Hires Transparent Gif

[erichmond]

Hi all, I have posted this question already but have had no solutions so, I guess I'm going to try again.

The problem is saving a hi resolution (300dpi) gif out of photoshop, my client needs this format - dont ask me why!!

I can save lo resolutions (ie for web) with transparency but not HiRes... can anybody help?

[Eggles1]

I don't think you can save a GIF as high rez - it's 72 dpi or nothing. However, you CAN save as a PNG, but this won't work in most browsers. But since the client wants a a high-rez file, it's obvious he doesn't need it for a website. Find out what he wants to use it for - probably for Word or Powerpoint - and give him a PNG. And try and educate him about file formats, and the most suitable one to use in various situations. If it's a photo (since you mention Photoshop) then give him a JPG which you can make high-rez as well.

Re the transparent background - I think you can get this in a PNG - you certainly can if you make the PNG from Illustrator - but not sure if you can from Photoshop. Try it on a Photoshop file in which the BG is transparent.

[Eggles1]

I just thought of something else. It's not really relevant to Photoshop because GIF files allow only a a limited number of colours, and most photoshop files have way more colours, which means the GIF format is really unsuitable for saving files out of photoshop. BUT if your client still insists on GIF, then providing him with as large a version as possible means that if you instruct him to downsize it to at least 1/4 of its original size, then the resolution wil be acceptable enough for printing.

[erichmond]

yes he wants to use it in word, I have already supplied almost every type of file format (he works for a Council and is a little bit anal!).

He wants this file in every type of format so that he is able to resolve any problems that may occur with any of his suppliers, I have already told him what type of format should be used for such things as Web or Print etc., and have supplied him with various jgp, eps, tif, etc.

This is something that I've never been asked to do before, probably because there are proper ways of doing things!

Thanks for png advice but I know this is a web format so I can't do that.

I guess I'm just going to have to tell him it's not possible and he should complain to adobe, maybe they can create a new format call .foranalgovernmentstaff!

Thanks anyway

[erichmond]

I just thought of something else. It's not really relevant to Photoshop because GIF files allow only a a limited number of colours, and most photoshop files have way more colours, which means the GIF format is really unsuitable for saving files out of photoshop. BUT if your client still insists on GIF, then providing him with as large a version as possible means that if you instruct him to downsize it to at least 1/4 of its original size, then the resolution wil be acceptable enough for printing.

Good idea! will do that, probably not the normal way of doing things but at least it'll keep him happy - Bless him!

Thanks!

[Eggles1]

>>Thanks for png advice but I know this is a web format so I can't do that.<<

Although this was developed as a web format, so's a JPG, but that never stopped anyone using it in Word - or even InDesign or Quark. So don't dismiss it because it's a web format.

I have to supply a lot of clients with Word-friendly graphics, and have found that PNG is by far the best for stuff created in illustrator. I also find JPG best for photos. Forget giving them EPS files entirely - unless they have access to a postscript printer (and most non-design offices don't) then all that will print is the low-rez preview file and it will look BAD.

[erichmond]

Your right! The eps's are to give to his suppliers ie other designers, printers etc. So your saying that he could place png without any problems?

[jimking]

I created a file with layers at 300dpi, save as gif-- I had to flatten the file with the option of retaining transparency and it worked for me. I did this in Photoshop 7. If you are in cmyk mode it will not give you the option of saving it as a gif. It needs to be rgb or index color for the gif option to appear.

[erichmond]

He wants them in BW and CMYK?

[erichmond]

I created a file with layers at 300dpi, save as gif-- I had to flatten the file with the option of retaining transparency and it worked for me. I did this in Photoshop 7. If you are in cmyk mode it will not give you the option of saving it as a gif. It needs to be rgb or index color for the gif option to appear.

Yep! same for PS8, but the client wants CMYK!

[jimking]

He's out of luck. He wants this for printing purposes. Eggles1 is correct, you need to spell it out to this guy what different formats are for. MS word for offset printing for one is problematic. You could convert this file into rgb and give him the file (I believe it will convert to index when saving as gif). When he provides the printer with a word file, the file will be rgb anyway including the black type. The printer then will use tools to convert to black or cmyk or both anyway.

[Eggles1]

>>So your saying that he could place png without any problems?<<

Yes, in a Word doc or Powerpoint. I wouldn't use it in a 'proper' layout program that will be offset printed.

[carter the artist]

I guess I'm just going to have to tell him it's not possible and he should complain to adobe, maybe they can create a new format call .foranalgovernmentstaff!

Thanks anyway


Do they make .foridioticclientswhodon'tknowhowtousecomputers ?