Lesson 1: Introduction to Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a raster graphics editor developed and published by Adobe Inc. for
Windows and macOS. It was originally created in 1987 by Thomas and John Knoll.
Since then, the software has become the most used tool for professional digital art,
especially in raster graphics editing.

Overview of the Photoshop interface and basic terminology

The Photoshop interface is made up of several key components:

1. Menu Bar: Contains all the menu options for Photoshop, including File, Edit, Image,
Layer, and many more.
2. Options Bar: Located at the top of the screen, this bar displays options for the currently
selected tool.
3. Tools Panel: Contains all the tools available in Photoshop. These include selection tools,
paintbrushes, text tools, and many more.
4. Layers Panel: Displays all the layers in the current document. Layers are like sheets of
paper stacked on top of each other, each containing different parts of the image.
5. History Panel: Shows a list of all the actions taken in the current document.
6. Properties Panel: Displays additional options and settings for the currently selected tool
or layer.
7. Workspace Switcher: Allows you to switch between different preset workspaces or
create your own custom workspace.

Now, let's cover some basic terminology in Photoshop:

1. Pixels: The smallest unit of an image in Photoshop. Images are made up of many small
pixels.
2. Resolution: The amount of detail in an image, measured in pixels per inch (ppi).
3. Layers: As mentioned before, layers are like sheets of paper stacked on top of each
other, each containing different parts of the image.
4. Adjustment Layers: Special layers used to apply adjustments to an image without
changing the original image data.
5. Selections: A specific area of the image that is chosen or "selected" for editing.
6. Masks: Used to hide or reveal parts of an image without actually deleting or erasing
them.
7. Filters: Special effects applied to an image, such as blurring or sharpening.
 Tour of the tools and menus

1. Selection Tools: These tools are used to select specific areas of an image for editing.
They include the Marquee, Lasso, and Magic Wand tools.
2. Crop Tool: Used to crop or trim an image to a specific size or aspect ratio.
3. Healing Brush Tool: Used to remove blemishes, scratches, or other imperfections from
an image.
4. Brush Tool: Used to paint on an image with various brush styles and settings.
5. Eraser Tool: Used to erase parts of an image or layer.
6. Text Tool: Used to add text to an image.
7. Move Tool: Used to move layers and other elements within an image.
8. Gradient Tool: Used to create a smooth gradient of color in an image.
9. Shape Tools: Used to draw shapes such as rectangles, circles, and polygons.
10. Eyedropper Tool: Used to select a specific color from an image.

Now, let's take a look at the main menus in Photoshop:

1. File Menu: Contains options for creating, opening, saving, and exporting files.
2. Edit Menu: Contains options for undoing, redoing, copying, pasting, and transforming
selections.
3. Image Menu: Contains options for adjusting the size, color, and other properties of an
image.
4. Layer Menu: Contains options for creating, editing, and managing layers.
5. Filter Menu: Contains options for applying various filters and effects to an image.
6. View Menu: Contains options for zooming in and out, changing the display mode, and
showing or hiding guides and rulers.
7. Window Menu: Contains options for showing or hiding various panels and toolbars.
 Explanation of file formats and resolution

File Formats:

When saving an image in Photoshop, there are several file formats to choose from. The
most common file formats are:

1. JPEG: A compressed image format that is commonly used for web images and
photographs. JPEG files can have a high level of compression, which can result in some
loss of image quality.
2. PNG: A lossless image format that is commonly used for web images and graphics. PNG
files support transparency and can have a high level of detail.
3. PSD: A native Photoshop file format that supports all Photoshop features, including
layers, masks, and adjustment layers. PSD files are not commonly used for sharing or
displaying images, but are useful for saving work in progress or for archival purposes.
4. TIFF: A high-quality image format that supports layers, transparency, and a wide range
of color depths. TIFF files are commonly used for professional printing and publishing.
5. GIF: A compressed image format that supports transparency and animation. GIF files are
commonly used for web graphics and simple animations.

Resolution:

Resolution refers to the number of pixels per inch (PPI) in an image. The higher the
resolution, the more detail an image will have. Resolution is an important consideration
when creating images for different purposes, such as web graphics or print.

When creating images for the web, a resolution of 72 PPI is typically sufficient. This is
because computer screens have a relatively low pixel density, and higher resolutions will
not be noticeable.

When creating images for print, a higher resolution is needed to ensure that the image
will print clearly and with sufficient detail. A resolution of 300 PPI is typically used for
print images, but this can vary depending on the size and type of print.

It's important to keep in mind that increasing the resolution of an image will also
increase its file size. This can be important to consider when saving and sharing images,
as larger file sizes can take longer to load or download.
Lesson 2: Basic Editing Techniques

Cropping and resizing images

Adjusting brightness, contrast, and color
Using layers to add, remove, and manipulate elements of an image