adobe photoshop cs4 - illustrated unit h: improving productivity

Adobe Photoshop CS4 - IllustratedAdobe Photoshop CS4 - Illustrated

Unit H: Improving ProductivityUnit H: Improving Productivity

ObjectivesObjectives

Use the Image Processor

Create and run an action

Batch process an action

Use the History panel

Adobe Photoshop CS4 - Illustrated

ObjectivesObjectives

Create a snapshot and use the History Brush tool

Clone with the Clone Stamp tool

Clone with the Healing Brush tool

Experiment with cloning options


Improving ProductivityImproving Productivity

Photoshop is not only about design and photographs; it plays many roles in a graphics environment

Adobe has designed Photoshop to be something of a workhorse, with many built-in modules to make Photoshop very effective as an image processor in a graphics workflow environment


Using the Image ProcessorUsing the Image Processor

Certain types of workflows call for repetitive tasks; such as the web environment converting images to the same file format to be

used on a web site

Photoshop’s Image Processor feature is great for quickly converting groups of files to other file formats

There are a number of options available for converting files when using the Image Processor


Using the Image ProcessorUsing the Image Processor


Image Processor dialog boxImage Processor dialog box

Creating and Running an ActionCreating and Running an Action

Actions are about repetition as is Photoshop; the same things are done over and over again

It is a smart idea to save the repetitive steps as an action to save time

Actions are created, stored, and automatically saved in the Actions panel once an action is created it will be available on

the Actions panel for all future files that are opened, even after quitting Photoshop



A smart set of actions is a big plus for getting work completed quickly

Actions can be exported to a portable file that can be copied to a CD or emailed to have it available for different computers the saved file will have an ATN extension and will

need to be loaded from the Actions panel




New action added to the Actions panel

New action added to the Actions panel

Three commands added to the Invert action

Three commands added to the Invert action

Batch Processing an ActionBatch Processing an Action

Batch process means, rather than opening each image in the folder and executing the action by hand, Photoshop can apply the action to an entire folder of images

The primary function of the Image Processor is to convert files from one format to another; batch processing allows the application of a single action simultaneously to a bunch of images


Batch Processing an ActionBatch Processing an Action


Batch dialog boxBatch dialog box

Using the History PanelUsing the History Panel

The History panel provides great features; one of them is the ability to quickly revert a file to its first opened state, then bring it back to its current state

As an image is worked with, the History panel records all moves and lists the last twenty of them, called states, in the panel

The last state in the list represents the last change made to the file



At any time a state in the list can be clicked to return to that point and then start working from that state

The History panel logs each command performed as a new state it will log only a specific number of states which is

determined as a preference the higher the number entered as a preference

the more memory Photoshop requires to keep the states active

The Revert command, on the file Menu, returns to the state of the file the last time the file was saved




Viewing states on the History panelViewing states on the History panel

Creating a Snapshot Creating a Snapshot and Using the History Brush Tooland Using the History Brush ToolThe History Brush tool is a “revert” brush-it paints using any one of the snapshots at the top of the History panel as its source

Use the History Brush tool by clicking the Sets the source for the history brush icon beside the thumbnail that the History Brush tool is to paint from

Use the History Brush tool to paint in artwork from a saved state


Creating a Snapshot Creating a Snapshot and Using the History Brush Tooland Using the History Brush ToolThe History Brush tool can also function artistically; set it to a low opacity and gradually “paint in” artwork from a saved state

A tip--A smart way to work is to have the History panel automatically save a snapshot every time the artwork is saved


Creating a Snapshot Creating a Snapshot and Using the History Brush Tooland Using the History Brush Tool


Viewing the snapshot added to the History Panel

Viewing the snapshot added to the History Panel

Applying the History brush tool to the artwork

Applying the History brush tool to the artwork

Cloning with the Clone Stamp ToolCloning with the Clone Stamp Tool

Cloning can be defined as copying pixels from one area to another

The Clone Stamp tool is a brush, when it is used to clone pixels there are options of brush size, hardness and opacity

Cloning has two parts: the sample is the source from where the clone

comes the clone refers to the copied pixels that are

created from the sample



Current & Below is one of three sampling option that can be used with the Clone Stamp tool

When using the Current & Below option it means that the Clone Stamp tool will sample artwork from the current layer and all the layers below it

All of the cloning tools including the Clone Stamp tool have an Aligned option that is available on the Tools panel with the Aligned option checked whatever was

previously sampled will be continuedAdobe Photoshop CS4 - Illustrated


Working “non-destructively” in Photoshop is a best practice-that goes for cloning

When using the Clone Stamp tool the best way is to work in a way that does not permanently affect the original artwork The Current & Below option is key to this

concept• When needing to clone create an empty layer

above the artwork for the clone




Viewing the finished artwork


Viewing the cloned birdViewing the cloned bird

Cloning with the Healing Brush Cloning with the Healing Brush ToolTool

The Healing Brush tool is a cloning tool sample using the Healing Brush and clone to

another matches the clone to the texture, lighting, and

shading of the area being cloned to Is useful for cloning large areas of non-specific

data


Cloning with the Healing Brush Cloning with the Healing Brush ToolTool


Viewing the first cloneViewing the first clone



Experimenting with Cloning Experimenting with Cloning OptionsOptions

The options for the Clone Stamp and the Healing Brush tool are similar

The sampling options are: Current Layer-the tool samples artwork only on

the targeted layer; artwork or adjustments on layers above or below the targeted layer will not be involved in the sample

Current & Below-the tool samples the appearance of the artwork as a composite of the current layer and all the layers beneath it; Artwork or adjustments on layers above the targeted layer are not involved in the sample

All Layers-the tool samples the appearance of the artwork as the result of all layers in the image


Experimenting with Cloning Experimenting with Cloning OptionsOptions


Viewing the first clone

Viewing the first clone

Viewing the second clone

Viewing the second clone

SummarySummary

Adobe has designed Photoshop to be something of a workhorse, with many built-in modules to make Photoshop very effective as an image processor in a graphics workflow environment

Photoshop’s Image Processor feature is great for quickly converting groups of files to other file formats


SummarySummary

Having the History panel automatically save a snapshot every time the artwork is saved is a smart way to work in Photoshop

Cloning can be defined as copying pixels from one area to another

Working “non-destructively” in Photoshop is a best practice-that includes cloning


adobe photoshop cs4 - illustrated unit h: improving productivity

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