Photoshop CS5 Basics

@
Academic Technologies
@
Getting Started
To start a new project in Photoshop, Select File >
New.... If you want to work from a scratch, adjust the
size of your canvas and choose a background color (or

You can paste an image onto your canvas with File >
Place.

Window and Views

It is recommended that you display the palettes from the start.
Select Window > History. History keeps track all your changes, with the most recent action recorded
at the bottom. From it, you are able to undo commands and eliminate or repeat actions--great for repeat undo.
If your Layers window isn’t up already, go to Window > Layers to create and track your layers.
It is also recommended that you select View > Rulers to help align your work and track measurements.

Working with Layers

The Layers Window shows the separate layers that make up your image. To make a new layer, click the
“New Layer” button. Create a new layer for each part of your image. This allows you to go back and
edit the layers individually, saving you lots of time!
Layer Options Menu: Click
Layers: Click a layer to make the three horizontal lines in the
it active. Each layer is separated upper-right corner of the menu to
from the one directly below it or display other layer commands.
above it by a thin line.
Layer Locks: Click the Lock Opacity Slider: Drag the Opac-
icon to prevent changes to a layer. ity slider from 0 to 100 percent to
Click again to unlock. control the level of transparency
of a layer’s contents. 0 makes
Visibility Icon: Click the small the image layer transparent, 100
eye icon in the far left column to makes it completely opaque.
display or conceal the contents of Fill Slider: Drag the Fill slider to
a layer. control the opacity of layer con-
Layer Groups: Click the folder icon to create tent without affecting layer styles.
groups in the layer stack to organize your work. Trash: Drag a layer to the trashcan to discard it.

Zoom In and Out

To Zoom: Press (Ctrl and +) to zoom in. Press (Ctrl and -) to zoom out. This is very useful for detailed work!
Some Toolbar Functions
These two tools share a button on the toolbar. To select one, click and hold.
The Selection Tool has several shapes available. To make a selection, just click and drag your cursor.
To move the selection, just click inside it and drag. Holding Alt while selecting subtracts that area from
the selection.
The Lasso Tool allows you to draw a free-hand selection area with the cursor. Another option,
the Magnetic Lasso, will  automatically outline the edge of the image.  Repeat click and drag the
mouse over the image you want to outline with this option.
Press Enter when you have selected an area with the Selection ot Lasso Tool.
The border, displayed  like  “marching ants”, indicates a selected area. If you change your mind, 
select Edit > Undo or Right Click > Deselect.
With a selection, you can then choose Image > Crop, Edit > Copy or Edit > Cut.  If you Copy
it, go to another file to paste it or paste it as a new layer within this image  file. 

The Magic Wand selects all areas of a single color. Just click on an area of color to watch it work.

The Text Tool puts text wherever you click. Choose a font, color, size, and just start typing.
The Move Tool helps you drag things around. If you have a selection, it will drag the contents of the
selection. If not, it will drag the contents of the layer you’re on.

These two tools share a button on the toolbar. To select one, click and hold.
On a new layer, click the Paint Bucket inside your selected area to fill it with the color you chose.
Click and drag from one area to another with the Gradient Tool. The point where you started to click
will be the color of your foreground color, and the point where you took your finger off the mouse
button will be the color of your background color. The area in between will gradually change from one
color to the other (like in the example to the left).

Other Tips
Saving an Image for Web Function: Choose File > Save for Web & Devices.
This saves optimized images for the web and devices. The automatic setting is to save it as a GIF file, but you
should save it as a JPEG. Then you can resize it under Percent and then Preview it on Safari.
Change Print Dimensions and Resolution of an Image:
To maintain the current ratio of image width to image height, select Constrain Proportions. This option will
change the width as you change the height, and vice versa.
Under Document Size and Resolution, enter new values for the heights and widths. You can also choose new
units if that will help you.
Scale the Print Size of an Image: Choose File > Print, and do one of the following:
To fit the image within the printable area of the selected paper, click Scale To Fit Media.
To rescale the image numerically, deselect Scale To Fit Media, then enter values for Height and Width.
To achieve the desired scale, select Bounding Box, and drag a bounding box handle in the preview area.