Introduction to Photoshop

Photoshop is a successfully created software discovered by Adobe. Adobe creates many effective software apps, such as InDesign, Lightroom, Premier Pro, Illustrator and numerous more. However, we recently got taught and introduced to the software Photoshop, an image editing and composing system.

Two successful creators, Thomas and John Knoll, invented the program in 1988. Many different individuals use it, however Photoshop is no longer simply an artist’s tool but developed to a versatile program, designed for the works of any creator in any field. For instance, photographers, industrial designers, medical professionals and thousands more.

Photoshop is an empowering system, in which one can achieve many different things. Many users state ideas behind Photoshop and one statement remained in my mind “It is a skill, not a program.” This dominating observation simply demonstrates, Photoshop cannot be taught to individuals, only learned. For instance, like all Adobe apps, one can only be successful with Photoshop through experience and experimental practice. Therefore, from this memorable remark, I will continue to practice in order to achieve the best results I can.

Lasso Tool

Photoshop is so powerful, it can seem daunting to beginners. For example, the program includes many different elements to it, such as functions of tools. For instance, the basic tool we firstly learnt was the Lasso tool. Photoshop allows us to choose from three different variations of the Lasso tool to work with, such as the standard Lasso tool, Polygonal Lasso tool and finally Magnetic Lasso tool. Simply, each of the three types of Lasso tool gives us a different way to draw selections. Usually the standard Lasso tool is mostly used. One can find the Lasso tool, simply on the tool bar, which is usually placed on the left of the program. However, you can also (press the L Key) for a quicker route.  The purpose of the Lasso tool is for one to easily take a section out of an image by simply drawing around the area you wish to select.

Move Tool

Another simple tool we were taught was the move tool. For instance, the move tool allows us to select a layer by dragging it around with your mouse or simply using the keyboard arrow keys to move it. The move tool allows you to place a section anywhere you wish on the page. It is to be found again the tool bar at the top.

Menu's

There is also another useful tool we learnt, such as the Menu’s. For example, there is a Select Menu and an Edit Menu, both of which are of importance. The Edit Menu firstly allows the user to copy, paste, cut and more an image. It also allows much more experimental work for example, warping or defining or transforming or many more, these allow you to rotate, enlarge and more. Similarly the Select Menu also allows one to choose between the layers and images to either isolate the layers or deselect them. There are a lot of elements to explore in the Select Menu.

Layers

Layers in Photoshop are another simple and effective use of the program. However, it can be the source of problems for some people as layers build up and sometimes one can be creating many different elements on the wrong layer. For example, I think of layers like sheets of acetate. Acetate is a transparent area, which you can see through, as is a layer on Photoshop.

There are many different elements to layers, such as you can change the opacity and fill of a layer for preferred choice, you can apply special effects to the layers, such as dropping the shadow or increasing the outer glow. You can also add filters to the layers for more successful blending options; you can lock the layers and also do many more.

Layers are stored in the layer panel on the right hand side of the program. You can manage your layers by either placing them in groups or highlighting them with different colours and more. One can either have their layers on show or hide them, by either clicking (Windows>Layers) or quickly (F7) on your keyboard. Layers are usually used to either multiply (duplicate) an image or build up a collage.