Flatten and Sharpen?

[nun69]

ok...so do you guys flatten your image then sharpen it and then save it for print? I never flatten mine, and just save as a jpeg and then print? I am wondering if I should start flattening and sharpening before I save now??? I always save the PSD file, but just wondering about the jpeg flatten and sharpen issue THANKS~

 

[BrattyMeg]

I do save a HQ Flattened jpg of my layouts...in some programs if you save w/out flattening it screws up the shadows.

I don't sharpen unless I resize

 

[emmasmommy]

I merge visible--->resize--->unsharp mask--->save for web

so my answer would be no

 

[nun69]

I just wonder because my full size versions are ok when I upload to Inkubook, so I guess I will have to see when I get my book in a week or so!

 

[nikkiARNGwife]

I only sharpen my 600x600 web versions

 

[momtutu]

Ok, so what's the difference between merging and flattening? On my screen, they look like they do the same thing. Sometimes I just merge and sometimes I flatten.

 

[schock77]

I rarely sharpen... and for the web...when I'm done with my TIFF layered file, I just go to "save for web" as JPG and resize to 600x600 and as close to 150kb as I can...

I don't do anything for my layout that I upload to print in photobooks other than check for full bleed and gutter and save as a JPG without reducing the quality.

 

[scrappurple]

I flaten, 600x600 and sharpen for the web lo. Never thought about when I print my page!

 

[SeattleSheri]

Ok, so what's the difference between merging and flattening? On my screen, they look like they do the same thing. Sometimes I just merge and sometimes I flatten.

They are the same thing, assuming you merge all layers on your canvas.

I used to save my full-size TIFF and resize during the web optimization, but I've found that the web version looks much better if I flatten, resize and high pass (I prefer a light high pass over traditional sharpening).

 

[suze]

I only sharpen my 600x600 web versions

same here!

 

[LilachO]

Im only flaten my 600x600 web page / photo

 

[littlekiwi]

don't do anything special to my pages other than to save for web for uploading

 

[NettieB]

Because for printing LO's, most photobook places let you have large size files, I usually use Sheri's method - duplicate, flatten, resize, high-pass filter - then Save As a jpeg at maximum.

For web, I'm lazy, I use an action mostly.

Angie - can't remember if you are PSE or the big program or other for software - for any and all y'all PSE, there's a great post here on the Texas Chicks Blogs and Pics site about the Perfect Workflow in PSE, and she links from there into a great detail about all the sharpening methods available for PSE . . .

 

[Lyd]

I flatten and save as a high-quality .jpg and then I resize to 600X600, sharpen, and save for web. I only sharpen after I resize, same as some other people.