Two Photoshop Settings that will Save your Eyes

With displays becoming larger and larger, and with fonts and text becoming increasingly smaller and smaller, there’s a good risk you’re already suffering from eyestrain.

I use Photoshop quite a bit. My primary monitor is a 30″ Samsung 305T Plus display. It is not uncommon for me to get a headache due to prolonged computer use. Here are two settings I discovered within the Photoshop preferences that have helped ease some of my eyestrain.

The first is within the Interface section. On a large display (24″ or greater), consider bumping up the UI Font Size to Large. (It’s at the bottom of the panel, under UI Text Options).

Here is what the UI settings look like on Small (the default setting):

And here is what they look like when they are Large. In order to make a proper comparison, you’ll want to click the images. Note that the Actions and the Layers are now much easier to read than they were before.

Edit: Here’s a screen capture showing both layer palettes next to one another:

Next up is Photoshop’s Type settings. I don’t know about you, but the default Front Preview Size settings (Small) is a major source for my eye strain. I have bumped it up to Huge, and it makes visual comparisons of all my fonts a much, much more bearable process.

Edit: Below (Font Type set to Medium):

Edit: Below (Font Type set to Huge):

Both tips may find use within your workflow. Of course, it’s also important to take a break and periodically focus your eyes on distant objects (to give your eyes a chance to adjust their focus).

Do you have another PS tip to minimize eyestrain? Sound off in the comments below!

-Krishna

P.S. After making the changes to the settings, you’ll have to quit and restart Photoshop for the new changes to take effect.

Krishna October 26, 2009 Photoshop settings to minimize eyestrain