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05/03/2007 04:31:21 AM · #1 |
Spurs, joynim, slickchik, brens29, JerseyGenie, bvlindalou, Chalice, Di, Tlemetry, cpanaioti, jedusi, DaveSM,
USING PHOTOSHOP - BRIEF OVERVIEW OF TOOLS, TIPS, TRICKS & SHORTCUTS
Mentor for this Group & Topic: Art Roflmao
Topic Author: Art Roflmao
Introduction and Disclaimers
For this first topic, I am going to try and cover some of the basics of the tools that I use. I have to confess that there are still several tools I have not explored so I am hoping the other mentors and student will feel free to discuss ones I have left out.
TOOL PALETTES AND WORKSPACE OVERVIEW
The first thing to remember about the Photoshop workspace is that it is highly customizable, so what you see in my workspace may look very different from your own. Mine is fairly generic / default-ish. Many of you may already know this, but you can drag palettes right out of their box and into another one, so you could have all your favortie palettes in one toolbox if that works for you.
Many times I like to move the palettes around or stretch the layers one out so I can read the titles and the workspace can get pretty messy.
I love being able to simply reset them by clicking (on the top menu) Window | Workspace | Reset Palette Locations. This is useful when you resize the application window as well.
PHYSICAL TOOLS
Mouse or Tablet, Keyboard, Monitor, Printer. The Monitor issues will be covered in a later topic and the printer will not be covered, so let's talk about the input devices. My weapon of choice for editing in Photoshop is a wireless mouse - two of them actually. One is always charging while I use the other because there is nothing more aggravating than your mouse dying while you are trying to create radioactive breath in a Godzilla pic - y'all know what I'm talking about, I'm sure. :) The Duke Nukem mousepad is optional, but recommended. I do have a Wacom tablet purchased from another member here on DPC. I tried it but it slowed me down so much I haven't taken the time to get used to it.
I invite any insight, tips, feedback, pros & cons of tablets vs. mice in this thread.
Ok, the second most important device for me is the keyboard! Use of the keyboard for switching tools and adjusting tool settings can speed up your editing process immensely. For that reason, I recommend that you get very familiar with the keystrokes for each of the primary editing tools on the tool palette. You can always find out what those are by mousing over the tool. Here are the ones I mainly use: Mask: M, Wand: W, Brush: B, Eraser: E, Blur: R, Paint Bucket: G, Text: T, Healing Brush: J
The left and right square brackets adjust the size of the tool you are using - this comes in very handy! [ = smaller, ] = bigger. Also, the SHIFT key used in conjunction with one of the tool letter shortcuts will cycle through the variations of that tool (i.e. SHIFT+R = toggle through Blur, Sharpen, Smudge).
The keyboard shortcut commands are also faster than clicking on the menus for common tasks like New File (ALT+F+N), Save As (CTRL+SHIFT+S), Resize (ALT+I+I) - get to know these shortcuts, they can increase your efficiency and keep you from dumping all the work on your poor, cramped up mouse hand.
LAYERS PALETTE OVERVIEW
I am talking about standard image layers - adjustment layers and layer blending modes will be covered in a future topic. Bear_Music covered layers quite well here, so I will just reiterate that the use of layers is a critical part of my process. I always duplicate a layer (CTRL+J) before I apply a filter or effect or start editing it - this is essentially creating a backup. You can always undo (CTRL+Z), but not if you have exceeded your set number of history steps, so a backup is always good. Also useful for bringing selective parts of the original image back into the picture.
HISTORY PALETTE
The History palette is the main place where all of your editing steps are recorded and can be undone.
You can setup complete, detailed tracking of your editing in the General Preferences. This is very useful for Challenge entries validation.
The History palette also holds special powers when it comes to actually editing your image. When used with the History Brush (Y), you can selectively undo edits upon edits in varying degrees by setting the opacity of the History Brush. More on this when we discuss techniques.
CLOSING SUMMARY AND ASSIGNMENTS
That's pretty much all I am going to cover for now. I do not want to reinvent the wheel, so I will reference again Bear's posts in a previous workshop that covered specific things in much greater detail. There is no assignment, so I can break the one topic per week rule and start working on the next topic (Working with Selection tools and Masks) and post it by Sunday.
The discussion for this topic should focus on general working processes, methods, etc. as well as Q&A about related issues. Feedback on the format, quantity and quality of the presentation is also open for discussion so we can improve as we move forward.
Recommended additional reading:
Basic Photoshop Workflow
Basic Examination and Functions of Photoshop
Photoshop Layers: the Basics
Photoshop Workflow: Where Do We Start and How Do We Proceed?
Message edited by author 2007-05-03 15:23:04. |
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05/03/2007 06:56:07 AM · #2 |
Great start Art ( oh look Im a poet and did'nt know it!)
I have a wireless mouse we have had it for about 5 months and have'nt had to change the batteries yet-maybe thats good ?
Some of what is said is goobledygook to me which I know will start making sense once I start the assignments.
Feedback on format etc. I like the tip and participate logos they really stand out. Some of your pictures are not clickable thumnails it would be helpful if they were so we could see the bigger versions :)
Thanks again Ken I really appreciate the time and effort you are putting into this :) |
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05/03/2007 07:44:59 AM · #3 |
I'll be following this thread as I have already learned from it. I really am impressed with how orgainized you seem to be and how you are able to organize this lesson with all of the topic headers, tips, links, etc.
It looks like you are going to be able to make this an extremely effective, easy, and comprehensive learning experience.
Thanks for committing the time and effort to do this. |
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05/03/2007 09:28:53 AM · #4 |
I still, will be writing notes on paper, you can not crash my note book...maybe burn it. Days I will be gone May 7th-May 11th. I will be following through this period at my sisters house. Looking over my shoulder...maybe take cd's with me. May 21st back surgery no following here till I get out hopefully just a few days. I hate hospitals. |
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05/03/2007 09:40:29 AM · #5 |
Great tips, well organized. I'll probably be lurking around or coming back to these threads for insight on processing.
A question tho -- shouldn't these be posted in the Tips & Tricks forum, rather than Out & About? Will be much easier to find there, particularly after they run their course. |
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05/03/2007 09:43:50 AM · #6 |
I will also be following this as I desperately need to improve my photoshop knowledge.
On the mouse vs tablet thing, I dont have a tablet but I do use a trackball rather than a mouse, it is far easier on the wrist and you dont have to keep moving it just roll the ball. I use a Logitec and a Kensington trackbll.
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05/03/2007 11:23:37 AM · #7 |
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05/03/2007 01:09:09 PM · #8 |
Yay !!
Art gets to lead the 'remedial class' . . . sorry group 'A'.
I propose a hearty round of Beers uh applause for our illustrious leader, and a proposal that our final test piece should be to build a new creature for the von ROFLSTEIN Castle.
Message edited by author 2007-05-03 13:11:21. |
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05/03/2007 01:14:38 PM · #9 |
Who's in group A? Who's in group B? C? And where do I sign up??? :) |
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05/03/2007 01:31:54 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by phatphoto: Who's in group A? Who's in group B? C? And where do I sign up??? :) |
Sadly too late to sign up now, but lurkers are always welcome :- ) |
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05/03/2007 01:47:53 PM · #11 |
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05/03/2007 02:07:09 PM · #12 |
Yeah, no homework. I like this teacher so far. Unfortunately I fear he'll make up for it sometime very soon.
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05/03/2007 02:32:45 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by joynim: Some of what is said is goobledygook to me which I know will start making sense once I start the assignments. |
Please let me know what specifically is foreign to you - this is a beginning class and I know I can get way ahead of myself and confuse people sometimes. Ask for clarification on anything you want and don't assume it will become clear later. :)
Originally posted by joynim: Feedback on format etc. I like the tip and participate logos they really stand out. Some of your pictures are not clickable thumnails it would be helpful if they were so we could see the bigger versions :) |
Thanks Charlie! Great to hear that feedback. The forum tools and formatting are limited and for me, it is easier to read long posts if they have visual queues. In some cases (i.e. pic of mouse and tablet), I thought I was going a bit overboard even showing pics - in those examples, they were really only there to keep the thread lively - not meant as illustrative examples or detail.
Originally posted by phatphoto: Who's in group A? Who's in group B? C? And where do I sign up??? :) |
The groups are listed here.
As said, you are free to lurk, but no donuts for non-registered students. ;-)
Originally posted by loriprophoto: On the mouse vs tablet thing, I dont have a tablet but I do use a trackball rather than a mouse, it is far easier on the wrist and you dont have to keep moving it just roll the ball. I use a Logitec and a Kensington trackbll. |
Great input, Lori. I hadn't really thought about other devices. For me, the most important issues are precision, functionality and comfort - in that order.
Someone also mentioned a trackpad outside this thread - if that refers to the finger thingy on a laptop, I'd think that would be very difficult to use - especially if you have fat fingers like me.
Nobody said anything about the keyboard - did everyone already know and use the keyboard shortcuts? My wife is a graphic/web designer and she is a mouse-only user. Drives me nuts to watch her. :) |
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05/03/2007 02:39:49 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by EstimatedEyes: A question tho -- shouldn't these be posted in the Tips & Tricks forum, rather than Out & About? Will be much easier to find there, particularly after they run their course. |
My understanding was that the workshops were supposed to be posted in Out & About. Tips & Tricks makes more sense to me, but who am I to question the information that I can't remember where I got it from? :P
I'll check on it and have things moved if I was mistaken...
Edit: AHA! It was wavelength who done told me...
Message edited by author 2007-05-03 14:46:21. |
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05/03/2007 02:49:24 PM · #15 |
I have the same mouse as you...I don't know what relevance that has. Maybe means I have the correct materials for this class...which is good because in most classes it takes me half the semester to get all the stuff I need.
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05/03/2007 03:15:47 PM · #16 |
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05/03/2007 03:30:25 PM · #17 |
Ken I will just post this and then dissappear into the obscurity of lurkedom. I hate the trackball thingys on the laptops, this is similar to the mouse and you control the ball with your fingers, I find it much more accurate to control the cursor/tool movement especially for sensitive functions.
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05/03/2007 03:47:23 PM · #18 |
Just an FYI on the references to the recommended reading list. Bear_Music has consolidated all the information into one post in the Tips & Tricks forum, so if you want to read them without the clutter of the workshop discussions click here.
Thanks Robert! |
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05/03/2007 03:57:49 PM · #19 |
another shortcut trick when using resizing your brush size with [ and ]. If you want to adjust the hardness of the brush, you hold down SHIFT and press [ or ] ([ is softer ] is harder) or techinically your just pushing the { and } buttons instead |
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05/03/2007 04:14:59 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by noisemaker: another shortcut trick when using resizing your brush size with [ and ]. If you want to adjust the hardness of the brush, you hold down SHIFT and press [ or ] ([ is softer ] is harder) or techinically your just pushing the { and } buttons instead |
Sorry, I know everything there is to know and I did not know that so I will have to verify... ...well hot dayum, whaddya know! Now I learnt sumpin! Thanks Dustin! Adding my 'seal' of approval. |
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05/03/2007 04:19:15 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by Art Roflmao: Originally posted by noisemaker: another shortcut trick when using resizing your brush size with [ and ]. If you want to adjust the hardness of the brush, you hold down SHIFT and press [ or ] ([ is softer ] is harder) or techinically your just pushing the { and } buttons instead |
Sorry, I know everything there is to know and I did not know that so I will have to verify... ...well hot dayum, whaddya know! Now I learnt sumpin! Thanks Dustin! Adding my 'seal' of approval. |
A while back when I was just getting my feel of photoshop I'd be on it for days just messing around with everything and shortcuts and I found this one. I'd like try a shortcut then all different combinations like try each one with shift,crtl, and alt to see what each did. It helps! It's a great way to start learning how to use photoshop as a tool instead of a seeing it as just a very large confusing program |
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05/03/2007 06:49:46 PM · #22 |
Ok Art you said to ask if it does'nt make sense to me but I'm blamimg you if everyone teases me in the playground!
First of all I had a play and moved some of the palettes around and thats great but I guess it would be good if some people posted screenshots of the way they have customized theirs as I have no idea what would be good to move and where!
I manged to reset palletets but I wondered how you stretch the layers one out? Thats why i wanted a bigger version of the picture with that info so I could see what it might look like.
Helpful info about the shortcuts but I have question about mousing over to find the info sometimes that works for me sometimes it does'nt does anyone know why?
Ok layers I will leave for just now I have vague thoughts and understandings in my head about them but I know these will come clear the more I am directed to use them.
I cant seem to find where preferences are to set the general preferences can anyone direct me?
I tried the history brush thingy but it did'nt work prob cos I dont have the layers correct but thats ok as it seems it will be covered later :) |
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05/03/2007 07:13:16 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by joynim: I manged to reset palletets but I wondered how you stretch the layers one out? Thats why i wanted a bigger version of the picture with that info so I could see what it might look like. |
No worries - good questions. You can resize any of the palette boxes by grabbing the border and click+drag to stretch them as you do any window.
Originally posted by joynim: Helpful info about the shortcuts but I have question about mousing over to find the info sometimes that works for me sometimes it does'nt does anyone know why? |
Hold the mouse steady and wait a sec. If it doesn't work, move the cursor away for a moment and then mouse back over. Works like ALT tags on images or most any tooltip functionality.
Originally posted by joynim: I cant seem to find where preferences are to set the general preferences can anyone direct me? |
Bottom of the EDIT menu. |
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05/03/2007 07:17:46 PM · #24 |
Damn Art. This is looking great. The icons make it all look official. :P Strange but you're also getting cuter by the look of your profile pic. Ok sorry for the disruption.
Message edited by author 2007-05-03 19:18:01. |
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05/03/2007 07:29:11 PM · #25 |
Great thanks got those all figured tho not quite sure when I saved my history log to my desktop what that wil come out looking like but as I say that will come with prctice :) |
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