Image Mode

1. Most images will be in one of three modes; RGB, INDEXED or CMYK.
2. Images must be in either RGB or Indexed mode to work on a web page.
3. CMYK mode is for images destined for hard copy printing like a mail order catalog. Images like a JPEG in CMYK mode will NOT display on a web page.

1. RGB: Red, Green, Blue. A mixture of these three colors create the all the colors in the images you prepare for the web. JPG images must be in RGB Mode to work on the web. Any JPG image from the web will already be in RGB Mode.

2. INDEXED: GIF Images are indexed images. They are already 72 ppi low resolution images and contain a color palette of 256 or less colors . You can open a GIF image in Indexed Mode and perform basic manipulations like cropping, reducing size, adjusting saturation, etc. If you want to work with the image and go beyond basic manipulation you will need to CONVERT the GIF image from Indexed Mode to RGB mode first. After completing your image work you will need to resave the image as a GIF using the PhotoShop File > Save For Web tool.

3. CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black(K). These colors are commonly used to prepare images for four color process printing. CMYK mode images are used for printing hard copy publications like catalogs, magazines and brochures. CMYK JPG images will NOT display in a web browser. They must be converted to RGB Mode to display on a web page.

If the image comes from a purchased CD, or CD supplied by a pre-press publishing company or any other hard copy oriented medium you may find that the images are in CMYK Mode. Always check the Image > Mode mode first and change the mode from CMYK to RGB.

1. Check Image > Mode
   
   
   
2. If you see Image > Mode > CMYK as shown above where CMYK has a check mark to the left of it select RGB to change mode to RGB.
3. RGB will now have a check mark next to it.
   
   
   
4. You can now proceed with preparing your image for the web.

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