Photoshop Basics

Photoshop Basics Frances Glanville

To copy your active screen Issue: You have a problem on your screen that you can’t explain – if only the IT guys could see it!Solution: Copy the image on the monitor/screen in front of you Press the “print screen” button usually above the number pad on your keyboard. Open an email or other document, select “paste” and your image should appear. You may wish to “crop” the image to focus on the specific area of the screen you want to show someone.

Change a .bmp to a .jpg Issue: Employee submitted a .bmp file, I can only use .jpg files in Publisher or InDesign. Solution: change the file from .bmp to .jpg Easiest way is to use Powerpoint Insert picture file into a slide or copy and paste it into the slide. “right click” on the photo, select “save as” and save as .jpg or .jpeg Can also do this in Photoshop of course, but generally doesn’t work well in Word or Publisher This will also work on .pdf’s

To re-size a file Solution: Open photo Select “image”, then “image size” In the “Document Size” section adjust width and height Change resolution to be more dense if desired Generally leave “locks” in place as well as constrain proportions. Issue: Sent a photo via email, the file is too large, it won’t go through or it shuts down the receivers email account.

To crop a file Solution: Open photo Select “crop” button, then click on the photo you want to adjust. Sizing bars should appear around the image Click and drag until you are happy with the photo. As long as you do not “save” you can un-do what you have done. I generally “save as” and change name so I can get back to the original photo if I need to. Issue: Only want a specific item/person in the photo or want to “cut out” a defect or distraction.

Solution: Open photo Select “layer”, “new adjustment layer”, “brightness/contrast” Select “ok” for name of new layer Use button to light/darken image Use “contrast” to sharpen the image if needed. Go to “layer”, “merge visible” if you need to do another action to the photo. As long as you do not “save” you can un-do what you have done. I generally “save as” and change name so I can get back to the original photo if I need to. To lighten/darken an image Issue: Great photo – but dark/dim – or too much light

Solution: Open photo Using the “square”, “magic lasso” or “magic wand” select the section you want to work on. Select “layer”, “new adjustment layer”, “brightness/contrast” Select “ok” for name of new layer Use button to light/darken image Use “contrast” to sharpen the image if needed. Go to “layer”, “merge visible” if you need to do another action to the photo. As long as you do not “save” you can un-do what you have done. I generally “save as” and change name so I can get back to the original photo if I need to. To isolate part of an image Issue: Only part of the photo is too dark/too light Tip: if it is easier to select a small image than the larger area you need to adjust then do that. Then choose “Select”, “inverse”

Solution: Open photo Select the “red eye tool” Your cursor should change to a “cross hairs” Click in the red area of one eye Click in the red area of the other eye if needed Go to “layer”, “merge visible” if you need to do another action to the photo. As long as you do not “save” you can un-do what you have done. I generally “save as” and change name so I can get back to the original photo if I need to. To get rid of “red eyes” Issue: Someone in the photo has “red eyes” Note: If there is not enough of the eye visible to pick up the color, then the program will make the eye(s) black. Otherwise it should pick up the color from the surrounding eye.

Solution: Open 2 images – one for background, one with subject Using the “magic lasso” select the section you want to keep choose copy Open the image you want to use as the background, select paste Use “arrow” to move the foreground image around if needed You can also use eraser to erase part of the foreground image Use the “blur” tool lightly around the edges Go to “layer”, “merge visible” if you need to do another action to the photo. As long as you do not “save” you can un-do what you have done. I generally “save as” and change name so I can get back to the original photo if I need to. To change the background Issue: Great subject in the photo – if only it had happened somewhere nicer

Solution: Open photo Using the “square”, “magic lasso” or “magic wand” select the section you want to work on. Select “layer”, “new adjustment layer”, the use either “hue/saturation” tools or “color balance” tools to make the change. Select “ok” for name of new layer Or To make it a specific color you can go to color select section, choose your color, then use paint bucket to make the change. Go to “layer”, “merge visible” if you need to do another action to the photo. As long as you do not “save” you can un-do what you have done. I generally “save as” and change name so I can get back to the original photo if I need to. To change a color Issue: You need to change a color to be more appealing or to meet marketing department standards.

Solution: Open photo containing the color you want to match Click on color swatch button Cursor will change to an eye dropper Double Click in photo on color you want to match The colors identifying numbers will appear in the boxes To match a color Issue: You need to change a color to be more appealing or to meet marketing department standards.

Solution: • Open photo, there are Two ways to do this: • Use “square” to select, then copy and paste the piece of the photo • Place as desired, use erase if it is too large for the area • Use “clone” button to copy the section, select area to be copied using “ctrl/click” To duplicate a section of a photo Issue: You need to cover a blemish and make it match the remainder of the photo

Photoshop Basics