Sheila Ann Medrano

PHOTOSHOP BASIC
PHOTOSHOP BASIC: Open Application

The first step, of course, is to open the

application. In the IT lab, you can find
Photoshop in the folder marked Adobe in the
programs menu (from the start menu). It may
also be located in a start menu folder called
Graphics.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC: Open Application

Once you have opened the application (after a few

moments of loading time), the Photoshop interface
will appear. There are many complex elements of
the interface, and for reasons of both saving space in
this tutorial and keeping things basic, I’ll only show
you the toolbars and options panes you need to
perform the most basic tasks in Photoshop. If you
ever notice that some of these elements are
missing, simply go to the window menu and select
them.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Workspace
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

RECTANGULAR MARQUEE
Allows you to select certain elements or layers that
already exist. Practice this tool by adding a layer, use
the paint bucket tool (q) and pour the color on to that
layer. Now take the rectangle marquee, make a
selection of a piece of the document and hit the delete
key.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

LASSO
Using the same method you did with the rectangular
marquee, draw a shape on your colored layer and hit
delete. You’ll notice that the shape you drew is now
transparent.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

CROP
Just as you did in (a) and (b), pour a color onto a new
layer. Select the crop tool and draw a square
somewhere on the layer. You have the option to resize
this crop however you’d like. Once you’re ready to crop,
hit the return key or select the check box.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

HEALING BRUSH
The healing brush find comparable pixels in a
photograph and will repair older photos with a drag of
the mouse. If you’d like to experiment with this, open an
old photo, select the healing brush tool, click your
mouse on the desired spots and you will notice the
repairs taking place.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

CLONE STAMP
Similar to the healing brush, the clone stamp is also
used to repair old photographs. Hold the “alt” key to
make a selection, and then drag your curser on
elsewhere on the photograph.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

ERASER
The eraser tool removes a selection from the layer.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

BLUR
When you click on a layer using this tool, you are able to
blur your selection. This is especially useful when
removing unwanted objects while still maintaining a
nice look and feel.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

PATH SELECTION
When working with Paths and Shapes, as we discussed
earlier, the Path selection allows you to select the path
of the shape or objects
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

PEN
The pen tool allows you to create custom vector shapes
and paths.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

NOTE
Allows you to add custom notes and comments to your
work. This can serve as a reminder to future updates.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

HAND
The hand allows you to move your perspective around
within a window. For example, Zoom (v) in all the way to
50%, choose the hand tool and watch how you are able
to navigate within your window.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

MOVE
use this tool to move the layer you created in (a) around
the screen.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

MAGIC WAND
This allows you to make a selection of colors/similarities
within your image. It also allows you to easily select
layers and their content.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

SLICE
Allows you to slice your image into multiple images.
This is especially useful in web design because our goal
is to get our design into as many individual images as
possible for HTML coding.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

BRUSH
Allows you to paint freehand onto a layer. Add a new
layer, select the brush tool, and then select a color from
the color swatches and begin to draw.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

HISTORY BRUSH
This tool allows you to apply the brush tool to your
history panel.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

PAINT BUCKET / GRADIENT

This tool allows you to pour a color or patter onto a
layer. If you hold down the paint buck tool in the toolbar,
you can also select the gradient tool (as shown in the
picture above) and you can drag a gradient onto your
layer.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

DODGE
Will brighten an image when selected. The other option
is to select “Burn”, which will darken the image selected.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

TEXT
This will allow you to add text to your image.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

EYE DROPPER
This tool allows you to select a color and add it to your
color swatches for further use. Try opening your favorite
photograph, and use the eye dropper to find a color and
add it to your palette.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

ZOOM
This tool allows you to zoom into your document and
see things more closely
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

COLOR SWATHCES
these are the colors you are currently working with. The
color on top is the foreground and the color behind it is
the background.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

MODES
These tools allow you to easily create a mask. This
allows you to get perspective in your designs. y) Screen
Views – Allows you to view your design in standard or
full screen.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar

SWITCH TO IMAGEREADY
allows you to edit your design in Image Ready
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar
PHOTOSHOP BASIC:
Elements of the Interface - Toolbar
PHOTOSHOP BASIC: Brushes

When working with any brushes (including the eraser tool)

it is important to recognize the power of your brush size
and its intensity. Notice, on the right, when the brush tool
is selected you have the option to change brush settings?
Depending on the size of your design, you may want to
change the diameter of the brush you’re working with. It
will help you be much more precise in drawing (or erasing)
pieces of your design. You can also change the hardness of
your brush so that the effect will blend in easier with the
rest of your design. I recommend choosing one of the pre-
chosen templates that are in the picture above.
PHOTOSHOP BASIC: Patterns

Patterns are another technology which will help

you tremendously in the design process. Notice,
when you have selected the paint bucket tool,
the advanced properties allows you to choose a
pattern instead of a color??
PHOTOSHOP BASIC: Gradients

Gradients are another wonderful way to pour color and

life into your design. Simply go to the toolbox and
select the gradient tool. It is located in the same box as
the paint bucket tool, so you may have to hold down
the paint bucket tool (and more tools will appear) and
select the gradient function. In the top menu bar,
double click on the gradient scheme you see at the top
and the gradient editor will appear. Here, you can alter
gradients and choose from the colors that are
currently in your palette (background and foreground).