What is Adobe Photoshop?

Photoshop is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud graphic software suite. Artwork created and manipulated in Photoshop is raster-based,
meaning it operates by assigning colors and properties to the individual pixels of the document. This makes Photoshop great for
projects like photo editing, architectural rendering, and painting-like digital artwork. In this tutorial, we’ll learn how to use Photoshop to
create a photo-collaged rendering - a quick way to illustrate potential future development without the need for time-consuming 3D
modeling.
Intro to Adobe Photoshop
Getting Started - Creating a New Document
Open Photoshop, go to File>New... and name our document “Tutorial.” We’ll give it a width of 11 inches (change the “Pixels” drop
down menu to “Inches”) and a height of 8.5 inches. The Resolution will set the “Pixels/Inch” which determines how crisp the image will
be. While 72 ppi is usually sufficient for web-based graphics, and 220 ppi is good enough for most prints, let’s go with 300 ppi which is
commonly required in professional settings. Let’s set the Color Mode to CMYK Color, which is appropriate for print (RGB is for web).
Click “OK.”
Intro to Adobe Photoshop
 Menu Bar

Control Panel

Panels

Document

Tool Bar

Getting Started - Exploring the Interface

Let’s get a lay of the land. Across the top of the program, we’ve got the Menu Bar which allows you to access many tools. Below
the Menu Bar is the Control Panel which allows for tweaking settings of whichever tools or objects are selected. The Tool Bar rests
along the left side and contains the major tools needed to create artwork. Along the right side are the Panels, which allow for the
modification of artwork. The Document we created is the white page in the middle which will contain our artwork, though the gray
surroundings can hold artwork drafts.
Intro to Adobe Photoshop
 Navigation Shortcuts

Hold Alt/Opt + Mouse

Zoom In Ctrl/Cmd + “+” OR
Scroll Wheel “Up”

Zoom Hold Alt/Opt + Mouse

Ctrl/Cmd + “-” OR
Out Scroll Wheel
“Down”
Pan Up Mouse Scroll Wheel
“Up”
Pan Down Mouse Scroll Wheel “Down”

Pan Left Hold Ctrl/Cmd + Mouse Scroll Wheel “Up”

Pan Right Hold Ctrl/Cmd + Mouse Scroll Wheel “Down”

Free Pan Hold Spacebar + Mouse Click-and-Drag

Getting Started - Navigating the Document

The easiest way to navigate your document is through keyboard and mouse shortcuts. For zooming, simply hold Alt/Option while
using the scroll wheel on your mouse. Or press Ctrl/Cmd and “-” or “+” on the keyboard. The scroll wheel on the mouse will pan
vertically while holding Ctrl/Cmd and using the scroll wheel will pan horizontally. For an unconstrained, or “free” pan, simply
hold Spacebar on thekeyboard and click-and-drag with your mouse. When you release the Spacebar, you’ll return to your
previously selected tool/action.
Intro to Adobe Photoshop |
 Tool Bar Layout Toggle Button
Tool Bar Positioning Handle

Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) Move Tool (V)

Polygonal Lasso Tool Magic Wand Tool

(L) (W)
Crop Tool (C) Eye Dropper (I)

Spot Healing Brush Tool (J) Brush Tool (B)

Clone Stamp Tool (S) History Brush Tool (Y)

Eraser Tool (E) Paint Bucket Tool (G)

Blur Tool Burn Tool (O)

Pen Tool (P) Horizontal Type (T)

Path Selection Tool (A) Line Tool (U)

Hand Tool (H) Zoom Tool (Z)

Switch Foreground and Background Colors (X)

Set Foreground Color
Set Background Color
Default Colors (D)

Edit Quick Mask Mode (Q) Change Screen Mode (F)

Introducing the Tools

Let’s introduce the major tools. Use this page as a reference when we introduce tools throughout the tutorial (keyboard shortcuts
in parentheses). Also, you’ll notice many tools have a small white triangle in their lower right corners. This indicates that other
similar tools are hiding behind the one displayed. To access these tools, simply click and hold on the displayed tool and select the
tool you want to bringforward. Keep in mind your tools might not be exactly where mine are if your workspace is set up
differently.
Intro to Adobe Photoshop
 Panel Layout Toggle
Open Panel

Hidden, Related Panel

Panel Size Adjuster

Panel
Options

Introducing the Panels

Panels, located along the right side of the interface, allow you to modify and adjust the artwork you create with tools. Above are
the panels open by default. I’ve annotated them with some of the standard panel components. To add additional panels, simply go
to Window in the Menu Bar and select the Panel you would like to add. For example, I’ve selected the Character Panel, which
opened adjacent to the existingpanels. To dock it below the other panels, simply click and drag the Character Panel’s frame and
hover it until a blue line appears.
Intro to Adobe Photoshop
Opening a File
Let’s close (File>Close) our Tutorial.psd file; there’s no need to save the changes. Instead of working with a blank file, let’s
open an existing image file. Go to File>Open... and select “Streetscape.jpg” - then click Open. Opening an image, rather than
Placing an image into a new document (we’ll go over Placing shortly) ensures that the Photoshop document is the same size and
resolution as the desired image without any stretching or quality loss.

Intro to Adobe Photoshop

Saving as a Photoshop File
Though opening a background image is often preferred to placing that image in a new document, it is imperative that we save our
document as a new file before making any changes. Otherwise we risk overwriting the original background image. Go to File>Save
As..., navigate to the Photoshop Tutorial folder, and name it Tutorial. Be sure to select “Photoshop (*.PSD;*.PDD) from the dropdown
menu. Click
“Save.”

Intro to Adobe Photoshop

 Panel Options

Layer Filter Options

Layer Blend Mode Master Opacity

Changes how objects on this layer
interact with objects on other
layers Fill Opacity
Lock Modes Opacity of layer content only,
Objects on locked layers can’t not of any effects
be Active Layer (highlighted)
modified or
Artworkselected.
Preview Locked Layer Indicator
Visibility
Toggle

Add Vector Layer Mask New Filter or Adjustment Layer

Add Layer Style New Layer Group
Link Layer New Layer
Delete Layer

Exploring the Layers Panel

Layers allow for the grouping of similar artwork in order to modify, move, or show/hide it. Also, the artwork of higher layers will
rest atop artwork of lower layers. Open the Layers Panel and add a new layer to the document using the New Layer Button. Then
double-click on the layer name to rename it Bike Lane. To create artwork on a particular layer, ensure that the desired layer is
selected (by clicking once on the title) in the Layers Panel. See above for other layer actions.

Intro to Adobe Photoshop

Using the Lasso Tool
The Lasso Tool allows you to select pixels in order to manipulate them. Let’s change the bike lane to a green color. Start by selecting the
Lasso Tool from the Tool Bar. Click the mouse in one corner of the bike lane and release. Continue working your way around the bike
lane, clicking the mouse at each pivot point. When you return to the beginning, you should see a small open circle appear on your
cursor;
to closeclick
the
shape.
Intro to Adobe Photoshop
 Layer Mask Preview

Add Vector Layer Mask

Adding a Vector Layer Mask

There are many ways to manipulate portions of an image. We could have simply filled our newly-highlighted bike path after using
the Lasso Tool. However, by using a vector mask, we can create a resolution-independent selection, meaning that it is more
accurate. With the bike line still highlighted and the “Bike Lane” layer activated, choose the “Create Vector Mask” in the Layers
Panel. This will create a mask preview next to the layer preview. The black portions of the preview illustrate what will be masked,
or hidden.
Intro to Adobe Photoshop
Using the Paint Bucket Tool
To paint the bike lane green, open the Paint Bucket Tool from the Tool Bar. Click on the artwork preview thumbnail of the Bike Lane layer
(not the Vector Mask preview) to activate it. Open the Swatches Pane. Select a green swatch, and click anywhere on the image to paint
the entire Bike Path layer green. Only the white portion of the vector mask will allow the green layer to be visible - the rest will be
masked. Also, select “Hue” from the blending modes dropdown menu in the Layers Panel to let the colors blend more smoothly.

Intro to Adobe Photoshop

 Brush Adjustments

Size Smaller = [
Larger = ]
Hardness Softer = Shift + [
Harder = Shift + ]

Using the Clone Stamp Tool

The Clone Stamp Tool works by first targeting and “storing” an area of an image. As you paint the image with the stamp’s brush, you
copy the image from the targeted point outward. Click the lock icon on the Background layer to unlock it. Select the Clone Stamp Tool
from the Tool Bar. Increase the brush size and adjust the brush hardness (see above) to encapsulate one of the building’s windows and
target the window by holding Alt/Opt and clicking on the window. Then click (without Alt/Opt) elsewhere on the building to copy the
window.
Intro to Adobe Photoshop
Using the Magic Wand Tool
The Magic Wand selects pixels with the same color as the one you click. Select the Magic Wand while Layer 0 is activated. In the
Control Panel, adjust the Tolerance to about 50 in order to expand the definition of “same color” and check the Contiguous box
to only select connected pixels. Click the wand in the sky to select all connected blue pixels.

Intro to Adobe Photoshop

Using the Paintbrush Tool
Create a new layer called “Sky” and activate it. Set the layer blend mode to “Soft Light” to create a more blended effect. Open
the Paintbrush Tool and select a dark blue color from the Swatches Panel. Enlarge and soften the brush using the same commands
described on Page 14. Click and drag to paint the top of the sky (you can hold Shift to keep your brush line horizontal). The
highlighted area will only allow you to paint “in the lines” so you don’t accidentally cover up the building.

Intro to Adobe Photoshop

Using the Marquee Tool
Open the “glass-building.jpg” file in another window of Photoshop (File>Open...). Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool by
clicking and dragging a rectangle around a sizable grouping of the building’s windows. Type Ctrl/Cmd + C to copy this
selection to the clipboard. Return to the Tutorial.psd tab.

Intro to Adobe Photoshop

Transforming a Selection
Type Ctrl/Cmd + V to paste the selection (it will automatically create a new layer). Use the Move Tool to slide the windows over
the existing building in the photo. Type Ctrl/Cmd + T to enter Free Transform Mode. This mode allows you to manipulate the size,
rotation, and skew of your selection. Click and drag the corners of the selection to enlarge the windows as necessary. Then, hold
Ctrl/Cmd while moving the corners of the selection to “skew” the image to fit the corners of the building’s facade. Hit Enter to
accept the changes.
Intro to Adobe Photoshop
Using Color Range
Open the “woman.tif” file. Click the lock symbol on the background layer to unlock it. Go to Select>Color Range to open the
dialog box. Using the default eyedropper tool built into Color Range, select the black background on the image. Ensure the
“Fuzziness” is set to “0” and click “OK” to select the entirety of the black background. Hit “Delete” to remove the black
background. Save the document as a PNG and name it “woman.png.”

Intro to Adobe Photoshop

Placing an Image
Photoshop gives you the option of placing the image as either an “Embedded” or “Linked” file. Linked files will update
automatically within your Photoshop document if the original was modified independently; Embedded files will not. For our
purposes, let’s choose File>Place Embedded... and select “woman.png.” Press “Place.” Scale the woman down by holding Shift
and dragging one corner of the Free Intro to Adobe Photoshop
Saving as an Image
Be sure to save the final PSD final to keep all of our changes. To use this image later, we may want it in a more widely
accessible format than a Photoshop document. Let’s choose File>Save As... and select JPEG from the dropdown menu. We’ll
name it “Modified Streetscape.jpg” and click “Save.” And there you have it, an introduction to Adobe Photoshop. Be sure to
check out Adobe.com and Lynda.com for more in-depth tutorials on the many Photoshop tools and techniques we didn’t get a
chance to cover here.
Intro to Adobe Photoshop