TUTORIAL PHOTOSHOP

OPENING IMAGE FROM DISK

         If the image you have is saved on a disk, select File > Open, and then navigate to the disk drive where your image is saved. Choose the image file and click Open.
At this point, you may want to save your image under a different name so that you can always have the original to fall back on in case of a mistake. To save you r file, select File >  Save As and type in the new name of the file in the dialogue box.

Interface Layout

This is the layout of Adobe Photoshop interface.

• Menu Bar 

If you look at the top of the screen you will see the Menu bar which contains all the main functions of Photoshop, such as File, Edit, Image, Layer, Select, Filter, View, Window, and Help.

• Tool Bar 

Most of the major tools are located in the Tool bar for easy access.

• The Image 

The image will appear in its own window once you open a file.

• Image Name 

The name of any image that you open will be at the top of the image window as shown above.

• Palettes 

Palettes contain functions that help you monitor and modify images. By default, palettes are stacked together in groups. These are the palettes that are usually visible:Navigator, Color, Histogram, Layer. If none of the palettes are visible, go to Window in the Menu bar and choose palettes you need to work with.

Palettes

Below is the description of the most commonly used palettes in Adobe Photoshop CS3. 

• NAVIGATOR

The Navigator palette allows you to resize and move around within the image. Drag the slider, click on the Zoom In and Zoom Out icons, or specify the percentage to navigate in the image.

• COLOR, SWATCHES, STYLE

 The Color palette displays the current foreground and background colors and RGB values for these colors. You can use the sliders to change the foreground and background colors in different color modes. You can also choose a color from the spectrum of colors displayed in the color ramp at the bottom of the palette.

In the Swatches palette you can choose a foreground or background color or add a customized color to the library.

The Styles palette allows you to view, select, and apply preset layer styles. By default, a preset style replaces the current layer style. You can use the styles in the palette or add your own using the Create New Style icon.

• HISTORY

The History palette stores and displays each action performed allowing you jump to any recent stage of the image alteration. The alterations should be created during the current working session; after saving or closing the document the History palette clears all the contents. Each time you apply a change to an image, the new state of that image is added to the palette. The History palette can store up to 20 stages. However, you can always go back to the first stage, for example opening the document. It is important to know that once you click on any of the previous stages, all the changes that were made after it will be lost.

• LAYERS

Layers let you organize your work into distinct levels that can be edited and viewed as individual units. Every Photoshop CS3 document contains at least one layer. Creating multiple layers lets you easily control how your artwork is printed, displayed, and edited. You will use the Layers palette often while creating a document, so it is crucial to understand what it does and how to use it.

A) Layer Visibility - The eye shows that the selected layer is visible. Click on or off to see or to hide a layer.

B) Layer Locking Options - Click the checkered square icon to lock Transparency; click the brush icon to lock the Image; click the arrow icon to lock the Position; click the lock icon to lock all options.
C) Layer Blending Mode - Defines how the layer's pixels blend with underlying pixels in the image. By choosing a particular blending mode from the dropdown menu you can create a variety of special effects.
D) Fill - By typing in a value or dragging the slider you can specify the transparency of the color of the image or object.


E) Opacity - By typing in a value or dragging a slider you can specify the transparency of the entire layer.
F) Layer Lock - The icon shows when the layer is locked and disappears when it is unlocked. Double-click the icon to unlock the layer.

G) Layer Options Menu - Click the black triangle to see the following options: New Layer, Duplicate Layer, Delete Layer, Layer Properties, etc. Some of the options are presented as icons at the bottom of the Layers palette.

H) Link Layers – Can be used to link layers together.

I) Layer Styles - If a layer has a style, an "F" icon shows at the bottom of the Layers palette. Click the little black triangle to see style options.

J) Layer Mask - A grayscale image, with parts painted in black hidden, parts painted in white showing, and parts painted in gray shades showing in various levels of transparency.

K) Layer Set - This option helps to organize images with multiple layers. Click the icon to create a folder for several layers.

L) Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer - Have the same opacity and blending mode options as image layers and can be rearranged, deleted, hidden, and duplicated in the same manner as image layers. Click the icon and select an option to create a new fill or adjustment layer.

M) Create New Layer - Click this icon to create a new layer.

N) Delete Layer - To delete a layer, select alayer in the Layers palette and drag it to the trash can icon; or, select a layer and click the icon.

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