adobe photoshop digital 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:

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