Course outline
Photoshop fundamentalsWhat file sizes to expect • System requirements • File format differences such as raster/bitmap (e.g. TIFF) v. vector files (e.g. EPS)
Image input
Display and output: discussion of scanners, monitors, desktop printers, image setters and film recorders in the context of image quality and resolution
Colour theory
Additive and subtractive • Perceptual colour – the eye, the monitor, the printed page • Colour gamuts • Device independent colour • Photoshop’s CMYK preview mode • Spot colours • Duotones, bit depth - 8 and 16 bit
Application basics
The toolbox and panels • The colour picker • View modes • Keyboard shortcuts • Navigation panels • Using Adobe Bridge to find, sort and open images • N-up and multiple document view with tabs
Selection techniques
Creating selection areas • Adding to and subtracting from • Using Quick Selection and refinement tool • Feathering and anti-aliasing • Quick Mask
Using the magnetic tools • The Magic Eraser tools to make cut outs • Selecting intricate elements like hair
The use of painting tools
The standard brushes • Custom brushes • Linear or radial gradient fills • Creating custom gradient styles • Using the Mixer Brush
Retouching
Cloning images • Using patterns • Smudging, blurring and sharpening • Cropping • Repairing scratches • Negative to positive, heal tool, shadow & highlight tool, match colour tool, red eye tool and vanishing point filter • Using Content Aware Fill
Using the History panel
As an Undo • For effects • Using the History brush and the Art brushes to create natural media effects • RAM and hard disk (scratch disk) issues
Content-Aware Scaling
Resizing images while retaining the correct proportions for your subjects
Image adjustment
Using the Adjustments panel for live, non-destructive image adjustment • Brightness, contrast, gamma, hue/saturation • Colour balance for shadows, highlights and mid-tones • Levels and curves • The black and white conversion tool
Output generally
Re-sampling and printing • Resizing and adjusting resolution to the most appropriate values for printing • Screening issues • File formats for export
Adding type to an image
Adjusting text • Adjusting text appearance • Using text effects commands • Rendering text • Text as a selection • Text distortion and warping, text on a path
Layers
Converting a selection path to a layer • Controlling layer transparency • Creating montages using components from different modes • Defining and using Adjustment layers • Placing guides and using grids • Layer styles and layer management, layer comps • Creating and using layer smart objects • Introducing video & 3D smart layers
Creating special effects with filters
Including soften, sharpen and numerous forms of distortion • Transforming areas of an image, including rotate, stretch, skew, flip and alter perspective • Using the Free Transform function • Using non-destructive smart filters
Warping and Gradients
Using the interactive image warping window • Creating and editing gradients • Using Puppet Warp to reposition an image element
Rapid processing of images
Recording sequences of editing steps using the Actions panel • Batch processing images
Web graphics
Optimising for the web using the comparison area to check quality of image output • Image Slicing, web panels and choosing the most appropriate file format (GIF, PNG and JPEG), Flash export
Creating a web photo gallery
From existing images using customisable HTML templates
