1. Usability of Photoshop
Caroline Dres & Bri Brown Richardson

2. What is Photoshop?
Graphics editor - create and enhance photos, images, designs and 3D objects
A member of the Adobe creative suite
Originally created for photographers
Current intended audience: beginners AND professionals
Used to design anything!
Banners, logos, icons, photo editing, web design, etc.
New Features: Symmetric Mode
Color Wheel
Multiple Undo
In-app learning

3. Learnability Complex → Steep learning curve
70 tools represented as tiny icons
Difficult to distinguish
Hard to find
Luckily, hovering over tools displays name and use of tool
Layers - new concept to most users
Hundreds of online tutorials - good or bad?

4. Efficiency Familiarity with Photoshop → Efficiency
Shortcut keys - faster way to access and use tools
Customizable:
Enlarge frequently used tools and features
Hide unused tools
Hide and expand editing menus
Save color swatches, textures, fonts, etc.

5. Memorability
Shortcut keys → no need to remember how to find a feature in dropdown menus
Customizable features
Icon recognition
Too many tools for everything to be displayed
Too many capabilities for users to memorize
Accessible tutorials
Incredibly powerful tool

6. Errors There is a tutorial for everything Actions can always be undone
Retrace steps with undo button or history panel
History panel → easy experimentation

7. Accessibility Fine motor control disability - many small buttons
Visual Impairment - Dark low contrast environment
Expensive monthly subscription

8. Water stroke effects & Reflections

9. Photo Restoration

10. Color and Motion Effects