Photoshop for Dummiers #1!

Photoshop for dummiers first lesson is about CS2’s interface. What’s what and all that!

First thing that you usually do when you open a software like Photoshop or MS Word is to start a new document. Just like any other software, up there on the menu, top left corner, go to “File >>> New” and name your file and then set its attributes.

  • Size: Whatever size you need. If you’re not sure, pick one of the presets.


  • Resolution: If you are not planning on printing your file, and if you are going to keep it on your PC only, or if it is for emailing and spamming me, stick to 72 PPI (Pixel Per Inch) and stop reading. Higher DPIs (Dot Per Inch), for example 300, are used for printing only. Your monitor display 72 PPI, anyway.

    • So that’s mission impossible one!

    Next is your toolbox. See if you can figure out what’s going on in this photo (click on it to see its large size):

    If that’s not simple enough for you, stop reading!

    Hold your mouse over each tool (hold it; do not click) and you’ll see the tool name. You will also see the keyboard shortcut for that tool in (). For example “Magic Wand Tool (W).” Some of the tools have a small triangle in the lower right corner of their icon. This means that there are more tools of the same kind. Click and hold, then select the extra tools.

  • Selection Tools: Obviously, they are used to select all or a part of your picture. There are three general kinds of selection tools: Lassos, Marquees and the Magic Wand.


  • Paint tools: Well done, Einstein. They are used to paint! Whichever tool you select and use from the Painting tools, some sort of “painting” will happen to your picture! That’s the easiest way to put it, to be honest. These tools won’t move or select pixels like selection tools. They add or retract pixles. Get it?! No?! Doesn’t really matter!


  • Pen and Text Tools: They are used to add text and shapes and draw paths. As simple as that!


  • Other Stuff: There’s also a bunch of other stuff that are used to zoom, pick colours and do some other stuff that are non of your business! Yeap!

    • Each tool has its own option menu. Double click on your tool to open it. You can change your brush size with it. Eeet niiiccceee!

    That’s it for today. This thing is not as easy as I though it would be. I’m skipping a lot of detail to avoid typing! If you have any questions, please ask.

    Now go open a new Photoshop document and play around with the tools!




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    You’re currently reading “Photoshop for Dummiers #1!” on My Brain Dumper!

    Published:
    08.03.07 / 2pm
    Category:
    Computing
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