Adobe Photoshop

Software
Description
Adobe Photoshop is a raster graphics editor developed and published by Adobe Inc. for
macOS and Windows. It was originally created in 1988 by Thomas and John Knoll.
Since then, this software has become the industry standard not only in raster graphics
editing, but in digital art as a whole. Wikipedia
Adobe Photoshop is the predominant photo editing and manipulation software on the
market. Its uses range from the full-featured editing of large batches of photos to
creating intricate digital paintings and drawings that mimic those done by hand.

Opening and Creating Work

Files
Once you have a handle on navigating the interface, it
is time to learn how to create new projects and open
existing ones. The following video gives a great
demonstration of how to do both of these tasks.

To create a new document:

 Locate the systems bar
 Select “File” > “New..”
 Name your document
 Select a Preset or input custom dimensions and
color types
Tip: If the units are not what you want then input your
desired dimensions followed by the appropriate unit
abbreviation (e.g. 15 cm), and the dialog window will
make the conversion for you.

To open a document:
 Locate the systems bar
 Select “File” > “Open” (Command + O on Mac,
Ctrl + O on Windows)
 Find the file you are trying to open
 Select “Open”
Tip: If you want to open files more rapidly on a Mac,
you can always drag the file you are attempting to
open on top of the corresponding icon on the dock.

Layer Fundamentals
Overview
Layers, within Photoshop, are a power means of
organizing and manipulating specific parts of an
image. Here is a brief overview of layers, their uses
and how to isolate them.
Visibility, Ordering and
Combining Layers
Layers allow for specific parts of an image to be
altered without affecting other layers. This video
shows how to change the visibility of a single layer,
change the order in which they appear, and combine
multiple layers with transparency into a single layer.

One concept overlooked by this video is the ability

to group layers.

Rather than flattening multiple layers (a destructive

method), a better practice is to create groups of
layers. To group layers, select the layers you wish to
group, locate the drop down menu next to the “Layer”
panel title and select “New group from layers.” This
will allow the layers to be edited individually but
moved together in the stack.

Tip: When a layer is made invisible, the exported

version of the file will not show that layer. This is an
easy way to rapidly create multiple versions of a
project without saving them as different files. Just
remember to include groups of layers.
Opacity and Blending Modes
Opacity and Blend modes are fundamental layer
qualities that determine how layers interact with those
below them. Opacity, like transparency describes how
visible an object is. Think of opacity as seeing a glass
half full as opposed to transparency which sees it as
half empty. Blending modes build on the opacity
concept by isolating specific pixel ranges to leave
visible in an image. Watch the following video for
some great basics and quick tips on how to use
transparency and blending modes.

Transforming Layers and

Smart Objects
At some point in your Photoshop experimentation you
will most likely have to resize a layer independently of
the entire canvas. This could be because you are
combining images that are different sizes or you may
need to exaggerate size and shape. This video by
Lynda.com’s Michael Ninness breaks down all you
need to know about Free Transform mode.

It is important to note that when you transform an

image you are constrained by the pixel information
held within the image. If you have a low quality image
and try to increase its size, the image will become
pixelated. Alternatively, if you apply a transform, such
as making an image smaller, you lose pixel
information. In this case if you attempt to increase the
size of the image again, just as before, the image will
become pixelated. One way around this is to convert
an image to a smart object. The basic principle here is
that you are wrapping a container around the image
to maintain all of the pixel information. See this video
by PeachPit.com for more information on Smart
Objects.

Image Adjustments
Overview
While new products have popped up in recent years
that work with a studio photographers workflow better
than Photoshop, Image adjustments, or retouching,
are still an integral part of the program’s roots. The
following is a basic image editing workflow
demonstrated by ____ for Adobe Education
Adjustment Layers
Adjustments are a set of operations that enable the
user to enhance an image. For the basic purposes of
this site, we will go over the main features used when
adjusting images. Adjustments and adjustment layers
can manipulate the picture’s hue and saturation,
levels, contrast, curves, and color balance as well as
other more advanced points of manipulation.
Adjustments and Adjustment layers can be
distinguished by one integral concept in
Photoshop: Destructive versus Non-Destructive
editing.

Destructive editing relates directly to adjustments in

Photoshop. Located under Image > Adjustments,
adjustments cannot be altered after you initially apply
them. Alternatively, Adjustment layers, located in the
panel dock, create a fully editable adjustment on its
own layer that is applied to all layers below it and can
be accessed at any time. While there are times when
utilizing both processes are necessary, the best-
practice is to use an adjustment layer whenever
possible. For a step-by-step walk-through of
Adjustment layers, please watch the following video.
Levels
The levels adjustment layer is a tool that allows you to
stretch and squeeze the black and white values of a
photograph to maximize certain attributes, such as
saturation and brightness.

When you open the Levels dialog, you are presented

with a histogram that represents the image’s pixel
information in graph form. As shown in the gradient at
the bottom, the number of pixels contained in the
images is charted from darkest (left) to brightest
(right) tones. Below the histogram there are 3 sliders:
black, white and grey.

Crop Tool
The Crop tool is one of the most used functions in
Photoshop. The new features of the crop tool allow
you keep the previous version of image and easier
manipulation of the crop box. Check out this video
from Adobe on the new functions and basics of how
to use the crop tool.
Selections
Overview
Selection in Photoshop allow you to create a space in
a project that travels between layers and can be used
to mask, edit or create a specified layer. Masking is
the process of creating a space in which only one part
is viewable or editable. All selections are
distinguished by a crawling dashed line surrounding
the area selected. Once created, Selections allow you
to edit only the area within their bounds. 

Tools (Quick Select, Magic

Wand, Lasso tool)
Although they are grouped as the primary tool set,
different selection tools create very different kinds of
selections. For example, the rectangular marquee
tool will only create only polygon selections where as
the the quick select tool will reference the image and
attempt to make logical selections based on those
pixels. The following video gives a basic functional
overview of how to create basic selections and what
they are:

Quick Select tool – The most powerful selection tool

allows you to easily make selections based on
information from an image.

Magic Wand tool – A great selection tool for

selecting pixels or areas that are the same color
value.

Alternative Selection Methods

There are a variety of ways in which a selection can
be edited. The simplest is to use any selection tool
combined with the Shift key to subtract from a
selection. The following are two alternative
methods: Channel isolation and Quick Mask Mode.

Channel isolation: Channels have been around even

longer than layers. While they are not generally used
except by print professionals, This video
demonstrates a great application of this concept.
(This video highlights the fact that the project is for a
video-based workflow. While this is important, the
application works regardless of ultimate intent.)
Quick Mask Mode: This handy tool allows for direct
manipulation of a selection using a brush tool. While it
can create selections from scratch, it’s best use is for
refining selections from other tools, such as the quick
select tool. Once toggled on, Photoshop removes the
standard crawling dashed line and replaces it with a
tint of pink over the selection.

Brushes
Overview
In Photoshop, brushes are much more than a tool for
painting a drawing. Many tools (including the quick
select tool, clone stamp, eraser,etc.) use  brush
mechanics and concepts to operate. A brush is made
up of 3 components: size, hardness and a preset
shape.

Size and Hardness

Size and hardness can be manipulated in multiple
ways. The most accurate is through a dialog box on
the left most side of the options bar signified by an
image of the brush preset with a number below it.
Brush size is measured in pixels and relates to the
diameter of the brush.

Brush hardness is the edge shape of the brush

preset. This is generally a blending tool which allows
for the pixels of the image or content behind the brush
strokes to combine with the content of the brush.

Using Retouching Brushes

Not all brushes are used for adding color over an
image. In fact, many utilize the pixel information
present in a image to make corrections or alterations.
When you make alterations to an image, it is always a
good idea to place them on a new layer as to give
yourself flexibly to remove them in the future. Lets get
some context with an example:

The Healing Brush

This is an incredibly robust tool that combines
algorithms and user input to create content within a
brush head. It is a great tool for retouching and
cleaning up photographs that have small to midsize
blemishes. A key component of this tool is
the Option-Click command. Option-click allows a
user to create a source point from where the
computer algorithms will create similar, blended
content within the brush space.

The healing brush is one of many retouching tools. If

you are interested in retouching tools, please attend a
workshop or look at the Additional Resources page.

Creating a brush preset

Brush presets are the foundation of any brush. A
brush stroke is basically a rendering of a multiple
stamps of the brush preset over distance and time.
While these and other factors are fully controllable, a
good brush preset is the backbone of a good brush.

Color, Swatches and

Gradients

RGB vs. CMYK

RGB color is a color model in which Red (R), Green
(G) and Blue (B) light sources are added together in
different strengths and combinations to give a full
array of colors. This color model works well for on
screen intents because the same process is used to
create color on the vast majority of screens.

In contrast, CMYK color is the primary color model

for print. From home printers to professional
publishing operations, printers generally combine
cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K) to
create dynamic color ranges on a variety of mediums.

Because these color modes are fundamentally

different, it is always important to match the color
model with the intent. This can be chosen when you
create a document or by locating Image < Mode.

Selecting Color

The Color Picker

In the bottom of the tool bar, you might have noticed
two overlapping squares filled with black and white.
While this tool hasn’t held color until now, it is the
primary place to select and edit colors. The two
squares allow you to hold multiple colors at the same
time. To use a color, simply click on the colored
square that you intend to use. It is important to select
the color before using a tool. If you have the wrong
color on top, the tool will utilize the selected color.

Swatches panel
The swatches panel allows you to quickly select or
save colors for use at another time. They can be
grouped together for specific projects.

Gradients
After getting a solid handle on picking and utilizing
colors, it is a good idea to get comfortable with
gradients. Gradients are a great tool to start to
mimicking real-life textures (ie. metals) and develop
depth in a project.

Working with Type

The Type Tool

Everyone has a time when they want to add type to a
Photoshop document. Here is a great resource to
start working with type.
Tip: Always make the type box larger than the type
you want to put in it. This will allow you manipulate
the type within the box without it disappearing (ie.
being overset).