Adobe Photoshop CS6

GETTING STARTED

Adobe Photoshop CS6 is a popular image editing software that provides a work
environment consistent with Adobe Illustrator,Adobe InDesign,Adobe Photoshop and
other products in the Adobe Creative Suite.This tutorial is an introduction to using
Adobe Photoshop. Here you will learn how to get started, how to use the interface, and
how to modify images with basic editing skills.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1: Getting Started Pg. 3

2: Interface Layout Pg. 5

3: Palettes Pg. 6

4:Toolbox Pg. 10

5: Selection Tools Pg. 11

6:Alteration Tools Pg. 12

7: Drawing and Selection Tools Pg. 13

8:Assisting Tools Pg. 13

9: Color Boxes and Modes Pg. 14

10: Basic Image Editing Pg. 14

11: Cropping Pg. 15

12: Resizing Pg. 19

13: Correcting Pg. 22

14: Saving Pg. 27
 1. GETTING STARTED

1. Begin by opening Adobe Photoshop CS6.

On a PC, click Start > Programs > Adobe > Photoshop CS6, or click on the
shortcut on the desktop.

On a Mac, click Go > Applications > Adobe Photoshop CS6 >

Photoshop CS6 shown in Figure 1, or click the icon in the Dock.

Figure 1. Navigation to Photoshop CS6 on a Mac

Setting up the document

Setting up your document correctly from the start will make your job much easier as
you work through your project.This will require some advanced planning. For example,
if your final output will be a brochure, you may need to set up your document to be
horizontal and double-sided.

To create a new document, click File > New.This will open the Document Setup dialog
box (Figure 2).
 Figure 2. Document Setup dialog box

Here you will be able to name your file, set up the correct page size and
orientation for your document. Options include, but are not limited to:

Page Size and Orientation

Change the page size by typing in new values for width and height. Page size
represents the final size you want after bleeds or trimming other marks outside
the page. In the Preset dropdown menu you can find such common sizes as letter,
legal, tabloid, etc.Typing in exact values for Height and Width gives you more
control over the size and orientation of your page.
Resolution
Resolution is the number of pixels on a printed area of an image.The higher the
resolution, the more pixels there are on the page, the better the quality of the
image. However, high resolution increases the size of the file.The standard
recommended resolution for printed images is 150-300, for Web images it is 72.
Color Mode
Choose a color mode that will best fit your project. For example, when making
a graphic for a web site, choose RGB.When making an image for print choose
CMYK.
 Background Contents
Choose the background: white, color or transparent.When you have entered
all of your document settings, click Ok.

Opening an image from a disk

If the image you have is saved on a disk or to the computer, select File > Open, and then
navigate to the disk drive/file where your image is saved. Choose the image file and click
Open.At this point, you may want to save your image under a different name so that you
can always have the original to fall back on in case of a mistake.
To save your file, select File > Save As and type in the new name of the file in the
dialogue box. 4
 2. Interface Layout

Menu Bar
Figure 3.This is the layout of Adobe Photoshop interface.
If you look at the top of the screen you will see the Menu bar (Figure 3), which
contains all the main functions of Photoshop, such as File, Edit, Image, Layer,
Select, Filter, Analysis, 3D,View,Window, and Help.

ToolbarMost of the major tools are located in the Toolbar for easy access.

The Image
The image will appear in its own window once you open a file.

Image Name
The name of any image that you open will be at the top of the image window as
shown above.

Palettes
Palettes contain functions that help you monitor and modify images. By default,
palettes are stacked together in groups.These are the palettes that are usually
visible: Color,Adjustments and Layers. If none of the palettes are visible, go to
Window in the Menu bar and choose the palettes you need.
 3. Palettes

Below is the description of the most commonly used palettes in Adobe Photoshop
CS6. Palettes used for more advanced image editing will be covered in the Adobe
Photoshop CS6 Tutorial - Intermediate.

Color, Swatches, Style

The Color palette (Figure 4) displays the current foreground and background colors and
RGB values for these colors. You can use the sliders to change the foreground and
background colors in different color modes. You can also choose a color from the
spectrum of colors displayed in the color ramp at the bottom of the palette.

Figure 4. Color palette

In the Swatches palette (Figure 5) you can choose a foreground or background color and
add a customized color to the library.

Figure 5. Swatches palette

The Styles palette (Figure 6) allows you to view, select, and apply preset layer styles.
By default, a preset style replaces the current layer style.You can use the styles in the palette or add
your own using the Create New Style icon.
6

Figure 6. Styles palette

History

The History palette (Figure 7) stores and displays each action performed allowing you
jump to any recent stage of the image alteration.The alterations should be created during
the current working session.After saving or closing the document, the History palette
clears all the contents. Each time you apply a change to an image, the new state of that
image is added to the palette. It is important to know that once you click on any of the
previ- ous stages, all the changes that were made after it will be lost.

Figure 7. History palette

Adjustments

The Adjustment layers palette give you the ability to apply an effect to a group of layers
in Photoshop, and then you can edit that effect later, while preserving the original layers.

Figure 8.Adjustments palette

 Layers

Layers let you organize your work into distinct levels that can be edited and viewed as
individual units. Every Photoshop CS6 document contains at least one layer. Creating
multiple layers lets you easily control how your artwork is printed, displayed, and
edited.You will use the Layers palette (Figure 9) often while creating a docu- ment, so it
is crucial to understand what it does and how to use it.

A) Layer Visibility -The eye shows that the selected layer is visible. Click on or off to see
or to hide a layer.

B) Layer Locking Options -Click the checkered square icon to lock Transparency, click
the brush icon to lock the Image, click the arrow icon to lock the Position, and click
the lock icon to lock all options.

C) Layer Blending Mode -Defines how the layer’s pixels blend with underlying pixels in
the image. By choosing a particular blending mode from the drop-down menu you can
create a variety of special effects.

D) Fill -By typing in a value or dragging the slider you can specify the transparency.

E) Opacity -By typing in a value or dragging the slider, you can specify the transparency of
the entire layer.
Figure 9. Layer palette
F) Layer
Lock -The icon shows when the layer is locked and disappears when it is
unlocked. Double-click the icon to unlock the layer.

G) LayerOptions Menu -Click the black triangle to display the following options: New
Layer, Duplicate Layer, Delete Layer, Layer Properties, etc. Some of the options are
presented as icons at the bottom of the Layers palette.

H) Link Layers – Can be used to link layers together.

I) Layer Styles -If a layer has a style, an “F” icon shows at the bottom of the Layers
palette. Click the little black triangle to see style options.

J) LayerMask -Allows you to hide certain parts of the layer, which can then be revealed
by using the paintbrush and the white paint color to expose portions of the layer.

K) Layer Set -This option helps to organize images with multiple layers. Click the icon
to create a folder for several layers.

L) Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer -Have the same opacity and blending mode
options as image layers and can be rearranged, deleted, hidden and duplicated in the
same manner as image layers. Click the icon and select an option to create a new fill
or adjustment layer.

M) Create New Layer -Click this icon to create a new layer.

N) Delete Layer -To delete a layer, select a layer in the Layers palette and drag it to
the trash can icon, or select a layer and click the icon.
 4. Toolbox

If you used other Adobe products, such as Illustrator or InDesign, you should
be familiar with the toolbox in Adobe Photoshop CS6 as it shares some of
the tools from these applications. If you are a new user of Adobe products,
you should keep in mind that you might not need to use all of the tools. In
this tutorial, only the basic tools will be discussed in-depth.

Some tools in the toolbar have additional “hidden” tools.These tools have
small black triangles in the right-hand corner.To view the “hidden” tools,
click and hold down on any tool that has a gray triangle in the corner (Figure
10).

Figure 10.“Hidden” tools

 5. Selection Tools

Move
Used to select and move objects on the page.

Click the tool button, then click on any object on

the page you wish to move.

Marquee
Selects an object by drawing a rectangle or an ellipse
around it.

Click the tool button, choose a rectangular or

an elliptical marquee. Drag the marquee over
Lasso the area of the image you wish to select.

Selects an object by drawing a freehand border

around it.
Magic Wand
Click the tool button, drag to draw a freehand
border around the are of the image you wish to
select.

Crop
Selects all objects in a document with the same or
similar fill color, stroke weight, stroke color,
opacity or blending mode. By specifying the color
range or tolerance, you can control what the Magic
Wand tool selects.

Eye Dropper

Click the tool button, then click and drag the tool
over the part of the image that you want to keep.
Resize the selected area dragging the squares at the
sides and corners. Click the Return/Enter key when
your crop box is sized correctly.
Takes color samples from colors on the page and
displays them in the Color Boxes.

Select the tool, click on the color in the image you

wish to sample.The Color Box will display this color.
 6. Alteration Tools
Healing Brush Blur

Brush

Clone Stamp

Art History Brush

Eraser

Paint Bucket
Corrects small blemishes in scanned photos. Select the tool, click on the part of the image you
wish to erase. Drag to erase pixels.
Select the tool, hold down the ALT key and left-
click on the base color you need to heal.Then left-
click over the blemish.

Applies a color fill to a selected part of the image

or to an entire layer.
Draws brush strokes of different thicknesses and
Select a layer you wish to apply the paint
colors.
bucket to, click the tool button, click on the
Select the tool.Then click on the selected starting point, and click the area you wish to
area, drag to draw lines. Use the Options bar fill.
to change the brush, mode, opacity and flow.

Blurs the sharp edges of an image.

Takes a sample of an image and
Select an area where you wish to apply the tool.
applies over another image, or a part
Click the tool button and choose the brush, mode,
of the same image.
and strength. Drag the brush along the edges.
Select the tool. Hold down the ALT key and
left-click on a certain point of the document
where you want to start your copy
point.Then, put your mouse over whatever
part of the new document you want the
picture to go to. Hold down the left mouse
button and drag the mouse across the page
to copy the picture.

Paints over an image using the source data from a

specified history state or snapshot. Select the tool,

specify the brush, blending mode, opacity, style,

area and tolerance.

Removes part of an existing path or

stroke.You can use the Erase tool on
paths.Text can only be erased when rasterized.
 7. Drawing and Selection Tools
Path Selection
Selects paths and path segments.

Select the tool, click anywhere on the path.

Type
Types text on a page. Every time you click
the Type Tool on a new portion of the
page, a new layer will be created.

Select the type tool, click on the page and begin

to type.You can specify the font and size in the
Options bar.You can also resize and transform
the text box by dragging the squares at the
Pen sides and corners. Use the Move Tool to move
the text on the page.

Draws smooth-edged paths.

Line Shape Select the tool, click on the page and drag to
draw a path. Click and drag the anchor points
to modify the path.

Draws a straight line. Other shapes

that are hidden in this tool are:
Rounded Rectangle Tool, Ellipse Tool,
Polygon Tool, Line Tool, and Custom
Shape Tool.

Select the tool, click and drag on the page to draw a

line.

8. Additional Tools

Hand
 Allows you to move around within the image.
Magnify
Select the tool, click on the spot on the
page, hold the mouse button down, drag
to move in the area.

Magnifies or reduces the display of any area in

your image window.

Select the tool, choose Zoom In or Zoom

Out in the Options bar, click on the area of
the image you wish to magnify or reduce.
 9. Color Boxes and Modes

Color Boxes The foreground color appears in the upper color

selection box and represents a color that is
currently active.The background color appears in
the lower box and represents an inactive color.

1.To change the foreground color, click the

upper color selection box in the Toolbox.

2.To change the background color, click the

lower color selection box in the Toolbox.

3.To reverse the foreground and

background colors, click the Switch
Colors icon (the arrow) in the toolbox.

4.To restore the default foreground and

background colors, click the Default Colors icon
(the little black and white boxes) in the toolbox.

Note: If you are using the Gradient Tool, the

currently selected foreground and background
colors will be the default colors of the gradient.

10. Basic Image Editing

Now that you know how to find your way around in the Adobe Photoshop CS6 interface and are familiar
with the most common commands, palettes, and tools, you can start doing some basic image editing. In the
next few chapters of this tutorial you will learn how to crop, resize, correct, and sharpen/blur your images.
 11. Cropping

Cropping is one of the most basic editing techniques that can improve your images. Cropping helps to
bring out the most important features in your image and focus the viewers’ attention on these features.
Cropping also allows you to make your image a standard photo size.

There are several ways to crop images in Adobe Photoshop:

1. Cropping with the Crop Tool
2. Cropping to a specific size
3. Cropping with the Marquee Tool

Cropping with the Crop Tool

The Crop Tool allows you to make a precise selection of an image you wish to edit.To crop with the
Crop Tool, follow these steps:
1. Open the image you wish to crop (see Getting Started for detailed instructions).
2. Select the Crop Tool from the Toolbox (see Selection Tools for location and description).
3. It will automatically select your entire image. Drag the edges to fit the dimensions you
desire. (See Figure 11).

Figure 11. Cropping border

 4. Resize the border by dragging the squares at the sides and corners untill you are satisfied with
the way your image looks.
5. Once you are completely satisfied with your cropped image, press Enter.

Note: You can also rotate your cropping border. Move the cursor outside the border, you will see how it
turns into a double-headed arrow (Figure 12). Drag the arrows in the directions you wish to rotate your
selection.

Figure 12. Rotating the cropping border

Cropping to a specific size

If you wish to print your digital photos or other images on standard size photo paper, you will have to crop
your images to a specific size, such as 8x10.To crop an image to a specific size, do the following:

1. Open the image you wish to crop.

2. Select the Crop Tool from the Toolbox.
3. In the Options bar, specify the values for Width and Height (Figure 13).
 Figure 13. Crop Tool Options bar

4. Click in your image and drag the cropping border. Notice that the border is constrained.You
cannot make it wider or longer than the specified values (Figure 14). For example, if you entered 8
for Width and 10 for Height, whatever size you make the border, the area within it will fit on an
8x10 photo.
 Figure 14. Cropping to a specific size

5. Once you are completely satisfied with your cropped image, press Enter.

Cropping with the Marquee Tool

If you are in a hurry and need just a simple crop, you can use the Marquee Tool and a menu command.To
crop with the Marquee Tool, follow the steps below:

1. Open the image you wish to crop.

2. Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool from the Toolbox (see Selection Tools).
3. Click and drag the mouse to draw a marquee around the area you wish to crop (Figure 15).
 Figure 15. Drawing a marquee

4. In the main menu, go to Image > Crop (Figure 16).The image will be immediately cropped.
Figure 16. Image > Crop 18
 12. Resizing
Resizing in Photoshop can help you print your images in standard photo sizes, resize and preserve the high
quality of digital photos, and enlarge small images to a poster size.

Resizing to a specific size

To resize your image to a preset size, follow the steps below:

1. In the main menu, go to File > New.

2. In the New dialog box, click on the Preset dropdown menu.You will see several preset sizes, such
as 2x3, 4x6 and 5x7. Remember that 72 ppi is fine for online images, but a ppi of 150-300 is better
for printed images. (Figure 17).

Figure 17. Preset size in the New dialog box

3. Choose the size that you wish and click OK.

Note:All the preset sizes are in portrait orientation. If you wish to resize an image with the landscape orienta-
tion, you need to create your own preset.To create your own size, do the following:

1.Type in the values for Width and Height, for example 7x5.
2.Type in your desired resolution (150 ppi for high quality prints, and 72 ppi is good for web images).
3. Click the Save Preset button
 Resizing digital photos

Digital photos usually have large dimensions but low resolution, 72 ppi, which affects their quality when their
size is decreased or increased.When printed, the photos with the changed size will look pixilated.To resize the
digital photos without loosing the quality, follow these steps:

1. Open the digital photo you wish to resize.

2. In the main menu, go to View > Rulers.You will see the dimension of your photo (Figure 18).

Figure 18. Dimensions of a digital photo

3. In the main menu, go to Image > Image Size.

4. In the Image Size dialog box, check the Resample Image box off (Figure 19).Type in your
desired resolution (anything between 150 and 300 ppi).The photo is now 3.208 x 3.083 inches.

Figure 19. Changing resolution

 Enlarging

If you want to make your digital photo into a poster size image, you can do it in the Image Size dialog box.
However, just increasing the dimensions will make the image appear blurry and pixilated. To enlarge the
image without losing the quality, follow these steps:

1. Open the digital image you wish to enlarge.

2. In the main menu, go to Image > Image Size.
3. In the Image Size dialog box, make sure the Resample Image box is checked off and choose
Bicubic Smoother from the dropdown box (Figure 20).

Figure 20. Increasing the size by 10 percent

4. Change the Document Size measurements to Percent.Type in 110.This will increase the size of
the image by 10 percent (Figure 20).
5. Continue enlarging by 10 percent untill you are satisfied with the size.
 13. Correcting
Digital cameras tend to cause various problems, such as “red eye” or “hot spots”, if you use flash, or
underexposure, if you don’t. In Photoshop, you can correct these problems, as well as adjust the overall
color of your digital photo.

Red Eye Removal

The digital camera flash is located right above the lens, which causes the “red-eye”; however, you can fix your
photos easily in Photoshop.To remove the “red eye”, follow the steps below:

1. Open a photo you wish to correct.

2. Select the Zoom Tool from the Toolbox. Click and drag a rectangle around the eye (Figure 21).

Figure 21. Red eye zoomed in

3. Make sure your default Foreground and Background colors are black and white.

4. Click and hold on the little black triangle of the Healing Brush Tool button and select the Red
Eye Tool (Figure 22).
 5. Click on the red part of the eye and paint, holding down the mouse button.You will see how the

red will disappear (Figure 23).

Figure 23. Red eye corrected

Hot Spot Removal

Using a flash can also cause shiny areas on peoples’ faces or the flash to reflect on shiny surfaces.To correct
this problem, follow the steps below:

1. Open the photo you wish to correct.

2. Select the Clone Stamp Tool from the Toolbox.
3. In the Options bar, change the Blend Mode from Normal to Darken (Figure 24).

Figure 24. Setting the options for the Clone Stamp Tool

4. Set the Opacity to 50 percent.

5. Choose a soft-edged brush, set the diameter to 40 or 50.
6. Hold down the Shift key and click in the clean area (without “hot spots”) to get a sample of
color (Figure 25).

Figure 25. Clone Stamp selection

7. Paint over the “hot spot”, the light area will gradually darken (Figure 26).
 Adding Flash

If you took pictures indoors without a flash, they will turn out underexposed and dark.To fix underexposed
photos, follow these steps:

1. Open a digital photo you wish to correct (Figure 27).

Figure 27. Underexposed photo

2. In the main menu, go to Layers > Duplicate. In the next window, name the layer Layer 1.
3. Make sure Layer 1 is selected in the Layers palette. Select Image from the menu, select
Adjustments and select Exposure (Figure 28). Select the amount of exposure.The whole image will
lighten.
Figure 28. Changing the Blending Mode
 4. Keep duplicating Layer 1 untill you are satisfied with the your image (Figure 29).

Figure 29. Corrected photo

Color Adjustment

Color adjustment options in Photoshop CS6 can help you to make your digital photos look more natural.To
color correct your images, follow these steps:

1. Open the image you wish to correct.

2. In the main menu, go to Image > Adjustments > Levels.You will see a dialog box displaying a diagram
of the colors in your image (Figure 30).The black triangle is for shadows, the gray is for midtones,
the white is for highlights. In the Channels dropdown menu, you can choose between RGB.These
indicate whether your changes effect all the colors, or just one (red, green, or blue).
Figure 30. Levels dialog box
3. Make sure the Preview box is checked off. Choose the channel you wish to change and drag the
triangles. Dragging the black triangle to the right will make the shadows in your photo darker.
Dragging the white triangle to the left will make the highlights in your photo lighter, and dragging it
to the right will make the midtones darker.You will be able to see the changes in your image. Figure
31 shows an underexposed photo. By correcting the highlights and making the image lighter, we are
able to make the photo appear much brighter (Figure 32).

Figure 31. Underexposed photo

Figure 32. Corrected photo

 14. Saving
Remember to save your work often. Saving frequently lessens the risk of losing the work you have been
doing. To save your Photoshop document, do the following:

1. Click File > Save As.

2. Navigate to the place you would like your document to be saved by using the drop down menu
and the navigation window.
3. Enter the name of your document in the Save As text field.
4. Choose a format to save your project in from the Format drop-down menu (Figure 33)

Figure 33. Saving a document

5. Click the Save button in the bottom right corner of the dialogue box.
6. Check to make sure that your document is saved in the place you intended.
Note: If you save your file as PSD (default Photoshop saving format) your layers will be preserved, but the
file size will be large. If you save your file as JPEG (a common image format) your layers will be flattened and
become one layer, and the file size will be significantly smaller. 27