How can you optimize illustrations for web, broadcast, and cinema output formats?

2 Adjust the resolution

The resolution of your illustrations determines how many pixels they have per inch (PPI) or per centimeter (PPCM). The higher the resolution, the sharper and clearer your illustrations will look, but also the larger and heavier they will be. The resolution you need depends on the output format and the device or screen size you are targeting. For web output, you can use a low resolution of 72 PPI or 28 PPCM, as most web browsers and monitors use this standard. For broadcast output, you can use a higher resolution of 300 PPI or 118 PPCM, as most TVs and video players use this standard. For cinema output, you can use an even higher resolution of 600 PPI or 236 PPCM, as most projectors and screens use this standard.

3 Optimize the colors

The colors of your illustrations affect how they will appear on different output formats, as each format has its own color space and gamut. The color space is the range of colors that a format can display, while the gamut is the subset of colors that a device or screen can reproduce. The most common color spaces are RGB (red, green, blue) and CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). RGB is used for web and broadcast output, as it is compatible with digital devices and screens. CMYK is used for cinema output, as it is compatible with film and print media. To optimize your colors, you need to convert your illustrations to the appropriate color space and gamut for your output format, using a tool like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. You also need to adjust the brightness, contrast, saturation, and hue of your colors, to make them more vivid and consistent.

4 Reduce the file size

The file size of your illustrations affects how fast they will load and play on different output formats, as well as how much storage space they will occupy. The larger the file size, the slower and heavier your illustrations will be, which can affect the user experience and the performance of your project. To reduce the file size of your illustrations, you need to compress and optimize them, using a tool like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. You can use different compression methods, such as lossless or lossy, depending on the format and the quality you want to preserve. Lossless compression reduces the file size without affecting the quality, while lossy compression reduces the file size by sacrificing some quality. You can also use different optimization techniques, such as cropping, resizing, flattening, merging, or deleting unnecessary elements, to make your illustrations more efficient and compact.

5 Test and preview

The final step to optimize your illustrations is to test and preview them on different output formats, to see how they will look and behave on the final product. You can use a tool like Adobe After Effects or Premiere Pro to export and preview your illustrations on web, broadcast, and cinema output formats, using different settings and parameters. You can also use a tool like Adobe Media Encoder or HandBrake to convert and encode your illustrations to different formats and codecs, such as MP4, MOV, AVI, or MKV. You can also use a tool like Adobe Bridge or VLC to view and compare your illustrations on different devices and screens, such as desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, TVs, or projectors. By testing and previewing your illustrations, you can ensure that they are optimized and compatible with your output formats, and that they meet your expectations and standards.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?