Exporting for Web and Print Flashcards

A designer has created a company logo with a transparent background that needs to be placed on a website over a background that may change colors. Which file format is most suitable for exporting the logo to preserve its multi-level transparency for web use?

Answer: PNG-24

PNG-24 is the ideal choice because it supports 8-bit alpha transparency, which allows for smooth, multi-level transparent edges. This ensures the logo will look clean and professional over any color background without a halo or jagged edges. JPEG does not support transparency, GIF only supports 1-bit (hard-edged) transparency, and TIFF is primarily a print format not optimized for web use.

When using the "Export As" dialog in Photoshop to resize an image for the web, what is the primary purpose of the "Resample" option?

Answer: To specify the interpolation method used when changing the image's pixel dimensions.

The "Resample" option controls the algorithm (e.g., Bicubic Smoother, Bicubic Sharper) that Photoshop uses to add or remove pixels when an image's size is changed. This directly impacts the sharpness and quality of the final scaled image. Color space conversion and metadata are separate settings within the same dialog box.

Which of the following is a key capability found in the `Save for Web (Legacy)` dialog that is NOT available in the modern `Export As` dialog?

Answer: Creation and fine-tuned optimization of animated GIFs.

The `Save for Web (Legacy)` dialog contains specific and necessary controls for creating and optimizing animated GIFs, including frame rates, looping options, and color reduction per frame. The newer `Export As` dialog was built for modern static asset exporting (including artboards) but lacks the toolset for animation.

A designer needs to send a completed brochure file to a commercial printer. The printer requires a press-ready PDF that includes a 0.125-inch bleed and standard trim marks. What is the correct workflow in Photoshop to generate this specific file?

Answer: Use File > Save As > Photoshop PDF, and in the dialog box, navigate to the "Marks and Bleeds" section to enable Trim Marks and specify the bleed settings.

The `Save As > Photoshop PDF` command provides a comprehensive dialog with options specifically for professional printing. The "Marks and Bleeds" section allows the user to include standard printer's marks like trim marks and to define the bleed area that should be included in the final PDF output, which is essential for press-ready files.

What is the widely accepted industry-standard resolution, in Pixels Per Inch (PPI), for images that are intended for high-quality commercial offset printing?

Answer: 300 PPI

300 PPI is the long-established industry standard for commercial offset printing. This resolution ensures there is enough pixel data to create a sharp, detailed image when converted to the halftone dots used in the printing process. 72 PPI is for screens, 150 PPI is for lower-quality prints (like newspapers), and 600 PPI is typically reserved for high-detail line art.

You are exporting a large photographic hero image as a JPEG for a website. To improve the user's perceived loading experience, you want the image to display a full, low-quality version almost instantly, which then sharpens as it downloads. Which JPEG format option should you choose?

Answer: Progressive

A Progressive JPEG is encoded in a way that allows it to be displayed in a series of scans or passes. This provides an immediate, full-size preview that becomes clearer as the file finishes downloading, which can improve perceived performance. Baseline JPEGs load from top to bottom. Progressive JPEGs also often have a slightly smaller file size for images over 10KB.