adobe photoshopdigital image making

the basics

Adobe PhotoShop is an image-editing program that lets you create and edit digital images.

◦PhotoShop is part of the Adobe Creative Suite (which also has Illustrator, InDesign, Flash and Dreamweaver)

document setup

File > New◦Width and height:

Creates the canvas size of your image

◦Resolution:◦300 pixels/inch (dpi) for

print◦72 pixels/inch (dpi) for

screen◦Presets: have

common paper and photo sizes

Orientation:◦Portrait

◦Landscape

the basics

Digital images are made up of pixels.◦ pixels: represent different shades or colors to make up an image

Resolution: measurements that describe the digital quality of something◦ Image Resolution: determined by the number of pixels per inch

(ppi or dpi) that are printed on a page high resolution images show greater detail and more subtle color

transitions the higher the number the better the quality

◦ Device resolution: measured by the highest capacity resolution the device can output (cameras, printers, monitors)

Good explanation here:

http://www.vividlight.com/articles/3116.htm

file types

bitmap versus vector

bitmap: type of file created out of pixels on a grid◦ aka raster ◦ resolution dependent◦ photo files are usually bitmap◦ jpeg, psd, bmp, gif, tiff, pcx, png

vector: type of file that created from equations◦ able to scale a vector without losing quality (becoming

pixelated)◦ ai, eps, pdf

the workspace page 1-17, in textbook

importing images

File > Place◦Layer > Rasterize > Smart Object

(allows you to edit layer after placing it)

or

File > Open; Select All > Move

transforming images

transform: change the shape, size, perspective, or rotation of an object

◦ Command T

or

◦ Edit > Free Transform

or

◦ Edit > Transform > one of transform options

ALWAYS HOLD SHIFT WHEN SCALING, ETC. TO KEEP IMAGE IN PERSPECTIVE!

layers

layer: a section within an image on which objects can be stored

◦advantage: individual effects can be isolated and manipulated without affecting the rest of the image

◦disadvantage: layers can increase the size of your file

Remember: the order of your layers in the layer panel determines the order of your layers on the canvas

selections

- selection tools• rectangular marquee

tool• elliptical marquee tool• single row and column

marquee tool• crop tool

• magic wand tool• lasso tool• polygonal lasso tool• eraser tool• background eraser tool• magic eraser tool

selection: an area in an image that is surrounded by a selection marquee.

marquee: dashed line that surrounds the area you want to edit or move to another image

editing images

opacity: determines the percentage of transparency

◦100% opacity will obstruct layers beneath it

◦1% opacity will appear nearly transparent

working with type

type: design world’s name for text◦ measured in points (pt)◦ 1 inch equivalent to about 72 points

Remember: each time you add type, it will create a new layer

font: characters with a similar appearance◦ serif: characters have a tail/stroke◦ sans serif: characters do not have tails; usually used in

headlines, etc.

Window > Character, Window > Paragraph: The character and paragraph panels will show options for type.

working with type

type spacing: adjustments you can make to the space between characters and between lines of type

kerning: controlling the amount of space between two characters

tracking: the insertion of a uniform amount of space between characters

leading: amount of vertical space between lines of type

saving files

Always save as you work!

Always have a version of your file in the original software (PhotoShop> .psd).

flattening: merges all visible layers into a single Background layer and discards all hidden◦ good idea to save an original, unflattened version of your file

because you CANNOT unflatten once you save◦ flatten command located in layers panel

Format for saving files:◦ lastname_firstname_projecttitle◦ example: tieriton_kathleen_selfportrait