Guided Computer Tutorials

Learning
Adobe
Photoshop
CS3
By Greg Bowden
PUBLISHED BY

GUIDED COMPUTER TUTORIALS

PO Box 311
Belmont, Victoria, 3216, Australia

www.gct.com.au

© Greg Bowden

This product is available in Single or Multi User versions.

Single-user versions are for single student or teacher use at any

particular time, just as a single text book would be used. If you intend
to use the notes with multiple students the single user version should
be upgraded to the multi-user version.

Multi-user versions allow the school or institution to print as many

copies as required, or to place the PDF files on the school network,
intranet and staff laptops. A certificate of authentication is provided
with multi-user versions. Bookmarks provide links to all headings and
sub-headings, and individual chapters are provided.

First published 2008

ISBN: Module 1 1 921217 57 X

Module 2: 1 921217 58 8

PDF document on CD-ROM

Every effort has been made to ensure that images used in this
publication are free of copyright, but there may be instances where
this has not been possible. Guided Computer Tutorials would
welcome any information that would redress this situation.
Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

Module 1 Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction to Photoshop and Layers

Loading Photoshop.................................................................................1-1
The Tools Palette......................................................................................1-2
Using the Tools........................................................................................1-3
The Palette Group...................................................................................1-5
Layers........................................................................................................1-6
Loading a Sample File............................................................................. 1-6
Looking at the Layers............................................................................. 1-7
Layer Visibility......................................................................................... 1-8
Locking Layers......................................................................................... 1-9
Naming Layers ..................................................................................... 1-10
Deleting Layers...................................................................................... 1-11
Adding a New Layer............................................................................ 1-12
The Layer Order..................................................................................... 1-14
Layer Opacity......................................................................................... 1-15
Screen Views..........................................................................................1-16
The Zoom Tool.......................................................................................1-18
The Hand Tool.......................................................................................1-19
The Navigator Palette . ........................................................................1-20
Photoshop Assignment 1....................................................................1-21

Chapter 2: Selecting Parts of Images

Loading a Sample Image........................................................................2-1
The Editing Tools.....................................................................................2-2
The Edit Marquee . .................................................................................2-2
The Rectangular Marquee Tool............................................................. 2-2
The Elliptical Marquee Tool................................................................... 2-3
Deselecting Objects.................................................................................2-4
The Lasso Tools........................................................................................2-5
The Lasso Tool.......................................................................................... 2-5
The Polygon Lasso Tool.......................................................................... 2-6

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 Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

The Quick Selection Tool........................................................................2-8

Selecting the Cat...................................................................................... 2-8
Adjusting the Selection ........................................................................ 2-11
Refining the Edges................................................................................. 2-13
Feathering the Selection.......................................................................2-16
Adding the Image to a Background ..................................................2-17
Resizing Images . ..................................................................................2-18
Saving the Document...........................................................................2-19
The Magic Wand Tool...........................................................................2-20
Step Backwards and Step Forwards...................................................2-23
Photoshop Assignment 2....................................................................2-24

Chapter 3: Modifying Images

Selecting the Correct Layer....................................................................3-1
The Liquify Tool......................................................................................3-1
The Hand Tool.......................................................................................... 3-2
The Forward Warp Tool.......................................................................... 3-3
The Reconstruction Tool......................................................................... 3-5
Twirling..................................................................................................... 3-5
The Pucker Tool....................................................................................... 3-6
The Bloat Tool........................................................................................... 3-7
The Push Left Tool................................................................................... 3-8
The Mirror Tool........................................................................................ 3-9
The Freeze Mask Tool............................................................................. 3-9
Turbulence.............................................................................................. 3-10
Completing the Liquify Effect.............................................................3-11
The Filter Gallery..................................................................................3-12
Artistic and Brush Stroke Filters......................................................... 3-12
Undoing an Effect.................................................................................. 3-13
Distort . ................................................................................................... 3-14
Sketch ..................................................................................................... 3-15
Stylise ..................................................................................................... 3-15
Texture . .................................................................................................. 3-16
Styles.......................................................................................................3-16
Photoshop Assignment 3....................................................................3-18

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 Contents

Chapter 4: The Drawing Tools

Starting a Blank Document....................................................................4-1
Drawing Normal Shapes........................................................................4-1
Drawing Rectangles................................................................................ 4-1
Rectangle Styles....................................................................................... 4-2
Creating Buttons...................................................................................... 4-5
Creating a Rollover Button..................................................................... 4-7
Removing Styles and Effects.................................................................. 4-8
Custom Shapes........................................................................................4-9
Selecting a Shape..................................................................................... 4-9
Other Custom Shapes........................................................................... 4-11
The Freeform Pen Tool.........................................................................4-12
Creating Custom Borders or Frames..................................................4-13
Creating a Frame................................................................................... 4-13
Adjusting the Frame.............................................................................. 4-15
Adding a Picture to the Frame............................................................ 4-15
Photoshop Assignment 4....................................................................4-18

Chapter 5: Combining Shapes

Starting a New Document.....................................................................5-1
Creating a Combined Shape..................................................................5-1
Drawing a Rectangle............................................................................... 5-1
Cutting a Shape Out of the Rectangle.................................................. 5-2
Adding Shapes to Shapes....................................................................... 5-3
Subtracting From the Shape................................................................... 5-4
Intersecting Shapes.................................................................................. 5-4
Exercise 5-1...............................................................................................5-5
Using Shapes With Photographs..........................................................5-6
Loading the Image................................................................................... 5-6
Magnifying the Head of the Cat. .......................................................... 5-6
Adding the Shapes.................................................................................. 5-7
Excluding Part of the Circle................................................................... 5-8
Adding to the Magnifying Glass........................................................... 5-9
Photoshop Assignment 5....................................................................5-10

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 Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

Chapter 6: Adding Text to Designs

Starting a New Document.....................................................................6-1
Entering Text............................................................................................6-1
Altering Text............................................................................................6-2
Warping Text............................................................................................6-3
Single Arced Text .................................................................................... 6-3
Multiple Arcs............................................................................................ 6-6
3-Dimensional Effects............................................................................. 6-6
Text Orientation....................................................................................... 6-7
Vertical Text..............................................................................................6-7
Adding Effects to Text............................................................................6-8
Typing Text Along a Path.....................................................................6-11
Moving Text on a Path..........................................................................6-13
The Character and Paragraph Palettes...............................................6-14
Creating a Poster...................................................................................6-14
Entering the Main Heading................................................................. 6-14
Adjusting the Main Heading............................................................... 6-16
Entering the Sub Headings.................................................................. 6-17
Looking at the Layers........................................................................... 6-19
Printing...................................................................................................6-19
Photoshop Assignment 6....................................................................6-21

Chapter 7: Adjusting the Look of Images

Loading a Sample File............................................................................7-1
The Blur Tool............................................................................................7-1
The Sharpen Tool.....................................................................................7-2
The Smudge Tool.....................................................................................7-3
The Sponge Tool......................................................................................7-4
The Burn Tool...........................................................................................7-5
The Dodge Tool.......................................................................................7-7
Gradient Fills...........................................................................................7-9
The Gradient Settings............................................................................. 7-9
Applying the Gradient.......................................................................... 7-10
Removing Backgrounds.......................................................................7-12
Colour Adjustment...............................................................................7-13
The Red Eye Removal Tool..................................................................7-16
Photoshop Assignment 7....................................................................7-18

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 Contents

Chapter 8: Combining Photographs

Photomerging..........................................................................................8-1
Selecting the Photographs...................................................................... 8-1
Looking at the Photos............................................................................. 8-3
Adjusting the Alignment........................................................................ 8-3
Changing the Layout.............................................................................. 8-4
Cropping an Image.................................................................................8-5
Merging Images to a HDR File..............................................................8-6
Web Photo Galleries................................................................................8-8
Contact Sheets........................................................................................8-10
Photoshop Assignment 8....................................................................8-12

Chapter 9: Creating Masks

Creating a Transparent Layer................................................................9-1
Drawing a Circular Selection Area.......................................................9-2
Filling the Selection Area.......................................................................9-2
Naming the Layer...................................................................................9-3
Adding a Background File.....................................................................9-3
Adjusting the Mask.................................................................................9-6
Other Masks.............................................................................................9-7
Creating the Mask Shape........................................................................ 9-7
Inserting a Photo...................................................................................... 9-8
Creating the Mask................................................................................... 9-9
Enhancing the Mask.............................................................................. 9-10
Photoshop Assignment 9....................................................................9-13

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 Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

Chapter 10: Saving Files

Saving a Copy of a File.........................................................................10-1
Saving as a JPEG Format . ...................................................................10-2
Saving Images for the Web..................................................................10-3
Saving for the Web................................................................................ 10-3
JPEG or GIF Formats............................................................................. 10-4
Setting the Size of the Photograph...................................................... 10-4
Compression Settings........................................................................... 10-5
Optimizing the File Size....................................................................... 10-7
Previewing in a Browser....................................................................... 10-8
Saving...................................................................................................... 10-9
Zoomify................................................................................................10-10
Saving Layers.......................................................................................10-12
Adding Some Text to the Image........................................................ 10-12
Saving the Layers................................................................................ 10-13

Photoshop Project 1
Investigating the Problem................................................................... P1-1
Designing the Solution........................................................................ P1-1
The Solution.......................................................................................... P1-1
Evaluation............................................................................................. P1-2

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 Contents

Module 2 Contents

Chapter 11: Cloning Images

The Clone Stamp Tool...........................................................................11-1
Loading the Image................................................................................. 11-1
The Clone Stamp Settings.................................................................... 11-2
Cloning.................................................................................................... 11-3
Unaligned Cloning................................................................................ 11-6
Removing the Cat..................................................................................11-7
Cropping Images...................................................................................11-9
Photoshop Assignment 11................................................................11-12

Chapter 12: Patches and Healing Brushes

The Patch Tool.......................................................................................12-1
Loading the Image................................................................................. 12-1
Using the Patch Tool............................................................................. 12-2
The Healing Brush Tools......................................................................12-3
The Spot Healing Brush Tool............................................................... 12-3
The Healing Brush Tool........................................................................ 12-5
Photoshop Assignment 12..................................................................12-8

Chapter 13: Applying Filters

Loading the Sample Photo...................................................................13-1
Selecting the Background ...................................................................13-1
Selecting the Car.................................................................................... 13-1
Setting the Feather................................................................................. 13-3
Inversing the Selection.......................................................................... 13-4
Applying a Gaussian Blur....................................................................13-4
Motion Blurs..........................................................................................13-5
Applying Filters on the Car.................................................................13-6
The Reduce Noise Filter....................................................................... 13-7
Sharpen Filters....................................................................................... 13-8

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 Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

Smart Filters...........................................................................................13-9
Turning Smart Filters On...................................................................... 13-9
Applying a Lighting Effect Filter...................................................... 13-10
Editing the Filter.................................................................................. 13-11
Photoshop Assignment 13................................................................13-12

Chapter 14: Fill and Adjustment Layers

Exposure layers.....................................................................................14-1
Loading the Sample Photo................................................................... 14-1
Inserting the Exposure Layer............................................................... 14-1
Displaying Part of the Background Layer......................................... 14-3
Adjusting the Exposure........................................................................ 14-5
Levels Layers.........................................................................................14-6
Loading the Sample Photo................................................................... 14-6
Inserting the Levels Layer.................................................................... 14-7
Applying Multiple Layers...................................................................14-8
Loading the Sample Photo................................................................... 14-8
Inserting a Brightness/Contrast Layer............................................... 14-9
Setting a Black & White Layer........................................................... 14-10
Colourizing the Face........................................................................... 14-11
Exercise 14-1......................................................................................... 14-12
Photoshop Assignment 14................................................................14-13

Chapter 15: Advanced Layer Uses

Loading the Image................................................................................15-1
Duplicating the Layer...........................................................................15-2
Blurring the Image................................................................................15-2
Adding a Mask to the Layer................................................................15-3
Sharpening the Eyes.............................................................................15-4
Merging Layers......................................................................................15-5
Creating a Duplicate Layer..................................................................15-5

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 Contents

Enhancing the Eyes...............................................................................15-6

Selecting the White Eye Area............................................................... 15-6
Enhancing the White Area................................................................... 15-7
Enhancing the White in the Right Eye............................................... 15-8
Merging the Layers............................................................................... 15-9
Setting the Eye Colour to Blue........................................................... 15-10
Highlighting the Pupils...................................................................... 15-12
Setting the Eyes Behind the Eye Sockets.......................................... 15-13
Looking at the Original Face.............................................................15-15
Photoshop Assignment 15................................................................15-16

Chapter 16: The History Palette and History Brush

Using the History Palette.....................................................................16-1
Loading the Sample Photo................................................................... 16-1
Altering the Photo................................................................................. 16-2
Looking at the History Palette............................................................. 16-6
Returning to Previous States................................................................ 16-6
Removing Individual States................................................................. 16-7
Taking Snapshots................................................................................... 16-9
Creating Documents at States............................................................ 16-10
Adding New Steps to a Document................................................... 16-11
The History Brushes...........................................................................16-14
Photoshop Assignment 16................................................................16-15

Chapter 17: Working With Perspective

Lens Correction.....................................................................................17-1
Loading the Sample Photo................................................................... 17-1
Applying the Lens Correction Filter................................................... 17-2
Adjusting the Vertical Perspective...................................................... 17-3
Interesting Lens Correction Effects..................................................... 17-5
The Vanishing Point Filter...................................................................17-7
Loading the Sample Photo................................................................... 17-7
Selecting the Source Plane.................................................................... 17-8
Selecting the Vanishing Point............................................................ 17-11
Cloning the Window........................................................................... 17-12
Enhancing Shadows............................................................................17-13
Photoshop Assignment 17................................................................17-15

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 Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

Chapter 18: Colour Adjustments

Match Colour.........................................................................................18-1
Loading the Sample Photo................................................................... 18-1
Using the Match Colour Dialogue Box.............................................. 18-2
The Curves Tool.....................................................................................18-3
Loading the Sample Photo................................................................... 18-3
Opening the Curves Dialogue Box..................................................... 18-3
Setting Target Values............................................................................. 18-5
Selecting the Colours in the Image..................................................... 18-7
Accurately Selecting Colours............................................................... 18-9
Exercise 18-1.........................................................................................18-10
Photoshop Assignment 18................................................................18-11

Chapter 19: Animations

Time Lapse Photography ....................................................................19-1
Loading the Sample Photo................................................................... 19-1
Creating the Layers............................................................................... 19-1
Inserting the Frames.............................................................................. 19-4
Tweening................................................................................................. 19-7
Adjusting the Time Delay..................................................................... 19-9
Copying Frames................................................................................... 19-10
Saving as QuickTime Movie.............................................................. 19-12
Creating Animated GIFs....................................................................19-14
Starting a New Document.................................................................. 19-14
Entering the Text.................................................................................. 19-14
Setting the Text as a Selection............................................................ 19-15
Creating the First Colour Layer......................................................... 19-15
Adding a Gradient Fill........................................................................ 19-16
Creating the Second Colour Layer.................................................... 19-18
Creating the Third Colour Layer....................................................... 19-19
Creating the Fourth Colour Layer..................................................... 19-20
Animating the Logo............................................................................ 19-21
Saving.................................................................................................... 19-23
Exercise 19-1.........................................................................................19-25
Photoshop Assignment 19................................................................19-26

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 Contents

Chapter 20: Useful Tools

The Magnetic Lasso Tool......................................................................20-1
Loading the Sample Photo................................................................... 20-1
Selecting the Cat.................................................................................... 20-2
Adjusting the Selection......................................................................... 20-4
Refining Edges....................................................................................... 20-6
Removing the Background................................................................... 20-6
Replacing Colours.................................................................................20-7
The Replace Colour Dialogue Box...................................................... 20-7
The Colour Replacement Tool........................................................... 20-11
Resizing an Image...............................................................................20-12
Canvas Size..........................................................................................20-13
Workspaces..........................................................................................20-14
Photoshop Assignment 20................................................................20-16

Photoshop Project 2
Investigation......................................................................................... P2-1
Planning................................................................................................. P2-1
Solution.................................................................................................. P2-1
Evaluation............................................................................................. P2-1

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 Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

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 Chapter

1
Introduction to Photoshop and Layers
Adobe Photoshop is an advanced photo editing and graphics program that allows you to
create or edit photo quality images. In this Chapter you will be introduced to its screen
and some of its basic features, such as Layers. Layers are the building blocks of using
Photoshop and you need to develop an understanding of how to use them in order to
use Photoshop effectively.

Loading Photoshop
1 Load Photoshop and you will receive the Photoshop screen.
2 Display the FILE menu and select NEW. You will be asked to enter the required
settings for the page.

3 Enter the page name: Intro

Set the BACKGROUND CONTENTS
to WHITE, leave the other default
settings for now and select OK.

4 A blank page should be created. The diagram at the top of the next page labels its
sections.

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Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

Options Bar

Tools Document Window Palette Group

Palette or Canvas Area or Dock

The Tools Palette

The TOOLS palette at the left of the screen provides general drawing and photo
adjustment tools. The palette can be displayed as a single column or with the tools in
two columns.

1 Click on the DOUBLE ARROW icon

at the top of the TOOLS palette and
palette will be adjusted.

2 In these tutorials the TOOLS palette will used as 2 columns, so click on the DOUBLE
ARROW icon until the tools are displayed in 2 columns.

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 Introduction to Photoshop and Layers 1
3 Tools that have a small arrow next to them have more tools within them.

4 Click and hold on the LASSO tool

the three lasso tool types will be
displayed.

5 Click and hold on some of the other tools to see what extra tools they contain.
6 The letter displayed next to a tool when you click and hold on it is the keyboard
shortcut to select that tool. Try pressing some letters and the tool corresponding
to that letter should be selected.
7 Hold down the SHIFT key and press a letter. The tools within that tool group will be
toggled.

Using the Tools

We will have a quick look at some of Photoshop’s basic drawing tools. You may need to
click and hold on a tool to select it, depending on who has used to program before you.

1 Select the BRUSH TOOL and try

drawing some brush strokes on the
canvas.

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Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

2 Select the SHAPES tool and drag a

shape on the canvas.

3 Click and hold on the SHAPES TOOL,

select the CUSTOM SHAPE TOOL and
drag a shape on the screen.

NOTE: Your shape will probably be different to the one displayed.

The SHAPE box in the OPTIONS BAR at the top of the screen
can be used to select different shapes.

4 Select the PENCIL TOOL from the

BRUSH TOOL in the TOOLS palette
and click on the canvas.

5 Sometimes the program will ask you

to rasterise or simplify a layer when a
tool is to be used. Click on OK when
this happens.

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 Introduction to Photoshop and Layers 1

6 Drag some pencil lines on the canvas.

You can select a BRUSH SIZE from the
OPTIONS BAR.

The Palette Group

At the right of the screen are a series of palettes that contain many of Photoshop’s
operating tools and features. Some of these palettes are open, some behind the opened
palettes and some are collapsed. You simply open the required palette when you need
to use a tool by clicking on its tab or its icon. You can also add or remove palettes from
the group.

1 Click on the SWATCHES palette tab

to bring it to the front of its group.
You can select colours from this
palette.

NOTE: i If the SWATCHES palette is not in the PALETTE GROUP you

can display the WINDOW menu and select SWATCHES to
open it.
ii If your screen is totally different to the one in the diagram,
display the WINDOW menu, highlight WORKSPACE and
select DEFAULT WORKSPACE to display the standard
Photoshop screen.

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Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

2 Click on the BRUSHES palette icon

to expand the BRUSHES palette and
you can select different brush types
from this palette.

3 Click on the BRUSHES palette icon again to close the palette.

4 Look at some of the other palettes in the PALETTE GROUP.
5 Display the FILE menu and select CLOSE to close the document. There is no need
to save it.

Layers
Layers are the building blocks of a Photoshop document so it is important that you
develop an understanding of them. Think of layers as transparent or filled sheets that
can be placed on top of one another. They allow you break a drawing up into small
blocks that can be worked on individually. To illustrate the use of LAYERS, a document
with a few layers will be opened from the PScs3 SUPPORT FILES.

A Loading a Sample File

A simple poster for a travel agency has been prepared for you. It has a layer containing
a photograph and another two layers containing text.
1 Display the FILE menu and select OPEN.

2 Access the PScs3 SUPPORT FILES,

open the CHAPTER 1 folder and
open the POSTER file.

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 Introduction to Photoshop and Layers 1

B Looking at the Layers

1 The LAYERS palette should be

open at the bottom of the PALETTE
GROUP and the three layers
displayed.

NOTE: If the LAYERS palette is not open, click on its tab to open it. If
the LAYER palette is not in the PALETTE GROUP, display the
WINDOW menu, highlight WORKSPACE and select DEFAULT
WORKSPACE to display the standard Photoshop screen.

2 Select the MOVE TOOL from the

TOOLS palette (the top right tool).

3 Select the EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS

layer in the LAYERS palette and try
moving the text at the top left of the
poster.

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Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

4 Try moving the text at the right of the poster. You should not be able to do so
because its layer has not been selected.

5 Click on the LONDON, PARIS....

layer in the LAYERS palette and you
should be able to move the text.

C Layer Visibility
Layers can be turned off at any time and when this happens their contents are not seen
in the document.

1 Click on the EYE symbol next to

the LONDON, PARIS... layer and its
contents will not be visible.

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 Introduction to Photoshop and Layers 1

2 Click on the VISIBILITY frame of the

LONDON, PARIS... layer again to turn
the layer back on.

NOTE: When a layer is visible there is an eye marker in its VISIBILITY

box.

D Locking Layers
Layers can be locked so that you don’t accidentally make changes to them.

The four buttons at the top of the

LAYERS palette allow you to lock layers:
LOCK TRANSPARENT PIXELS locks only
the transparent background.
LOCK IMAGE locks just an image.
LOCK POSITION prevents an object
from being moved.
LOCK ALL locks everything in the layer.

1 Let’s lock the BACKGROUND layer so that it cannot be adjusted.

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Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

2 Click on the BACKGROUND layer

then click on the LOCK ALL icon.

3 A LOCK symbol is added to the layer

to indicate that it is locked.

4 Select the MOVE TOOL from the TOOLS palette and try to move the background.
You should not be able to do so.

E Naming Layers
It is good practice to name layers so that you know what their contents are. Let’s rename
the BACKGROUND layer.

1 Double click on the BACKGROUND

label in the LAYERS palette to
highlight it.

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 Introduction to Photoshop and Layers 1

2 Enter the label:

Image
press <enter> or <return> and the
layer will be renamed.

F Deleting Layers
Layers can be deleted when they are no longer needed. Let’s delete one of the text
layers.

1 Click on the EUROPEAN

DESTINATIONS layer in the LAYERS
palette.

2 Click on the DELETE LAYER icon

at the base of the LAYERS palette
followed by YES to the information
dialogue box.

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Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

3 The layer is removed from the

LAYERS palette and its contents
removed from the document.

4 Display the EDIT menu and select UNDO DELETE LAYER to return the layer and its
contents to the document.

G Adding a New Layer

Layers can be added as required using the CREATE A NEW LAYER icon. When new layers
are added they are inserted above the selected layer in the LAYERS palette.

1 Select the EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS

layer in the LAYERS palette and click
on the CREATE A NEW LAYER icon at
the base of the palette.

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 Introduction to Photoshop and Layers 1

2 The new layer is added above the

EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS layer.

3 Double click on the LAYER 1 label,

enter the name:
Highlight
and press <enter> or <return>.

4 Select the BRUSH TOOL from the

TOOLS palette and paint a line under
the EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS text.

5 The contents are stored in the

HIGHLIGHT layer.

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Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

H The Layer Order

The order of the layers in the LAYERS palette is very important. The image is at the back
of the drawing so it is the last (or bottom layer). If the image was at the top of the LAYERS
palette you would not be able to see any of the other objects. You can easily alter the
order of layers. It is called changing the LAYER STACKING ORDER.

1 Click on the IMAGE layer then drag

it to the top of the LONDON, PARIS....
layer.

2 When you release the mouse button

the contents of the other layers
cannot be seen as the IMAGE layer is
on top of them.

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 Introduction to Photoshop and Layers 1
I Layer Opacity
The OPACITY of a layer is how transparent it is. The default layer OPACITY is 100% (no
transparency) so the contents of the other layers cannot be seen through it. When you
reduce the OPACITY of a layer you start to see the contents of other layers through it.
Let’s reduce the OPACITY of the IMAGE layer so that the other layers can be seen.

1 Unlock the IMAGE layer by clicking

on the LOCK ALL icon at the top of
the LAYERS palette.

2 Click on the arrow next to the

OPACITY box and drag the slider to
about 80%.

3 Part of the contents of the other

layers are now visible.

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Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

4 Drag the IMAGE layer to the bottom

of the layers in the LAYERS palette.
The content of the other layers can
now be fully seen, but the IMAGE
layer is still at 80% opacity.

NOTE: You will use many more layer features as you progress through
these tutorials. For example, you can duplicate layers, add
masks to layers, insert different types of layers and so on.

Screen Views
You can zoom in or out of a document when more detailed work is required.
1 Display the VIEW menu and select ZOOM IN.

2 The screen in magnified.

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 Introduction to Photoshop and Layers 1
3 There are keyboard shortcuts to zoom in and out. On the Windows system hold
down the CTRL key and press + to zoom in and - to zoom out. On the Macintosh
system the COMMAND key is held down.

4 Press CTRL+ or COMMAND+ twice to

zoom in two more levels.

5 Press CTRL- or COMMAND- three

times to zoom back out.

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Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

6 Press CTRL+0 or COMMAND+0 to set

the view to FIT ON SCREEN.

NOTE: FIT ON SCREEN sets the zoom to a level so that the canvas fills
the available screen area.

The Zoom Tool

The ZOOM TOOL allows you to select a section of the image to zoom in on.

1 Select the ZOOM TOOL from the

TOOLS palette and drag a frame
around Big Ben’s clocks.

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 Introduction to Photoshop and Layers 1

2 When you release the mouse button

the screen is zoomed in on the
clocks.

The Hand Tool

The HAND TOOL allows you to scroll around a zoomed screen.

Select the HAND TOOL from the

TOOLS palette and drag the screen to
bring different parts of the document
into view.

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Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

The Navigator Palette

The NAVIGATOR palette in the PALETTE GROUP can be used to navigate around a
zoomed document. You can even control the zoom from this palette.
1 The screen should be zoomed. If it isn’t, press CTRL+ or COMMAND+ a few times to
zoom the view.

2 Open the NAVIGATOR palette if it

is not already open and drag the
frame within it to scroll around the
document.

3 You can also adjust the screen magnification from the NAVIGATOR palette.

4 Drag the slider at the base of the

NAVIGATOR palette to adjust the
zoom of the document.

NOTE: The arrows on either side of the slider at the base of the
NAVIGATOR palette can also be used to zoom in or out.

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 Introduction to Photoshop and Layers 1
Photoshop Assignment 1
Your task for this Assignment is to create a simple sketch using some of the drawing tools
from the TOOLS palette. If you cannot think of anything to draw, the following sketch of
a racing car could be attempted.

Ask your teacher to check your sketch.

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Learning Adobe Photoshop CS3

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