Gif sizing problems

Thomas Scheiderich wrote:

I created a Gif file on my Mac in Photoshop 7. I was creating a label for my DVD labels and was able to create a label to the correct size (4 and 5/8 in) with no problems. When I saved this as a jpeg, the label was exactly the right size. If I created it as a Gif (which I need since I need the transparency and jpegs apparently don’t allow transparencies) the label is about a half and inch larger (for both the PC or Mac).

Why is this and how can I prevent it from doing this?

The Gif file format does not specify the pixels per inch, so Photoshop assumes 72 ppi.

I’m guessing your original jpeg was 92 ppi. If so, it would expand by just under 1.5 inches, as you describe, when you open the gif version of the image, and it is interpreted as a 72 ppi image.

The fix is to convert your image to 72 ppi before saving it as a GIF. —

Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com
www.geigy.2y.net

There are much better choices for printing than GIF if you need transparency… PNG stores an 8 bit alpha channel, Gif only 1-bit.

Please tell us you didn’t design & rasterize your label at 72 or 96 PPI, and then expect that to look nice when printed. :-0

That’s way too low of a resolution. If there’s text involved on your label, try starting over, creating your document in the correct dimensions at 400 ppi minimum. Why not take your PSD file to the print shop? They’ll imposition it there.

If you’re printing at home, imposition it yourself for your sheet size, but make sure that one label prints decently.

JD

Thomas Scheiderich wrote:

I created a Gif file on my Mac in Photoshop 7. I was creating a label for my DVD labels and was able to create a label to the correct size (4 and 5/8 in) with no problems. When I saved this as a jpeg, the label was exactly the right size. If I created it as a Gif (which I need since I need the transparency and jpegs apparently don’t allow transparencies) the label is about a half and inch larger (for both the PC or Mac).

Why is this and how can I prevent it from doing this?

The Gif file format does not specify the pixels per inch, so Photoshop assumes 72 ppi.

I’m guessing your original jpeg was 92 ppi. If so, it would expand by

just

under 1.5 inches, as you describe, when you open the gif version of the image, and it is interpreted as a 72 ppi image.

The fix is to convert your image to 72 ppi before saving it as a GIF. —

Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com
www.geigy.2y.net

"Thomas Scheiderich" wrote in
news::

I created a Gif file on my Mac in Photoshop 7. I was creating a label for my DVD labels and was able to create a label to the correct size (4 and 5/8 in) with no problems. When I saved this as a jpeg, the label was exactly the right size. If I created it as a Gif (which I need since I need the transparency and jpegs apparently don’t allow transparencies) the label is about a half and inch larger (for both the PC or Mac).

Why is this and how can I prevent it from doing this?

Stop using GIF for any sort of printed material.

What softare are you using for output?

"Thomas Scheiderich" wrote in message

I created a Gif file on my Mac in Photoshop 7. I was creating a label for my DVD labels and was able to create a label to the correct size (4 and

5/8

in) with no problems. When I saved this as a jpeg, the label was exactly the right size. If I created it as a Gif (which I need since I need the transparency and jpegs apparently don’t allow transparencies) the label is about a half and inch larger (for both the PC or Mac).

Why is this and how can I prevent it from doing this?

Why are you using Gif anyway?

If you’re combining that with something else before printing, introduce the something else as a new layer – that way ps will deal with the transparencies as normal and when you output as a jpg you’ll have one nice file you can print.

"Sam R" wrote in message

"Thomas Scheiderich" wrote in message

I created a Gif file on my Mac in Photoshop 7. I was creating a label

for

my DVD labels and was able to create a label to the correct size (4 and

5/8

in) with no problems. When I saved this as a jpeg, the label was

exactly

the right size. If I created it as a Gif (which I need since I need the transparency and jpegs apparently don’t allow transparencies) the label

is

about a half and inch larger (for both the PC or Mac).

Why is this and how can I prevent it from doing this?

Why are you using Gif anyway?

If you’re combining that with something else before printing, introduce

the

something else as a new layer – that way ps will deal with the transparencies as normal and when you output as a jpg you’ll have one nice file you can print.

But then I lose the transparency and have this box all around my round object this obliterates anything on its corners.

Tom.

"Eric Gill" wrote in message

"Thomas Scheiderich" wrote in
news::

I created a Gif file on my Mac in Photoshop 7. I was creating a label for my DVD labels and was able to create a label to the correct size (4 and 5/8 in) with no problems. When I saved this as a jpeg, the label was exactly the right size. If I created it as a Gif (which I need since I need the transparency and jpegs apparently don’t allow transparencies) the label is about a half and inch larger (for both the PC or Mac).

Why is this and how can I prevent it from doing this?

Stop using GIF for any sort of printed material.

This was just for a friend who is using it at work to set up a template Word to run his lables periodically. He wanted a picture he could print that had his company logo and a background color. He is going to add the words the describe what he is on the label each time he writes to a CD.

It works pretty well, except for the transparency problem, which isn’t really a problem here as he is just using it on his Label paper, but is a problem if he wants to use it elsewhere.

Tom

What softare are you using for output?

"Sam R" wrote in message

"Thomas Scheiderich" wrote in message

I created a Gif file on my Mac in Photoshop 7. I was creating a label

for

my DVD labels and was able to create a label to the correct size (4 and

5/8

in) with no problems. When I saved this as a jpeg, the label was

exactly

the right size. If I created it as a Gif (which I need since I need the transparency and jpegs apparently don’t allow transparencies) the label

is

about a half and inch larger (for both the PC or Mac).

Why is this and how can I prevent it from doing this?

Why are you using Gif anyway?

As I mentioned in my other post, it is for a friend to do quick and dirty labels for his CD/DVDs.

If you’re combining that with something else before printing, introduce

the

something else as a new layer – that way ps will deal with the transparencies as normal and when you output as a jpg you’ll have one nice file you can print.

"Thomas Scheiderich" wrote in
news::

"Eric Gill" wrote in message

"Thomas Scheiderich" wrote in
news::

I created a Gif file on my Mac in Photoshop 7. I was creating a label for my DVD labels and was able to create a label to the correct size (4 and 5/8 in) with no problems. When I saved this as a jpeg, the label was exactly the right size. If I created it as a Gif (which I need since I need the transparency and jpegs apparently don’t allow transparencies) the label is about a half and inch larger (for both the PC or Mac).

Why is this and how can I prevent it from doing this?

Stop using GIF for any sort of printed material.

This was just for a friend who is using it at work to set up a template Word to run his lables periodically.

Jeff H.’s advice is good, then: PNG is pretty much the answer to working with any Office applications. "Save for Web" is the easiest way, and it makes sure you save a copy to keep from losing anything.

Just make sure you go back to your originals before converting. Gif threw away most of your color.

<snip>

"Thomas Scheiderich" wrote in message

"Sam R" wrote in message

"Thomas Scheiderich" wrote in message

I created a Gif file on my Mac in Photoshop 7. I was creating a label

for

my DVD labels and was able to create a label to the correct size (4

and

5/8

in) with no problems. When I saved this as a jpeg, the label was

exactly

the right size. If I created it as a Gif (which I need since I need

the

transparency and jpegs apparently don’t allow transparencies) the

label

is

about a half and inch larger (for both the PC or Mac).

Why is this and how can I prevent it from doing this?

Why are you using Gif anyway?

If you’re combining that with something else before printing, introduce

the

something else as a new layer – that way ps will deal with the transparencies as normal and when you output as a jpg you’ll have one

nice

file you can print.

But then I lose the transparency and have this box all around my round object this obliterates anything on its corners.

I don’t understand.

You have a photoshop layer with transparency. If you make your final product in PS you can copy the layer from the thing you said you wanted as a GIF into the other PS file, as a layer. So you don’t have to worry about transparency

"Sam R" wrote in message

"Thomas Scheiderich" wrote in message

"Sam R" wrote in message

"Thomas Scheiderich" wrote in message

I created a Gif file on my Mac in Photoshop 7. I was creating a

label

for

my DVD labels and was able to create a label to the correct size (4

and

5/8

in) with no problems. When I saved this as a jpeg, the label was

exactly

the right size. If I created it as a Gif (which I need since I need

the

transparency and jpegs apparently don’t allow transparencies) the

label

is

about a half and inch larger (for both the PC or Mac).

Why is this and how can I prevent it from doing this?

Why are you using Gif anyway?

If you’re combining that with something else before printing,

introduce

the

something else as a new layer – that way ps will deal with the transparencies as normal and when you output as a jpg you’ll have one

nice

file you can print.

But then I lose the transparency and have this box all around my round object this obliterates anything on its corners.

I don’t understand.

You have a photoshop layer with transparency. If you make your final product in PS you can copy the layer from the thing you said you wanted as

a

GIF into the other PS file, as a layer. So you don’t have to worry about transparency

I am talking about the saved graphic that I am giving to someone else to put in his Word Program. It is not transparent in the areas I have set up as transparent for jpegs, which I now understand you cannot do.

It works fine for both PNG and GIFs. The problem is that the GIF ends up being larger and the JPEG and PNG are not. They are exactly the size I created..

Tom.

Thomas Scheiderich wrote:
[re gif changing sizes]

I am talking about the saved graphic that I am giving to someone else to put in his Word Program. It is not transparent in the areas I have set up as transparent for jpegs, which I now understand you cannot do.

It works fine for both PNG and GIFs. The problem is that the GIF ends up being larger and the JPEG and PNG are not. They are exactly the size I created..

Tom,

The size change is due to the fact that the GIF standard does not specify a resolution. other programs interprete GIF images as 72 ppi.

You probably create your originals at a higher rez, such as 96 ppi. This would account for the inch and a half size increase you described in your original post.

The fix is to resize the image to 72ppi before saving it as a gif. —

Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com
www.geigy.2y.net