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Last Updated:
Jan 20th, 2007 - 12:55:03 |
Optimizing your Preferences in Photoshop will maximize Photoshop’s performance to help you to work more efficiently. The choices you make will depend upon your preferred work method and the specifications of your computer system. The intent of this tutorial is to provide a brief explanation of the preference options and general recommendations based on system specifications.
The Preferences Dialogue can be accessed from Edit> Preferences or CTRL+k. There are nine preference menus and you can move through them using the Prev(ious) or Next buttons, or use the drop down box to navigate.
General Preferences
Color Picker: From the drop down menu you can select between Adobe or Windows. Adobe offers a better range of color models which is more convenient and is used by the majority of Photoshop users.
Image Interpolation: Bicubic sampling is the more accurate method of image
UI Font Size: This allows you to choose the type size in all of Photoshop’s palettes. For those with poor vision increasing the UI Font size may be more convenient.
History States: By default the History palette records 20 back steps (or 20 undo’s). This means that you can undo the previous 20 commands and after your 21st command, the undo state for the first command or stroke is deleted to allow room to undo the most current command. It’s tempting to increase the number of states, however the history palette requires a large amount of RAM to store the data and can compromise performance. For a system running 512MB and above 20 is considered a good compromise, systems running on less than that amount should consider reducing the number to improve performance.
Options
Export Clipboard: The clipboard is a useful tool but remember to empty the clipboard by selecting Edit> Purge> Clipboard to decrease the drain on resources.
Show Tool Tips: For those still familiarizing themselves with Photoshop the tool tips can be invaluable as it allows you to hover over a tool and text appears to tell you what the tool is. Turn off this option only when you are more confident with Photoshop.
Zoom Resizes Windows: This is a matter of preference but it is generally more convenient to keep this option checked so windows do not have to be resized when you zoom in or out.
Auto Update Document: This needs only be checked if you are working collaboratively.
Show Menu Colors: CS2 allows you to color menus as a means of improving workflow by highlighting commands and options you use regularly. Choosing the command in the general preferences toggles the option on and off (To color menus go to Edit >> Menus or by way of Window >> Workspace >> Keyboard Shortcuts and Menus)
Resize Image During Place/Paste: Turning this option on can save time particularly for a digital scrapper that scraps at 8x8 but uses papers that are 12x12. Photoshop will automatically resize the object to fit within the boundaries of the document instead of having to resize the paper from the 12x12 which will be partially off canvas to the 8x8 document.
Beep When Done: Photoshop can tell you when a command has been completed with a beeping noise if you choose.
Dynamic Color Slider: This option should be checked to allow you to view color changes in real time.
Save Palette Location: Turning this option on will save the locations of your palettes at shut down, otherwise your workspace will revert to the default setting each time you launch.
Use Shift Key To Switch: A number of Photoshop’s tools share the same shortcut. Holding shift will cycle through them. Keeping this option checked will ensure you do not accidentally toggle tools while working .
Automatically Launch Bridge: If you use Bridge then selecting this option will save time as it will be automatically launched when start Photoshop and be available in the background, otherwise each time you Browse you will have to wait for Bridge to launch.
Zoom With Scroll Wheel: Turning this option on will allow you to use the scroll bar on your mouse to zoom in and out of a document.
History Log
The History Log allows you to record several types of data to either a metadata or text file or both. Sessions Only records when Photoshop is opened, when each file is opened and closed, and then when Photoshop is closed. Concise records the Sessions Only information and the edits listed in the History palette while Detailed records both the Sessions Only and Concise information, plus text that appears in the Actions palette, this is ideal to track the time you spend on a project if you are a designer.
Reset All Warning Dialogues: Selecting this will revert to the default warning messages used in Photoshop that you may have turned off.
File Handling Preferences
File Saving Options
Image Previews: Choosing Always Save creates an image thumbnail file, by choosing not to save you will only see an icon when browsing your folders which can be inconvenient since it is generally easier to identify files by look rather than image name.
File Extension: This is best left at the default Use Lower Case unless you are in a work situation that requires otherwise.
File Compatibility
Ignore EXIF Profile Tag: Deselect this option to preserve the EXIF data of your files
Ask Before Saving Layered Tiff: Layered Tiffs are not viewable by some programs so it is best to have this selected so you can ensure that you are selecting the correct file format.
Enable large Document Format: Even though it’s unlikely you will need this is as a digital scrapbooker, keep the item checked. Then at least the option is available should you create huge files.
Maximize psd Compatibility: This is an important option to select as “Always” for digital scrapbookers. It permits users of older versions of Photoshop and users of programs other than Photoshop to open psd files. Otherwise compatibility issues are likely to occur. This option does increase file size somewhat but if it is at all likely you will share psd files (even as textures) then this is necessary.
Version Cue: Enable version cue workgroup file management: This option is for collaborative file work and choosing to select it depends upon if you need it.
Recent File List: You can select how many files Photoshop retains for quick access in the Recent File List with this option. (File> Open Recent) You can select up to 30 from the default of 10 and this feature places no demand on memory so increase it to 30 for convenience if desired.
Display and Cursors Preferences
Color Channels in Color: This option is personal preference. Selecting it will show color channels in their specified Color eg Blue Channel will be Blue
Use Pixel Doubling: Leave this option deselected as it is rarely necessary on today’s high performance computers
Painting Cursors
This allows you to choose how your cursor looks while using any painting tool in PS. Standard displays the brush icon, Precise a crosshair, Normal Brush Tip uses 50% of the brush size while Full Brush Size uses a cursor at the size of the brush. You can also elect to show the crosshair with any tip option. Your choice will depend on your particular preference.
Other Cursors, allows you to choose between the Standard Eyedropper or a more precise crosshair cursor.
Transparency and Gamut Preferences
You can use this menu to adjust how transparent areas are displayed on your screen. The grey and white medium grid is the standard view but you can increase or decrease the grid size and customize the color of the grid.
Use Video alpha: Unless you are working with video in Photoshop leave this option unchecked.
Gamut Warning: The gamut warning shows with a tint areas of an image that cannot be reproduced in print. You can change the color and tint of this to suit a particular project, otherwise leave it as the default gray.
Units and Rulers Preferences
Units: Choose what your ruler will display between the measurements in the drop down box and choose how spaces and size of text will display.
Column Size: The settings in the Column Size area are for desktop publishing.
New Document Preset Resolutions: Digital scrapbookers should choose 300 pixels/inch for Print Resolution and Screen Resolution can be left at 72 pixels/inch.
Point/Pica Size: Choose Postscript
Guides, Grids and Slices Preferences
This dialogue allows the user to customize the color and style of each feature. Your choice will depend upon your own preference and the project you are working on.
Plug Ins and Scratch Discs Preferences
Additional Plug ins folder: If you don’t store all your plug ins in the Photoshop Plug ins folder, which is likely if you are using more than one program that can make use of filters, then you can direct Photoshop to also look in a chosen folder for your plug in collection which is convenient so you don’t have to browse to the folder you store your filters in each time you wish to use one.
Legacy Photoshop Serial Number: Some older plug-ins will not work without a legitimate Photoshop serial number – and since the sequencing of Photoshop serial numbers changed at Version 7, older plug ins may not recognize your Photoshop as legitimate. You can work around this by entering the serial number of a previous version of Photoshop (version 6 or earlier) in this box so they will work.
Scratch Disks: Your choices here are crucial to the performance of Photoshop. Your first choice should be the drive that has the most free, uncompressed space. If you have any other drives that have a lot of free space, you can assign them as second, third, and fourth drives. If you can avoid it do not make C:// your scratch disk – look into either partitioning the drive and giving Photoshop its own space, or adding a dedicated drive to your system. Photoshop requires space as much as it requires RAM, if you assign it only a small amount of space it cannot use the RAM to full efficiency.
Memory and Image Cache Preferences
Cache Settings: This determines the speed at which your screen displays changes. The default of 6 is usually the most appropriate.
Memory Usage: The choice you make here is again crucial for Photoshop to perform as effectively as possible. Your Available RAM will be listed and you can choose how much of that RAM is used when Photoshop is operating. The percentage you choose will depend on the RAM you have available and the amount of scratch disk space you have allocated. Specifying more RAM than you have available scratch disk space will not improve the performance. You need to have at least matching or more scratch disk space available. As an example I have 1GB of Ram and my chosen scratch drive is in total 400GB with 200GB currently free. So I can increase the percentage of RAM and know that I have enough scratch disk room to operate. However, choosing 100% is not useful either as Windows needs RAM to operate as does other computer applications such as internet messenger programs, virus protections etc so I have kept my choice to a medium high level. Find a medium that works for you. The maximum however should not be below 256 which is the minimum Photoshop requires to run.
Type Preferences
Type Options
Use Smart Quotes: Using this option creates proper curly quotation marks rather than the keyboard style marks.
Show Asian Text Options: Select this only if you are working with Asian text.
Show Font Names in English: Obviously if you speak English you would want this option selected
Font Preview Size: You can select the size at which Photoshop displays the font preview text to your taste.
Select Ok to close the Preferences Dialogue and keep any changes you have made. The changes will not take place until the next time you start Photoshop. You can change any of the preferences at any time and restore all preferences to their default settings by pressing and holding CTRL + ALT +SHFT as Photoshop launches. The Preferences file has been known to become corrupted and if Photoshop begins acting strangely then resetting the Preferences may help.
There are other areas of Photoshop that can be customized for your convenience including the Workspace, the Preset Manager, the Selection and Mask Tools, Menus, Keyboard Shortcuts and more. Explore the help files for assistance in setting the preferences for these areas.
© Copyright 2003-2005 by Scrapbook-Bytes; & original creator/s of tutorials/articles
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