In a traditional darkroom, you control images with choices of films, chemicals, papers and processes. In the digital equivalent of the darkroom, you do so with a computer system and a photo-editing program. Just as in a traditional darkroom, the quality of your digital tools has an impact on the quality of your images.
However, a digital darkroom isn't like a traditional darkroom. For one thing, the lights are on. For another there is no prep time, so you can work only as long as you want. Costs are also lower because you can experiment and try things without wasting time and materials. If you make any really serious mistakes, you can always use the undo command.
Digital images can be edited in a wide variety of ways using photo-editing software. In some cases an editing program is used to "improve" an image by eliminating or reducing its flaws. In other cases it is used to take an image to a new place, making it something it never was.
The term computer graphics refers particularly to images displayed on a video display screen or Monitor. A computer-graphics system basically consists of a computer to store and manipulate images, a display screen (Monitor), various input and output devices, and a graphics software package—i.e., a program that enables a computer to process graphic images by means of mathematical language. These programs enable the computer to draw, colour, shade, and manipulate the images.
Graphics software programs enable a user to draw, colour, shade, and manipulate an image on a display screen with commands input by a keyboard. A picture can be drawn or redrawn onto the screen with the use of a mouse, a pressure-sensitive tablet, or a light pen. Preexisting images on paper can be scanned into the computer through the use of scanners, digitizers, or digital cameras. Frames of images on videotape can also be entered into a computer; Manipulated image can be printed on paper or on photographic film.
Pictures are stored and processed in a computer’s by either of two methods: Raster graphics and Vector graphics. Raster-type graphics maintain an image as a matrix of independently controlled dots or Pixels (picture Elements), while vector graphics maintain it as a collection of points, lines, and arcs. Raster graphics are now the dominant computer graphics technology.
ADOBE’S PHOTOSHOP
Adobe Photoshop is, without a doubt, one of the most exciting and versatile image creation and manipulation applications available. For anyone who deals with images -- from print media designers who come up with those dazzling ads in magazines, to Web creators sculpting awesome sites with cutting-edge graphics, Studio owners who want to restore damaged Photographs of their customers-- Photoshop is the tool of choice.
Basic Concepts
Photoshop is an extremely versatile tool: you can use it to correct errors in photos, to add effects to images, or to build complex images from scratch. Welcome to the basic concept section of Photoshop! Now we shall learn something very basic about work area, tools, menus & environment of Photoshop. Those who are familiar with Photoshop can skip this page. But if you are beginner, you better try this section to feel comfortable for further tutorials.
Adobe Photoshop Basics Outline
Before going for tutorials it is advisable to get familiar with the way Photoshop works. Photoshop is a raster program and an image processing package. This package deals lot with colors and selections. You must be well aware with the desktop of the package and the menus provided. Some Menus will come up with submenus and they provide more advance commands which requires proper practice to master. The tools and the potential of each tool of Photoshop have to be understood. After this get familiar with different types of Palettes, this explores endless way to creativity.
Desktop
It is essential to know about the environment we are working with when we study any package. When you open Photoshop 6.0 you we see some change if you are familiar with Photoshop 5.5. The work area is different. This is the tour of Photoshop 6.0 work area.Unless specified otherwise, Following lessons are applicable to Photoshop Version 5.0 and higher. When information in a lesson does not apply to all of these versions, notes will be provided for each version where applicable.
Navigating the Workspace of Photoshop
Let's get started by exploring the basic elements of the Photoshop workspace. There are four main counterparts to the Photoshop workspace
The Menu Bar
The Tools Option Bar
The Status Bar
However, a digital darkroom isn't like a traditional darkroom. For one thing, the lights are on. For another there is no prep time, so you can work only as long as you want. Costs are also lower because you can experiment and try things without wasting time and materials. If you make any really serious mistakes, you can always use the undo command.
Digital images can be edited in a wide variety of ways using photo-editing software. In some cases an editing program is used to "improve" an image by eliminating or reducing its flaws. In other cases it is used to take an image to a new place, making it something it never was.
The term computer graphics refers particularly to images displayed on a video display screen or Monitor. A computer-graphics system basically consists of a computer to store and manipulate images, a display screen (Monitor), various input and output devices, and a graphics software package—i.e., a program that enables a computer to process graphic images by means of mathematical language. These programs enable the computer to draw, colour, shade, and manipulate the images.
Graphics software programs enable a user to draw, colour, shade, and manipulate an image on a display screen with commands input by a keyboard. A picture can be drawn or redrawn onto the screen with the use of a mouse, a pressure-sensitive tablet, or a light pen. Preexisting images on paper can be scanned into the computer through the use of scanners, digitizers, or digital cameras. Frames of images on videotape can also be entered into a computer; Manipulated image can be printed on paper or on photographic film.
Pictures are stored and processed in a computer’s by either of two methods: Raster graphics and Vector graphics. Raster-type graphics maintain an image as a matrix of independently controlled dots or Pixels (picture Elements), while vector graphics maintain it as a collection of points, lines, and arcs. Raster graphics are now the dominant computer graphics technology.
ADOBE’S PHOTOSHOP
Adobe Photoshop is, without a doubt, one of the most exciting and versatile image creation and manipulation applications available. For anyone who deals with images -- from print media designers who come up with those dazzling ads in magazines, to Web creators sculpting awesome sites with cutting-edge graphics, Studio owners who want to restore damaged Photographs of their customers-- Photoshop is the tool of choice.
Basic Concepts
Photoshop is an extremely versatile tool: you can use it to correct errors in photos, to add effects to images, or to build complex images from scratch. Welcome to the basic concept section of Photoshop! Now we shall learn something very basic about work area, tools, menus & environment of Photoshop. Those who are familiar with Photoshop can skip this page. But if you are beginner, you better try this section to feel comfortable for further tutorials.
Adobe Photoshop Basics Outline
Before going for tutorials it is advisable to get familiar with the way Photoshop works. Photoshop is a raster program and an image processing package. This package deals lot with colors and selections. You must be well aware with the desktop of the package and the menus provided. Some Menus will come up with submenus and they provide more advance commands which requires proper practice to master. The tools and the potential of each tool of Photoshop have to be understood. After this get familiar with different types of Palettes, this explores endless way to creativity.
Desktop
It is essential to know about the environment we are working with when we study any package. When you open Photoshop 6.0 you we see some change if you are familiar with Photoshop 5.5. The work area is different. This is the tour of Photoshop 6.0 work area.Unless specified otherwise, Following lessons are applicable to Photoshop Version 5.0 and higher. When information in a lesson does not apply to all of these versions, notes will be provided for each version where applicable.
Navigating the Workspace of Photoshop
Let's get started by exploring the basic elements of the Photoshop workspace. There are four main counterparts to the Photoshop workspace
The Menu Bar
The Tools Option Bar
The Status Bar
The Toolbox
the Pallete
At the left side of your desktop you will find Toolbox. All the amazing tools you will be using throughout these tutorials are situated here.
the Pallete
At the left side of your desktop you will find Toolbox. All the amazing tools you will be using throughout these tutorials are situated here.
Menu Bar
The top part is a menu bar where you will find general menus like File, Edit, Image, Layer, Select, Filter, View, Window and Help.
Tool Option Bar
Below menu bar, the newly introduced Tool Option Bar is placed. This When you are using any tool, the options related with that tool will be displayed on Tool Option Bar and can be directly accessed from there.
Palettes
Below menu bar, the newly introduced Tool Option Bar is placed. This When you are using any tool, the options related with that tool will be displayed on Tool Option Bar and can be directly accessed from there.
Palettes
Towards extreme right, you will find rectangular boxes called palettes. It can be dragged out from original box. Palettes have wide range from Navigator to Layers and Channels.
Status Bar
At the bottom of the desktop, like any package Photoshop also has status bar.
Menu Bar:
Menus With the revolution of graphic user interface every package is well equipped with menus so we don't have to remember the commands. There are some standard menus you will find in all the packages, like File, Edit etc. Some common sub menus are Cut, Copy, Paste selects all etc. Photoshop is an image-processing package hence it comes with its own menus used for image processing. We are giving brief description of the main menus used in photoshop.
File
Status Bar
At the bottom of the desktop, like any package Photoshop also has status bar.
Menu Bar:
Menus With the revolution of graphic user interface every package is well equipped with menus so we don't have to remember the commands. There are some standard menus you will find in all the packages, like File, Edit etc. Some common sub menus are Cut, Copy, Paste selects all etc. Photoshop is an image-processing package hence it comes with its own menus used for image processing. We are giving brief description of the main menus used in photoshop.
File
You will find this menu in almost all the package. This consists of commands related with the general working of the package. In photoshop it consists of New, Open, Save, Save as, Place, Print, exit etc.
Edit
This is another standard menu of any software generally contains commands related with Cut, Copy, Paste, Clear. Photoshop provides more specific commands like Fill, Stroke, Color Settings, Preferences etc. along with general commands.
Image
Layers are photoshop specialty .You can use up to 100 layers depending upon the memory of your computer & size of your imageThis menu can be called as a backbone of photoshop if you consider it only image processing package. Most of the advance commands are situated here. The ground level tasks like changing mode, resolutions can be done through image menu.
This is another standard menu of any software generally contains commands related with Cut, Copy, Paste, Clear. Photoshop provides more specific commands like Fill, Stroke, Color Settings, Preferences etc. along with general commands.
Image
Layers are photoshop specialty .You can use up to 100 layers depending upon the memory of your computer & size of your imageThis menu can be called as a backbone of photoshop if you consider it only image processing package. Most of the advance commands are situated here. The ground level tasks like changing mode, resolutions can be done through image menu.
Layers
Photoshop specialties! This easy to use feature made photoshop a very powerful image processing tool. Layers can be considered as transparent sheet on which we can process different parts of image. Layers can be edited separately and can be merged at the end.
Select
Select
As we have already stated, selection is very important in any raster programs, select menu provides different ways of selections. Interestingly you can even save the selection for later use using save selection command. The range of the selection can be change with this menu.
Filter
Most interesting part for the photographers is Filter menu of Photoshop. They can Produce oil colour ,Soft Focus or Solarisation effect .As you proceed further this part becomes more serious. Most of the effects are carried out in the photoshop using standard filters provided by the package. You can use third party filters also.
View
Most interesting part for the photographers is Filter menu of Photoshop. They can Produce oil colour ,Soft Focus or Solarisation effect .As you proceed further this part becomes more serious. Most of the effects are carried out in the photoshop using standard filters provided by the package. You can use third party filters also.
View
This menu is used for easy and more efficient working. Different views help you to have better idea of your artwork. Besides, view menu provides some toggles between rulers, grids etc.
Windows
Mostly used for toggle purpose. I.e. for on and off of palettes, status bar etc.
Help
Provides you help features of Photoshop. In addition to the menu bar, Photoshop often has context sensitive menus for accessing some of the most likely commands depending on which tool is selected and where you click. You access the context sensitive menu by right clicking in Windows, or pressing the Control key on a Macintosh.
The Status Bar
Let's continue our exploration of the Photoshop workspace. There are four main counterparts to the Photoshop workspace: the Menu bar, the Status bar, the Toolbox, and the Palettes. We looked at the menu bars in the first section. In this lesson we’ll be learning about the status bar.
The Status Bar
Now take a look at the status bar along the bottom edge of the Photoshop workspace. The status bar is often taken for granted or overlooked entirely, but it can be a valuable tool, which shows document size, brief description about the tool you are using and view in percentage of the image. You’ll need an open document before the status bar will display any information.
Next in the status bar, you can see useful information about the tool you have selected. If you still have the zoom tool selected, your status bar should say "Zoom In" if you are outside of the document area. Move the cursor into the document area and you will see the status bar display instructions for using that tool.
The Toolbox
Let's continue our exploration of the Photoshop workspace. There are four main counterparts to the Photoshop workspace: the menu bar, the status bar, the toolbox, and the palettes. We've already covered the menu bar and the status bar. In this lesson we'll be learning about the toolbox. Since this is a general overview of the toolbox, the materials here are useful for any version of Photoshop.
When you look at the toolbox, notice how some of the buttons have a tiny arrow in the lower right corner. This arrow indicates that other tools are hidden under that tool. To access the other tools, click and hold down on a button and the other tools will pop out. Try this now by clicking on the rectangle marquee tool and changing to the elliptical marquee tool. The hidden marquee tools are shown here.
Now hold your cursor over one of the buttons and you should see a tool tip appear that tells you the name of the tool and its keyboard shortcut. All the marquee tools have a shortcut of M.
Photoshop Toolbar
Selection Tools
When you work with any raster based package, selection is always important factor as it is generally based on pixels. In vector programs we have the habit of click and select hence shifting from vector to raster makes little uneasy in the beginning for many beginners when it comes to selection. But with some practice it becomes not only easy but a very interesting activity. Selection Tools always work with closed border.
Powerful & user-friendly selection tools evaluate any Photo editing programme.
Rectangular Marquee Tool (M)
This is the first tool available in Photoshop for rectangular selection. Just drag it over the image and the rectangular part of the image will get marked with dotted line. This part is considered as Selected.
Windows
Mostly used for toggle purpose. I.e. for on and off of palettes, status bar etc.
Help
Provides you help features of Photoshop. In addition to the menu bar, Photoshop often has context sensitive menus for accessing some of the most likely commands depending on which tool is selected and where you click. You access the context sensitive menu by right clicking in Windows, or pressing the Control key on a Macintosh.
The Status Bar
Let's continue our exploration of the Photoshop workspace. There are four main counterparts to the Photoshop workspace: the Menu bar, the Status bar, the Toolbox, and the Palettes. We looked at the menu bars in the first section. In this lesson we’ll be learning about the status bar.
The Status Bar
Now take a look at the status bar along the bottom edge of the Photoshop workspace. The status bar is often taken for granted or overlooked entirely, but it can be a valuable tool, which shows document size, brief description about the tool you are using and view in percentage of the image. You’ll need an open document before the status bar will display any information.
Next in the status bar, you can see useful information about the tool you have selected. If you still have the zoom tool selected, your status bar should say "Zoom In" if you are outside of the document area. Move the cursor into the document area and you will see the status bar display instructions for using that tool.
The Toolbox
Let's continue our exploration of the Photoshop workspace. There are four main counterparts to the Photoshop workspace: the menu bar, the status bar, the toolbox, and the palettes. We've already covered the menu bar and the status bar. In this lesson we'll be learning about the toolbox. Since this is a general overview of the toolbox, the materials here are useful for any version of Photoshop.
When you look at the toolbox, notice how some of the buttons have a tiny arrow in the lower right corner. This arrow indicates that other tools are hidden under that tool. To access the other tools, click and hold down on a button and the other tools will pop out. Try this now by clicking on the rectangle marquee tool and changing to the elliptical marquee tool. The hidden marquee tools are shown here.
Now hold your cursor over one of the buttons and you should see a tool tip appear that tells you the name of the tool and its keyboard shortcut. All the marquee tools have a shortcut of M.
Photoshop Toolbar
Selection Tools
When you work with any raster based package, selection is always important factor as it is generally based on pixels. In vector programs we have the habit of click and select hence shifting from vector to raster makes little uneasy in the beginning for many beginners when it comes to selection. But with some practice it becomes not only easy but a very interesting activity. Selection Tools always work with closed border.
Powerful & user-friendly selection tools evaluate any Photo editing programme.
Rectangular Marquee Tool (M)
This is the first tool available in Photoshop for rectangular selection. Just drag it over the image and the rectangular part of the image will get marked with dotted line. This part is considered as Selected.
Elliptical Marquee Tool (M)
This is similar to previous tool. It selects elliptical area.
This is similar to previous tool. It selects elliptical area.
Lasso Tool (L)
This is different type of selection which enables you to draw freehand border around the area of the image you desire and select it.
This is different type of selection which enables you to draw freehand border around the area of the image you desire and select it.
Polygonal Lasso Tool (L)
Similar to Lasso but it is straight edged tool. I.e. You get straight line border as selection between two clicks.
Similar to Lasso but it is straight edged tool. I.e. You get straight line border as selection between two clicks.
Magnetic Lasso Tool (L)
One more interesting feature of Photoshop. It snaps the strong edged of the image and create the border. If you are using contrast colors in the image, this selection is always advisable.
One more interesting feature of Photoshop. It snaps the strong edged of the image and create the border. If you are using contrast colors in the image, this selection is always advisable.
Magic Wand Tool (W)
It's a pixel based selection. You don't have to trace the outline of the image like Lasso or Marquee tools. Magic Wand lets you to select the area of similar color. Clicking on the Add To Selection icon allows you to make more than one selection (see above). To remove part of your selection click on the Subtract From Selection icon and using the lasso to draw the part you want to subtract from the selection.
Tip Use the zoom tool to magnify your image while you are making your selections. You may find it much easier to work this way.
Choosing Feather will soften the edges of the selection of the lasso tools. The value of the feather will depend on your image size but generally 2-3 pixels will be sufficient.
Move Tool (V)
It is used to move the selections basically. It is also used to move guides and Layers. If you select some object or the part of the image it can be moved only with the move tool. If you use just the same selection tool then only selection border will move.
It's a pixel based selection. You don't have to trace the outline of the image like Lasso or Marquee tools. Magic Wand lets you to select the area of similar color. Clicking on the Add To Selection icon allows you to make more than one selection (see above). To remove part of your selection click on the Subtract From Selection icon and using the lasso to draw the part you want to subtract from the selection.
Tip Use the zoom tool to magnify your image while you are making your selections. You may find it much easier to work this way.
Choosing Feather will soften the edges of the selection of the lasso tools. The value of the feather will depend on your image size but generally 2-3 pixels will be sufficient.
Move Tool (V)
It is used to move the selections basically. It is also used to move guides and Layers. If you select some object or the part of the image it can be moved only with the move tool. If you use just the same selection tool then only selection border will move.
Crop Tool (C)
Want to trim the part of the image? Want to remove undesired part? Here is a tool. Crop tool actually trims the desired part of the image.
Want to trim the part of the image? Want to remove undesired part? Here is a tool. Crop tool actually trims the desired part of the image.
Airbrush Tool (J)
Start painting! Air brush let you paint the image with soft edges. The type of brushes can be changed.
Start painting! Air brush let you paint the image with soft edges. The type of brushes can be changed.
Paintbrush Tool (B)
It is similar to paint bush strokes. Again the brush type can be changed.
Pencil Tool (B)
It has the hard edge like pencil. It simply works like pencil.
Clone Stamp Tool (S)
Need to make duplicates? Replicas ? Want to add more fruits in the dish? Here is the tool. It exactly copies image or the desired part of image in the file.
Pattern Stamp Tool (S)
It paints the area with the pattern.History Brush Tool (Y) Back to past! This amazing tool paints the copy of the selected state or the snapshot in the file.
Art History Brush (Y)
This also copies the selected state or the snapshot but it adds more flavors with stylized strokes.
Eraser Tool (E)
Remember School days with rubber eraser! It erases the pixels.
Background Eraser Tool (E)
This tool lets you to erase background and creates transparency.
This also copies the selected state or the snapshot but it adds more flavors with stylized strokes.
Eraser Tool (E)
Remember School days with rubber eraser! It erases the pixels.
Background Eraser Tool (E)
This tool lets you to erase background and creates transparency.
Magic Eraser Tool (E)
This magical tool erases similar pixels to transparency.
Gradient Tool (G)
Creates color blends of different types. Even rainbow!Paint Bucket Tool (G)Fills the color in the area containing similar color pixels.
This magical tool erases similar pixels to transparency.
Gradient Tool (G)
Creates color blends of different types. Even rainbow!Paint Bucket Tool (G)Fills the color in the area containing similar color pixels.
Blur Tool (R)
As a name indicates, it blurs, hard edges in the image.
Sharpen Tool (R)
As a name indicates, it sharpens, soft edges in the image.
Smudge Tool (R)
Have you ever dragged your fingers through wet paint and made mess? As a name indicates, it smudges.
Dodge Tool (O)
It’s too dark! Make it light with this tool.
Burn Tool (O)
Its too light! Make it dark with this tool.
Sponge Tool (O)
Would you like to change color saturation? Here is the tool.
Type Tool (T)
Without text you won't be happy! Type the text over an image with type tool.
Pen Tool (P)
Draw path with pen tool.
Eyedropper Tool (I)
If you want to use the color from image itself use eyedropper to pick the color from image. In practical use the colour sampler can be used to sample a colour and then that colour used for the repair.
Hand Tool (H)
If you want to use the color from image itself use eyedropper to pick the color from image. In practical use the colour sampler can be used to sample a colour and then that colour used for the repair.
Hand Tool (H)
Moves the image as if you are moving it by your own hand within its window.
Zoom Tool (Z)
Want to check magnified view? Want to reduce the view? Use zoom tool.
Moving down in the toolbox, we come to the color swatches. This is where the foreground and background colors are displayed. The tiny arrow to the top right allows you to swap foreground and background colors. The tiny black and white swatch symbol to the lower left allows you to reset the colors to the default of black foreground and white background. Hold your cursor over those two areas to learn the keyboard shortcuts. To change a color, simply click on either the foreground or background color swatch and select a new color in the color picker. Experiment by changing the foreground and background colors and then resetting them back to defaults.
The next two buttons on the toolbox allow you to toggle between quick mask and selection mode. We'll learn more about this later in future lessons.
Below that you have a set of three buttons that allow you to change the appearance of the workspace. Hold your cursor over each button to see what it does. Notice the keyboard shortcut for all three is F. Hitting F repeatedly toggles between all three modes. Try it now.
Palettes
These are small rectangular power packed boxes initially situated at the right side on the desktop of Photoshop. You can decide, control and create many parameters with the help of palettes. The hide and show pallets can be found in window menu. In this section we are giving brief information of the palettes.
Layers
Moving down in the toolbox, we come to the color swatches. This is where the foreground and background colors are displayed. The tiny arrow to the top right allows you to swap foreground and background colors. The tiny black and white swatch symbol to the lower left allows you to reset the colors to the default of black foreground and white background. Hold your cursor over those two areas to learn the keyboard shortcuts. To change a color, simply click on either the foreground or background color swatch and select a new color in the color picker. Experiment by changing the foreground and background colors and then resetting them back to defaults.
The next two buttons on the toolbox allow you to toggle between quick mask and selection mode. We'll learn more about this later in future lessons.
Below that you have a set of three buttons that allow you to change the appearance of the workspace. Hold your cursor over each button to see what it does. Notice the keyboard shortcut for all three is F. Hitting F repeatedly toggles between all three modes. Try it now.
Palettes
These are small rectangular power packed boxes initially situated at the right side on the desktop of Photoshop. You can decide, control and create many parameters with the help of palettes. The hide and show pallets can be found in window menu. In this section we are giving brief information of the palettes.
Layers
Here you will create layers. The transparent sheets which are used to edit different parts of the image. You can even use layers to make the changes in the image without affecting the original image. Layer palette comes up with many useful options e.g. Create, copy, delete layer. You can merge the layers as well. Layer mode is another feature to trigger your creativity. Besides this there are some advance options like group with previous etc. Layers give you the freedom to work the way you want.
Channels
They Store color information. Channels can be used to create complicated selections using quick mask mode. That's the way alpha channel works! Different type of effects can be achieved through channels.
Path
Channels
They Store color information. Channels can be used to create complicated selections using quick mask mode. That's the way alpha channel works! Different type of effects can be achieved through channels.
Path
Basically used for drawing. The path can be converted into selections. You can also stroke path.
Action
Action
This palette used to save the command and reuse then on the image to automate the task.
History
This acts as famous undo. You can go back to past and start again from the step you want.
Palette
used to edit the text you place in the file.ParagraphIt is used to format paragraph.
Color
Color
Work with colors. Use different color models. This is used to create desired color. The palette provides color bar which can be used to select foreground as well as background colors.
Styles
This is used to apply layer style on the object. You can use predefined style or you can create your own style.
Swatches
Swatches
It is used to select the color. You can make your own library by adding different colors.
Navigator
This palette is used to navigate the views of the image in photoshop. With the help of slider you can change the view the image.
Info
Info
As a name indicates it displays the information. Suppose you move the pointer over an image it will provide you information about colors. The display of the information changes according to different tools.
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