Interactive Media Center

http://library.albany.edu/imc/
518 442-3608

Adobe Photoshop CS6

Basic Tips
The following notes supplement the introductory session on Adobe Photoshop on the Windows platform.
Additional classes about specific aspects of Photoshop are available. Refer to the schedule of classes on
the Universitys Events calendar: http://events.albany.edu/cal/main/showMain.rdo Additional
handouts are available in our lab and on the Web: http://library.albany.edu/imc/tutimages.htm Color
laser printing and scanners are available. To request the use of a digital camera, please contact an IMC
staff member: http://library.albany.edu/imc/contact.htm
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the reproduction of
copyrighted material. The person using equipment and software is liable for any infringement.
1. Reset your tools to their default settings. To reset the tools, underneath the
top line menu and the word File, right click on the tool icon [rectangular
marquee tool shown]. Select Reset All Tools. This is advisable in the
Interactive Media Center where users may change Photoshop settings.
2. When working in Photoshop it is recommended that you display the History floating panel. Select
Window >History. History records and saves changes for the current session. As you select up the
list you are able to undo changes and eliminate or repeat action--great for repeat undo.
3. After a file is opened if it will ultimately be printed select View > Rulers.
4. Note the Undo command from the Top Line Menu. Edit > Undo State Change allows you to remove
the last executed command. Or, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + z.
5. Order of decision and execution! First select the layer. Second, select the tool. Third, select the
properties of the tool. Then execute.
6. Using the selection tools to mark an area
for further action such as applying color,
copy, cut or crop. Select the layer first.
Then, from the tools panel, use the
Marquee Tool
or the Lasso Tool.
The marquee tools are used to make
rectangular or elliptical selections; hold
the mouse down on the marquee tool to
select a different tool. To mark a square
or circle selection, hold the Shift key
when drawing with the mouse. The
lasso tool is used to make freehand
selections of generally irregular shapes.
The magnetic lasso instinctively
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outlines the edge of the image. Repeat click and drag the mouse over the image you want to outline
with this option. Once the marching ants display your selection, review the top line menu to add or
subtract from your selection Right click on the selection and review some options.
The image on page one displays Select Inverse- What you did not select is now
selected for execution. For more options, review the top line menu. The selection
may be cut, copied within the same file [creating a layer] or pasted into another file.
7. Use the Move command

to change the position of a selection or layer.

8. Layers See Layer options from the top line menu. See handout on our website
http://library.albany.edu/imc/tutimages.htm...Layers Are Your
Friends. Brief notes follow. Always select the layer first and
then execute a command. The highlighted layer in the layers
panel is the active or selected layer. Layers may be named for
easy recall. Double click on the default name Layer 1 in the
Layers Panel to name it. Layers are listed in the Layer panel and
stacked from top to bottom. That is, the information in the first
layer will sit on top of the layers below. Layers may be reordered for different effects. Select a layer and drag it up or
down the list of layers in te layers panel. Layers may be copied
into other image files by dragging the layer from the Layers
Panel and dropping it into the other open image file. To do this
all image files must be viewable. Select Window >Arrange
>Tile... Layers may be hidden for editing and/or locked.
To resize a layer select the Layer from the Layers panel (not the
background layer). Next, select Edit > Transform >Scale.
Immediately, click the chain link to Maintain Aspect Ratio. When
you resize, the height and width will resize proportionally.
Drag a corner of the layer to resize it. Press Enter when done.
/
To rotate a layer follow these same steps, selecting Edit > Transform > Rotate.
9. Add a Text layer by selecting the Text Tool
. Review the text attributes on the top menu to make
selections. Click within your image and a Type tool window
opens; begin typing. When you are done click on the Layers panel.
The text layer is named after the first few characters of the text
entered. To edit the text, select the Text layer from the Layers
panel. Select the Text Tool and then select from the top line menu what you want to change. If you
only want a portion of the text modified, highlight it first. To reposition a text layer use the Move tool
or re-order it in the layers panel.
10. Foreground and Background color are designated at the bottom of the toolbox. Use the
foreground color to apply color. Use the background color to make gradient fills or fill in
the erased areas of the image. To select a color for either, double click in the square
representing foreground or background to open the color picker. Or, select a color from
within the image with the eyedropper tool. To switch the colors from foreground to background, or
vice versa click on the switch colors icon.

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11. Adjusting the Image properties for size -- a bit

oversimplified... Select Image > Image Size
A digital camera focus is on overall pixels; the
resolution defaults to 72 pixels/inch.

NOTE: Document size equates to pixel dimensions.

The number of pixels/inch multiplied by the height and
width in inches equals the width and height in pixels.

A scanner refers to document size-- a physical picture. Resolution is set to 100 pixels/inch for Web
use, PowerPoint or computer display and at least 150 for print of the same size. To print a larger image,
the scan resolution should be increased [300-1200 pixels/inch]. Example: scan a 3x 4 picture with 300
pixels/inch to create a 5x 8 print (approximations). When adjusting size select Constrain
Proportions to ensure that if one dimension is changed the other is adjusts accordingly.

If you de-select Resample image the pixels in the image are not removed. The Pixel Dimensions will be
grayed out. This may be selected when printing.
To adjust for computer display including PowerPoint, Facebook, websites, mobile devices, email
attachmentsany image that will not be printed, pixels should be calibrated for viewing. Pixels per
inch should not be greater than 150 and 100 is preferred. Typically, you will select Resample image and
change the resolution to 100 pixels/inch; you may need to also change the pixel dimensions. It is
difficult to determine this without seeing the properties of original file Select View > Actual Pixels.
Actual Pixels presents the image at 100% of its size (actual size is approximate depending on monitor
settings). Then select Image > Image Size. Select Resample Image to throw away pixels to you
decrease the size of the image. The resolution should be set at 100 pixels/inch. Change the pixel
dimensions in the Pixel Dimension box. Notice that the file size also changes. Preview using a browser.
To be sure not to overwrite the original image, select Save As and select format.

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To adjust for printSave As a TIF file and Deselect Resample Image. No pixels will be removed.
Change one of the documents dimensions in the Document Size box. Resolution should be set at 150
pixels/inch or greater, depending on the printer. Resolution should almost never be increased or added
after the image is digitized (exception: to increase print quality, but decrease print size).
If your digital camera picture displays the image size like the diagram to the left, there are enough total
pixels to print the picture but not as a 8 x 11 image. Deselect Resample Image. Change the resolution
from 72 to 150 and you will now be able to preview your quality print size.

Select File > Print to adjust placement, size, etc AFTER you are assured that there are enough pixels in
your image to increase the size if necessary.
Note: If the printer does not print to the edge of the paper and you want to fill the paper, you must select
Scale to Fit Media. Media is the paper and may be different sizes. Fliers cannot be printed to the edge of
the paper on the
UniPriNT color laser
printers. The printer
will create a white
border around the
edge of the picture
similar to the
preview on the left.
Deselect Scale to
Fit Media to shrink
or enlarge the image
for printing. Drag
the corners of the
picture to reshape. If
enlarging review the
print resolution.
Deselect Center
Image and drag the
image to place it
anywhere on the
canvas to print.

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12. Saving your work-save in two formats/file types. Always best to save the final version with all
layers intact as a Photoshop file first (.PSD)just in case you need to edit to the image again. To
transport and use the file in any other application, flatten the image before saving (compress layers
into one. From the top line menu, select Layer > Flatten Image. This reduces the file size. If you
select Save as, Save a Copy, or Save for Web multiple file types will be listed. Various file formats
most commonly used are listed below.
JPEG or JPG used to display photos and other continuous tone images (shading. JPEG format
supports 24-bit color. JPEG file compression results in some information lose. NOTE! For this reason
always best to create new JPEG files from an original image and not from previously saved JPEG
files. Save a jpeg file only once; use the image option and select high-maximum quality.
GIF (CompuServe GIF) format uses 8-bit color: For simpler, non-photo images on Web pages such
as line art, logos, animation, vector graphics and text. "Interlaced" allows image to build-fill in detailsas it downloads.
PNG is a universal file format for websites. It is a preferred replacement for GIF and JPG.
TIFF is the best format for images that will be printed, archived or imported into other documents
that will eventually be printed. Use for exchanging graphics between applications and platforms. Do
NOT use for Web applications or e-mail.

Quick Notes:

The image may be printed at different sizes and in different locations on the paper. If the printer
does not print to the edge of the paper, select Scale to Fit Media. The image will enlarge or
shrink to fill the paper size.
Never edit a jpg file. Edit all image files either as a PSD file or TIF or select Save AS to create a
different version of the jpg file. JPG files loose data with each save, overwriting the image with a
resulting image of less quality.
To adjust size for Web images edit in Adobe Photoshop rather than adjusting with code.
If you use layers, save the final image file with all layers intact as a PSD file to preserved the
option to edit the file later. Then flatten the image and Save As jpg or tiff, etc. to use the file
outside of Adobe.
For all pictures that you will eventually edit, print or enlarge: If using a scanner, set the resolution
to a high setting (150pixels/inch and greater). If using a digital camera be sure to use settings for
greatest number of recording pixels and minimal or no compression/high quality. You can always
remove pixels/information (reduce the resolution) to share images on the Internet or upload to a
Web page. View overall pixels in the picture-not just pixels/inch.
What you see on screen is no guarantee that the printed picture looks the same.

2/2/03; rev. 9/03; 2/004; 11/2004; 9/2005; 12/06; 9/07;9/08; 10/09; 6/11 for CS4; 9/12 for CS6

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