tutorial

Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
Adobe Photoshop’s
BASIC TOP TEN
Student Workbook
Published for the Allen Academy of e-Learning
by Southbourne Multimedia
A DISCUSSION ON PHOTOSHOP FEATURES
WITH ACADEMY MENTOR: RODAYNE ESMAY
S T U D E N T W O R K B O O K
Photoshop is a fundamental part of any multimedia
curriculum. Many schools teach it as the introductory
class in a full multimedia program that might include
instruction in several software applications. (In other
words, it is often the first software package taught to
students.)
Photoshop’s uses in industry vary; it is used in
the production and editing of graphics for print, for
computer and telecommunications distribution, and/or
for the world wide web. There is also a growing market
for Digital Fine Art - another Photoshop niche. Photoshop
has a wide user base, and is a powerful and versatile tool.
Of course this strength also makes it a challenge
to teach, especially if the teacher is trying to both
learn the program on their own and teach it as well.
Learning any software package is difficult enough -
learning it well enough to teach it can be the cause of
real panic.
The user’s manual might help and there are
tutorials and many books on the subject. But, which ones
are best? How can you find one that de-mystifies the tool
and its vocabulary. (What in the world is a spliced image
anyway, and why is the author discussing them on the
opening page of this book?)
What you hold in your hands is a volume that is
designed to help take the pain out of the learning/
teaching process by providing both you and your students
with a curriculum that progresses logically and sensibly
through the software package. Books and videos are
supplied to assist you step-by-step through the learning
process.
This curriculum is published in a loose-leaf
format for maximum flexibility. As your own abilities with
this software grow, you can add pages, tweak assignments,
change parameters to meet your own needs.
It is also important that you understand that this
curriculum does not attempt to teach everything there is
to know about Photoshop. The author of one of your texts
writes in his introduction, “...the reality is that it would
probably take 5,000 pages and dozens of authors to even
begin to exhaust the potential that exists within this
remarkable program.”
If we were able to reduce Photoshop’s capabilities
to simple mathematics, the variations
available to a single image would number in the millions.
It is physically impossible to demonstrate them all. So
don’t even try. You will find as you work through the
exercises and processes in this curriculum that many
options on any particular menu are skipped entirely.
These become options for exploration by your students
and should be announced as such.
This course emphasizes the essentials, so while
you may not be able to demonstrate all the variables, you
will be teaching and demonstrating the most important
ones. Students themselves will then, given time and
encouragement, make many discoveries themselves.
Questions will undoubtedly be asked regarding
the skipped options. When these come up invite your
students to find out for themselves - challenge them and
have them demonstrate their findings to the class. This
kind of pedagogy, allowing interactive participation and
peer instruction among students will build their understanding
and confidence much faster and much better
than spoon-feeding the answers to them.
As a teacher, don’t be afraid to tell a student that
their question concerns a process in Photoshop that you
yourself have not yet learned - remember there are
millions of variations, no one person can know them all.
Finally, you will want to know where to go from
here. What comes after this introductory course?
At the end of this section is a list of resources,
books that will help you and your students flesh out your
classroom photoshop experience. This is a tool with a
wide range of adaptations for various business needs. If
you want to push the photo editing capabilities of the
software to better incorporate it into a photography
curriculum, for example, by all means seek out those
sources that will help you do so. You can develop
specializations in web design, print media, or even fine
arts.
Introduction
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
This course begins with the assumption that you
have the software already installed on your computer or
that you have the Photoshop User’s Guide to help you
through that process. It also assumes the barest of
essential computer navigational skills. For instance, you
should know how to find your way around the file structure
of your hard drive, find or save a document, and change
your computer’s resolution settings.
If you are absolutely new to computers a good
getting-started volume is Computer Concepts published
by Thomson Learning.
Incidentally, if you do not currently have
Photoshop 6.0 in your possession, there are many books
that come with a demo version (see references at the end
of this teacher section), so you’ll be able to install it and
get started right away.
This volume is organized into two sections.
The first is for you, the classroom teacher, the latter is
a workbook for students. This second section may
be duplicated and used in class.
The instructor section has lesson plan
outlines for the semester’s instruction in Photoshop.
These contain learning objectives, instructor guides,
learning activities and exercises as well as assessment
guidelines.
Activities and exercises are designed to
build upon each other. Essentially the process of
learning this piece of software is designed like
peeling the layers from an onion. To use Photoshop
at its most productive, commands and processes
need to be understood and used in conjunction with
one another and not merely learned as a set of
disjointed functions and tricks.
The better a student understands this synthesis
within Photoshop itself, the better they will
ultimately be able to use it with other software
packages as well.
Obviously, before stepping into the classroom to
teach a piece of software, you should become as familiar
with both the software and the curriculum as possible.
Begin by making a copy of the student workbook for
yourself and going through the course a concept at a time
with both the instructors manual and the workbook open
in front of you.
Follow the course via the video tapes making notes to
yourself wherever appropriate as you go. This process
will give you an understanding of the overall scope of the
course.
There are two ways to use the video taped
demonstrations. You can view them yourself, practising
them until they are clear and then present them to the
class yourself - this is the best, and recommended way.
Or, you can use the tapes themselves in your classroom
as demonstration tools. In either case the tapes can act
as a support - to help those that may need to work through
a procedure multiple times before they understand it.
Remember the key to truly understanding
Photoshop (or any other software) is to synthesize its
activities - remember this is a problem solving tool.
Included in this section is a Teaching Strategy
section, which includes some active learning processes
that can be incorporated in a classroom setting. These
will provide you with some ideas that can be used as
outline here or modified to best suit your class. Using your
students as resources and letting them help you teach
can make the whole educational process exciting and
more fulfilling for both you and your students.
Planning the inclusion of those students, found in
any classroom, that seem to just naturally “get it” as
mentors is a great way to engage the class as a whole.
Peer teaching and learning has proven effective in many
situations. Additionally you should challenge these great
students by giving them complex extra credit assignments.
Allow them extra time to tutor students that may be
struggling. If they are extremely ambitious ask them to
propose projects for themselves - then give them a little
free reign and let them run. Of course, all of this also fits
well within an active learning classroom environment.
(See the section on Active Learning.)
How to get the most from this Instruction
Course Description:
This course introduces Adobe Photoshop as
a digital image editing tool for use in print and/or
electronic media.
Typical Instructional Format:
Demonstration and some lecture. Student
peer group preparation and demonstration. Student
peer to peer instruction and review.
Program Context:
Typically an introductory software application
in a comprehensive multimedia curriculum.
Course Learning Outcomes:
Successful students will demonstrate a
working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop. Critical to
this knowledge is an understanding of the following
Photoshop concepts:
The Photoshop Interface
The Selection Set
The Layer’s Palette
Color Selection and Manipulation
The Toolbar
The Edit Pull-Down Menu
The Image Pull-Down Menu
Photoshop Filters
The Type Tool
Working and Conversion of Paths
Photoshop Actions
Successful students will additionally gain a
responsible awareness of the amount of work and the
mastery level necessary to produce digital imagery
for contemporary industry.
Evaluation:
Students will be graded on the completion of
a tutorial workbook, six assignments
General Education:
General Education Skills emphasized in this
course:
Technology
Visual Communication
Oral Communication
Analytical Evaluation
Creative Thinking
Aesthetics
Problem Solving
Interpersonal Communication
____________________________
A General Note About the Exercises:
Computer Tutorials are, by their nature, not
very exciting. Some students will see, from the start,
that they are a means to an end and jump right in
headfirst. But there are always those that seem to
struggle or that want to take things out of order (the
advanced stuff is always more interesting the the
beginning stuff). The best way to get through the
early tutorial blahs is to move at a good pace, but
also encourage students to experiment. You want
them to see learning the tool as being fun. After
completing an assignment have them repeat the
same processes and procedures on a different file.
Encourage exploration, ask them to think of ways to
use a tool or concept that is not a part of the original
assignment.
Aesthetics:
Photoshop is an artistic tool. Some wish it
were otherwise, but alas tis true that in the hands of
an artist this tool will do amazing things. (It will also
do amazing things in the hands of a non-artist, it just
won’t look like ...well, art.) Anyone can go to an art
store and purchase oils and brushes. And the
physical act of squeezing paint onto a palette and
then moving it to prepared canvas using small
brushes is the same for every
Lesson Plan for the Basic Top Ten Course:
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
one. However the results will differ depending upon
the painter’s aptitude and experience. The same is
true for this program - it is just a tool.
So here we have a digital image editor that
performs best when the priciples of art and design
are a part of the mix. But not all students, not all
teachers are going to have an artistic nature, or
background.
It is difficult for someone that has devoted
many years to a different persuit to find that all of a
sudden they are teaching a multimedia curriculum
and that the first thing they have to tackle is a computer
based, artist oriented software package. As if
learning what all those palettes and boxes and
options are isn’t enough.
Well, there is no fast and easy way to teach
and apply artistic principles to those that are not
characteristically aethetic. But there are a few
references that may help a little. The best is probably
a small volume entitled The Non-Designer’s
Design Book by Robin Williams (not the comedian).
Following the ideas spelled out in this book will help
alot. Also now out by this same author are The Non-
Designer’s Type Book, and The Non-Designer’s Web
Book. These will give you an introduction to the
vocabulary, and will help the non-artist teach artistic
principles.
If you would like to see examples of good
design on the Internet, the best possible site is the
Communcation Arts Web-Site. Communication Arts
is a leading Design magazine and their cyber site is
great. The address for Communication Arts is:
www.commarts.com
If you would like to go straight to their site-ofthe-
week: www.designinteract.com/sow/
Once on this latter site click on the archive
tab to bring up dozens and dozens of examples.
The best part about this site is that they painstakingly
explain, in detail, why they chose a site and being
good. This could easily become part of your
curriculum, assigning students to research and
comment on good design. (More on this in the
Lesson Plans, under Ideas for Additional Assignments.)
Other Resourses: Ther are many, many books
written about Photoshop, and you should have a
few in your classroom library (or for yourself, if
nothing else). These are the best:
Adobe Photoshop 6.0 Studio Techniques
by Ben Willmore
The Photshop 6 Wow Book
by Linnea Dayton & Jack Davis
Full of Tips, Tricks & Processes these two
books are great. Some of the same things taught
in this curriculum will be found here, and many
more. These are must-have volumns for intermediate
and advanced Photoshop manipulation.
Adobe Photoshop 6.0, Illustrated Series
by Elizabeth Reding, published by
Thomson Learning
The best Basic Skills book published. This
should be on hand in the classroom to help
students who are having trouble grasping concepts.
Has a nice intro to ImageReady, which is
not covered in this curriculum.
Photoshop 6.0 Down & Dirty Tricks
by Scott Kelby
A little more advanced, but on par with the first
two mentioned above.
Photoshop 6 Artistry
by Barry Hanes
Beautiful publication full of wonderful concepts,
not for the beginner.
Essential Photoshop 6 for Web Professionals
by Brad Eigen
Obviously for those that want to use Photoshop
for web development.
Photoshop 6 Web Magic
by Jeff Foster
Another Web-oriented volumn.
Adobe Photoshop 6 for Photographers
by Martin Evening
The best Photography oriented book written.
Adobe Photoshop Master Class
by John Paul Caponigro
No two ways about it, this is a great book. Full of
fine art concepts, it is as much theory as it is technical
application. Not for the beginner, but worth the
time and effort to understand. Caponigro takes
Photoshop to a new artistic level.
Photorealistic Techniques with Photoshop and Illustrator
by Bert Monroy
As the name implies, this is not just a Photoshop
book. It introduces Photoshop as a partner tool with
Illustrator (also by Adobe). This is a good volumn to
help students understand that software packages
often overlap.
These are just a start, the best are here,
others not yet published are sure to follow.
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
A look at the interface
It’s time to begin! It’s important that you take the time to go through each exercise
thoroughly. Don’t underestimate the material covered - those wishing for more complexity
in the curriculum will soon have their wishes granted, so make sure you understand
completely the simple concepts that come first. Learning to use the high-end
Photoshop functions is dependent on a working knowledge of the rudiments first.
You’ll have time to search, discover and play with the tool, so don’t be timid.
Experimenting with software is an important part of the learning process.
The Photoshop Interface
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
With Photoshop open, identify the following
pull-down menus:
_____ File _____ Edit
_____ Image _____ Layer
_____ Select _____ Filter
_____ View _____ Window
_____ Help
Open each one of the menus above. Read
through the options available in each and try to get a
feel for what is there.
List the Pull-down menu that contains each of
the following commands. Try to do this without
referring back to the menus themselves.
Blur ____________________
Add Layer Mask ____________________
Image Size ____________________
Import ____________________
Inverse ____________________
Show/Hide Navigator___________________
Paste ____________________
Show/ Hide Rulers____________________
Contents ____________________
_____ Identify the Toolbar
_____ Identify the Options Window
Click on each one of the tools in the Toolbar.
As you do so, take note of the changes that occur in
the Options Window.
Identify the following Palettes:
_____ Layers
_____ History
_____ Color
_____ Navigator
_____ Paths
_____ Info
_____ Actions
Complete the following actions:
_____ Separate the Layers Palette from its
stack.
_____ Separate the Channels Palette from its
stack.
_____ Place both of these into the Options
Window, in the upper right hand corner of your
screen.
_____ Pull Layers and Channels out of the
Options Window and re-stack them.
_____ Hide the Layers Palette.
_____ Hide the History Palette.
_____ Hide the Navigator.
_____ Make all hidden palettes visible.
_____ Reset the Palette locations using the
command in the Window Pull-Down Menu.
_____ Open an existing image. This command
is found in the File Pull-Down Menu.
_____ Close the open image.
_____ Open multiple images by selecting one
and holding the Shift Key down while selecting a
second image. Image files can be found in the
Student/Images folder.
_____ Close all but one image.
_____ Use the Zoom Tool from the Toolbar to
magnify an image so that you can see individual
Explore Exercise No. 1
A Quick Tour
Photoshop Interface
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
pixels.
_____ Hold the Alt Key down while clicking the
Zoom Tool to bring the image back to 100%.
_____ Close the image.
_____ Create a New Image that is 500 pixels
wide and 500 pixels high. This is done by clicking
on File/New.
_____ Using the Image Pull-Down Menu, find
the Image Size command.
_____ Change the Image Size. (Make it 600 x
600)
_____ Find the Constrain Proportions box and
turn off this command.
_____ Change the Image Size again, to any
size you wish.
What does RGB stand for?
R ________ G ________ B ________.
_____ Change your foreground color by
clicking on the foreground color indicator. This is
located on the Toolbar.
_____ Choose any other color and accept it.
_____ Click on the Paint Brush Tool and paint a
brush stoke across your new image.
_____ Close the image, (when Photoshop asks
you if you want to save your image, name it “Work”
and save it in your Student Directory).
_____ Reopen an image by double clicking on
the empty Photoshop workspace to access its
folder.
_____ Close this image.
A Quick Tour (Continued)
_____ Open an image in Photoshop and use
the Zoom tool to increase its size to 300 or 400%.
_____ With the Marquee active (the tool in the
upper left hand of the Toolbar), depress the space
bar to bring up the Hand Tool. Use this to move your
image within the active window.
_____ Close the open image and the open
Redrock1.bmp that is found in the Student/Images
folder
_____ Find this Image’s size properties by
going to the Image Pull-Down menu and opening:
Image Size.
This image is ________ pixels Wide and
________ pixels High. It has a resolution of
________ pixels/in. If it was sent to a printer the
printed image size would be: _______ in. by
_______ in.
_____ Open Redrock1a.bmp.
Find these properties:
_____________ pixels Wide.
_____________ pixels High.
_____________ ppi
______ x ______ printed size.
_____ Close the two Redrock images, and then
create one that is 1200 pixels wide and 800 pixels
high at 200 pixels/ inch. How big is this image as
measured in inches? W: ________ H: ________
_____ Close all open images and create a new
document that is 8 inches high and 12 inches wide,
at a resolution of 150 pixels per inch.
Explore Exercise No. 2
a a a a a a a a a a File / New opens
this dialog box
a a a a a a a a a a a
a a a a a a a a a a a a a Paintbrush tool
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
What is the size of this image as measured
in pixels? W:___________ H:___________
_____ Close this image (no need to save it)
and build another that is 6 inches high and 14 inches
wide, at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch. Note the
image size in pixels. (Build this image with a red
background)
_____ In the Image Size command palette,
highlight the 300 in the resolution box. Change the
resolution to 72. Note the change in the Image as
measured in pixels.
This image started at: _________ x_________
pixels (at 300 pixels/inch) and finished at:
__________ x __________ (at 72 pixels/inch).
_____ Use your Paint Brush to make marks on
the surface of your image.
_____ Save the image as Work2.psd.
_____ Next, click Save As in the file menu and
save the file as Work2.bmp
_____ Now click Save As and save the image
as Work2. tif (do not compress the image)
_____ Click Save As again and save the file as
Work2.tga
_____ Finally click Save As one more time and
save the image as Work2.jpg.
_____ Go into your file manager (Explorer) and
locate the Work2 files you have just created.
Note the size in kilobytes of each of the
images.
.psd: ____________ k
.bmp: ____________ k
.tif: ____________ k
.tga: ____________ k
.jpg: ____________ k
Remember, the higher the image’s
resolution, the higher the quality of the
image when it is printed.
If you are working on a project that
will be going to press for mass production, a
general rule is that your images should be
double the resolution of the printing press. If
the project is going to be printed at 150 dpi,
your image should be saved at 300 pixels
per inch. If the printing will be done at 200
dpi, your image should be 400 pixels per
inch.
Marquee Tool a a a a a a a a a a a a
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
Opening Multiple files
_____ Start Photoshop and then click on File/
Open . Open multiple files first using the shift key.
_____ Now close the images, and open
several others using the Ctrl key.
_____ Minimize the open images by clicking on
the “-” icon in the upper right hand corner of the
image window.
_____ Close all images by clicking on the “x”
also found in the right hand corner of the image
icons.
The Marquee
_____ Open the image titled Arch.tif, it should
be found in your Student/Image Directory.
_____ Identify the Marquee tool on the toolbar.
Now click on any other tool and activate the Marquee
though your computer keyboard with the “M” key.
_____ With the Rectangular Marquee active,
click and drag your mouse on the open image. The
“Selected” area is now active.
_____ De-Select the Marquee with a single
mouse click anywhere else on the image
_____Click and drag your mouse again on the
open image.
It is best to establish the habit now of
accessing the tools with your keyboard.
From this point on whenever you want the
Marquee active, do it with a keyboard command.
_____ Now deselect this Marquee using
“Ctrl+D” on your keyboard.
_____ With the image open and your Marquee
tool active, hold your Shift key down and hit the “M”
key. Notice how this effects the Marquee Icon in the
toolbar. Using the Shift+M command will change
your Rectangular Marquee to an Ellipse and visaversa.
_____ Using your mouse, click and hold on the
Marquee Icon. A window will come up that offers
four options: A Rectangle, an Ellipse, a Single
Horizontal, and a Single Vertical.
_____ Select each one of these and use them
on your open image so you get a feeling for the way
they work.
_____ Using either the Rectangular or Elliptical
Marquee make a selection on your image.
_____ With the Marquee active, tap the direction
arrow keys on your keyboard. Notice that the
active selection moves one pixel with each key
touch.
_____ Hold a direction arrow key down. The
Selection will move across the image.
_____ Now, hold the Shift key down and tap a
direction arrow. The selection will move 10 pixels for
each direction arrow keystroke.
Adding to/ Subtracting from a Marquee Selection
_____ With a selection active, hold the Shift key
down, then click and drag with your mouse to add to
your selection.
_____ With the selection active, subtract from
your selection by holding the Alt key down, then
clicking and dragging on the selection.
_____ Deselect the active area on your image
ExerciseNo. 3
1. Selection Set
a a a a a a a
Feather
a a a a a a a a a a
Style
Fixed Size: 300 px by 250 px
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
and then create a new Marquee selection on your
image.
_____ Add to this selection by using the Select
pull down menu. Go to Select/Modify/Expand.
_____ Subtract from this selection by using the
Select pull down menu. Go to Select/Modify/
Contract.
_____ Now Expand and Contract your selection
using the icons on your Option Window.
Marquee Style and Feather Command
_____ Explore the “Fixed Size” and “Constrained
Aspect Ratio” commands on the Options
Menu.
_____ Make sure your Rectangular Marquee is
active. Change the “Feather” setting from 0 to 5, then
click and drag a selection on your image. Notice the
rounded corners.
_____ Close the file, without saving changes.
Your computer has memory designed
to temporarily hold information that is copied.
This memory space is called the Clipboard,
and it is limited to one file, without regard to
size or type. So, the clipboard will only hold
the last file (text or image), copied into it and is
purged when the computer is shut down.
The next series of excersises will use
the clipboard.
Copy and Paste
_____ Open an image from your student
directory, and make sure your Marquee is active, that
the feather is set to 0 px, and click onto the Style
selection icon.
Set the Fixed Size option to 300 pixels wide
and 250 pixels high, then click on your image.
_____ Copy the selected area up to the clipboard
by using the F3 function key. Other copy
commands are available - one on the Edit pull-down
menu, and also with the use of the Ctrl+C keys. This
last option is found in many software applications.
_____ Open a new file, by clicking on the File
pull-down menu and choosing New. You can also
open a new file with a keyboard command. Ctrl+N
will initiate a new file, and like all keyboard commands,
this one too will save time. Note that the
default size for your new image is the same, 300 x
250 pixels, as the selection you just copied.
_____ Paste the copied image into the new file
by hitting the F4 key. You can also paste by using
the Edit pull-down menu, or using a Ctrl+V command.
This last command is generic and is found in
many software applications.
_____ Compare the new image with the selection
on the original image. They should be identical -
if not, an error has been made in the copy/paste
procedure.
_____ Close the new image, when Photoshop
asks if you wish to save the changes to the new file,
click No and allow the image to close.
_____ The selection should still be active the
original image. Deselect it now by clicking Ctrl+D.
_____ Set the Feather command to 8 in the
Options Menu.
_____ With the Fixed Size Style still active,
click the Marquee on the open image.
_____ Copy the image up to the Clipboard. (F4)
_____ Create a new image. (Ctrl+N)
_____ Paste the copied selection into the new
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
_____ Open the image named Select.bmp from
the Student/Image directory.
_____ Activate the Lasso tool by hitting the “L”
key. With the tool active, use the Shift+L keys to
jump through all the options available. Cycle through
all options, but end on the Lasso.
_____ Click and drag on the image to draw a
polygon.
_____ De-select the polygon using Ctrl+D.
_____ With your mouse, click and hold on the
Lasso tool to bring up the options. Choose the
Polyagonal Lasso tool.
_____ Use this tool to draw a polygon. This
tool is used by clicking then moving the mouse,
clicking again and moving, and clicking and moving.
A double click, or moving onto the starting point will
close the polygon.
_____ De-select the polygon using Ctrl+D.
_____ Go back to the toolbar, and access the
Magnetic Lasso.
_____ Bring the mouse near the edge of one of
the large white rectangles. Click to establish a
starting point then move the mouse. Photoshop will
seek the edge of the white rectangle. You will have
better results if you establish other anchor points at
the corners, but it is possible to outline the whole
rectangle without doing so.
_____ Examine the corners by using the Zoom
tool (Z key) to enlarge the image. Remember you
can move from corner to corner by holding your
spacebar down and clicking and dragging on the
image.
_____ Use the Marquee tool (M key, make sure
you are in the Normal Style) with the Alt key (to
subtract) and the Shift key (to add), and clean up the
selection of the white rectangle.
_____ De-select by clicking anywhere else on
the image with the Marquee tool.
_____ Open the file Arch.tif from the Student/
Image directory.
_____ With both images on your desktop (only
one can be active), activate the Magic Wand tool.
_____ Experiment with the magic wand on the
two images. Make adjustments to the tolerance, and
the Contiguous commands. Add to and Subtract
from selections using Shift and/or Alt keys. Deselect
inbetween selections with Ctrl+D keys.
_____ Open the Arch.tif image.
_____ Select an area with the Rectangular
Marquee. Use Ctrl+Z to undo the selection, then
Ctrl+Z again to bring the selection back.
_____ Use the Ctrl+H key to hide and then
bring back the selection.
image. Note the blended (feathered) edges.
_____ Close the new image without saving, and
repeat the Copy/Paste procedure with the Feather in
tact, this time with an Ellipse selection.
_____ Close the new file without saving.
ExerciseNo. 5
ExerciseNo. 4
a a a a a a a a This icon brings
up this menu
a a a a a a a a a a a
Creates a New Layer
Deletes a Layer
aaaaaaaaaa aaaa
a a a a a a a a a a a a
The Layers Palette
The Photoshop Toolbar
Click and hold your
mouse on this icon to bring up
the Fill Bucket
aaaaaaaaaa a
Click here to
exchange Forground/
Background color.
a a a a a
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
_____ Make sure the selection is visible and
go to the toolbar and activate the Move tool (can
also be accessed with the “V” key).
_____ With the Move tool activated use both
the mouse and/or the direction arrows to move the
selection (Note that the background color in the
cutout section will match the background color on the
toolbar.)
_____ Use the Shift key with the direction
arrows to move the selected area 10 pixels at a time.
_____ Go to the Select pull-down menu and
activate the Color Range option.
_____ Experiment with the eyedropper and the
Fuzziness scale. In-between selections you can use
the Marquee (in Normal Style) to deselect.
_____ Open the image named Gtown.bmp from
the Student/Image Directory, and select the entire
image by using the Ctrl+A keys.
_____ Copy the image up to the Clipboard (F3),
create a new image (Ctrl+N), and paste the selection
into the new image (F4). Then minimize the original
file.
_____ Close all palettes. (The desktop should
have only the image and the toolbar visible.) Then
hit the F7 key to bring up the Layers palette.
_____ Click on the arrow found adjacent to the
tabs just below the x in the upper right hand corner of
the Layers Palette. This will bring up a menu.
_____ Click Palette Options, found at the
bottom of the menu and increase the size of the
images in the Layers window. The Layers palette
should show you that your image has an empty
background, and a layer containing the graphic
information.
_____ At this point make sure your toolbar is
visible. Then hit “D” on your keyboard. This will
cause default colors, Black and White, to be loaded
into the foreground/background boxes. (If black and
white are already loaded, you will see no change in
the appearance of the toolbar.)
_____ Now click the arrow on the upper right of
the color boxes, this will exchange the foreground
and background colors. Your foreground box
should now be white.
_____ Hit the F4 key a second time. This will
create a second image layer, then add three transparent
layers by clicking on the “Add a New Layer”
icon on the bottom of the window.
_____ Experiment with one of the these transparent
layers. First go to the toolbar and activate the
“Fill Bucket.” This tool shares a space with the
Gradient tool on the toolbar. If the Gradient tool is
visible, click and hold your mouse on the gradient
icon. This will bring up a small window that will allow
you to choose the Fill Bucket.
_____ Turn the visibility of this layer off by
clicking the eye on the left side of the layer icon.
_____ Fill a second layer. Use the opacity
slidebar to change the properties of this second
filled layer. This is located at the center top of the
palette. Leave the opacity somewhere near 50%.
_____ On the third transparent layer click and
drag your Marquee to create a rectangular selection.
Then exchange the foreground/background colors
(Black should now occupy the foreground box). Fill
the selected rectangle with Black, this is done by
activating the Fill Bucket (G key - remember this fill
tool shares space with the Gradient option).
_____ Change the name of this Black Rectangle
ExerciseNo. 6
2. Layers
The Move Tool
aaaaaa a
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
_____ Open the image you saved in the
previous excersise. Each layer should have a
unique name.
_____ Now make your Black Rectangle layer
active, and create two new layers above it by
clicking the “Create New Layer” icon twice.
Finding Layer Name in the Image Window
_____Cycle through all layers, clicking on each.
As they become active, note that the name of each
layer appears in the bar at the top of the image
window. This is an aid, to help identify which layer is
active.
_____ After going through this, select and fill
rectangles on the two new layers. These selections
should be filled with white.
Linking Layers
_____ Make sure your Black Rectangle layer is
active. Now click the “Move” tool on the toolbar,
bring the mouse cursor over the black rectangle,
then click and drag.
layer in the Layer Palette by bringing the mouse
cursor on to the layer window and Right Clicking.
This brings up an options menu, click the Layer
Properties option and name it B Rectangle.
_____ Rename all the visible layers above the
background.
_____ Save your new layered image in the
student folder (you choose the name).
_____ Now link the Black rectangle layer to the
two layers above it. This is done by clicking the box
adjacent to the Visibility Indicator. (The box next to
the eye on each layer.)
_____With these three images linked, make
sure the Move tool is active and then click and drag
in the Image window. Linked images can also be
moved with the direction arrows on the keyboard.
Layer Auto Select
_____ Activate one of the layers that contains
an actual image by clicking on it with your mouse.
_____ Now move your cursor onto one of the
rectangle layers. Hold your Ctrl Key down, (note the
change in the cursor) then click with your mouse.
(The rectangle layer may have its visibility turned off,
the procedure works whether it is visible or not.)
_____ Move your cursor from one layer to the
next. In each, hold the Ctrl key down and then click
with your mouse. Note that with each click a selection
comes up.
Remember, the selection itself is not
attached to any layer. Once a selection is
made, you can move from layer to layer and
use the same selection on any or all layers.
Try this: Copy a selection up to the clipboard,
then create a new image. Then press F4 five
or six times. This will create an image with
several layers that all look alike. Now create
a marquee in the center of the top layer, and
hit the Delete key on your keyboard. Keeping
the selection active, move down through
each layer, deleting as you go. Eventually
you will cut a hole in each image layer. All
done with a single selection.
ExerciseNo. 7
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
_____ Return to the Gtown image. Experiment
by creating several new layers, adding a filled
rectangle in each. Then use the Ctrl key + a mouse
click to make an auto selection. Experiment with the
Inverse command (available in the Select pull-down
menu), and using the Delete key to cut selected
areas.
_____ Close the image without saving your
changes.
Duplicating and Deleting Layers
_____Open the image named Layr08.psd found
in the Image folder.
_____ Click on any layer and drag it up or down
the Layers Palette to change its location. This will
work for any layer except the background.
_____ Now click on any layer and drag it down
to the “Create New Layer” icon. This will duplicate
the layer.
_____ Repeat the process to create several
layers that all look alike.
_____ Now click and drag some of these
copied layers to the trash icon also found on the
bottom of the palette. This will delete an entire layer.
Merging Layers
_____ Make sure all layers are visible and
activate the top layer.
_____ Now Click the arrow found in the upper
right corner of the palette - this will bring up a menu.
_____ Click the Merge Down command.
_____ Hit the Ctrl + Z keys to undo the merge.
_____ Again open the palette options by clicking the
arrow in the upper right. This time merge visible
layers.
_____ Hit Ctrl + Z to undo.
_____ Repeat the procedure above, but this third
time, flatten the image.
_____ Hit Crtl + Z to undo and close the image
without saving.
Add a Drop Shadow Using Blending Options
_____ Open the image called Layr09.psd.
_____ Activate the Layer named “Picture2.”
_____ Right click on the layer to bring up a menu and
the click on Blending Options.
_____ This brings up a large dialog box. Click on
the “Drop Shadow” option.
_____ Clicking on the Drop Shadow window in this
large dialog box will allow you to make adjustments
to the shadow. Experiment with the various options
to get a feeling for the way they operate.
_____ After you have explored the options,
accept the drop shadow and then turn the visibility on
this layer off.
A Drop Shadow the Old Fashion Way
_____ Activate the background, below the layer
named “Picture1.”
_____ Create a new transparent layer by
clicking on the “Create Layer” icon. This should be
between the background and image layer.
ExerciseNo. 8
It should be evident by now that keyboard commands are a vital part of using Photoshop. Some
beginners ignore these, believing that they complicate the learning process, but actually just the opposite is
true. Using the keyboard early builds speed as you learn and helps develop good Photoshop habits.
Those that say, “I’ll come back and learn the keys later,” may never learn them - it will always be an obstacle
to them. So dive in and build the habit early of using these keyboard commands. You’ll find within a short
time that you come to rely on these features and would feel hampered without them.
Listed below are some of the most frequently used and helpful keys. It includes some commands
that have already been introduced, and some that will be covered later. This is by no means an all inclusive
list. You should feel free to note others in the margins of this page as you discover them.
M = Marquee Tool Z = Zoom Tool
L = Lasso Tool W = Magic Wand
V = Move Tool G = Gradient
C = Crop Tool T = Text Tool
E = Eraser Tool S = Clone Stamp Tool
Shift Key With any selection tool, adds to the selection. With any painting tool, constricts
movement to vertical or horizontal lines.
Spacebar Brings up the Hand Tool and remains active as long as the spacebar is held down.
Alt Key With any painting tool, toggles to the Eyedropper. With any
selection tool, is used to subtract from the selection. With the Zoom tool, used to
reduce the image.
Alt+Backspace Fills a selection with the foreground color.
Ctrl+H Hides a selection.
Ctrl+D Deselect
Ctrl+S Save
Ctrl+Alt+Direction Arrow Duplicates a Selection
Crt+Alt+Shift+Direction Arrow = Duplicates a Selection and moves that duplication 10 pixels.
Ctrl+Z Undo
Ctrl+Shift+C Copy Merged
F3 Copy (also Ctrl+C)
F4 Paste (also Ctrl+V)
D Loads Black and White into the foreground/background boxes.
X Switches foreground/background.
F7 Hides/Shows Layers Palette.
F1 Brings up Help.
KeyboardCommandsYouWillUseOften
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
_____ With this new layer active, move your
mouse cursor onto the Picture2 layer, hold down the
Ctrl key and click. This will auto select the Picture2
shape.
_____ Now fill the selected area on the new
layer with black - instead of using the Fill Bucket from
the toolbar, make sure black is the foreground color
box and then hit the Alt + Backspace keys together.
This command fills a selection with the current
foreground color. When the selection is filled, hit Ctrl
+ D to deselect.
_____ Rename the new layer, Shadow
_____ Reduce the opacity on this Shadow layer
to 50%.
_____Now go to the Filter pull-down menu and
select Blur. Choose Gaussian Blur, and set the slide
option bar to 3.0.
_____ Finally, activate the Move tool and move
the Shadow layer with either the mouse or the
direction arrows to offset it.
_____ Compare the results of the two shadows,
one using Blending Options, the other not.
_____ In the Picture2 layer, right click on the
layer and bring up the Blending Options box.
_____ Experiment with the various options and
settings.
Marquee
Lasso, Polygonal Lasso, Magnetic Lasso
Crop
Airbrush
Clone Stamp
Eraser
Blur, Sharpen, Smudge
Path Component Selection
Pen, Freeform Pen
Note Pad, Audio Note
Hand
Foreground a a a a a a a a
a a a a a a a a
Move
Magic Wand
Image Splicer
Paintbrush, Pencil
History Brush
Gradient, Fill
Dodge, Burn, Sponge
Text
Rectangle, Polygon, Line, Shape
Eyedropper, Ruler
Zoom
Background
The Photoshop Toolbar
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
Move Tool
_____ Open the file named Capitol.bmp from
the Student/Image folder.
_____ Duplicate the Background layer. (Accomplished
by clicking and dragging the Background
to the “Create New Layer” icon.
_____ Build a new transparent layer in-between
the two image layers. With the transparent
layer active, use Ctrl+Backspace to fill the layer with
the background color.
_____ Make sure the Background Copy layer
is active, click the Move tool and then click and
drag on the image. You may also move the image
with the direction arrows.
_____ Hit the M key to activate the marquee,
draw a rectangular selection on the Background
Copy layer. Then hit your V key to activate your
Move tool and move the selected area using both
direction arrows (hold the Shift key down with the
direction arrows to move the selection 10 pixels
with each keystroke) and the mouse.
_____ Undo the last move you make using
Ctrl+Z.
_____ Save your image as Cap01.psd
Crop Tool
_____ Activate the Crop tool by hitting the C
key.
_____ Use the Crop tool much like the Marqee
- click and drag on the image to create a rectangular
selection.
_____ Note the handles on the Crop selection.
Click one of these to adjust the selection.
_____ When you’re finished adjusting the Crop
selection, hit the Enter key. This will delete the
darker areas.
_____ Hit Ctrl+Z to undo the crop.
_____ Repeat the entire process.
_____ After Finishing work with the Crop tool,
arrange your file with a background layer (the image
itself) and a copy with a filled layer in-between.
The Airbrush Tool
_____ Activate the top level of your file (the
background copy) and create a new transparent
layer above the copy layer. This will be the layer
you will use to paint with the airbrush. (You can also
build other transparent layers on which to paint with
the airbrush tool.)
_____ Activate the Airbrush itself by click on its
icon on the toolbar.
_____ On the Option Bar, there is a Brush
menu with a selection tool available. Click the small
arrow to the right of the brush indicator to open a
brush menu.
_____ Experiment with various brush options
and the Pressure Slide bar (also found in the
Options Palette).
_____ Delete the Airbrushed layers after
you’ve finished experimenting with this tool.
The Paintbrush and The Pencil
_____ Activate the Paintbrush tool by hitting the
B key. Then build several new transparent layers.
These should be used to paint on and draw on.
ExerciseNo. 9
3. The Toolbar
Move
Magic Wand
Image Splicer
Paintbrush, Pencil
History Brush
Gradient, Fill
Dodge, Burn, Sponge
Text
Rectangle, Polygon, Line, Shape
Eyedropper, Ruler
Zoom
Background
Marquee
Lasso, Polygonal Lasso, Magnetic Lasso
Crop
Airbrush
Clone Stamp
Eraser
Blur, Sharpen, Smudge
Path Component Selection
Pen, Freeform Pen
Note Pad, Audio Note
Hand
Foreground a a a a a a a a
a a a a a a a a
The Photoshop Toolbar
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
_____ Like the Airbrush, both the Paintbrush
and the Pencil have options built into the Options
Palette. Click on the arrow next to the Brush indicator
to open the brush options.
_____ Experiment with various settings, changing
size and brush type and paint on a transparent.
_____ Experiment with the other options
available in the palette: Opacity and Wet Edges.
(Leave the Mode in a normal state.)
_____ Exchange the brush with the pencil by
hitting Shift+B.
_____ Experiment with the pencil on a transparent
layer.
_____ Discard all painted layers by dragging
them to the trash can icon.
The Clone Tool
_____ Duplicate a layer that contains an image.
You’ll work on this layer.
To use the Clone Tool, you must first acquire
the image. You do this by activating the tool and
moving the mouse cursor onto the image. Then hit
the Alt key. This action tells Photoshop where you
are going to start your clone.
_____ After acquiring the image, click anywhere
else in the image window. Notice that you are now
duplicating the acquired region elsewhere on the
image.
The Clone Tool is often used for
photo-retouching. Small flaws in the electronic
image can be cleaned up by aquiring
an area that is similar in texture, value, and
color to the problem - this may be adjacent to
it or on an entirely different part of the image.
_____ Experiment with this tool for a while.
Change the brush size on the options bar as well as
the opacity settings. Also note there is a “Use All
Layers” command available. This allows you to
acquire an image that is found on multiple layers.
_____ When you have finished this experimentation,
delete the cloned layer.
As you run through the rest of the toolbar
you will need to manage the layer structure yourself.
Add, duplicate, delete, or modify as you see fit to
experiment with the rest of the tool in this section.
Remember to monitor your active layer and any
image layer that may ride above the active layer. If
you are using a tool but cannot see any result, you
may very well have a visible layer above the active
layer.
The Eraser Tool
The Eraser simply removes the portion of
the image on which it is used.
_____ Activate the tool by clicking on its icon or
hitting E on the keyboard.
_____ Experiment with the eraser on any image
layer.
_____ Exchange the Eraser tools by hitting Shift
+E. Experiment with all three options. You will find
the “Magic Eraser Tool” to be very helpful.
As you run through the rest of the toolbar
you will need to manage the layer structure yourself.
Add, duplicate, delete, or modify as you see fit to
experiment with the rest of the tool in this section.
Gradient and Fill
By now you understand that the Fill command
is available through a keyboard command.
Once you get used to doing this, you will probably
never use the Fill Bucket on the toolbar. There is
Move
Magic Wand
Image Splicer
Paintbrush, Pencil
History Brush
Gradient, Fill
Dodge, Burn, Sponge
Text
Rectangle, Polygon, Line, Shape
Eyedropper, Ruler
Zoom
Background
Marquee
Lasso, Polygonal Lasso, Magnetic Lasso
Crop
Airbrush
Clone Stamp
Eraser
Blur, Sharpen, Smudge
Path Component Selection
Pen, Freeform Pen
Note Pad, Audio Note
Hand
Foreground a a a a a a a a
a a a a a a a a
A Shape
Vector Layer
a a a a a a a a
The Photoshop Toolbar
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
also a Fill command on the Edit pull-down menu.
You should use the Fill command from the
Edit pull-down (it will be discussed more in depth a
little later in the course) while you are experimenting
with Gradient/Fill.
_____ Toggle back and forth from Gradient and
Fill using Shift+G.
_____ Activate the Fill Bucket and use it to click
in a selection, in a feathered selection, and on an
empty layer and on an image layer.
_____ Experiment with the various settings
available on the Options Bar.
_____ Toggle to the Gradient Tool.
_____ Experiment with the various options on
the Options Bar, in a selection, a feathered selection,
and on an empty layer and on a image layer.
The Shape Tool
_____ Click and hold your mouse on the
Rectangle Tool on the toolbar. Notice that there are a
number of tools available in this box.
These tools here all have one thing in
common: they each build a vector object in their own
layer. To see how this looks, activate the rectangle
tool and draw on your image. You will notice that a
separate layer is built.
_____ Experiment with all the Shape tools
available from the toolbar. Use the options found on
the Options bar.
_____ You can convert a vector shape layer to
a normal layer by moving the mouse cursor over the
shape layer and right clicking. This brings up a small
menu that contains “rastorize layer” as an option.
The Notepad
This is simply a tool that allows you to make
notes to yourself concerning anything about the
image you would care to note.
_____ Activate the Note tool by clicking on it in
the toolbar.
_____ Experiment with the tool. Click on any
layer to create a note.
_____ Right click on a note icon to bring up a
menu. This opens a small menu that will allow you to
open, or delete the note.
Zoom, Hand, and Eyedropper
These are all tools that you will use frequently.
All have keyboard shortcuts and you are
likely to use them without ever actually clicking on
the toolbar. The Z key opens the Zoom tool, the
spacebar activates the Hand tool, hitting the Alt key
while any painting tool is active will toggle the icon to
the Eyedropper.
_____ Experiment with the Zoom tool. Click to
enlarge, Alt+Click to reduce, Click and drag to
enlarge a window.
_____ With the Paintbrush tool active and the
mouse cursor on your image, hold the Alt key down.
This will bring up the eyedropper and allow you to
choose a color existing on any open image.
_____ The eyedropper can sample an area or
pick color from a single pixel. Experiment with these
settings.
Blur, Sharpen, and Smudge
_____ Click and hold the mouse cursor over
this icon to open the three tools.
_____ Smudge will pull color, much like a
smudge stick on a charcoal drawing. Experiment
Move
Magic Wand
Image Splicer
Paintbrush, Pencil
History Brush
Gradient, Fill
Dodge, Burn, Sponge
Text
Rectangle, Polygon, Line, Shape
Eyedropper, Ruler
Zoom
Background
Marquee
Lasso, Polygonal Lasso, Magnetic Lasso
Crop
Airbrush
Clone Stamp
Eraser
Blur, Sharpen, Smudge
Path Component Selection
Pen, Freeform Pen
Note Pad, Audio Note
Hand
Foreground a a a a a a a a
a a a a a a a a
The Photoshop Toolbar
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
with various brush sizes and pressure settings to
help you understand this tool.
_____ Experiment with both the Blur and the
Sharpen tools.
_________________
Several tools on the toolbar have not been
discussed in this section. Most of those that have
been skipped will be covered elsewhere (or have
already been covered). But a couple have purposely
been excluded in the instruction. These you
should research and learn for yourself. So begin
with the Dodge, Burn, and Sponge tools. You can
do this by clicking on the tool and using it on an
image just to see what it does.
You may also go to the help menu, and
search there to find out what each of these tools
accomplishes.
__________________
The History Palette
A very important capability is that of being
able to undo a mistake. Photoshop gives us Ctrl+Z
that will undo the last command we’ve attempted, but
its not any good for anything beyond that.
Enter the History Palette to save the day.
This miracle worker allows you to go backwards and
undo multiple commands.
_____ Click on the History Palette, and then do
anything to an open image. You will note that each
click of the mouse, each alteration, addition or
subtraction is recorded.
_____ Now, start at the bottom and work your
way back up the History ladder. Note that with each
click a command or process is undone.
There is a pull-down menu equivalent to the
History Palette. It is found in the Edit menu. Step
Backward and Step Forward will undo and then Redo
any command.
_____ Experiment with these pull-down menu
options.
Clicking here will bring up
the Color Pick Palette
Clicking here will switch
foreground and bacground
colors. The X key will also
switch these.
a a a a a a a a a a a a
a a a a a
Small Color Palette
Swatches Palette
Color Pick Palette
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
Eyedropper, Color Picker
_____ Open the graphic named Color01.bmp,
found in the Student/Images.
_____ Grab a color from the image using the
eyedropper. This tool is available from the toolbar,
but once again you should get used to accessing
this tool with a hot key. As you will recall this is done
with one of the painting tools active, and then hold
the Alt key down to toggle to the eyedropper.
The small color box and the large palette
both have foreground and background color indicators.
The large Color Picker is opened by clicking
on the color indicator boxes.
_____ Open the Color Picker and make sure
the small Color Box is also visible. Notice that with
the Color Picker open, the cursor toggles to the
eyedropper. Change the foreground color.
_____ Reopen the Color Picker and change the
color numerically by tying new values into the R, G
and B slots.
Make note that when a new color is chosen
using the Color Picker, the change is also shown in
the small Color Box.
_____ Experiment with the two color palettes.
_____ Reopen the Color Picker and change the
H, S, and B selections. Experiment with these
options.
Swatches
_____ Close the Color Picker and click on the
Color Swatches. The Swatches tab is found along
side Color on the small palette.
_____ Select a color from the Swatches palette.
_____ Reopen the Color Picker and click on
the Web Only option on the lower left of the palette.
_____ Note the change in the color field with
Web Colors Only active.
4. Color
ExerciseNo. 10
Edit Pull-Down Menu
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
Undo
_____ Open the image entitled Color2.bmp in
the Student/Images folder.
_____ Click on the Edit Pull-Down Menu, you
will note that Undo is found at the top of the palette.
This command is used to discard, or undo, the last
command activated in Photoshop.
_____ Use your brush tool to draw a line across
the image and then use Edit/Undo to remove the
line.
Once again this Undo command is one of
those that is rarely, if ever, used from the pull-down
menu. The Key Command, Ctrl + Z, you will use
often, so get used to activating this function from the
keyboard.
History, Step Forward, Step Backward
_____ Use your brush, airbrush, clone tool, or
whatever to make a series of marks on the image.
_____ Now, make sure the History Palette is
visible and click on Edit/Step Backward a few times
to undo several steps.
_____ After you have Stepped Backward at
least once, you will also have the option to Step
Forward - experiment with both these commands for
a while. Notice that as you activate these commands
the History Palette also moves backward or forward.
_____ Use the keyboard commands for both
Step Forward and Step Backward a few times.
These are found on the Edit Menu, next to the
mouse activated commands.
Some might be asking, “Why there are both
Undo and Step Backward commands available on the
Edit Menu, doesn’t one make the other obsolete?”
The answer is yes, the Step Backward command can
replace undo - they both do the exact same thing, and
Step Backward has the advantage that it can undo
multiple mistakes. However, Step Backward is new to
Photoshop (in fact the History Palette is also relatively
new), but Undo has been around since the beginning.
So experienced users are likely to use Ctlr + Z without
even thinking about it. New users might want to spend
their time getting used to the Step Commands.
When you reach Actions (no.10 in the
Photoshop Top Ten) you’ll find instructions there on
customizing commands. You will be able to then
make Step Forward and Step Backward both single
key stroke commands which will give you simple, fast
use of these powerful tools.
Cut
_____ After you have completed using the Step
commands, draw a rectangular marquee on your
image. Then use Cut on the Edit Pull-Down menu.
_____ Press F4, you’ll notice that the portion of
your image that was Cut will be pasted back on top of
the image.
The two things you should remember about
the Cut command are that the Cut image is pasted to
the clipboard and that the hole left in your original
image is filled with the current Background Color
selection. The keyboard command for Cut is Ctrl + X.
_____ Practice a few times using Ctlr + X.
Copy & Copy Merged
You have already used the Copy and Paste
commands several times, so we’ll use this space to
reinforce and expand your understanding of these just
a bit.
5. Edit Menu
Exercise No. 11
a a a a a a a a a a
a a a a a a a a
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
The Layers Palette on the left shows an
invisible layer is active, attempting the Copy
Merged command here will not be successful.
The palette below shows that this image too
has an invisible layer, however the Copy Merged
command is functional here because the active
layer in visible.
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
Below the Copy and Paste commands
respectively are found Copy Merged and Paste Into
options. These are best understood by experimenting.
So...
_____ On your current open image, build
several new layers and put marks on each with one
of the painting tools - the marks should be built side
by side with some overlap. Use several colors so
you can distinguish the layers one from another.
_____ Now draw a rectangular marquee covering
a good portion of the image.
_____ Hit Ctrl + C to copy the selection, do not
close or deselect the original image.
_____Then build a new image (from either the
File Pull-Down menu or using Ctrl + N).
_____ Paste the copied image into the New file
by hitting F4. You should have pasted that portion of
the original graphic that was selected from the active
layer.
_____ Now return to the original graphic (you
can minimize the Untitled Image to get it out of your
way if you would like), and hit Ctrl + Shift + C (copy
merged). This three key command will copy everything
in the selection, not just the portion on the
active layer.
_____ Now build a second New image and
paste the contents from the clipboard into the new
file using F4. This pasted image should contain
everything in your original selection, regardless of
what layer it is on.
A couple of things to keep in mind: the
Copy Merged command can only be used if the
layer that is active is visible. Make sure none of
these is the active layer before attempting this
command. This is illustrated on the page to the left.
To clarify: A selection on an image with
multiple layers may be used to copy everything
visible (with the Ctrl + Shift + C keys), or the contents
of a single active layer (using Ctrl + C or the F3
keys). In either case the selection must be on a
visible layer.
Paste & Paste Into
Important notes about the Paste command
and the clipboard: A pasted item will always be
centered in your image unless you have designated
a position with a selection. Also, if you have copied
something up to the clipboard and then build a new
image, the default size for the new image will
correspond to the graphic being stored on the
clipboard.
_____ Open an image, make a rectangular
selection and then copy the selection up to the
clipboard. Minimize the Image.
_____ Now create a new Image - the palette
that comes up will have a width and height that
corresponds to the graphic on the clipboard.
_____ Accept the default size for the new
image and hit the F4 key. The selection on the
clipboard should fill the new image. Close this
image without saving.
The Paste Into command found on the Edit
Pull-Down menu creates a mask on the new pasted
layer.
_____ Create a New Image and manually
increase its size from the default of both its height
and width.
____ Now draw a rectangular marquee somewhere
in the new image.
_____ Click on Edit/Paste Into.
_____ Note that the Layers Palette will show a
Mask along with a small icon of the pasted image in
the new layer.
a a a a a a The Paste Into command will
build a layer with a mask in
place. By clicking on the
layer mask icon you can
activate the mask and move
it (the V key activates the
Move tool). You can tell the
mask is active (not the
image) by checking the
small box next to the
visibility icon. If it holds a
brush, then the image is
active - if it has a masked
circle then the mask is
active. Clicking back and
forth on the Image and the
Mask will change the small
icon and you will quickly
understand the difference.
aaaaaaa aaaaa
Layer Mask Icon
a a a a a a a a a a a a Image Icon
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
_____ Activate the Move tool by hitting the V
key.
_____ As you move the pasted image around
the window (with either the direction arrows or the
mouse), you will notice that it is only visible inside
what was once the selected area.
_____ Click on the mask icon to make the mask
active (this will deactivate the image), then move the
mask around using either the direction arrows or the
mouse (you move tool will have to be active to make
either the image or the mask move).
_____ Experiment with the Paste Into command
using various sizes and shapes of selections. Move
both the image and the mask.
Clear
Clear is another way to say delete. Any
active selection can be cleared (or deleted) by
hitting the delete key. On the background the
deleted area will be filled with the selected background
color. On a transparent layer the deleted
space will be left empty.
_____ Experiment with this Clear command on
various layers.
Fill
_____ Experiment with the Fill command on the
Pull-Down menu and on the toolbar.
_____ Use Pattern options on both the Options
Menu (with the toolbar version) and under contents in
the Fill palette (brought up by clicking Edit/Fill).
_____ Also, experiment with the key command:
Ctrl + Backspace - this fills a selection with the active
background color.
Stroke
_____ Create a rectangular marquee on any
layer and then select Edit/Stroke.
_____ Experiment with Inside, Middle and
Outside settings and multiple pixel widths as well as
opacity settings.
Purge
This command on the Edit Pull-Down menu
will delete all information stored in the image history,
the clipboard etc. You should not use this unless
you have a reason for wanting all this stored data
cleared. Once deleted it cannot be restored. You
won’t be able to come back five minutes later and
undo a purge command so use this cautiously.
Transform and Free Transform
Under Transform you’ll find the scale, rotate
and other image orientation commands.
_____ Open an image and create a selection.
Then go to Edit/Transform/Scale. This will bring up
an outline and some handles.
_____ Click on any of these handles to scale
the image. Hit the Enter key to accept the changes.
_____ If you want to maintain an aspect ratio
while scaling, click on a handle in a corner and hold
the Shift key down while altering the image.
_____ Experiment with Rotate, Skew, Distort,
and Perspective options. Also with the preset
rotation commands and the Flip Commands.
_____ Experiment with Free Transform, this
allows both scale and rotate commands to be active
simultaneously.
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
Mode
_____ Open the image entitled Image1.bmp in
the Student/Images folder. You will notice that this is
a composite image - half in bright colors, the other
half a photograph in neutral tones.
_____ Select all, by hitting Ctrl + A, then F3 to
copy the image. Hit Ctrl + N to create a new graphic,
and then hit F4 to paste the copied image.
_____ Minimize the original - we’ll use the new
image to experiment with Mode.
The four settings you should be concerned
with at this point are Grayscale, Indexed Color and
RGB and CMYK. The other color settings are used
in some applications, but let’s try to keep it simple
for now.
RGB gives us a full range of color - in
excess of 16 million color settings. This is 24 bit
color (don’t worry about the jargon, bits and bytes
are not what is important here - just remember that
RGB gives you a full range). Indexed color gives
you 256 color settings. An RGB image that is
reduced to Indexed color will be reduced mathematically
(take up less space on the hard drive). Also an
Indexed image will typically be dithered. Dithering is
just a calculation that reduces the number of colors in
a given area. Most of the time an Indexed image will
look pretty good (sometimes you can’t tell the
difference). The exception comes when there is a
smooth grade from one color to another or from dark
to light. To understand this better do the following:
_____ Create a new RGB image, make it 600 x
600 pixels in size. Then apply a grade from a dark
blue to light red or orange.
_____ Now click on Image/Mode/Indexed
Color, and accept the default options. Photoshop
will mathematically redefine you image.
With just a single grade on the image, its
likely to look pretty good. If you zoom in, you will
find that there is some banding going on in places
(these are distinct bands of color - they tend to look
like a series of lines next together). Generally the
results are not bad if you have just a single grade on
an object. But if you are trying to Index a photograph
that has a lot of color - let’s say it is a grove of trees
in the autumn with many browns, reds, oranges and
yellows, against a graded blue sky - now you might
be in for trouble. With so many colors demanded in
the image your blue grade in the sky is bound to
come out with several wide bands.
_____ On the Duplicated Image you created
just a few moments ago, create a new layer, draw a
narrow rectangular marquee covering most of the
image’s width and fill the marquee with a grade.
_____ Now flatten the image and reduce it to
Indexed Color by clicking on Image/Mode/Indexed
Color. Examining this image will show that the
banding in the grade is heavier than in the first
image.
_____ When your inspection of this image is
complete undo the mode change and bring the
graphic back to full RGB.
Generally reduction to Indexed Color mode
is done when you are preparing an image for
distribution on the Internet - remember, Indexed
images are mathematically smaller so they are more
quickly opened in on the web. Layers functions are
unavailable to Indexed images.
Grayscale reduces an image to Black &
White, discarding all color information and reading
only the values in a given image. Since this is a full
range of Black and White, an image with a grade can
be Grayscaled without fear of banding in the grades.
6. ImageMenu
ExerciseNo. 12
Adjust/Variations Menu
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
_____ Change your image mode to grayscale
by clicking on Image/Mode/Grayscale. When the
palette comes up asking if you would like to discard
all color information, click yes.
_____ Zoom in to examine this image - you will
notice the grades are intact, albeit now in black and
white. When finished, undo the mode change to
bring the image back to RGB.
One more color mode you need to understand
is the CMYK setting. CMYK stands for Cyan,
Magenta, Yellow, and blacK - the process colors
used in offset printing.
_____ Research CMYK by going to the
Photoshop Help Menu.
_____ Go to Help/Contents/Search and type in
CMYK. This will bring up a number of items that
contain information on this color option.
_____ Explore what the Help menu has to say
about CMYK. When finished, make sure to revert
the color setting on the image back to RGB.
Adjust
Everything found in the Adjust command
palette alters color and/or value. Value is an artistic
term used to describe the darkness or lightness
found in an image.
_____ Begin with Image/Adjust/Variations, found
at the bottom of the Adjust palette. This is a quick
way to make quick changes in either color or value.
_____ Experiment with color and value settings
within the Variations palette. You will have to hit the
Original button on the upper left hand corner of the
palette in-between Variations.
You can use Variations on the entire image
or on a selection within the image.
_____ Experiment with Variations in all settings:
Shadows, Midtones, Highlights, Saturation.
The Posterize command flattens and simplifies
the color and value found in an image.
_____ Open an image and access Image/
Adjust/Posterize. Experiment with various numeric
settings.
The Invert command changes color to its
compliment. This gives it the appearance of a
photographic negative.
_____ Experiment with Image/Adjust/Invert.
The Desaturate command removes the color
from an image, leaving the grays without discarding
color availability. This is not the same as changing
the color mode to grayscale.
_____ Experiment with Image/Adjust/
Desaturate.
The Hue & Saturate palette is a great tool
that you will find that you use often; it is very flexible
and quite powerful.
_____ Open an image and click on Image/
Adjust/Hue & Saturation.
_____ Experiment with each of the three sliders
on the palette. The Saturation slider moved all the
way to the left will desaturate the image (it is identical
to the Desaturate command). Hue shifts the color -
Lightness manipulates the value.
_____ Click the Colorize box and shift the Hue.
Some experimentation here will demonstrate the use
of this option. This gives you a monochromatic color
shift.
Brightness and Contrast shifts the value (light
and dark of the image) and the color range.
_____ Open an image and Click on Image/
Adjust/Brightness & Contrast.
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
_____ Experiment with the two sliders.
Levels and Auto Levels
Auto Levels is a quick way to make color
adjustments to an image. Keep in mind that as an
auto adjust tool, the program can only guess (based
on a computer command what adjustments should
be made). Sometimes the change is significant,
sometimes it is hardly noticed. Sometimes it is
exactly what is needed, sometimes the changes are
inadequate or inappropriate.
The Levels command is also a color/value/
contrast adjustment tool. This tool is a little more
complex
_____ Open an image and click Image/Adjust/
Auto Levels.
_____ Now click the Image/Adjust/Levels
command. This brings up a palette with a slider that
has three arrow points.
_____ Experiment with the two outside sliders.
Then move the central slider.
Image Size, Canvas Size, Rotate Canvas, Crop
These commands are all relatively simple to
understand and use.
_____ Experiment with Image Size - change the
numeric values in the width and height boxes.
_____ Clicking off the Constrain Proportions
box will allow you to change the aspect ratio of the
image. Experiment with this option.
_____ Change the Canvas Size by clicking
Image/Canvas Size and altering the numerics in the
option boxes. You can shift the position of the
original with the new canvas by clicking one of the
Anchor boxes below the numeric settings.
_____ Rotate the canvas by click on the Image/
Rotate Canvas command. This command also
allows you to flip the canvas horizontally or vertically.
Fun
Finally, its time to experiment with the Image/
Liquify command. This is a Special Effects filter.
_____ Open an image - if you have a photo of a
person, use it to experiment with this tool.
_____ Click Image/Liquify and experiment with
all the various settings and tools.
You will want to spend some time exploring
with this tool to better understand everything it can
do. Like many Photoshop tools, it is best understood
by experimenting with it.
At the very top of this
menu is the filter last
used. Having it here
makes for a convenient
way to repeat a process.
This will obviously
change with each filter
used.
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Output levels must be set to 16 and 250 before
running a Video/NTSC Filter. This is only for images
going to video tape or television.
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
The Filter pull-down menu is full of opportunities
to create visual special effects. The majority
of these are more easily understood by applying
them to an image and watching the results, than by
trying to read about their attributes in a manual.
With this in mind, explore the Filter Menu
top to bottom. This need not be done in a hurry,
nor does it have to be all inclusive. Feel free to
jump around, use multiple settings with a single
filter, or multiple filters on the same image or in the
same selection.
_____ Open an image and start exploring with
the Artistic options found at the top.
If you come across a filter or a palette you
do not understand, write it down so you can spend
time later researching that function (use the left page
of this manual) and go on to the next option.
_____ Blur
_____ Brush Strokes
_____ Distort
_____ Noise
_____ Pixelate
_____ Render
_____ Sharpen
_____ Sketch
_____ Stylize
_____ Texture
_____ Video (There’s an industry joke found
here - the NTSC filter prepares an image for television.
NTSC stands for National Television Standards
Committee - a board responsible for making decisions
and setting broadcast standards for the telecommunications
industry. Resolution on a standard
television is so bad compared to what can be
achieved on computer monitor - or HDTV- that video
and filmmakers who spend a great deal of energy
getting the light and color in a scene just right, only
to see it muted terribly when televised have taken to
calling NTSC the Never The Same Color twice filter.)
Actually to use this Filter effectively there is
one operation you need understand. Before applying
the NTSC command, go to Image/Adjust/Levels.
When the palette comes up, move the
sliders on the Output Levels from 0 to 16 and from
255 to 250. Once this is done you can run the NTSC
filter.
_____ Other
The Digimark filter option places a digital
watermark into your image used primarily for copyright
purposes. You may choose to research how
this is done by going to the Photoshop Help menu.
7. Filters
ExerciseNo. 13
Color
Format
Type Face
Style
Pt. Size
Text
Wrap
a a a a a
a a a a a a a
a a a a
a a a a a a a
a a a a
a a a a a a a a a a a
Shifts from Text
Layer to Mask, or
Selection
Horizontal
or
Vertical Text
a a a a a a a a a a a a
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
The Type tool in Photoshop has come a long
way in the last few years. It used to be so cumbersome
to use, and now it is so easily handled. In
future Photoshop versions we are likely to spell
check as one of the command options as well.
_____ Create a new image in Photoshop, and
then hit the T key - this will activate the Type tool.
With the Type tool active all the controls will
be found on the Options Window across the top.
_____ Click somewhere on your new image
and type in a few words.
_____ Use your mouse to activate the Move
tool and move the text around using either the
mouse or the direction arrows. (this is the one
instance when a keyboard command is not the most
efficient way to activate a tool. If you hit the V key
with the Type tool active, you will simply type a V
onto your image - so this time access Move from the
toolbar.)
_____ Make sure your text layer is still active
then click on the Type tool on the toolbar or hit the T
key to reactivate it.
_____ Click on your text and edit it.
_____ Highlight the text and change its color,
size, and font.
_____ Go to your Layers palette, click the Text
Layer and drag it down to the Create a New Layer
icon. This will duplicate the Type layer with all it
vector capabilities. (Vector properties allow the text
to be edited, but you cannot paint on a text layer. To
paint on it the type layer must be rastorized. This
procedure will be covered later in the assignments
section of this course, but feel free to try and figure it
out yourself.)
_____ After duplicating Type layer, hit you T key
to activate the Type tool and then highlight the text.
Click on the Text Warp command on the Options
Window and experiment with this feature.
8. Type
ExerciseNo. 14

Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
In many respects the Path tools in
Photoshop are just a part of the Selection Set. You
use the path tools primarily to create selected areas.
A working path can be added to or subtracted from
just like a selection. Probably the best part about
working with paths is that you have a chance to make
all the adjust you wish - nice smooth curves, steep
angled cuts etc. before turning it into a selection.
Building a Working Path
_____ Open the Paths.bmp file, zoom in to at
least 300 % (you may have to move or hide palettes
and maximize your image window) and then activate
the Pen tool by hitting the P key.
_____ Use the Pen tool to create a working
path on your image - there will be an anchor point
created every time you click your mouse.
_____ Close the path by returning to your first
anchor point and clicking on it. The handles may
seem to disappear, but don’t worry they are still
there.
_____ Move to the Direct Selection Tool in the
toolbar. This is the White Arrow directly above the
Pen Tool. Activate it and then click on any of the
anchor points. You should be able to move any
individual point.
_____ Move back to the toolbar and select the
Black Arrow - this is called the Path Component
Selection Tool. Use it to click on your path - it
should move the entire path.
_____ Now come back to the Pen Tool, and
activate the Convert Point Tool. Click and drag on
any anchor point to pull a curve.
_____ Once the initial curve is established, you
can now click on one of the control handles to
manipulate just one side of the curve at a time. You
can initiate a curve with only one handle if you hold
down the Alt key when you click on the anchor point.
_____ Experiment for a while with all the path
building and manipulating tools. You can have
multiple paths on one layer if you would like.
For the next step you will want to start with a
fresh path on a new image.
_____ Create a single closed path, manipulate
it in any manner you wish.
_____ Now go to the Paths Palette. (Its default
location is along side Layers in the same window.)
_____ Click on the Work Path Icon and drag it
down to the Loads Path as a Selection icon (where
do they come up with these long names?). This is
the dotted line circle on the bottom of the Paths
palette. Your Path should become a Selection.
You’ll know because it will have the same marching
ants appearance that you get from the lasso or
marquee.
_____ Experiment with the various commands
in the Paths palette. You can create a new path layer
(and then build a path on that layer). Turn a path into
a selection, turn a selection into a path, or throw a
working path away. Work through all these options.
_____ When you are finished experimenting,
open the Train.bmp image and build a working path
around one the train wheel. The key to doing this
well is working very large - at least 300 to 400 % -
(this is where you will use the spacebar to toggle to
the hand tool as you work) and be very precise on
all the curves.
_____ When you have a path outlining the entire
wheel, covert it to a selection (you might want to hit
F3, F4 real fast to put the newly selected wheel on its
9. Paths
ExerciseNo. 15
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
own layer. Then change the color of the wheel.
How does it look? If you have created the
illusion that your new color was the original color, you
have done a good job. If the new wheel looks
pasted on, your working path need a little more
work.
Stroking a Sub-Path
The time will come when you want to draw a
nice smooth curve with a brush or a pencil on your
image. This is very difficult to do with a mouse or a
stylus, but can be accomplished with a path (or subpath).
Don’t let the name throw you, a Sub-Path is
nothing more than a working path that is not closed.
_____ Create a Sub-Path and use the Convert
Tool to build a curve.
_____ Now, with any of the Pen Tool options
active, use your mouse and Right Click on the path.
A palette will come up with several options,
one of these is Stroke Path. Click on this option will
bring up a second palette that gives you a choice of
painting tools.
_____ Choose the paintbrush, the brush will
follow the curve of the path and lay down a very
clean line. The color is the selected foreground
color, and the brush size is the current brush setting
in the Options Window.
_____ Alter the brush size and color and repeat
the entire stroke exercise.
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
_____ Load a bright green as your foreground
color - you must make this precise and load an RGB
value of 0, 255, 0.
_____ Now create several rectangular marquee
selections on Layer 1 and fill them with the active
foreground green color. Leave the bright green
color selected as current color and leave Layer 1 in
the Layers Palette active.
This file now has all you need to build a
simple Action.
_____ Click on the Actions Tab (its default
position is next to History). Then click on the arrow
in the upper right hand corner and Clear All Actions.
_____ Now click the Arrow again and select
New Action. A palette will come up, name your new
action: Test1. Then hit the Record command. The
palette will go away and you will notice that the red
record light is on at the bottom of the Action Palette.
From this point on the commands you use in
Photoshop will be recorded. (Note: this is not
universal, for instance you can move from the Layers
Palette to Paths and nothing will appear in the
Actions sequence. There was a time when many
functions were not recordable, but with each new
release this tool becomes more powerful.)
_____ The first thing we’re going to record is a
selection. Go to Select by Color Range in the Select
Pull Down Menu, hit OK when the Palette come up.
Since Layer 1 is active and the green color used to
fill the rectangles on this layer is the active foreground
color, these rectangular shapes will be
selected. This command has been recorded in the
Actions sequence.
_____ Now switch layers, making the Background
Copy Layer active.
_____ Now go to Edit/Copy (or Ctrl + C, or F3).
This has copied the Background Color using the
shapes from Layer 1.
Hey! We’re ready to begin Actions!
Number ten in the Photoshop Top Ten is
Actions. Actions should be considered the programmable
part of Photoshop. Actions will not add
anything to the selection set or add to your understanding
of Type or Color options. But understanding
how Actions work will greatly enhance your ability
to do production work quickly and efficiently. A solid
understanding of actions will allow you to do many
hours worth or work in just a few minutes - especially
if that work is repetitive in nature.
Let’s say you have been given 187 photos
to resize and crop to a uniform specification. Doing
them individually could take several hours, maybe
even days. But build an action and run a batch
process. All you have to do is set it up and start it -
the computer processor will do the rest.
It might take you 15 to 20 minutes to get
everything ready to go. Then just hit play and go to
lunch early. When you come back, there they are,
all 187 photos resized and cropped - that’s a lot of
work! You might just have to spend the rest of the
day experimenting with some Photoshop Tool
you’ve never used before as a reward.
Building a New Action
This whole process will be explained step
by step, and then at the end of this section you will
find instructions for building your first set of practical
tools using actions.
_____ Open the image named Actions1.psd,
this is just a flat colored background that has been
duplicated.
_____ Build a new layer - by default it will be
named Layer 1.
ExerciseNo. 16
10. Actions
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
_____ Now switch layers again, making Layer 1
active.
_____ Then hit F4 to paste. This will build a
new layer, Layer 2, and paste the copied rectangles
into the selected areas.
_____ We’ll do a layer auto select command
next. Put your cursor over Layer 2, hold down the
Ctrl key and click with your mouse. The rectangular
shape you just pasted is selected again.
_____ Now switch layers again, making Layer 1
active.
_____ Then build a New Layer using the Create
a New Layer icon on the bottom of the Layers
Palette. You should now have Layer 3 sandwiched
in-between Layer 1 and 2 - you should also have a
set of selections active on this layer. Layer 3 will
hold a shadow, and we want to build it the old
fashioned way.
_____ Change your Foreground Color to Black.
Then go to Edit/Fill/Use Foreground Color.
Layer 3 will now have black filled in the selected
areas (remember these will not be visible on your
image, but can be seen in the thumbnails on the
Layers Palette.)
_____ Deselect (Ctrl + D).
_____ Now go to Filters/Blur/Gaussian Blur and
set the radius to 3 pixels.
_____ Next change the Opacity of this same
shadow layer to 65%.
_____ Switch layers again, this time activating
Layer 2.
_____ Right Click on this Layer, go to Blending
Option and check the Contour box (you can Texture
as well as you would like to do so.) and hit OK.
_____ Finally turn the visibility off on Layer 1.
_____ Then Stop Recording by clicking the
stop icon (the black square) on the bottom of the
Action Palette.
You have just completed the recording of
your first Photoshop Action.
_____ To put it to use with a couple of practise
sessions, minimize the current image and open
Actions2.psd.
You’ll notice that this is a mirror of the Image
file you just used.
_____ Make sure that Layer 1 is active.
_____ Pull your Action Palette forward so that
you can see the whole thing. Click on the Test1 slot
(it will highlight).
_____ Now at the bottom of the Action Palette,
hit the Play button. Sit back and watch it go.
_____ Try this again on Actions3.psd and
Actions4.psd. These all work because the templates
are stylistically the same (the shapes are different,
but the colors and layers are identical).
_____ Experiment on your own for a while. Try
building a few actions and using them in multiple
images. In-between experiments you can throw
away any single command or even a complete
action by dragging it down to the trash can found at
the bottom of the Actions Palette.
aaaaaa
a a a a a a a a
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
Applying Actions to Function Keys
Earlier in this manual you were introduced to
the History Palette, the Step Backward, Step Forward,
and the Undo commands. These, as outlined
before, work together or have similar results.
The Undo command (Ctrl + Z) deletes the
very last command activated - but only the last one.
Step Backward also deletes the last command
activated, but as it is connected to the History
Palette, this function can delete as many commands
as are stored in the history memory.
To take complete advantage of the new
Step Backward, Step Forward Commands (new to
Photoshop 6), we’re going to build a Function Set
within the Actions Palette and include the Step
Commands. The best part about this is that you can
assign a Function key to each - this gives you a
convenient one keystroke command and teaches
you how to begin customizing of Photoshop for your
particular needs.
Building a New Set in the Actions Palette
The first thing you need to do is clear the
Actions Palette so you can start with a clean slate.
_____ Click on the Arrow found in the upper
right hand corner of the Actions Palette. Once
cleared, click on the same Arrow and Click on the
New Set Command. This will bring up a New Set
Window, type Function Set in the Name box.
This should build a new Function Set in the
Actions Palette.
_____ Now we have to build a simple new
image so we can build a Step Backward action
command. (It may seem obvious, but you can’t build
an undo command unless there is something to
undo.)
_____ Build a new image, activate your paintbrush
and add three or four paint strokes.
_____ Now go on the upper right hand Arrow
again and click on New Action. Type Step Backward
into the Name Box. Make sure that Function Set is in
the Set Box and then click on the down arrow next to
the Function Key Box, to assign the F11 key to this
action.
_____ Hit Record, then go to Edit/Step Backward.
Then click the Stop button at the bottom of the
Actions Palette.
The Step Backward Command is now
complete.
_____ Now repeat the process, building a Step
Forward Command and assigning it the F12 key
inside the Function Set.
_____ After completing the Step Forward Action
Command, close the actions themselves and then
the Function Set by clicking on the small arrows
found next to the name on each Action Layer.
Now F11 and F12 will Step Backward and
Step Forward, this effectively replaces a majority of
the work you would once have done with the History
Palette and it also is a fine replacement for the Ctrl +
Z (Undo) command.
This is just a beginning of the customizing
and production streamlining that you can produce
using Actions.
Exercise No. 17
Streamline work with
actions
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
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Review the Blending Options
The first assignment will give you an opportunity
to review the Blending Options available in the
Layers Palette. Remember, you access these by
right clicking on a layer with your mouse.
Part 1) Using Shad01.psd to start, build both a
drop shadow and a cast shadow. Make sure that the
cast shadow is sharper at the base of the object of
origin and more difuse as it moves away.
Part 2) Build a second cast shadow, but this
time construct it as though it was cast on a set of
stairs. Allow the shadow to define the stair steps
without actually constructing lines or shapes.
Part 3) Build another cast shadow that stretches
across any other geometric object. Once again,
allow the shadow to define the shape.
Assignments
1. UnderstandingShadows Notes
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
Using Filters & Shifting Color
This assignment will give you an opportunity to use
the blur filter and the color adjust palette for visual
effect.
Part 1) Using Shad01.psd to start, build both
a drop shadow and a cast shadow. Make sure that
the cast shadow is sharper at the base of the object
of origin and more difuse as it moves away.
Part 2) Build a second cast shadow, but this
time construct it as though it was cast on a set of
stairs. Allow the shadow to define the stair steps
without actually constructing lines or shapes.
Part 3) Build another cast shadow that
stretches across any other geometric object. Once
again, allow the shadow to define the shape.
Assignments
2. Creating a soft focus feel Notes
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
Assignments
3. Cutting text from an image
Using Text Warp and Layer Functions
In this assignment you will apply text as an image to
a second photograhic image. Text, as it is
contructed will automatically build its own layer. You
will use a quick copy from an active background
layer and paste onto the second image.
Part 1) Beginning with a digital photograph,
place headline text on the image. Then cut the text
shape from the background and paste it into a
second photographic image.
Part 2) Use blending options to add a
bevel, a shadow, and/or texture to the text.
Notes
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
Assignments
4. Makingcolorpop
Create Emphasis with Text and Color
In this assignment you will apply text as an image
to a second photograhic image. Text, as it is
contructed will automatically build its own layer.
You will use a quick copy from an active background
layer and paste onto the second image.
Part 1) Beginning with a digital photograph,
place headline text on the image. Then cut
the text shape from the background and paste it
into a second photographic image.
Part 2) Use blending options to add a
bevel, a shadow, and/or texture to the text.
Notes
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
Assignments
5. Button
Bevels, Shadows, Blurs and Transparency
There is a lot more to this process than
meets the eye. The buttons should have both a
bevel and a shadow, texture is optional. Both the
physical location of tthe button itself and depth of the
shadow should change from the up to the down
state. The text or graphic in the button’s center
should also shift (it could change color, glow or even
change shape). Have students save a working file in
.psd format and then merge the separate button
states into their own layers. This will allow you to
check the button activity by turning the layer visibility
on and off.
This is the assignment as it appears in the
student manual:
Part 1) Begin with a new image in the color
of your choosing. Create a button shape (this may
be round, rectanglar or elliptical). Build an UP state
and a DOWN state for this button.
Part 2) Create a graphic or text for the
center of your button - build both an Up state and
Down state.
Part 3) Create a Grayed-Out state for the
button. Save all work as .psd files.
Notes
Photoshop’s Basic Top Ten
Fading an Image into a Solid Background
This assignment uses a Layer Mask to
create a special effect, which fades an image to the
background.
Use the Layer, Mask and Hide features found in the
pull-down menu to accomplish this task. The Gradient
Tool is used to create the image fade.
Part 1) Begin with a photograhpic image.
Copy and paste this image onto a backround with a
solid color. Then use a Layer Mask to Fade it into
the background.
Save your work as a .psd file.
Assignments
6. LayerMask Notes