Photoshop 101: Editing Indexed Color Images from the Web

February 1, 2010 | Posted in Photoshop | 21 Comments »

Have you ever plucked an image from the web and tried to edit it in Photoshop only to find annoying problems? It’s probably a .gif in Indexed color mode. For this quick example I’m using the MediaTemple ad in my sidebar, which happes to be an indexed .gif.

Photoshop 101: Editing Indexed Color Images from the Web

When trying to edit an indexed color image in Photoshop, certain adjustments are disabled, as you can see below.

Photoshop 101: Editing Indexed Color Images from the Web

The quickest way to tell what you’re dealing with is to glance at the Layers palette. You’ll see right away if it’s an indexed color image.

Photoshop 101: Editing Indexed Color Images from the Web

All you need to do in order to edit your image is simply change the color mode to RGB, and all of the annoying disabled features return.

Photoshop 101: Editing Indexed Color Images from the Web

This entry was posted on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 2:29 pm and is filed under Photoshop. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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21 Responses to “Photoshop 101: Editing Indexed Color Images from the Web”

  1. Marco Feb 1, 10 at 3:38 pm

    Oh, so that’s what’s happening. I always knew I couldn’t edit, but Cmd+A, Cmd+C, Cmd+N, [Enter], Cmd+V would do the trick too ;) .

    Anyway, thanks for sharing!

  2. Brad K. Feb 1, 10 at 7:21 pm

    I prefer to work in RGB, and save all relevant information as a .psd file, then use “Save for Web” to create a new file to use for the web.

    If I create a couple of layers (not uncommon), I can retain the full blown, intact file for later retouching or reuse (copyright permitting), without having to recreate steps.

  3. Paul Truesdell Feb 1, 10 at 9:47 pm

    Easy, quick tut. TYVM

  4. reii Feb 2, 10 at 5:26 am

    Thanks mate, It’s like you’ve read my mind! I can’t believe that it was right there and I missed it! Thanks!

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  8. Benjamin Rama Feb 3, 10 at 5:00 am

    I do as brad does
    ‘I prefer to work in RGB, and save all relevant information as a .psd file, then use “Save for Web” to create a new file to use for the web.’

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  10. John Mindiola III Feb 4, 10 at 12:20 am

    Thanks for posting this Bitt. Yeah, I came across this same realization when working with images from the web. I could edit them, but the results were poop. Switch to RGB, and Photoshop will love you more.

  11. Memphis Web Design Feb 6, 10 at 10:06 am

    Thanks for sharing this, it helps a lot. RGB is the way to go. Keep the posts coming!

  12. Fixticks Feb 7, 10 at 10:18 am

    Ah nice short way to get around it, i tend to select all, Ctrl+A, copy it Ctrl+C, create a new document Ctrl+N and paste it Ctrl+V …your way is much shorter.

  13. cheap domain registration Feb 15, 10 at 3:13 am

    Editing in Photoshop is little difficult for me, Without practical knowledge, By that blog i will able to work Effectively in Photoshop. Thanks for the Blog. Very Nice to understand.

  14. colorexpertsbd Feb 20, 10 at 4:28 am

    Thanks very much for your delighting Photoshop Tutorial..
    Not difficult to understand but need to be a little knowledge about Photoshop color mode…

  15. Diseño web Feb 25, 10 at 9:06 pm

    Wow it was so easy to get that kind of effect, i will use it in my nexts proyects

  16. Miami HD rentals Apr 30, 10 at 4:49 am

    Thank you for this tutorial, I didn’t actually think it was so simple.

  17. Audi wallpapers May 30, 10 at 10:00 am

    Hi, okay. But why let that be nice ?

  18. ferrari wallpapers Jun 2, 10 at 3:56 pm

    Thanks for method. it helps a lot.

  19. Oyun Jul 2, 10 at 12:15 pm

    Its a easy quick tutorial,thanks

  20. SILVER-CHAIN Jul 20, 10 at 11:18 pm

    hello! nice to met you..
    I love this post …:)

  21. Wow Costa Blanca Web Design Aug 8, 10 at 4:18 pm

    Excellent work!

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