Preferences

As is the case for many applications, we advise you to set up your preferences before starting work. There are usually lots of them. We are only going to deal with the main ones to start with. Select File > Preferences > General Program Preferences.




Figure 4: Don't forget to take a look at the general preferences.

On the Rulers and units tab, keep the display in Pixels and the resolution at the default value of 72 pixels per inch. This is actually the standard display resolution for computer screens ... and thus ideal for the Web.

The Undo tab allows you to define a greater number of undo levels than the three proposed by default. Something interesting to note: by doing this, you also considerably increase the amount of RAM used. Consequently, this function is reserved for you lucky ones with a computer equipped with a good supply of memory (64 Mb or more).

On the Miscellaneous tab, you can define up to 10 file names that appear under the File menu. This function is really useful when you are working on several files all at the same time. A second setting absolutely has to be modified without fail: the tolerance value used to paste a cropped image selection. The default value is 5%. As a result, when pasting an image with transparent zones, the lightest areas risk becoming opaque, thus producing an appalling jagged effect. Set this value to 0% and don't touch it again.

As you are going to work for and on the Web, displaying colours with their RGB coding (red, green and blue) is not going to be of much use. In the world of HTML, it is hexadecimal that prevails. So you might as well set Paint Shop Pro to display your work in this mode. To do so, click on the Dialogs and Palettes tab. In the Colour palette zone, select the Hexadecimal display option.



Figure 5: On the left, RGB decimal notation. On the right, the hexadecimal notation used in HTML.

While you're at it, click on the Viewing tab and select a thumbnail size of 120 x 120 pixels, the largest size possible. You can also choose the colour of the border of the selected image.

Lastly, we are going to define the default document type. Quite often, you will be opening an existing image. But if you have to create a new document, a little fine tuning will help you to save time:

• define the height and width for the image that suit you best. These measurements will be memorized;
  
  
• choose White for the background colour. Consequently, all your new documents will have a white background;
  
  
• for the image type, select those where the number of colours is the highest that your graphics card will handle. Typical Web formats, such as JPG and PNG, are 24-bit coded, that is to say, in 16.7 million colours mode.
  
  

You are now ready to move on to the serious stuff. Off we go to our first workshop.