ART DEPARTMENT

Photography Workshop:

Introduction to
Adobe Photoshop
KEY SKILLS:
Asset Management
File Types & Size
Move & Marquee Tool
Cropping
Levels
Dodging & Burning
Adobe Photoshop is an image editing application
that allows you to digitally manipulate your
pictures (also referred to as ‘assets’ by your
computer) in a similar way to in the darkroom i.e.
dodging, burning, altering contrast, etc.

It is the standard software used by professional

photographers and is compatible with both Mac
and PC operating systems.
Transferring images to the computer

Depending on where your images are stored you will need

to transfer them into a folder located on your computer’s
shared area or work space. Here is a list of external
devices:

• Digital camera (via Firewire/USB lead)

• USB memory stick
• CD/DVD
• External Hard Drive

All of the above devices will mount as an external drive on

your desktop/my computer area.
Browsing images in Photoshop

File > Browse

The ‘Browse’ mode will allow you preview your image as a
series of thumbnails with a preview option. It acts as a file
directory.

File > Open

This will allow you to
open an individual file
from a folder.
File Types

.jpeg or .jpg
.tif
.gif
.psd
.raw
The above extensions relate to the type of file that an image is
saved in. The most common file type found on the internet is
‘.jpg, .jpeg and .gif’. These are compressed files, which mean
that they have been reduced in file size to save space. The
disadvantage is that the quality of the image is decreased and
the image loses detail if manipulated.
File Types

The majority of digital cameras save

images as jpeg (.jpg) files.

High quality cameras can save files

in ‘RAW (.raw)’ format and this
gives you greater control over the
image quality, but a much larger file
size.
File Size

To check the file size of your image, go to:

Image > Image Size
• Next to Pixel Dimensions, you will find
the file size measured in Megabytes (M
or Mb)

• The Width and Height are measured in

pixels. Remember a standard screen
QuickTimeﾪ and a resolution is 1024 x 768. The minimum
TIFF (LZW) decompressor
are needed to see this picture. being 800 x 600.

• The Document size can be measured in

a number of units, but the most common
is cm/mm

• The resolution refers to the definition

of the image. In general, any picture
should be printed at the correct size at
300dpi, but on screen looks good at
72dpi
Main Photoshop Palette

Marquee tool NOTE

It is best to start by
Select tool learning a few of the
Polygonal Lasso tool basic tools (see below)
Magic wand tool
Crop tool
Sharp/Unsharp tool
Burn/Dodge tool
Text tool
Zoom tool
Foreground colour
Background colour
Edit in Quick Mask
Crop tool

When you crop an image, you change the format of the

photograph, effectively changing the frame of a picture.

Photographers are constantly cropping images to lose

unwanted features. It is an integral part of the artistic process.
Marquee tool

The ‘Marquee’ tool allows you to select a rectangular area. It is

generally used for cutting and pasting areas into separate file
documents. If you press the SHIFT button, you can select a
number of areas using the marquee tool. Likewise, the ALT key
allows you to deselect areas.
Move tool

The ‘Move’ Tool allows to you move objects around the

canvas. If you have pasted another image onto an existing
picture or are working on a layer, it will only move that area.
Dodge/Burn tool

The ‘Dodge/Burn’ tool allows you to directly apply a dark or light

exposure to an area. The intensity can be controlled by
changing the ‘exposure’ dialog box to a lower percentage. It is
recommend that you start manipulating with a lower intensity /
opacity I.e. 12-15% and building up the effect.
Zoom tool

The ‘Zoom’ tool allows you to enlarge or reduce an area.

By pressing Apple+Space Bar and selecting an area using the

mouse you can zoom into your chosen area.

By pressing ALT+Space Bar you can zoom out.

Alternatively, press Apple [+] or [-] or [0] to zoom in, out and fit
to window, respectively

100% 125% 150%

Levels

Image > Adjustments > Levels

The ‘Levels’ histogram dialog box allows you to visually see the
distribution of shadows, mid-tones and highlights.

In general, an evenly exposed image looks like a mountain/series

of hills with the shadows and highlights at the base.

Notice how the TIP

shadow and You can choose
‘Auto Levels’ or
highlight triangles [Apple + Shift + L]
are at either ends of to get the program
the histogram to automatically
graph. adjust the levels
 Levels Example

This photo has few highlights,

so the highlight triangle on
the histogram is far away
from the foot of the graph.

In order to create an even

exposure, drag the
highlights triangle to the
left so it reaches the foot of
the graph. If you move it
further in, you will notice the
highlights bleach out the mid
tones.
Saving

File > Save As

Make sure that you always save your manipulated photos
separately from your original files. To do, this choose the ‘Save
As’ option immediately after opening the original.

It is advisable to write an extension to your original as a quick

reference:

E.g
Original - Picture.tif
Save As - ‘Picture2.tif

Create a separate folder to keep you new images in.

TASK

Choose an image you have taken, or use the images

provided by your teachers, which need editing. Create
a Power Point presentation that shows a before and
after version of your manipulated image using the
following Photoshop tools:

Cropping
Levels
Dodging & Burning

Remember to title your pages, explain how you have

manipulated the image and mount in your photo diary.
The Eden Project, Cornwall (2006) EXAMPLE
Unedited Edited

Notes:
In the original image, there are
few highlight and the foreground
is under-exposed. To change this,
I altered the levels and brought in
the highlights, whilst also
adjusting the mid tones.
Afterwards, I cropped the image
to focus on a smaller section with
less visual distractions from the
sides Finally, I dodged and
burned particular area that I
wanted to pronounce visually.
Processes: Levels, Cropping, Dodging and
Burning
End