Using Image Size in Adobe Photoshop CS3

Images often need to be resized, and the Transform option may seem like the best tool for this. However, images can easily be ruined due to stretching. The Transform option isn't the best option when working with images because it doesn't maintain any image resolution and it doesn't constrain proportions.













It is quite easy to resize images using the “Image Size” tool that is located under the image menu.

Open the photo you wish to resize.

Click on the Image menu and a menu will drop down that includes the “Image Size” option.

Click on “Image Size” and an option box will appear on the screen.

















Before making any changes to the photo make sure the “constrain proportions” and “scale styles” are selected. This will ensure that the image is not distorted. Also make sure that the resolution stays the same while you are typing in numbers.

The photo was brought in at 503x604 pixels and it needs to be a width of 300.
Change the width number to 300. If the “constrain proportions” and “scale styles” options are selected, Adobe Photoshop will mathematically change the height number to a correct proportion. In this case, 360 is the number that was given.

Click “okay.”

The image will resize with the proportions and resolution intact.




















This tool is one of the easiest to use in Photoshop CS3 and it helps your images look clear and keep their desired appearance.

If you need to increase the image size, you’ll want to make sure the resolution doesn't diminish. You can easily increase the image size by typing in the resolution that you desire and Photoshop will match the resolution with the size that will work. Never increase the size more than once because the pixels might get blurred and create “noise” within the image.

The re-sample option below “constrain proportions” and “scale styles” allows you to specify how you want your image to be resized. These options include “Nearest Neighbor,” “Bilinear,” “Bicubic,” “Bicubic Smoother,” and “Bicubic Sharper.” Here's an idea of what these options do and when to use them:









“Nearest Neighbor”: Produces a smaller image file but also a lower image quality, used mainly for illustrations. Resizes by replicating pixels.

“Bilinear”: This option produces medium quality results and resizes by adding pixels that match the surrounding pixels’ colors.

“Bicubic”: This option produces a higher quality result because it uses precise calculations to determine what values are being used within the image. Because this is more precise and higher quality, it takes a little bit more time.
“Bicubic Smoother”: This option gives the smoothest results when enlarging images.
“Bicubic Sharper”: This option is best used when you're reducing your image and you want to maintain detail. It re-samples your image and at the same time sharpens your image.

Using Live Trace in Adobe Illustrator CS3

Adobe Illustrator CS3 includes a tool called “Live Trace” that turns pixels into a vector. A vector can be scaled up or down and it will not lose its quality, so this is a better choice for designs that may be used in a number of different contexts, such as a business logo.

Live Trace is the easiest way to convert a photo or piece of art into a vector, and using the tool’s options will give you a controlled and personalized rendering. Give yourself time to explore all the options, and you’ll find that you have lots of creative new ideas, as well as the technical benefits.

To try out Live Trace, first bring a photo into Adobe Illustrator Cs3. In this case, we’re using a photo of a flower.












When you click on the photo with the selection tool you will notice the Live Trace feature at the top of your screen. To get an idea of what the Live Trace feature does, click on it. As you can see, the result is unclear and doesn't resemble the original photo. Live Trace will always put out a black and white rendering unless you use the options palette.












Let’s take the photo back to its original state. A shortcut to undo the Live Trace is “control + Z (PC)or Apple + Z (Macs)

Once the photo is in its original state, click on it again with the selection tool. Next to the Live Trace button there is a small drop down arrow. To keep the image photo-like, try modes such as “color 6,” “color 16,” or “photo low fidelity” and “photo high fidelity.” Those options will try to render the graphic in a photo-like fashion.












The “photo high fidelity” option was used to create our flower vector.

But what if you want your flower to look like an illustration?

Within the option bar there are more choices. The very last of the choices is “Tracing Options.” Return your photo to its original state, click on it with the selection tool and click on “Tracing Options.”



















A box will pop up with numerous options for you to choose from. Now’s the time to start playing with the different effects! Check the Preview box on the right side so you can see what changes you're making to your photograph. Play with the different possibilities to see what best suits your taste.














To get the vector flower as shown below, we used the color mode with the number of colors set at 5.












The possibilities are endless with Live Trace. Try the other options and see what cool renderings you can come up with.

Using the Blend Tool in Adobe Illustrator CS3

Adobe Illustrator CS3’s Blend tool creates a sequence of shapes or colors that results in entirely new design effects. With it, you can make three-dimensional effects, interesting abstract backgrounds, or well-controlled gradients.



















To try it out, begin by making two shapes: one large and one small. Have your big shape and your small shape separated from each other so it'll be easy to see what's happening.










The Blend icon in the Illustrator toolbox looks like a square and a circle being connected with dots. To get to the Blend tool options, double click on the icon in the tool box. Within the option box are three options for different types of blending: Smooth Color, Specified Steps, and Specified Distance. In this example, the two shapes will be “blended” using the Specified Steps option. This means that you can specify the number of steps between the objects simply by typing a number into the box. For this example, the number 5 was entered.









Click “OK” to accept the number you’ve typed in, and select each of your shapes with the Selection tool. The cursor will become a square resembling the icon in the toolbox. When you are above a point of the shape the square will turn black to show that you’ve reached a point.

Click one point on each of your shapes to implement the Blend tool. The shapes are now connected with shapes that mathematically reduce in size from the larger to the smaller shape.











If you don’t have the effect you want, select your shapes again with the Selection tool and double click the Blend tool to get the option box back up. Enter the new number, and when you click “OK” the Blend tool will automatically change the shapes.









The other options within the blend tool can be used in the same way. Play around with the Blend tool starting with lines to see some of the other possibilities. You can place one shape on top of the other or put a smaller shape within a larger one. Try out color effects and see how the Blend tool interacts with other tools as well. Once you see the myriad possibilities, the Blend tool will be one you’ll reach for often.