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09/29/2004 08:55:16 PM · #1 |
Just thought it might be useful to focus Photoshop tips and advice into one thread.
Every now and then we can all add a hint, tip or trick so that people will know where to come for the overall lowdown on Photoshop here at DPC. Obviously those who use PSP or other software are welcome to do the same in a separate thread.
: )
Layer Masks
This is the golden key to ease workflow and negate the need to erase ANY part of your image data. You'll never need to use the eraser again.
> Open image
> Double click the 'background' layer to turn it into a floating layer, or press cmnd-'J' to copy the background
> If needed, add a layer beneath the layer to be masked
> Click on the upper layer
> Go to 'Layer' menu
> Add Layer Mask
> Reveal/Hide all
> Click on the newly created mask to the right of your colour data in the 'Layers' palette
> Choose a brush and paint the layer to reveal/hide parts of your image
> While still on your mask layer, toggle the colour wells (press 'x' to toggle) to 'add' or 'subtract' areas of your image
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Lab Colour mode
Quick noise reduction for images that suffer from red/green/blue blotches or general colour noise
> Open image
> Go to 'Image' menu
> Mode: Lab color
> Go to 'Channels' tab
> Select channel 'a'
> Apply blur until the 'noise' is reduced
> Select channel 'b'
> Apply blur until 'noise' is reduced
> Select 'Lightness' channel
> If image is now relatively clean, then either sharpen or USM to 'tighten' image
> Convert back to RGB
It's a start but I'll put more up as and when I have time...
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09/29/2004 09:03:12 PM · #2 |
//www.good-tutorials.com for those of you that don't know about it. ;)
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10/29/2004 02:04:55 PM · #3 |
Just a reminder for anyone who has some time to help others with some quick Photoshop tips.
: )
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10/29/2004 02:14:32 PM · #4 |
press the space bar. Any tool automatically becomes the 'move around' tool.
Press the 'f' key a couple of times. You can now work on the edge of an image, in the center of the screen, even at 100% pixel view. Press f once more to toggle back to the default.
Press alt key when dragging sliders, for example in Levels dialogs. You'll see the parts of the image that are being clipped, in real time.
Also works in the RAW conversion dialogs.
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10/29/2004 02:15:36 PM · #5 |
Gordon beat me to it.
When you want to bring an image into Photoshop, just left click it and while holding the button down down drag the image over the Photoshop icon on the bottom taskbar. Photoshop will maximize and you can drop it onto the workspace. This also works for images on the internet for all you people still right-clicking.
Need a fast rounded square selection? Create a rounded square with the shape tool and Ctrl+ left click the shape icon on the layers palette. This will create a rounded square selection. Now you can delete the shape layer entirely and the selection will remain.
Need to find the center of an image quickly? Hit CTRL+T (free transform) and drag a guide over it. It'll automatically snap to the center. Then hit enter to exit the free transform.
Message edited by author 2004-10-29 14:15:57.
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10/29/2004 02:17:17 PM · #6 |
Masks = 8 bit greyscale images
Channels = 8 bit greyscale images
Selections = (active) 8 bit greyscale images
Paths = thresholded 8 bit greyscale images
You can convert freely back and forth between Masks, Channels, Selections and (to a lesser extent) paths.
As each of these are an 8 bit image, you can apply any and all filters and adjustments to those images (masks, channels, selections)
This is the single biggest lesson to learn about Photoshop. When you truly understand the power of this point, then Photoshop becomes a fantastically useful tool for photo editing. It really is that important.
Message edited by author 2004-10-29 14:17:45.
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10/29/2004 02:21:15 PM · #7 |
ok gordon, if this 8 bit thing is so important, and I have no idea what it means, can you try and explain it a little more.
I want to truly understand the power of this point : ) |
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10/29/2004 02:26:04 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by ellamay:
ok gordon, if this 8 bit thing is so important, and I have no idea what it means, can you try and explain it a little more.
I want to truly understand the power of this point : ) |
An 8-bit image means, in this case, that an image that has a single channel, and 8 bits of resolution (256 levels). This is important because it means a mask, for instance, can have any of 256 levels of "opacity" at each pixel location, not just two (masked, unmasked).
Message edited by author 2004-10-29 14:26:40.
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10/29/2004 02:42:38 PM · #9 |
| excuse my extreme ignorance, so that means that you have a HUGE range of options basically vs. 2 options? Is that a simple way to say it? |
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10/29/2004 02:52:00 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by ellamay:
excuse my extreme ignorance, so that means that you have a HUGE range of options basically vs. 2 options? Is that a simple way to say it? |
Yup! A part of your photo can be, say, 20% selected, which means whatever you do will be applied to that location at 20% of full effect.
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10/29/2004 02:57:50 PM · #11 |
try masking an entire image, and then adding a gradient fill to the whole thing. be sure to hide the lower layers, and you'll see what he is saying.
../
Message edited by author 2004-11-02 00:03:56.
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10/29/2004 03:12:16 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
An 8-bit image means, in this case, that an image that has a single channel, and 8 bits of resolution (256 levels). This is important because it means a mask, for instance, can have any of 256 levels of "opacity" at each pixel location, not just two (masked, unmasked). |
That is certainly the fundamental part of it. The next step though, is to realise that the mask, selection, or channel is just like any other image in that you can paint it, filter it, sharpen it, blur it, adjust the contrast, change the brightness and so on.
You can then turn that mask into an active selection, or create a mask directly from a channel in the original image, or turn a channel in the image straight in to a selection, or take that channel, threshold it and use it as a path. You can also switch back and forth freely between any of these (also note, that an 'alpha channel' is just an alternative representation of a mask.
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10/29/2004 03:14:05 PM · #13 |
Great explanation Gordon!
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10/29/2004 03:14:25 PM · #14 |
Here is a simple example of the power of using channels, masks and selections interchangeably and always treating them as images.
I start using a channel, convert it in to a selection, use that as a mask, then edit the mask just like an image using curves adjustments.
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10/29/2004 05:37:17 PM · #15 |
man you guys are good!
Now i just have to figure out how to create a layer, where you get the masks and which buttons I am suppose to click. It does help to have a framework tho. thx
( I am still having trouble with kirbic's instructions on my cheetah shot, It seems to be selecting the opposite areas that I am wanting selected and I can't get the 'color' to be added. And where is the feather?
Anyone want a job editing my photos : ) ) |
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10/29/2004 05:40:02 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by ellamay:
man you guys are good!
Now i just have to figure out how to create a layer, where you get the masks and which buttons I am suppose to click. It does help to have a framework tho. thx
( I am still having trouble with kirbic's instructions on my cheetah shot, It seems to be selecting the opposite areas that I am wanting selected and I can't get the 'color' to be added. And where is the feather?
Anyone want a job editing my photos : ) ) |
If you have the 'layers palette' open (should be in the bottom right of the screen, or look in the 'Windows' menu, or Toolbars menus.
The 'new layer' and 'new mask' icons are along the bottom of that window. They also both live under the 'Layers' menu.
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10/29/2004 05:41:39 PM · #17 |
thx gordon
FOUND THEM!!!
and the feather!
I did it I did it! woo hooo!!
thx you guys soo much
Message edited by author 2004-10-29 17:43:30. |
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10/29/2004 05:45:57 PM · #18 |
change your color settings from defult to adobe 1998
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10/29/2004 05:50:13 PM · #19 |
| ok so I think i sreated a layer in the end, but now I am trying to sharpen and brighten and it does not seem to be taking, is there a step I need to take to make the picture 'whole' again, or do I create new layers for each step I take? |
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10/29/2004 05:52:20 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by Travis99:
change your color settings from defult to adobe 1998 |
I am working on a mac should I use the mac rgb setting? Is this why when I save my work in PS everything jumps WAY bright when I upload? |
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10/29/2004 05:57:10 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by ellamay:
ok so I think i sreated a layer in the end, but now I am trying to sharpen and brighten and it does not seem to be taking, is there a step I need to take to make the picture 'whole' again, or do I create new layers for each step I take? |
I'm honestly not trying to be rude. It is worth poking around the help menu. You'll probably find something like an introduction to layers or similar - some of these are actually pretty informative. I'll have a look when I get home and see if I can't point you to a more useful help though.
By default the layer is filled with white. White does nothing - it represents a transparent layer.
Another option is to make a 'duplicate layer' which takes your existing image, and makes a new copy. Think of this as stacking two slides together, one on top of the other.
If you now do something quite extreme to that layer, up the contrast, change the colours dramatically - the whole image will change.
If you added a mask - you can then control which bits of that dramatic change take effect or not.
If you try walking through that image masking tutorial I put together, it might give you an idea of how it works.
The layers in the layers palette show how the pieces are stacking up on top of each other. Masks let you cut bits out of particular layers, to only use part of each layer in the final image.
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10/29/2004 06:01:10 PM · #22 |
i think you'll need to make the masked area a selection under the layer masks options. then you can edit the layer ( selection created from the mask ) normally. you'll have to click the layer thumbnail to get back to the layer itself, and out of the mask
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10/29/2004 06:12:11 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by ellamay:
Originally posted by Travis99:
change your color settings from defult to adobe 1998 |
I am working on a mac should I use the mac rgb setting? Is this why when I save my work in PS everything jumps WAY bright when I upload? |
Yes
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10/29/2004 06:38:31 PM · #24 |
ok this is my last question for a while I promise.
When I changed this setting there is another one that says 'color mngmt profile' and all my shots in africa were shot on ' adobe rgb' because some of the images are going to be in a book and thats what they wanted me to shoot in. But if I change that setting from 'preserve embedded profile' to 'convert to working rgb' (at least for the shots not going in the book) that will give me better colors is that right?
Originally posted by Travis99:
Originally posted by ellamay:
Originally posted by Travis99:
change your color settings from defult to adobe 1998 |
I am working on a mac should I use the mac rgb setting? Is this why when I save my work in PS everything jumps WAY bright when I upload? |
Yes |
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10/29/2004 06:39:11 PM · #25 |
Originally posted by Travis99:
Originally posted by ellamay:
Originally posted by Travis99:
change your color settings from defult to adobe 1998 |
I am working on a mac should I use the mac rgb setting? Is this why when I save my work in PS everything jumps WAY bright when I upload? |
Yes |
There is more than a single Mac option though, depending on monitor, I suppose. Mine shows "Apple RGB" and "Monitor eMac RGB". On an eMac, would it be better to choose one over the other?
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