Adobe Photoshop

1
Adobe Photoshop

• Lecturer
• Bob Larmour
• 16G03 - R.Larmour_at_ulster.ac.uk

2
Adobe Photoshop

• This series of slides covers features of Adobe
  Photoshop which we will look at in the practical
  labs.
• They overview the material in the lab tutorials,
  emphasising the key aspects of each practical
  session.
• The last section contains practical advice on
  Assignment 1, which is based on Photoshop.

3
Photoshop

• Photoshop is a system for Image
• Creating
• Inputing
• Manipulation
• The system is an IMAGE PROCESSOR.

4
Photoshop

• This is similar to a WORD PROCESSOR
• However Images (Pictures, Art Work etc) are much
  more complex than text.
• Therefore the system is much more sophisticated
  than a WP.
• This is seen immediately on entering the system.

5
Photoshop

• The number of Tool Bars, Menus, sub-menus etc
  available is huge.
• These hierarchies can go down to a depth of 4 or
  more.
• Our first lab tutorial will help you to get used
  to this command structure.

6
Photoshop

• I want to give some general advice to help you
  get through this initial phase using the lab
  tutorials
• If you find something is not working according to
  the tutorial advice, or the Command is not
  visible, you may be in the wrong sub-menu,
  sub-sub-menu etc.

7
Photoshop

• The tutorials only demonstrate some features
  timed to complete the practice in the time
  available.
• For example in a tutorial changing one surface
  effect on an image is explored.
• However you will see 15, 20, or 30 other possible
  surface effects in that specific menu.

8
Photoshop

• I want you to look at these other effects as well
  - exploring the system possibilities.
• This could cause a problem if you have already
  created effects.
• There is, however, the most important command in
  the system.

9
Photoshop

• The main menu across the top of the screen
  contains the usual EDIT option.
• Select this and the third option down is
• STEP BACKWARD

10
Photoshop

• This undos previous commands in sequence.
• Note that the first option under EDIT is UNDO
  but this becomes REDO after use.

11

• STEP BACKWARD is important when you experiment
  with the effects.
• After you have made a total dogs dinner of the
  image with the experiments, you can step back to
  the original.

12
Photoshop

• Just to repeat - the system is not difficult
  except that it is very large with an enormous
  number of potential features, effects etc.
• The Central features of the system are explored
  in Tutorial 1 but just to summarise them

13
Photoshop

• (a) There is a traditional Menu across the top
  with FILE, EDIT etc plus some options which are
  specific to Photoshop

14
Photoshop

• (b) Tools or Toolbox.
• These are basically manipulation tools.
• Different cutting/moving/orientation etc
  features.
• When a tool from here is chosen a tool specific
  menu appears just below the main (a) Menu
• Some tools have hidden components in them.

15
Photoshop

• (c) Windows
• On the traditional Menu(a) the Windows option
  reveals a series of palettes.
• These give a range of more sophisticated effects
  which can be made on images.
• Including - colouring, texturing, sharpening etc

16
Photoshop

• Each of these has its own set of sub-menus
  allowing you to develop very specific effects.

17
Photoshop

• A key aspect of using the system is to experiment
  yourself.
• Remember no matter how big a mess you make of an
  image you can always go back to the original with
  Step backward

18
Photoshop

• After the first two lessons we will now look at
  more sophisticated manipulations.
• This includes both photos and images.
• The purpose is to create a final image product
  from different sources.

19
Photoshop

• Major topics include
• Layers in images (3).
• Working with colours, gradients, patterns in
  layers (4).
• Working with Masks and Channels (5).
• Retouching Photos (6).

20
Photoshop

• These together will allow you
• Add and amend new features to a basic image which
  you started with.
• Develop sophisticated effects to all or part of
  your final image.

21
Photoshop

• I want to remind you that the tutorials use only
  one or two of the effects possible.
• Experiment with the others.
• Use EDIT - STEP BACKWARD to undo effects and try
  again with new ones.

22
Layers

• This is a central concept in Photoshop.
• Many images created in Photoshop or added to it
  can be considered as a series of layers.
• Think of these as a a series of transparent
  overheads.
• Put together, they form the final image.

23
Layers

• The key feature is that each layer can be
  manipulated separately.
• Thus each can be
• moved
• colour changed
• shrunk/increased
• retextured etc.
• independently of the other picture layers.

24
Layers

• Another image (or part of one) can be imported as
  a layer and incorporated into the final image.
• A TEXT layer can be declared at any time
  -allowing text over any part of the image.

25
Layers

• One drawback is that multilayered images use a
  lot of Bytes.
• This is because each layer is saved with a
  history of manipulation upon it.
• These can then be undone and changed if you
  are unhappy with its look.

26
Layers

• To save space you can delayer the image when
  you are satisfied with it.
• This compresses the image by disposing of its
  history.
• But it saves large amounts of disc storage space.

27
Layers

• Please Note
• In your assignment do NOT delayer the final
  version.
• I wish to see the separate images you have
  incorporated.

28
Masks and Channels

• Often an image which you have loaded in is not
  quite what you want in parts.
• You can solve this by isolating part of the Image
  and changing it.
• This is done through MASKS.

29
Masks and Channels

• You create a Mask based on one of the selection
  tools.
• The area not selected is protected from the
  editing/manipulations you make.

30
Masks and Channels

• Masks are saved in CHANNELS which store the
  information about your changes.
• There are sophisticated aspects - creating
  Gradient Masks making part of the chosen
  partially visible.

31
Graphics

• There are two aspects
• Bitmap images or Raster Images
• or
• Vector Graphics

32
Graphics

• Bitmap images are based on a grid of colours.
• Each one has a location and colour
• You actually Edit groups of Pixels rather than
  shapes

33
Graphics

• They can represent subtle gradations of tone and
  colour
• Suitable for photographs and artwork when
  continuous tone images are needed.

34
Graphics

• The disadvantage is when scaling up.
• The number of pixels are fixed.
• They tend to become jagged when the image is
  scaled up.

35
Graphics

• (b) Vector Graphics
• They are composed of lines curves etc.
• These are defined mathematically in the
  background.

36
Graphics

• The formulas do not change so that crispness in
  images is not changed by sizing/moving.
• However the resolution of either the screen or
  printed image will determine the quality
• i.e. the weakest link.

37
Graphics

• Vector Graphics are most useful for images which
  have to be resized significantly.

38
Image Retouching

• Often an image you find is not quite right
• for immediate use.
• In Lesson six a series of features is presented
  allowing you to retouch an imported image in many
  ways.

39
Image Retouching

• While any image can be retouched using these
  features they are most useful for photographs.
• They recreate some of the tricks professional
  photographers may use in their studios for image
  adjustment.

40
Image Retouching

• CROPPING allows you to resize an image which may
  be too large.
• You can give the image a final size (width and
  height).
• Also part of the image can be isolated (Cropped)
  and only that part used.

41
Image Retouching

• Often an image which would be useful, has
  characteristics which do not fit in with other
  parts of a final image.
• Thus the TONAL range can be adjusted.
• This changes the lightness or darkness of an
  image .

42
Image Retouching

• It changes the contrast by adjusting the range of
  light/dark pixels in the image.
• Colours can be BALANCED if they are too bright or
  dim.
• This effect may be very subtle and can depend the
  screen or your eyesight quality.

43
Image Retouching

• Colours can be REPLACED completely or their Hue
  and Saturation altered.
• This uses a mask to isolate the region/colour to
  be adjusted.
• Again these changes can be subtle, and not always
  clear except with close inspection.

44
Image Retouching

• The SPONGE tool specifically adjusts saturation
  of a colour.
• The DODGE tool has a specific role of adjusting
  the highlights in an image.
• This can be used to exaggerate parts of an image.

45
Image Retouching

• One useful feature may be the CLONED STAMP tool.
• It allows to remove unwanted objects in an image.
• The tool copies an area of background.

46
Image Retouching

• This is then painted over the unwanted object,
  until it blends with the original background.
• For example in the lesson a small boat is removed
  by cloning part of the sea over it.

47
Image Retouching

• These features again are used mostly with
  photographic images to create a more useful
  photographic image.
• One tool allows you to cover up the fact that the
  original image was a photograph.

48
Image Retouching

• This is the ART HISTORY BRUSH.
• It is a brush tool which can adopt a range of
  artistic brush styles.
• Thus Impressionistic, thick Van Gogh brush
  strokes etc can be used.

49
Image Retouching

• When applied the painted style surface rather
  than clear photography is apparent.
• The features described above are for
  experimentation.
• Just as in any package, you may never need to use
  everything you look at.

50
Assignment

• I want to give some advice on assignment one
• Lesson 3 is a good overall guide to a lot of what
  you want to do.
• For example

51
Assignment

• Adding a new Layer from an inputted image.
• Positioning the image.
• Creating effects with images, colouring, partial
  fading, blending etc.

52
Assignment

• Reorder Layers.
• Applying gradients to Layers.
• Applying text.
• Formatting text.

53
Assignment

• A practical approach is
• Have Lesson 3 by your side. Page 62 has an index
  of features (you could put a page number beside
  each).
• Create one of the covers.
• Have one or more images to bring in.

54
Assignment

• Add it/them to the background.
• Position or arrange them etc.
• It is a good idea to have an outline design
  before you start doing anything.
• This reduces the shifting, sizing, colouring etc.
  you will need to do later.

55
Assignment

• As you wish to do something, find the description
  in Lesson 3 and apply it to your effort rather
  than the lesson image.
• You should of course chose your own particular
  effect colour, fading etc and not follow
  slavishly the Lesson.

56
Assignment

• It is a good idea to put the text in at the end
  after all the images have been satisfactorly
  established.
• Text boxes are easy to establish and the text can
  be readily coloured for visibility.

57
Assignment

• Make sure all text is easy to read and there is
  consistency in format be careful of text colour
  over a coloured image.
• Some colour combinations make text difficult to
  read.

58
Assignment

• This is not a design module and the main emphasis
  is on use of Photoshop facilities.
• However I will also be judging your covers as an
  ordinary buyer looking for a book on Photoshop.

59
Assignment

• Thus
• Is the text throughout and easy to read?
• Are the images appropriate for the topic?
• Is the Artwork/images to garish/gaudy (does it
  give you a headache looking at it)?