ACE Project Setup and Workflow Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A designer is creating a set of social media graphics for different platforms (e.g., Instagram post, Instagram story, Facebook banner) within a single Photoshop document. Which Photoshop feature is specifically designed to facilitate this workflow by allowing multiple canvases of different sizes in one file?
- Layer Comps
- Smart Objects
- Artboards (Correct answer)
- Slices
Correct answer: Artboards
Artboards allow a user to create multiple canvases of varying dimensions within a single Photoshop document. This is the ideal feature for designing a campaign with multiple assets, like social media graphics for different platforms, in an organized and efficient manner.
Question 2: A photographer has finished editing a 16-bit master file with dozens of layers, adjustment layers, and masks. They need to save the file while preserving all editability for future revisions. The file size is projected to be over 4 GB. Which file format should they choose?
- PSB (Large Document Format) (Correct answer)
- TIFF with LZW compression
- PSD (Photoshop Document)
- PNG-24
Correct answer: PSB (Large Document Format)
The standard PSD format has a file size limit of 2 GB. The PSB (Large Document Format) is specifically designed for documents larger than 2 GB, supporting all Photoshop features like layers, effects, and masks, making it the correct choice for preserving a large, editable master file.
Question 3: Which of the following is the most precise and efficient way to create a horizontal guide at the exact 500-pixel mark on the vertical ruler?
- Click and drag from the horizontal ruler until the tooltip shows Y: 500 px.
- Use the Line Tool to draw a line at 500 px and then convert it to a guide.
- Select the entire canvas and use Edit > Free Transform to place a guide.
- Go to View > New Guide, select 'Horizontal', and enter '500 px' in the position field. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Go to View > New Guide, select 'Horizontal', and enter '500 px' in the position field.
While dragging from the ruler is a common method, it relies on manual dexterity. The View > New Guide command allows for precise numerical input, which is the most accurate and efficient method for placing a guide at a specific, exact location without potential error.
Question 4: A user needs to apply the same sequence of adjustments—resize to 1080px wide, apply a specific Unsharp Mask, and save as JPEG—to a folder containing 100 images. What is the most appropriate feature in Photoshop to automate this repetitive task?
- Creative Cloud Libraries
- The Actions panel combined with the Batch command (Correct answer)
- Layer Comps
- Smart Filters
Correct answer: The Actions panel combined with the Batch command
The Actions panel allows a user to record a series of steps. The Batch command (found under File > Automate > Batch) can then execute that recorded action on an entire folder of images, fully automating the repetitive workflow.
Question 5: When setting up a new document intended for professional offset printing in North America, which of the following color modes and profiles is a common and appropriate starting point?
- CMYK Mode, U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2 (Correct answer)
- RGB Mode, sRGB IEC61966-2.1
- Grayscale Mode, Dot Gain 20%
- Lab Color Mode, no profile
Correct answer: CMYK Mode, U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2
Offset printing uses the CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) color model. U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2 is a standard CMYK profile used for coated paper stock in North American print workflows, ensuring color is managed correctly for the press.
Question 6: A user frequently works on projects that require heavy use of the Paths, Channels, and History panels. To optimize their workflow, they want to save this specific panel arrangement for easy access in the future. Which of the following commands should they use?
- File > Save As > Photoshop Template (.psdt)
- Edit > Presets > Export/Import Presets
- Window > Workspace > New Workspace (Correct answer)
- Window > Arrange > New Window for...
Correct answer: Window > Workspace > New Workspace
The "New Workspace" command, found under the Window > Workspace menu, saves the current arrangement and grouping of all panels as a named preset. This allows the user to instantly switch to their preferred layout for different types of tasks.
A designer is creating a set of social media graphics for different platforms (e.g., Instagram post, Instagram story, Facebook banner) within a single Photoshop document.
Which Photoshop feature is specifically designed to facilitate this workflow by allowing multiple canvases of different sizes in one file?