decorative banner

Previous | Next Preparing Graphics for the Web > Optimizing colors in GIF and PNG-8 images

Using master palettes (ImageReady)

    You can create a master palette to use with a group of GIF or PNG-8 images that will be placed on a CD-ROM or other multimedia storage medium. When you include the master palette with a batch of images, all images display using the same colors.

    To build a master palette, you add colors from a set of images and then build and save the master palette. To create a master palette for a batch of images, you add colors to the palette from other optimized images.

To create and apply a master palette:

  1. With an image displayed, choose Image > Master Palette > Clear Master Palette (if available). Clearing the master palette ensures that colors from previous images are not included in the new palette.
  2. Open an image whose colors you want to include in a master palette.
  3. Choose Image > Master Palette > Add To Master Palette. All color information for the current image is added to the master palette.
  4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all images whose colors you want to include in the master palette.
  5. In the Optimize palette, select optimization settings for the master palette.
  6. Choose Image > Master Palette > Build Master Palette to create a new color table from the color information of images used in steps 2, 3, and 4.
  7. Choose Image > Master Palette > Save Master Palette.
  8. Name the master palette and choose a location where it will be saved. By default, the master palette file is given the extension .act (for Adobe Color Table).

    9. If you want to access the color table when selecting Optimization options for a GIF or PNG image, save the master palette in the Optimized Colors folder, inside the Presets folder in the Adobe Photoshop folder.

  9. Click Save.
  10. To apply the master palette to the image or images for which it was created, open the image or images and select the master palette:
    • If the master palette appears in the Color Reduction Algorithm menu in the Optimize palette, select the master palette from this menu. (The Color Reduction Algorithm menu includes all palettes saved in the Optimized Colors folder, inside the Presets folder in the Adobe Photoshop folder.)
    • Load the master palette. (See Loading and saving color tables.)
Previous | Next | Top Preparing Graphics for the Web > Optimizing colors in GIF and PNG-8 images