When to Avoid Using PhotoShop?!

First in a series of print production blogs. Up next, we’ll discuss “bleeds”.

Hint: When you're producing your own project that includes text, use a page layout program like Adobe InDesign.

Adobe PhotoShop is a brilliant program, but as with all things, it has limitations. When it comes to the quality of text in your project, you'll either have to increase the resolution to a level that may make the file unwieldy or keep it at a resolution that would sacrifice quality.

PhotoShop is a raster program, meaning that the image you see is composed of individual dots. As you can see from the associated graphic, dots result in a jagged or blurry edge. The first rule of design is to make sure your reader can consume your message as easily as possible; blurry text interferes with that goal.

Another reason to avoid PhotoShop when setting text is that it's simply harder to do than using a page layout program like InDesign. PhotoShop is not designed as a sophisticated text layout program. A page layout program is easier for initial production, but, even more importantly, editing a content heavy piece like a brochure is faster and much less frustrating.

Besides quality and ease of editing, another consideration is final application intent. Are you using the final piece on a website? If so, a document created in a layout program will have a smaller file size than one created in a paint program which results in faster access.

Please post any questions or comments that you may have or give us a call! We'll be happy to help.

Thanks!
Design Department

AlphaGraphics of Aurora
15801 East Centretech Circle
Aurora, CO 80011
303-261-1334 (office)
877-685-0618 (toll free)
303-261-1338 (fax)
us636@alphagraphics.com (email)
us636.alphagraphics.com (website)