PHOTOSHOP TUTORIAL
Getting Started:
Opening an Image
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From START, click PROGRAMS and ADOBE PHOTOSHOP.
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From the file menu…click OPEN. Using the dialog box
that appears navigate to find the file you wish to open. If
this is a digital camera image they will be on your disk and
be named sequential numbers.
Resizing the Background
"Canvas"
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If you wish to print out an image that is the
correct size to print on paper it is necessary to make your background
canvas the appropriate size.
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Go to IMAGE on the top menubar, click CANVAS
SIZE...
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This will open the Canvas Size window. You can change the
size of the paper by changing the height and width.
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If you want a page size you should choose 7.5-8 by 10-10.5
inches. Remember that the printer does not print right to
the edge of the paper.
Resizing the Image
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Go to IMAGE on the top menubar, click IMAGE
SIZE...
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This will open the Image Size window. You can change the
size of the image by changing the height and width.
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This can be done using pixels or percent. To use a percent
click the arrow to the right of the height or width dialog
box and it will show you additional choices.
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When you have the size you want then click OK.
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If you do not like the size you have chosen then before you
do anything else go to EDIT and click UNDO.
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It is also important to make sure you are working on the
correct layer before resizing. (Layering will be covered below)
Adding Additional Images
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To begin you should follow the instructions for OPENING
AN IMAGE above.
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Once you have an image open and you wish to add it to your
existing canvas you need to follow these steps:
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Click on the picture you want to add.
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Go to SELECT on the top menubar, click ALL.
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Once you have you entire image selected then go to EDIT
on the top menubar, click COPY.
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Now click on your main canvas to make it active.
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Once your main canvas in in front and active the go to EDIT
on the top menubar, click PASTE
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This will place your picture onto a new layer of your canvas.
Manipulating Layers
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Your screen should have a window that is called layers.
If it does not then go to WINDOW and click SHOW
LAYERS.
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Once your LAYERS WINDOW is active you can use it to move
your pictures into position.
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To move a picture you must click on the layer that contains
that picture.
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Then choose the arrow movement tool from the tool pallet.
It is the tool on the top right side of the tool menu.
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Once you have this tool you will be able to click and drag
your picture to any place on the page you want to.
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If you want to change the arrangement of your layers, or
how the layers are stacked on each other, you can click and
drag them in the layers window. HINT: The layers towards the
top are on the top!
Changing the Orientation
of Your Image
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If you bring in an image that is oriented the wrong
way, sideways, upside-down, etc. you can change the direction.
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Follow the directions above for Opening an Image.
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Once you have the image opened then go to IMAGE, click
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To move a picture you must click on the layer that contains
that picture.
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Then choose the arrow movement tool from the tool pallet.
It is the tool on the top right side of the tool menu.
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Once you have this tool you will be able to click and drag
your picture to any place on the page you want to.
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If you want to change the arrangement of your layers, or
how the layers are stacked on each other, you can click and
drag them in the layers window. HINT: The layers towards the
top are on the top!
Feathering
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Feathering is an effect that is used to fade the
edges of an image into the background.
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To feather an image you must first use the selection tool
to select the part of the image you DON'T want to feather,
or your focus.
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The selection tool if found in the top left or the tool bar.
You can change the type of selection tool you have by holding
down the button and choosing a circle, rectangle, etc.
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After you have selected the part of the image to be your
focus then go to SELECT, click INVERSE. This
will change the selection to contain everything outside your
focus.
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Now choose SELECT, click FEATHER.
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A dialog box will appear asking for the radius of your selection,
5 to 10 is a nice number. Click OK.
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You will notice that your picture has not changed at all,
the final step is to press BACKSPACE on the keyboard.
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Now you will see the effect. If you don't like it, before
you do anything else, click EDIT, UNDO.
Fading a Background
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This tool can be used to make backgrounds from existing images.
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Follow all the steps for Adding an Image from above.
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Next you want to place your image onto a layer, this technique
will not work while the image is in the background.
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Go to the LAYER on the menubar and click DUPLICATE
LAYER. This will make an exact duplicate of the image
you chose to be you background.
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You will now have two of these layers and you will want
to delet the background layer.
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Click to select the original background image then go to
LAYER and click DELETE LAYER.
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To fade your image you now need to select the new layer you
made and then, in the layers window, click and drag the arrow
located under the opacity command. You can choose how much
you want the image faded
©Christi Boggs 2002
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