An Overview of Speaking Photoshop
Summary of Topics
Chapter 1—An Overview of Bridge and Photoshop
Covers how to find, organize and open image files through Adobe Bridge. Introduces the Photoshop Workspace and familiarizes the reader with the basic menu commands, tools and panels.
Chapter 2—Resizing, Cropping & Transforming
Addresses the differences between image size and canvas size and explains the importance of resolution to image quality. Also covers how to rotate, skew, distort or warp an image.
Chapter 3—Creating Selections
Provides a comprehensive look at the various methods of selecting part of an image for further editing. Discusses the differences of aliasing and anti-aliasing and the effects of feathering.
Chapter 4—Levels, Curves, Shadows/Highlights
Covers Photoshop’s major tools for correcting poorly exposed images. Explains the mechanics of histograms, how the various luminosity commands work and why they improve detail in an image.
Chapter 5—Color Balancing Act
Explains the theory of color and how it comes to life through Photoshop. Readers will learn what to look for when color correcting images and what methods to use to improve color.
Chapter 6—Retouching
Discusses how to complete valuable retouching tasks, such as creating gradient backgrounds, using specialized brush tips, cloning, healing, removing red eye and brightening teeth.
Chapter 7—Layers & Layer Effects
Explores the power of layers. Covers layer blending modes, opacity, fill, layer effects, layer masks, clipping masks, and alignment and distribution.
Chapter 8—Smart Objects, Filters & Vanishing Point
Covers the advantages of using Smart Objects and explores the unlimited possibilities of using Photoshop filters, including Vanishing Point.
Chapter 9—Distort, Warp & Content Aware
Introduces the diverse distorting capabilities of Liquify and Puppet Warp. Also covers Content Aware Fill, Content Aware Scale and Content Aware Move.
Chapter 10—Camera Raw, Photomerge & HDR
Explains the powerful features of Camera Raw for adjusting white balance, correcting exposure and more. Also demonstrates how to merge multiple photos into a seamless panorama with Photomerge and how to create a high dynamic range photo from multiple exposures using Merge to HDR Pro.
Chapter 11—Extracting Images: A Hairy Proposition
Covers manual masking techniques and the powers of Select and Mask to extract images that contain hair. Includes compositing tips on placing an image into a background with a different white balance or exposure.
Chapter 12—Photoshop’s Vector Capabilities
Covers Photoshop’s abilities to create vector paths, shapes, strokes and type. Includes tips on how to create paths and edit on-the-fly using the Pen tool.
Chapter 13—Output for Print & Web
Explains how to prepare your image for output to print or the Web. Includes tips on printing to desktop printers, preparing images for four-color or spot-color offset printing, and saving optimized images for the Web.
Table of Contents
1. An Overview of Bridge & Photoshop
Use Adobe Bridge to Open and Manage Photoshop files
Accessing Bridge through Photoshop
The Bridge Workspace
Browsing through Files
Managing files in Bridge
Understanding Metadata
Opening Files from Bridge
The Photoshop Workspace
Navigating Around an Image
2. Resizing, Cropping & Transforming
Uncovering the Mysteries of Image Size
Canvas Size
The Crop Tool
Transforming
3. Creating Selections
The Selection Tools
Marquee Selection Tools
The Lasso Tools
The Quick Selection Tool
The Magic Wand Tool
Color Range
4. Levels, Curves, Shadows/Highlights
Auto Exposure Adjustments
Making your job easy
Making your job not so easy
The Levels Command
Adjustment Layers
Nondestructive Editing
Adjusting Part of an Image
Curves
Shadows/Highlights
5. A Color Balancing Act
How is Color Created?
The Additive Color System
The Subtractive Color System
The Color Wheel
Finding the Color Wheel in Photoshop
Gamut! We Have a Problem
Balancing Color
Making an initial color analysis
Color Balance Adjustment Layer
Manual Levels Adjustments
Gray Point Eyedropper
Correcting Color with Curves
6. Retouching
An Overview of the Retouching Tools
Gradient Tool
The Brush Tool
Red Eye Tool
Clone Stamp Tool
Healing Brush Tool
Spot Healing Brush
Patch Tool
Which Tool is the best Cloner/Healer/Patcher?
Blur, Sharpen and Smudge Tools
Dodge, Burn and Sponge Tools
Brightening Teeth with Hue/Saturation
7. Layers & Layer Effects
Background Layer versus Regular Layer
Basic Layer Construction
Background Layer Attributes
Regular Layer Attributes
Converting between Background and Regular Layers
Blending Modes, Opacity and Fill
Locking and Linking Layers
Layer Effects and Layer Styles
Organizing and Moving Layers
Layer Masks
Clipping Masks
8. Smart Objects, Filters & Vanishing Point
Smart Objects
Smart Objects and Raster Images
Smart Objects and Vector Images
Editing Smart Objects
Using Smart Filters
Working with Filters
An Overview of Filters
The Sharpen Filters
The Displace Filter
The Clouds Filter
Vanishing Point
9. Distort, Warp & Content Aware
Liquify
Puppet Warp
Content Aware Scale
Content Aware Move
10. Camera Raw, Photomerge & HDR
Camera Raw
An Overview of Camera Raw
Adjusting White Balance
Synchronize settings with other photos
Exiting Camera Raw
Tone Controls
Clarity, Vibrance and Saturation
Other Adjustment Tabs
Adjusting Part of an Image
Cropping and Straightening
Spot Removal Tool
Other Tools
Creating Panoramas with Photomerge
Merge to HDR Pro
11. Extracting Images: A Hairy Proposition
Manual Masking Techniques for Hair
Splitting Hairs with Select and Mask
12. Photoshop’s Vector Capabilities
Vector versus Raster Art
Vector Tools
Shape, Path or Pixels
Vector Shapes
Paths and the Pen Tool
Creating Paths
Putting Paths to Use
Setting Type
Point Type
Paragraph Type
Type Options
Type on a Path
Putting it all Together
Compose the Main Graphic
Add a Gradient Background
Create a Map of Africa
Set the Type
13. Output for Print & Web
Printouts
Preparing Images for Offset Printing
CMYK Images
Duotones
Spot Color Images
Saving Images for the Web
Understanding Web File Formats
Optimizing Line Art
Optimizing Photos