All ya'll are busy and I don't wanna waste your time.

[purcupile]

I see mention of different books and tutorials that are available for the various applications in CS3...but are there any good sources for a general approach to this field?

For instance I have looked for books that will lay out many of the problems I may encounter as I progress in this field. Oh by the way I am not a professional and am more of a hobbyist, but want to have a clearer understanding of how this whole thing works.

Examples:
I want to take my image to a printer...what is the best format to save it in? Use CMYK or RGB? Other things I should know?

I want to take my image to a screenprinter...same questions.

I want to take my image and use it on the Web...same questions.

I want to use it on a cell phone...same questions.

For video, for desktop output for business cards, letterheads etc...what other uses are there?

Seems to me there should be sources available for all this kind of information without having to bother busy people asking them Noobie questions...there should probably even be a chart that lists the different types of uses and critical information needed to be known about each type. So that when you start a project you can take the steps to do it the right way the first time, or at least get it to a point that it would be somewhat easy to fix beyond redoing it.

I just need to be pointed in the direction...not a semester class...so that i can teach myself. At the age of 62 I'm not doing this for a client...I'm the client and I find it a fascinating field to learn.

Purc

[Scott Weichert]

In all honesty Purc, there is a single source, College.

Otherwise it's a matter of scouring the internet and bookstores to find answers, getting some on-the-job training, or asking those that know. There's no "one source" book or link that I'm aware of. Each field is different and it's rare that you'll find all your answers anywhere but in a classroom.

Printer - Use CMYK or Spot color, never RGB, if using raster images they should be 300ppi.
Screen printer - CMYK or Spot color, never RGB, Vector is the preferred format. If using raster images they should be separated properly.
Web - RGB, never CMYK, raster images should be 72ppi but if using an Adobe app ppi is irrelevant.
Phone - Each phone is different but in general they follow the same guidelines as web images.

[nutella]

Library!
---------------------------------------------------------------

[semimoto]

your question is a good one, iif there were a book or tutorial like that it would be great,
but like previous post's have stated if there is we havent seen it, i guess that's why they call it a learning curve, we have to statr at the bottom and climb, some of your questions might be answered by the services themselves,phone manufacturer,screen print guy's, ect. ect.
anyway,
good luck and happy climbing,

[warking@mac.com]

Video tutorials I find the best.

When going to a printer for offset printing - My files are created in RGB only. When complete I send a Flattened CMYK file. Now that's the intention, but when I forget to change the file from RGB to CMYK the printer changes it for me. Most of the print work I send out, the printer does direct to press and can print RGB anyway.

Screen printer file - Raster is a Multi channel spot color separation file. Never RGB or CMYK unless the screen printer is creating the Multi channel sep file from mine.
vector is a spot color file either RGB or CMYK.

Web is 72 dpi RGB