Photoshop CS6 - Document Image Size & Layer Size Problem - Need Help!

[captainsky]

Hi,

My questions may seem very basic but right now I am stumped and frustrated!

So here is the deal: I created a new Photoshop document and typed in 8.5 inches width and 11 inches height with resolution of 300. I named the file and hit the 'okay' button. I had expected that Photoshop would limit the size of every layer to these exact dimensions, but I found this is not the case at all.

When I noticed transparent pixel space on all sides of a background image that was meant to fill the full 8.5 x 11 space I became concerned and finally thought to check the 'Reveal All' command and saw that every layer (eight layers) was sized differently and it was a mess. So I decided to duplicate each layer to a new document that I created, again to the 8.5 x 11 dimensions. To make sure that each layer adhered to the correct dimensions I cropped each one individually with the dimensions plugged into the crop tool. I also selected the 'Deleted Cropped Pixels' option because I felt I had no other choice if I wanted to layers to be exactly the same size; however, if I could keep cropped pixel data without throwing of my document dimensions than that would be preferable as it would of course offer me more options in the editing process.

In addition, one other thing that has me perplexed is the dimensions I see when I return to the 'Image Size' dialog box. They are always different from the original dimensions and if I attempt to correct the numbers I am unable to do so. I do not have the 'Resample Image' box turned on so the pixel dimensions are not changing which I thought it right since this is image I am creating is for print only. If this is not the best way to have my setting please let me know.

I would be terribly grateful if someone could please enlighten me on how to proceed with success. Thank you in advance for your contribution.

 

[captainsky]

Okay. I have not worked on too many projects that I do such many transforms to resize the background or an object image. When I saw the 'Reveal All' command and tried it I thought I had done something wrong. I was going to print it out but I did not because I thought it would look bad. I am not in front of my computer now but will try a print out later on and see the results.

I have another two questions that perhaps u or someone else could answer. The first one is that for some reason images that I dragged and dropped into PS and so they became 'smart objects' grew in size after multiple transformations and I do not understand why since I thought that as a 'smart object' u could resize an image a hundred times without effect quality, but does each transformation increase file size? For example I took a 1mb image and after a number of transformations duplicated it to a new document and the file sized jumped to over 1GB! What is causing this huge increase in size?

Back to 'Document Size,' if u set a size for a document like 8.5 x 11, shouldn't it show those numbers when u look at the 'Image Size' dialog box? Why do I see different dimensions on 'Image Size?'

I'm just curious about this, but what is a good way to bring in new images into an already open PS file? Right now I'm dropping and dragging from a folder in PS at which point they became 'smart objects,' but is there a better way? Thanks for your feedback and please excuse any typos.

 

[Trevor Dennis]

One way to open a bunch of images into the same project, is via Bridge. Select all the files - which need to be in the same mode (RGB, Greyscale etc.) - and go Tools > Photoshop > Open in Photoshop layers.

But it is good to have more control of your image size, so I would start with the most important image file, and use that to set the size in inches. If it is big enough to do that at 300dpi, that's good. Now this is the crucial point, from then on, any images you bring in are sized purely by their pixel size. Generally, I bring other elements into the master image already selected, so I open them in another document, make the selection and copy to a new layer. Then right click that layer and chose Duplicate, and send it to the master image via the drop down in the Duplicate layer panel.

 

[captainsky]

Thank u for addressing my questions.
I still have yet to get in front of my PC but soon.
I had no idea that additional--add-on--images would be sized on a pixel-by-pixel basis. It is most helpful to know this.
Yeah, I too open a file in PS and then 'Duplicate' it to the approximate location.
Thanks for reminding about opening multiple images through Bridge into their own layers. I did know that but had forgotten.
I figured that the way the drop and drag work was similar to using the 'Place' command which I have used maybe twice ever.
U have answered all my questions and I thank u for that.
I hope I can navigate PS better next time. Later.

 

[captainsky]

I finally got to work on Photoshop this morning and u were right when u said, "you get what u see." Right off I printed out the image that had looked like such a mess when I had clicked on the 'Reveal All' command. When I printed out the document it looked just the same as it did on the screen before the I had revealed all. When I brought in an additional image I opened it separately and then duplicated into the main document. I still need to better understand about how adding new image to a file is recognized on a pixel-by-pixel basis only. I haven't played around with that yet so that's one reason I'm not sure, and also since I do not have the 'Resample Image' box checked under 'Image Size" there is no pixel change shown as those numbers are greyed out. That is it...for now. I just wanted to follow up with you since u were so helpful. Thanks again!