well, when I save, it gives me the option of 'save for web', and then it's converted and resized at the same time. I don't find that I lose a ton of clarity in the line art itself, but the text 'dust' is bothersome. I think that vivid's suggestion of adding the text AFTER sizing will fix the problem. I'll let you guys know! :D

[vividescent.livejournal.com]

Yes, the doing text last is important - most comic artists who resize from very large to a more manageable sizing do exactly that because the text does warp on the resize. I suspected this might've been your problem, but wasn't sure.

[foxestacado.livejournal.com]

I would add text after resizing, but that's just me. It's a lot more work to keep doing that, though :(

Good luck! I find it happens less depending on which fonts I use.

[whizzy.livejournal.com]

Try saving as a PNG. The compression is sometimes better for text, and everything these days should handle the format.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Yes, even before the re-sizing, the font made a difference, but adding the text after it's already shrunk and jpeg'd has made the difference. Thanks!

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Isn't a png a higher rez? When I click 'save for web' it defaults to jpeg, but perhaps there's a png option. I'll have to check that out and see if it's better. Thanks!

[whizzy.livejournal.com]

The rez (number of pixels) will be the same no matter the format, but the file size will vary depending on type/strength of data compression. This picture really explains it better than I could: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Network_Graphics#Comparison_to_JPEG

[clayangel.livejournal.com]

I agree with the save it as a png comment. I stopped using jpgs ages ago.