Photoshop

Selected Tools in Photoshop

Selected Menus in Photoshop

Edit > Transform
Scale
Rotate
Skew
Distort
Perspective
Warp

Image > Adjustments
Levels
Curves
Brightness
Contrast
Saturation
Invert
Equalize
Threshold
Posterize

Select
All
Deselect
Reselect
Inverse
Color Range

Window > Palettes
History
Layers
Navigator

Selected Palettes in Photoshop

Getting Started in Photoshop

RESOLUTION
Digital images are made up of dots called pixels. The resolution of an image tells us how close together the dots are (how many (d)ots (p)er (i)nch = dpi). This determines the image quality.

High Resolution = many dots packed close together (clear, sharp, good quality)
Low Resolution = few dots that are spaced far apart (grainy, blurry, poor quality)

►YOU MUST CHANGE THE RESOLUTION FROM 72dpi (low) to 150dpi (high) WHEN YOU CREATE YOUR FILE.

COLOR MODES
RGB - This mode is used for viewing images on a computer screen. All colors are made up of some combination of (R)ed, (G)reen, and (B)lue.
CMYK - This mode is used for images to be printed. All colors are made up of some combination of (C)yan, (M)agenta, (Y)ellow, and (K)-Black.
INDEX – This color mode is used for saving web images so they can be loaded quickly. If you see “indexed” next to an image in the layers palette, go to
Image > Mode > CMYK to edit the image.

►CHANGE YOUR COLOR MODE TO CMYK BEFORE YOU BEGIN EDITING.

FILE FORMATS
TIF (.tif) – This format is a large file that is saved without compression. This means no data is lost that could degrade the image.
JPEG (.jpg) – This is a smaller file format that offers compression with only minimal loss of data. It can be opened by most image viewing programs.
PSD (.psd) – This format permits the file to be saved in its most easily edited form.
RAW file - If an image is saved in this mode, it cannot be edited until it is converted to pixels. You will see small overlapping white and black boxes in the bottom corner of the image in your layers palette. You must go to

Layer > Rasterize > Smart Object to be able to edit the image.

►SAVE THE FILE WITH THE EXTENSION SET AS .psd TO MAKE CHANGES LATER.

LAYERS
New files are created with a “Background Layer.”   The color is set to white and the layer is locked. To unlock it, simply double click on the layer in the Layers Palette.    All new layers are transparent until you add your artwork. The background will show through any layers with remaining transparent areas.

Layers Palette – Allows you to Hide and View, Reposition, Delete, Lock, Link, Rename. You can also adjust the Opacity and Blending Options.
    ►YOU CAN ONLY WORK ON THE ARTWORK IN THE LAYER THAT IS SELECTED!!
Layers Menu – “Duplicating” a layer allows you to save an unedited version of your image in your layers palette. Simply hide it and lock it in case you need to retrieve it. “Merging” brings selected layers onto a single layer. “Flattening” layers brings all layers onto one. This would be like pasting everything down in a collage. It is very difficult to go back and edit once this is done.
    ►DO NOT FLATTEN LAYERS UNLESS YOU ARE COMPLETELY DONE EDITING.

IMAGE ADJUSTMENTS
Levels –Manually adjust the tonal ranges (dark, medium, light values)
Color Balance – Adjust colors by adding/subtracting Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Red, Green, Blue.
Hue/Saturation – Adjust colors (Hue), intensity (Saturation), and Brightness. Check the “Colorize” box and choose a Hue to create a monochromatic color scheme.
Replace Color – Choose a color using the eyedropper tool (hold shift and click until the entire area is selected). Then, adjust the Hue/Saturation/Lightness. Adjust the “Fuzziness” to select a larger area.

MAKING SELECTIONS
Marquee tool – With this tool you can make geometric selections (Rectangle, Ellipse, Row, and Column). Increase the “Feather” option in the tool bar at the top of the screen to make a softer edge. YOU MUST DO THIS BEFORE MAKING THE SELECTION!
Lasso tool – The regular “Lasso” makes freehand selections. Use the “Polygonal Lasso” to select in straight line segments. The “Magnetic Lasso” follows the edge of an object. It works best in high contrast images where there is a definite separation in values between the object and the background. You may also adjust the “Feather” option at the top of the screen.
Magic Wand tool – Selects parts of an image based on the similarity in color of adjacent pixels. Increase the “Tolerance” option in the tool bar at the top of the screen to make a larger selection of similar colors.
Select Menu – Select the entire layer using “All.” Select the opposite of an already selected area using “Inverse.” Select specific colors using “Color Range” and adjust “Fuzziness” as needed.
Quick Mask Mode – Choose this mode from your toolbox and use the “Paintbrush” and “Eraser” tools to make your selection. Switch to “Standard Mode” to confirm selection.
Type Mask Tool – Choose this tool (underneath the Standard Type Tool), click on the layer, change the typeface and point size options from the tool bar across the top of the screen. Type your word. Then go to Select > Inverse and use the Backspace key to delete the remaining areas.

USE ADOBE BRIDGE TO TRANSFER PHOTOSHOP FILES TO ILLUSTRATOR WITHOUT A BACKGROUND
Once you are finished making changes to the image in Photoshop, remove any necessary background layers so the object has a transparent background. You should see a checkerboard pattern surrounding the image. Open the Adobe Bridge Program, find the saved file, right click and go to “Open with Illustrator.” Copy and past the image onto your Illustrator file.