Changing Fuzzy Grayscale Images to Sharp Bitmap Images in Photoshop

Working for a Printer has taught me that just because a grayscale images looks clean off of one printer does not mean it will be clean when printed at 65 line (which is what our presses screen print at). So we learned a great trick from a co-worker (Leigh Anne) and here it is.

This process only works for images with solid text or graphics — NO gradations or tones because they would be dropped out during the steps. We use this to make text and logos that will be one color sharper and cleaner when produced at 65 line.Grayscale images have a tendency to look fuzzy or rough when produced at 65 line on the presses.

What is needed:

• a 300 dpi image with solid text and/or images (all tones will be dropped)

• Photoshop or Photoshop Elements

• an Action created to do this in one simple step or the instructions for doing it manually Download Grayscale to Bitmap Photoshop Action here.

To install/load Action:

1. Open Photoshop and under Window, select Actions.

2. On the Actions pallet from the pop-up window choose Load Actions... Navigate to where you downloaded the Photoshop Action to and choose it. It should show up in your list of Actions now.

The Action Method:

1. Open an image in Photoshop you would like to convert.

2. In the Actions pallet click once on the Grayscale to Bitmap action to select it in the list and then click on the play button at the bottom of the pallet (the triangle pointing to the right). The action will run through all the steps to convert your image into a bitmap including making the image a grayscale image if it is not already. If you get any dialoge windows during the process about changing modes, just click okay and the action should continue on with the process.

3. Your done! Save the image with a different name and as a TIF to use in your project.

The Manual Method:

1. Open an image in Photoshop you would like to convert.

2. In the Image menu select Mode, then change to Grayscale if it is not already. You must be in Grayscale mode to start or it will not work.

3. In the Image menu select Image Size... and enter the following:

   • Document Size: Width: 400 percent
   • Make sure Scale Styles, Constrain Proportions and Resample Image are all checked.
   • Click Okay.

4. In the Image menu select Mode, then change to Bitmap...

   • Output: 2000 pixels/inch
   • Method Use: 50% Threshold
   • Click Okay

5. In the Image menu select Image Size... and enter the following:

   • Document Size: Width: 25 percent
   • Click Okay

6. In the Image menu select Image Size... and enter the following:

   • Document Size: Resolution: 600 pixels/inch
   • Click Okay

7. Save image as a TIF with a different name than what you openend it up by and your ready to use it in your project.

I hope you find this useful.