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Photoshop CC 14.2.1 - Icon transformation Help


MrTom said:
This is not really the 'document' size per-se, it is the size of the document IF it were PRINTED.
By specifying the PRINT size PS has CALCULATED the PIXEL dimensions USING the PPI (dpi)...As explained above.
Click to expand...

I want to print it in the end. That's the main goal.

MrTom said:
Digital images do not have a physical resolution nor linear dimensions....only pixels.
Click to expand...


MrTom said:
Yes.
Set background colour to white.
Image > Canvas Size...
You can enter Absolute dimensions or tick the 'relative' checkbox and enter how many pixels to 'add'.
Click to expand...

This works great if i need to add more things to the map. Thanks!

MrTom said:
Are you going to PRINT it out?
If No then don't worry about resolution.
If yes then what is the specification for the print?
Is 'size' fixed or is 'resolution' fixed?....(Refer to my last post).
Click to expand...

Yep i'm printing it.
I wasn't asked about a value for the resolution. I just want to have a 120cm by 150cm map with good resolution to see the details and small things...
Size fixed.


MrTom said:
Most of the time 300(dpi) is specified when going to print, but for a map you may find 200 is enough....I dunno, each job is different and I don't know the specifications for it.
Click to expand...


MrTom said:
Its pixels that count.
Are you saying when it exports it will upscale or downscale the images? Weird.
If it does then you don't want it to.
Just export at 1 pixel = 1 pixel.
Click to expand...

I don't quite know. This is what the arcmap shows:

exportmap.jpg


MrTom said:
Resolution is only required if and when printing, I can't say that often enough, so your best work-flow would be to NOT create a new document but to just export your maps first....then...

Open all of those images in PS.
Choose 1 of them to be a 'base' image, say the top left, and copy and paste the other documents into it...they'll all be the same px dimensions right?
Each 'paste' action will be created on its own layer.
You can then use the 'Crop Tool' to expand the canvas to slightly bigger than whatever dimensions you need to 'fit' the individual 'maps' in however they are laid out.
Click to expand...

That's a great Tip! Yep they are the same px dimensions.

MrTom said:
TIP:
Zoom way out before cropping to 'expand' a canvas. Doing so will give you the room to drag outward into the workspace.

Use the 'Move Tool' to position each 'map' into its respective place...you can also use the cursor keys to nudge by 1 pixel, or shift + cursor key to nudge by 10 pixels.

Once you have each 'map' positioned correctly use Image > Trim to remove any excess transparent pixels.

At this stage its up to you whether you collapse the layers or not:
Layer > Merge Visible OR
Layer > Flatten Image

Lock the layer if you do to prevent accidental movement and / or editing.

You should save this document as a PSD file and close any other open documents.

To add your 'Icons' use the same 'open > copy > paste' routine as with the 'maps'.
Each 'Icon' will end up on its own layer so you can position them wherever you want.
Click to expand...

I will try all of this in my spare time today!

MrTom said:
I hope that clears a few things up for you even though its probably more confusing than ever.

Any probs just ask, I don't always explain things very well.

Regards.
MrTom.
Click to expand...

You have benn very helpful Tom! Thanks.
 
Tom,

When i'm exporting the images in arcmap...if i choose 200dpi the image gets more blurred than if i choose 120dpi. So it's upscalling the image right?and losing quality...
 
Hi btugalover,

In all honesty you should really be asking Arcgis why their icons don't work in their app.....have you contacted them?

I mean, their icons in their app.......they should work....right?

Regards.
MrTom.
 
OK..I've done your homework for you and found out that the application in question does NOT support transparency. It is a well documented issue...if you look for it.

The best you can do therefore is, as you've already suggested, to save the map in 'chunks' and apply the 'pictures' in PS.

I've already given you instructions on how to do this so all that remains is the question of exporting the images from the application.

For some bizarre reason the option when exporting to PNG format does not allow you to specify an image size, but rather prompts you to enter a DPI. Increasing the DPI shouldn't even change the pixel dimensions but seeing as it does it increases the pixel dimensions which is not only NOT what it should do but it is also totally opposite to what DPI does when used correctly.

As this appears to be the ONLY control you have over image dimensions when exporting I guess it'll have to do and as you are intending to PRINT this map out in the future I would set the DPI to 300.

You may have to experiment with this though if you want a print of certain dimensions...I think you said 120cm?
You'll have to do the maths to work out the pixel dimensions you need to print out an image 102cm @ 300dpi.

I can't help you on that one as I don't know how you intend to divide it up, but its very simple.

I have tried various values for DPI and none of them showed any signs of being 'blurred' as you've previously stated, so I do not know why you should experience this.

FYI I also tried changing those downloaded icon images to gif format with a 'matte' colour as previously suggested but as you can only choose ONE matte colour and you are placing it on a multi-coloured background it will look fine when over the 'matte' colour of the map, but terrible when over any other colour.

Note: This is the same image with different 'matte' colours.

icons_best.png

In case you're wondering I installed the trial version (eventually) of Arcgis as it seemed the only way to know what was going on....isn't there an easier way to get an icon onto a map?

Regards.
MrTom.
 
Hey Tom,

I just figured out the solution. In arcmap there's this "style manager" thing that helps set a folder to import simbology. After that i just started to import some icons to try it out because the icons they use/have in the program are pretty disgusting.

This is the end result:

solution.jpg
 
Excellent!

I've uninstalled it now so can't try it but at least you've sorted it out.

Thanks for letting us know.

Regards.
MrTom.
 
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