QUICK MEASUREMENTS
For a quick and accurate measurement of objects within an image use the crop tool reading from the tool dialogue. The box can be be easily resized using the side handles or moved by clicking and dragging. It can also be handy for checking vertical and horizontal lines.
	Above, Photoshop's crop tool measurement dialogue. Below, the Photo-Paint display.

 

MASK FROM LAYER/OBJECT

To create a mask from any layer/object simply press Ctl and click the layer/object thumbnail in Photoshop, or click Mask>Create From Object from the menu in Photo-Paint.

 

SMALL TEXT General

If you need really small text on artwork switch the anti-alias off. Verdana or Zurich Extented, which I believe are a standard in most systems, work really well down to about 6 pixels high and remain quite readable

 

HIDDEN DETAILS

To pick out some detail in an image that might difficult to see, try viewing it in each of the channels modes. Either RGB (red,green and blue) or CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black). Can come in handy for those intricate cut outs.

 

CORRECT PRINT COLOURS General

To ensure your printed images etc, match what you see on the screen make sure your image file is converted to CYMK colours not RGB which never prints correctly. The CYMK (Cyan, Yellow, Magenta and Black) 4 colour system is used by all litho printers for magazines etc and by your PC printer.

 

ALTERNATE SHARPENING

Sometimes the  effect of all the normal sharpening filters does not look right, givng the image a false look. As an alternative try using the Emboss filter (Effects>3D Effects>Emboss) with the 'Original Color' button checked and the depth set to 1, adjusting the level slider to suit.

 

SAVING J PEGS General

Always save your J Pegs at minimum compression (largest file size) in any application. They should only be compressed for use on the web or if they are unimportant. Once compressed image information and detail is lost that cannot be regained. With ever increasing hard disk sizes and recordable DVDs there is no real need for over zealous space saving.