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How do you export an image in Photoshop?

Published in Photoshop Exporting 3 mins read

To export an image in Photoshop, you have several options depending on your desired file format, quality, and intended use. Here's a breakdown of the common methods:

Export Using "Export As..." (Recommended for Web Use)

This method offers the most control over file size, format, and quality, making it ideal for preparing images for web use or online sharing.

  1. Open your image in Photoshop.

  2. Go to File > Export > Export As… This will open the "Export As" dialog box.

  3. Choose your desired file format:

    • JPEG: Good for photographs with lots of colors. Offers a good balance between file size and image quality.
    • PNG: Best for graphics with transparency, logos, and images with text. PNG-24 supports full color, while PNG-8 supports indexed color and offers smaller file sizes.
    • GIF: Suitable for simple animations and graphics with limited colors.
    • SVG: A vector format, ideal for logos and illustrations that need to be scaled without losing quality.

  4. Adjust the settings:

    • Quality: (JPEG) Adjust the slider to control the level of compression. Lower quality means smaller file size but more visible compression artifacts.
    • Transparency: (PNG, GIF) Enable or disable transparency.
    • Image Size: Change the width and height of the image. Make sure the "Constrain Proportions" link is enabled to maintain the aspect ratio.
    • Resample: Choose a resampling method (e.g., Bicubic Sharper for reduction).

  5. Click "Export" and choose a save location and filename.

Export Using "Save for Web (Legacy)..." (Older Method, Still Useful)

This is an older, but still functional, method that provides a preview of the optimized image and allows you to compare different settings.

  1. Open your image in Photoshop.

  2. Go to File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy)…

  3. Choose a preset or customize the settings: The "Save for Web" dialog box allows you to preview the image with different file formats and compression settings. You can choose presets from the dropdown menu or adjust the settings manually.

  4. Optimize the settings: Adjust the quality, color palette, and other settings until you achieve the desired balance between image quality and file size. The dialog box displays the estimated file size, download time, and a comparison between the original and optimized image.

  5. Click "Save" and choose a save location and filename.

Quick Export

For faster exporting with predefined settings:

  1. Go to File > Export > Quick Export as [Format]. You can set the default quick export format in Preferences (Edit > Preferences > Export).

Other Export Options

  • File > Save As...: Allows you to save in various Photoshop-specific formats (PSD, PSB) and some generic image formats (TIFF). This is generally not for web use, but for saving work in progress or for print purposes.
  • File > Generate > Image Assets: Automatically creates image assets from layers or layer groups in your PSD file, named according to the layer or group name. Useful for web and app development.

By using these different methods, you can tailor the export process to meet the specific requirements of your project. Remember to consider the file format, image quality, and file size when choosing the best option.

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