A sample of the book containing the first two chapters is available for download. These chapters review Photoshop 2022 requirements and installation, examine some commonly-used Photoshop Preference settings, introduce you to Photoshop Libraries, and show you how to adjust images in Camera Raw.

Visit the Buy page to purchase the full book.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 1: Overview & Guidelines (Getting Started)

OBJECTIVES

• Download the example and tutorial files for the book.

• Examine the hardware and software requirements for Photoshop 2022 and set up your computer system accordingly.

• Work with PSD and JPEG files.

  • Differentiate between PROPRIETARY and GENERIC or UNIVERSAL file formats.

  • Describe the strengths and limitations of both the PSD and the JPEG file format.

  • Use the Export As and Save for Web (Legacy) commands with various settings to duplicate PSD files as web-optimized JPEG files.

• Customize the most common Photoshop preferences: Image Interpolation, File Handling, and Type.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 2: Libraries & Camera Raw

OBJECTIVES

Libraries

• Identify the image elements that can be stored in the Libraries panel: colors, layer styles, text styles, text snippets, and graphics.

• Create, rename, and delete libraries.

Camera Raw

• Evaluate the pros and cons of the Raw format and DNG.

• Identify the major sections of the Camera Raw dialog box.

• Improve image tonality and color with the Basic tab settings:

  • Observe how the Histogram, especially with Highlights and Shadows Clipping turned on, can help diagnose problems with image tonality as you adjust an image.

  • Experiment with the White Balance settings in the Basic tab, including the Temperature and Tint sliders.

  • Selectively lighten and/or darken parts of images with the Exposure, Highlghts, Shadows, Whites, and Blacks sliders.

  • Adjust image tonality with the Contrast slider.

  • Differentiate among the Clarity, Vibrance, and Saturation sliders, and observe the effects of each slider.

  • Identify and use these tools in the Camera Raw Tools panel: Zoom Tool and Hand Tool, White Balance Tool, Crop Tool, and Straighten Tool.

• Explore the various ways to finish your adjustment.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 3: A First Look at Masks

OBJECTIVES

• Define MASKING, and understand why masking is so critical to professional Photoshop work.

• Review navigation shortcuts.

• Review the function of Layers panel buttons.

• Differentiate between layers and masks.

• Differentiate between color channels and alpha channels.
  

• Make a Quick Mask, edit it, adjust its edges using the Select and Mask dialog box, and save the mask as an alpha channel.

• Use the alpha channel as a layer mask on a layer.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 4: Type and Smart Objects

OBJECTIVES

• Evaluate the strengths and limitations of Type layers.

• Identify the various Type and Type Mask tools, and understand which tools make Type layers, and which make Type masks.

• Compare Point Text with Paragraph Text.

• Format type with the Options bar and with basic Character and Paragraph panel settings.

• Add layer styles to Type layers.

• Explain how a Smart Object works.

• Rasterize Type layers.

• Differentiate between the Place Embedded and Place Linked commands.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 5: Masking Layers

OBJECTIVES

• Differentiate between LAYER MASKS and VECTOR MASKS.

• Examine different techniques for creating and editing layer masks.

• Use the Properties panel with layer masks in more detail.

• Demonstrate how to show and hide layer masks.

• Apply layer masks to adjustment layers.

• Paint on a blank layer mask.

• Copy a masked layer from one open document to another.

• Experiment with gradients as layer masks.

• Apply filters to layer masks for special effects.

• Define, make, and use clipping masks.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 6: Image Evaluation

OBJECTIVES

• Use the Histogram panel to evaluate image tonality.

• List the tonal range of the highlights, midtones, and shadows in an image and explain why most images should have pixels in each tonal region.

• Give examples of high key, average key, and low key images.

• Modify the tones of an image and observe how the changes affect its Histogram.

• Explain the function of color channels, and view color channels with options in the Channels panel.

• Use the Info panel with the Color Sampler Tool to identify a color cast on an image.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 7: Color Theory

OBJECTIVES

• Differentiate between TRANSMITTED COLOR and REFLECTED COLOR, and the RGB and CMYK color models that describe them.

• Define process color, and explain some of the challenges in printing color images.

• Describe these image modes in Photoshop’s Image > Mode menu: Bitmap, Grayscale, Indexed Color, RGB Color, CMYK Color, and Lab Color.

• Provide at least one use for each of these basic image modes.

• List the color channels that you would find for each of the basic image modes.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 8: Adjusting Tones & Colors

OBJECTIVES

• Review Adjustment layers and the Adjustments panel, and explain the advantages of using these over the Image > Adjustments menu.

• Review the Levels Auto Adjustment Options.

• Use the Highlights, Midtones, and Shadows sliders in the Levels dialog box to manually adjust image tone both on the RGB composite and on individual color channels.

• Remove color casts with the Levels Set Point eyedroppers.

• Open an image as a Smart Object and apply the Shadows/ Highlights adjustment to lighten shadow detail.

• Use the Curves adjustment to improve overall color and tone.

• Make precise adjustments with the Curves Targeted Adjustment Tool.

• Paint on an adjustment layer mask to selectively apply an adjustment.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 9: Touching Up Photographs

OBJECTIVES

• Review the Clone Stamp Tool.

• Differentiate between the Clone Stamp Tool and the Healing Brush Tools, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of each tool.

• Demonstrate the use of three touch-up tools with their options and describe common uses for each tool: the Spot Healing Brush Tool, the Healing Brush Tool, and the Patch Tool.

• Use the Content-Aware option with the Spot Healing Brush Tool.

• Experiment with the Patch Tool a.

• Compare using Content-aware technology using both the Fill command and Content-Aware Fill command.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 10: Adjusting Tone, Color, & Focus

OBJECTIVES

• Use the TONING TOOLS on both grayscale and color images and explain the benefits and challenges of each tool: the Dodge Tool, the Burn Tool, and the Sponge Tool.

• Define digital noise and explore different techniques for adding and removing digital noise: the Add Noise Filter, and the Reduce Noise Filter.

• Identify image halos and use the Color Replacement Tool to reduce image halos.

• Experiment with various filters that blur images or selections: the Gaussian Blur Filter, the Lens Blur Filter, and the Motion Blur Filter.

• Experiment with the Unsharp Mask and Smart Sharpen Filters in both RGB and Lab image modes.

• Use the History Brush Tool to refine image adjustments.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 11: Color & Shades of Gray

OBJECTIVES

• Use the following techniques to convert the same image from RGB
  color to Grayscale and compare the results:
  

  • Straight conversion

  • Desaturate image before conversion

  • Base the conversion on an individual color channel

  • Channel Mixer adjustment layer

  • Black & White adjustment layer

• Partially desaturate images with the Channel Mixer and Black &
  White adjustment layers for special effects.

• Experiment with Opacity settings and blend modes for more
  special effects.

• Convert images from Grayscale to RGB color, and then colorize all or parts of them by applying layer masks with:
  

  • Color Fill, Gradient Fill, and Pattern Fill layers
    

  • Hue/Saturation adjustment layers

  • Hand painting on a blank pixel layer set to Color blend mode

  • The Photo Filter adjustment layer

• Employ the Match Color command to synchronize the tone and color of a group of images.

• Use the Color Replacement Tool.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 12: Case Studies

Photoshop provides many different ways to restore aged or damaged
photographs, to improve relatively new images, or to change colors
for special effects.

This tutorial gives two extended examples.

 

 

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 13: Fills, Vectors, & Shapes

OBJECTIVES

• Differentiate between bitmapped and vector elements.
  

• Identify pixel and scalable Photoshop layers.
  

• Delineate file formats that preserve vector data.
  

• Manipulate Fill layers: Color Fill, Gradient Fill, and Pattern Fill.
  

• Make Shape layers by using the Shape Tools to make Vector Objects:
  

  • Use the Path Operations Buttons: New Shape Layer, Add
    to Shape, Subtract from Shape, Intersect Shape Area, and
    Exclude Overlapping Shape.
    

  • Set additional tool options for each of the geometric Shape
    Tools: Rectangle Tool, Triangle Tool, Ellipse Tool,
    and Polygon Tool.
    

• Use the Paths and the Masks panels to save and apply vector masks.

• Edit vector masks with the Path Selection Tool, the Direct
  Selection Tool, and the Masks panel.
  

• Explore the commands relating to Rulers, the Grid, and Guides in
  the View menu.
  

  • Lay out elements symmetrically with the Grid, Guides, and Snap.
    

  • Set Grid and Guides preferences.
    

• Work with the Custom Shape Tool and Shape Libraries.

• Apply Layer Styles to Shape layers.

• Convert Shape layers into Smart Objects and apply Smart Filters.

• Combine Shape layers with Type layers to make a shape sampler.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 14: Filters

OBJECTIVES

• Review what filters are and how they work.

• Explain the benefits and limitations of the Filter Gallery.

• Use the Filter Gallery to apply a series of filters to an image, changing filter settings to observe the effects.

• Use filters to make an image “from scratch” instead of beginning with a photograph.

• Explore using the Edit > Fade command to use filters with blending modes.

• Explore the Neural Filters.

• Examine the benefits and limitations of Smart Filters compared with simple filters.

• Use Smart Filters on Smart Objects.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 15: Web Graphics

OBJECTIVES

• Differentiate between PROPRIETARY and GENERIC or UNIVERSAL file formats.

• Use Photoshop to convert proprietary PSD files into generic file formats for Web page display.

• Describe Indexed Color Mode and explain how it uses a Color Table (CLUT).
  

• Delineate common uses for these basic Web file formats:

  • JPEG: Joint Photographic Experts Group

  • GIF: (Compuserve) Graphics Interchange Format

  • PNG: Portable Network Graphics
    

• Explain the differences between PNG-8 and PNG-24.
  

• Set up and preview web images in web browsers using the Save for Web (Legacy) dialog box.
  

• Use Save for Web (Legacy) to optimize JPEG, GIF and PNG files for the web.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 16: Archival & Print File Formats

OBJECTIVES

• Differentiate between LOSSLESS and LOSSY file compression

• Use Photoshop to convert proprietary PSD files into generic file formats for archival and print work.
  

• Differentiate among the basic generic print file formats and explain the common uses for each:

  • JPEG: Joint Photographic Experts Group (also used for screen work)

  • PDF: Portable Document Format (also used for screen work)

  • TIFF: Tagged Image File Format

  • EPS: Encapsulated PostScript

  • Use File > Place with options to place PDF and EPS files into Photoshop.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

Tutorial 17: Actions & Batch Processing

OBJECTIVES

• List at least two benefits of using actions.

• Identify the major parts of the Actions panel.

• Differentiate between actions and action sets.

• Define modal controls (interactive controls) and explain how to turn them on or off in the Actions panel.

• Make and test an action of your own.

• Save and Load action sets.
  

• Batch process a folder of images.

Tutorial 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17

A sample of the book containing the first two chapters is available for download. These chapters review Photoshop 2022 requirements and installation, examine some commonly-used Photoshop Preference settings, introduce you to Photoshop Libraries, and show you how to adjust images in Camera Raw.

Visit the Buy page to purchase the full book.