Setting up Photoshop

I only have experience setting up CS3 and I know what I need to know about that but I'm sure each newer version comes with it's own set of settings to be adjusted more than what CS3 is capable of. I also have my program set to settings that are cohesive with my printing press. Each press requires different things so if you use a professional press I would start by going to their site and searching for file management and color calibration. For my computer and for color inc. here is how I've got my program set. I work in sRGB at 16 bit and I save each original file at 300 dpi for print and 72 dpi for web. I also resize the web files to fit the specific pixel size of my blog (mine is 960px on the longest side) and then again to upload into my gallery site. I've made actions for each of these to decrease the work load on each image. I essentially have everything set to allow for the most data saved as possible. Working in RAW, I make sure I'm not causing extra compression by keeping a high bit rate and saving at maximum size for my press. Here is a great article explaining bit editing and why 16 bit is important for saving shadows and recovering blown spots. It mentions that most printers require 8 bit but be sure to check. For the smart object I would always open it as a smart object. This means that you will have the ability to change any edits made in the RAW editor as well as in photoshop and that you won't have to start completely over if you decide you didn't like the RAW edits before you brought it into CS5. It essentially means that no layers are rasterized, or locked in until you convert the image to JPEG. It gives you the freedom to keep changing things without compression/loosing information and makes for a better file when you finally convert to JPEG. Here is an article on this. One other thing you should be sure to do is re-test your printing press to make sure you screen is properly set up and that you're going to get prints that match your edits. You can buy the calibrator for around $75 but I bet your computer monitor is pretty well calibrated right out of the box. It's still worth re-testing color from the press because you can adjust your monitor settings to suit your press as well. I've got mine set up so that when I hold up a photo from my press next to my monitor there is very little difference. This took me forever and lots of trial and error so a calibrator may be easier. Anyone ever used a calibrator? Advice on that one?