OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES
In this first week, you will be installing Photoshop on your computer and familiarizing yourself with the tools, panels and workspace. You will post an introduction on our class blog and say hello to a couple other students to welcome each other to class. You will experiment with some tools right away for the first assignment.
3 items are due this week: Introductory Survey, Assignment #1, Quiz #1.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
READ
VIEW
FOCUS
As you begin to use Photoshop, there are some extremely helpful operations that, once you become familiar with, you may find yourself using a lot.
HISTORY/UNDO
To un
do the last change: command-z (mac) control-z (pc). To undo more than one change: option-command-z (mac), alt-control-z (pc)
The history panel can also be used. Find it at Top Menu: Window -> History
By default, Photoshop saves the last 20 changes. If you go back in the history panel to a previous state and then make a change, the changes that come after will be removed and you will then be working from that new point forward.
ESSENTIAL KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
- increase brush size by hitting ] key
- decrease brush size by hitting [ key
- zoom in with command + (Mac) control+ (Win)
- zoom out with command – (Mac) control – (Win)
Download the keyboard reference sheet for Windows & Mac here.
LAYERS ARE YOUR FRIENDS
Adobe tutorial on using layers.
Layers are an essential part of working in Photoshop. Think of layers as a stack of transparencies, a bunch of sheets where you can have information that can be transparent or opaque and can be re-ordered and combined in lots of different ways.
As you make adjustments to your image, new ‘adjustment layers’ will show up on your layer panel these adjustment layers can affect the layer immediately below or all layers, depending on what you want.
Click the eye next to the individual layer you want to hide or show. To duplicate a layer use option-click (mac) control- click (pc) or the menu in the upper right corner. To delete a layer, drag it to the trash can in the lower left corner. To lock/unlock a layer, click the lock icon.
You can also change the opacity of a layer and it’s blending mode – make sure the layer is selected. Play around with these and see what happens.
As you begin to use Photoshop, there are some extremely helpful operations that, once you become familiar with, you may find yourself using a lot.
HISTORY/UNDO
To undo the last change: command-z (mac) control-z (pc). To undo more than one change: option-command-z (mac), alt-control-z (pc)
The history panel can also be used. Find it at Top Menu: Window -> History
By default, Photoshop saves the last 20 changes. If you go back in the history panel to a previous state and then make a change, the changes that come after will be removed and you will then be working from that new point forward.
ESSENTIAL KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
- increase brush size by hitting ] key
- decrease brush size by hitting [ key
- zoom in with command + (Mac) control+ (Win)
- zoom out with command – (Mac) control – (Win)
Download the keyboard reference sheet for Windows & Mac here.
LAYERS ARE YOUR FRIENDS
Adobe tutorial on using layers.
Layers are an essential part of working in Photoshop. Think of layers as a stack of transparencies, a bunch of sheets where you can have information that can be transparent or opaque and can be re-ordered and combined in lots of different ways.
As you make adjustments to your image, new ‘adjustment layers’ will show up on your layer panel these adjustment layers can affect the layer immediately below or all layers, depending on what you want.
Click the eye next to the individual layer you want to hide or show. To duplicate a layer use option-click (mac) control- click (pc) or the menu in the upper right corner. To delete a layer, drag it to the trash can in the lower left corner. To lock/unlock a layer, click the lock icon.
You can also change the opacity of a layer and it’s blending mode – make sure the layer is selected. Play around with these and see what happens.
REQUIRED ACTIVITIES
QUIZ
ASSIGNMENTS
ASSIGNMENT 1 – Introductions
Instructions:
- Download nametag.jpg to your computer.
- Open the file in Photoshop (File > Open).
- Select the brush tool and “paint” your first name or nickname you are using for class on the name tag.
- Decorate your name tag however you like, using any of Photoshop’s tools. If you are completely new to Photoshop, try at least one tool you read about in the first chapter of our book.
- Take a screenshot of your nametag inside Photoshop. It should look similar to the example below showing both your image and the tools/layers.
- Create a New Post and post your nametag screenshot file to the class blog.
- Introduce yourself to the class with a paragraph or two and answer – What is your superpower?
- View other student posts via the All Posts link on main site menu.
Your screen shot should include the Photoshop interface but not your whole desktop. See instructions under Help menu on this site for how to take a screenshot.
ASSIGNMENT 1 – Introductions
Instructions:
- Download nametag.jpg to your computer.
- Open the file in Photoshop (File > Open).
- Select the brush tool and “paint” your first name or nickname you are using for class on the name tag.
- Decorate your name tag however you like, using any of Photoshop’s tools. If you are completely new to Photoshop, try at least one tool you read about in the first chapter of our book.
- Take a screenshot of your nametag inside Photoshop. It should look similar to the example below showing both your image and the tools/layers.
- Create a New Post and post your nametag screenshot file to the class blog.
- Introduce yourself to the class with a paragraph or two and answer – What is your superpower?
- View other student posts via the All Posts link on main site menu.
Your screen shot should include the Photoshop interface but not your whole desktop. See instructions under Help menu on this site for how to take a screenshot.