Photoshop Workshop - Lesson 1

1. Choose Start > Programs > Adobe > Photoshop 6.0 > Adobe Photoshop 6.0
   
   Start sequence for Com304 Lab - click to see larger view.
   
   
   Your desktop will look something like this:
   
   
   When you first open Photoshop or ImageReady, the default shows the Toolbox and a few key palettes. The figure above also shows an open, untitled document, which you create by choosing File > New (CTRL-N / CMD-N).
   
   Press the Tab key to toggle palettes on and off.
2. Explore Menu Bar
   Click any of the commands on the menu bar to see a list of menu options in that category.
   
3. Explore Toolbox
   The toolbox contains tools that let you manipulate images.
   
   The toolbox from Photoshop 6 is shown on the left - the toolbox from Photoshop 7 is on the right.
   
   Whenever you see a little arrow on the bottom right of a tool in Photoshop (or any Adobe application), it means there are other tool choices.
   
   Place the cursor on the arrow and hold down the mouse button; alternate choices will appear. Check toolbox details (link will open in a new browser window).
   
   The toolbox is movable - click the top (colored bar) and drag it to another point on the screen.

   
4. Keyboard Shortcuts
   Photoshop has many keyboard shortcuts -- some are "documented" on menu drop-downs but many are not. This table provides a list of essential shortcuts.
5. Preferences
   There are numerous Preference settings in Photoshop, and many of them are related to general workflow. The only setting that directly impacts whether you are set up properly for the Web or print is the Units & Rulers preference. When you work on the Web you measure everything by pixels and sometimes points, not picas as you would in print.

Activity: Changing Preferences
In Photoshop, choose Edit > Preferences > Units & Rulers (Mac OS X: Photoshop > Preferences > Units & Rulers).

In the Preferences dialog box, click the Rulers button and choose pixels. Click OK.

resources

• Software Training Resources Online (requires Quicktime)
  • Interface Basics
  • Tools Palette
  • Undo - Correcting Mistakes