Photoshop Tools and Features User Log

The purpose of this log is for you to record what tools and features you used in the creation of your digital graphics. You should try to use as many
as possible and you must record how, why and when you used them. You do not need to record repeated actions but each single new action should
be recorded. An example of this would be setting up a new Photoshop file/image which would cover the ranges; Image Settings (all) and part of
Menus (some of). You only need to do this once. Remember that where the e.g. appears in a range, as many of the items should be covered as
possible but not all of them; your tutor will guide you here. Where possible you should also provide a screen dump to illustrate the action (see
sample image below).

Tools and
features
Menus:

How, why and when used.

Open;

I have used this to open my work to

continue editing it. To find open it is
one of the first options under the file
menu at the top of the page. Once
clicked it shows you a file explorer
box that allows you to select the
image you wish to open

save;

Save is fond under the file tab and it

allows you to save your progress so
that you dont have to start a new
graphic every time you log in.

Screen dump

import;

Import allows you to select an image

or photograph for editing. It will open
the selected image on a new canvas.

export;

Export allows you to save your work

as different file types, it is found
under the file menu, this is very
useful as most software cant read
the raw PSD file from Photoshop.
Exporting allows you to save it as a
PNG amongst other file types, this
allows compatibility.
The edit tab allows you to make
changes to your image but most of
the things under the tab are also
accessible by using keyboard
shortcuts such as ctrl + T for
transform

edit;

view;

View allows you so mould how you

see the image on screen, it can do
things such as: zoom, print view and
much more, this is particularly useful
as it allows you to view your work as
it wool look on paper before printing

help

Image settings:
size;

Resolution;

width;

height;

colour mode;

background;

The help tab gives the user access to

the virtual version of the Photoshop
manual it tells the user how to use all
of the tools on the program

The size is what you set before you

create your new canvas, it refers to
how many pixels are on the X and Y
axis
The resolution is how many pixels are
in an Inch this is also set before you
create a new canvas
The width is what you set before you
create your new canvas, it refers to
how many pixels are on the X axis
The height is what you set before you
create your new canvas, it refers to
how many pixels are on the Y axis
The colour mode allows the user to
select different methods of colour
picking. RGB is the most common
one but there is also BITMAP,
Greyscale, CMYK and Lab colour
The background refers to the canvas
that you are working on, its colour
can be changed so you can get the
desired effect or it can even be set as

transparency;

aspect ratio,

file name
Drawing tools:

tool options;

brush;

pencil;

transparent
This refers to how see-through the
object is that you have selected. This
is very useful for creating shadows.
The aspect ratio refers to what the
ratio between the pixels are for
example the most common one is
16:9
The file name is simply the name of
the file that you are working on.
The tool options refer to the different
variants of the selected tool, to
change the tool option you hold down
the mouse click on the tool you want
to use and it allows you to change
the variant.
The brush is a method of drawing on
your design it is in the tool panel on
the left of the screen. It is mainly
used to add shadows and to make
something less conspicuous.
The pencil tool is good for tracing
parts of an image to later use, you
can change the thickness and
harshness of it for varying results

duplicate;

Duplicate is used do duplicate whole

objects so there are 2 of that given
object

clone;

Clone is like duplicate but it

duplicates an area of the canvas
instead of single shapes. It is most
useful when creating a drop shadow
or reflection
Fill allows you to fill a designated
area with colour and again is found
on the tool panel, it is really useful
when you want to change the colour
of a rasterised image quickly

fill;

text;

Text allows you to add words to your

document in all different fonts,
colours and sizes. It creates text in a
different layer to the one that you are
using so that you can come back and
edit it if you want.

line;

The line toll allows you to draw a

straight line with the same
customisability as the pencil tool

stroke;
shape;

The shape tool allows you to draw

basic shapes in a separate layer on
your work. These shapes can be
circles, rectangles and polygons. (on
the screenshot to the left I have used
the shape tool and then merged the
layers to get the shape of a castle).

zoom;

guides and
rulers;

The guides and rulers are a way of

measuring parts of your work to
make sure that they are the correct
size. The guides allow you to create a
snap point so anything placed on that
guide will have the same X or Y
ordinate depending on what guide is
used.

Grid;

The grid when used gives horizontal

and vertical lines across the page
that allows a more accurate
placement & sizing of your objects.
Snap allows shapes and images to be
@snapped to an X or Y ordinate to
make them look in line.

Snap;

The zoom tool allows you to get a

closer view of your work to perform
finite modifications to it.

Palettes, e.g.
colour, gradients,
layers, object,
brushes, history,
actions, size,
resolution;

Gradients can be added to colours to

gradually combine them this is useful
to allow a gradual fade from one
colour to another

Layers, e.g.
copying, saving,
arranging;
flattening; colour
selection,

Layers are the fundamental system

in Photoshop. It allows you to
rearrange objects so one is in front of
another and vice versa.

Colour
selection, e.g.
foreground,
background,
colour swatch,
eyedropper

Editing tools:

Selection, e.g.
marquee, lasso,
magic wand,
magnetic lasso,
deselect;

the eyedropper allows you to select a

colour that is anywhere in your work
to use on another item, it copies the
exact hex code of the colour.

The magic want tool allows you to

select regions of a rasterised image
that are the same colour e.g. white, if
you press delete or backspace it will
delete the selection.
Before deselection

Transform, e.g.
scale, rotate,
skew, flip; cut;
copy; paste;
crop; trim; erase;
undo; fill
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Transform allows you to manipulate

your image how you want. For
example, it allows you to rotate it
and change the size of it. This is
useful for manipulating images to
give them a feel of perspective.

after deselection

Here I have used the

erase tool to get the
desired shape

Advanced

tools:
Effects, e.g.
layer effects,
filters, channels;
image
adjustments,

Image
adjustments,
e.g. brightness
and contrast, hue
and saturation,
colour balance,
gradients,
transparency,
invert; masks;
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You can add effects to the layers like

a bevel or emboss, gradient or colour
overlay. This is one of the most useful
tools as it allows you to edit the
perspective given.

When editing an image, you can add

effects onto the image such as colour
and saturation. This allows you to
tweak the image before it is printed
or saved.

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