ALL YOU EVER WANTED TO
KNOW ABOUT PREPARING
IMAGES FOR WEB & PRINT
A brief tutorial
What we will
cover:
Acquiring Images
Best Practices
Optimizing for Web
Optimizing for Print
Where to Get Help
Q&A
Step 1: Options for choosing your
photo
Image Resources
• Use your own images
• images.ucmerced.edu
• Stock photography
Multimedia Coordinator Veronica Adrover
vadrover@ucmerced.edu
Best Practices
• Avoid clip art if possible
• Keep the photographic style the same
• Always keep in mind the UC branding
• Never use images that don't belong to you or the UC
• Avoid small, pixelated photos
• Optimize - optimize - optimize
• Request a photo shoot
• Use hypens (-) instead of underscores (_) in filenames for search engine
friendliness and readability
• Contact Communications for help, we are here to assist you :)
Using
Photoshop to
Optimize Your
Photographs
For Web
Adobe Photoshop
http://software.ucmerced.edu
• Industry standard
• PS Elements – Inexpensive, only $31.56
• Well documented; lots of tutorials available
Photoshop Optimize Steps
File > Open
Image > Image Size: Reduce to 72dpi and 525
pixels width
File > Save for Web: Select JPEG format, reduce
Quality to 70-100k file size using slider – find a
balance between quality and file size in this
range
Optimize Steps for Web Use
• Open photo in Photoshop
• Reduce image resolution (dpi) to 72
• Reduce image dimensions; 525 pixels width for full width,
otherwise resize to desired in PS
• For custom sliders (not photographs), 450 x 300 pixels are
the proper dimensions
• Save as JPEG, 70-100k is optimized.
• Use Drupal to upload to your site
Using
Photoshop to
Optimize Your
Photographs
For Print
Optimize Steps for Print Use
• Open photo in Photoshop
• Resize image resolution to 300 (dpi)
• Convert color format from RGB to CYMK
• Save as .TIF or .EPS; absolutely no JPEGS (jpegs are for
web)
Overview
• Use only photos owned by you or
the UC
• Download Adobe Photoshop
Elements
• Optimize for Web: 72dpi, max
width 525px
• Optimize for Print: 300dpi, CMYK
color mode, save as TIF or EPS
• Ask us for help
• FAQ’s available at
communications.ucmerced.edu