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Contents
Inside Photoshop
Working with files
  Opening, saving, and creating new files
  File size
  Size and resolution
  Save for Web & Devices
Working with images
  Selecting
  Copying and pasting
  Layers
  Manipulating and editing
Adding text
Saving
 
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Assignment
   

 

 Inside Photoshop
backforward
 
The Photoshop work area
The Photoshop work area is made up of images and palettes (click for larger image).

 

Image files can be created in Photoshop or can be imported from outside sources (e.g., scanned images). We'll work more with these on the next page.

Palettes are convenient tools that help you monitor and modify your files. On the screen they look like miniature windows and are organized by function into six groups:

  • Tools (left side)
  • Options (top)
  • Navigator - Histogram - Info (right)
  • Color - Swatches - Styles (right, below)
  • Layers - Channels - Paths (right, below)
  • Dock (right, next to Navigator)
Each palette can be accessed from the Window drag-down menu.

 

 

You should take time to become familiar with the palettes -- they are essential to using Photoshop effectively.

 

 

Here is the Tools Palette on the left.

 

 

 

Each of these buttons gives you different ways of changing an image.

 

 

 

 

Long, isn't it?
Window dropdown menu
If you wanted to draw several different lines with the brush tool, you would probably want quick access to different brush sizes. The Brushes palette allows this. To see the Brushes palette, click on Window and then Brushes. The Brushes palette appears on the screen; once on the screen it can be repositioned as needed.
 
Options Bar (Below File, Edit...)
The options bar is docked just below the menu. This is where you can adjust the options for the current tool. Each tool has a number of options. As you work in Photoshop remember to keep your eye in the options bar. If a tool is not doing what you want it to, it is likely that you can configure it to do what you want in the options bar.