Selecting with the Magic Wand Tool

The Magic Wand Tool selects areas of similar color. To increase or decrease the range of color selected, you can adjust the Tolerance, or color range, of the Magic Wand Tool.

To select an area:

1. From the Toolbox, select the Magic Wand Tool HINT: If the Magic Wand Tool is not visible, you may need to click and hold on the

Quick Selection Tool to find it.

2. From the Objects toolbar, in the Tolerance text box, specify a value NOTE: Low levels of Tolerance result in a smaller selection area. High levels of Tolerance result in a larger selection area.

3. To select only like-colored pixels that are next to each other, select Contiguous

OR To select all like-colored pixels in the image, de-select Contiguous

4. In your image, click a spot within the area that you want to select Similar colors around the area where you clicked are selected.

5. OPTIONAL: Enlarge or reduce the selected area: NOTE: These selections are also based on similar colors and may result in unintentional additions or subtractions.

a. To add to the selected area, press [Shift] while clicking areas not included in the

original selection

b. To subtract from the selected area, press [Alt] while clicking areas you want to

exclude

6. Complete the desired action (e.g., copy, add color) The area remains selected.

7. To prevent inadvertent changes to the selected area, when complete, deselect the area

Saving a Selection

Focusing on a particular area of an image is done using the selection tools; however, many times you need to work with different areas at different times. Photoshop allows you to save selection areas to make re-selecting these areas more efficient.

1. Select the desired area

2. From the Select menu, select Save

Selection...

The Save Selection dialog box appears.

3. In the Name text box, type a name for the selection.

4. Click OK

Loading a Selection

In order to work with a saved selection, it needs to be loaded.

1. From the Select menu, select Load Selection...The Load Selection dialog box appears.

2. From the Channel pull-down list, choose the desired selection

3. Click OK The selection is loaded.

Deselecting an Area

To prevent inadvertent changes to a selected area, you should deselect it. WARNING: If you have not saved the selection, you will need to re-select the area in order to work with it again.

1. From the Select menu, select Deselect

Photoshop CS3: Set the Preferences

In addition to Color Settings, Photoshop includes ten different panes in the Preferences dialog box. Although you can work with the default settings, changing some of these can make your computer run more efficiently, and changing others can make it easier to work with your projects. For example, by default, Photoshop is set to use more than half of the available RAM. You can lower this default setting depending on how much RAM you have installed in the computer and how many other applications you keep open at the same time. You can change the default colors for the guides and grid when they are too similar to those in your image. Setting an additional plug-ins folder keeps third-party items separate from included Photoshop plug-ins, and setting a separate scratch disk can speed up your work on large files. Other personalized options, such as asking Photoshop to automatically launch the Bridge, can help you use Photoshop the way you want.

Read through each Preferences pane to familiarize yourself with the choices. Select the settings to fit your workflow and make Photoshop work for you.

1 Click Photoshop (Edit).

2 Click Preferences.

3 Click General.

The General Preferences dialog box appears.

4 Click any arrows to change your settings.

5 Click to select the options you want or deselect those you do not want.

6 Click Next to continue customizing Preferences.

The dialog box changes to the Interface Preferences.

7 Click to select the options you want or deselect those you do not want.

8 Click Next.

9 Make any other changes that you prefer in the other Preferences panes.

0 Click OK when you have cycled through all the Preferences panes.

! Click Photoshop (File). @ Click Quit Photoshop (Exit).

The next time you start the application, your own settings take effect.

Photoshop CS3: Selecting an Area

Photoshop has multiple selection tools to accommodate the different types of selections. All of these tools are found in the Toolbox.

Selecting with the Marquee Tools Marquee tools make rectangular, elliptical, and single row or single column selections. The Marquee tools are found in the uppermost left corner of the Toolbox.

To recognize this tool, look for one of these buttons:

1. From the Toolbox, select and hold the Marquee Tool. The hidden Marquee tools appear.

2. Select one of the tools

3. To select an area, click and drag the the crosshair pointer to surround your desired selection HINTS: To obtain a perfect square or circle, press and hold [Shift] before clicking and dragging the mouse.

4. To finish the selection, release the mouse button

5. Complete the desired action (e.g., copy, add color) NOTE: The area remains selected.

6. To prevent inadvertent changes to the selected area, when complete, deselect the area 

Selecting with the Lasso Tools

Lasso tools make free hand selections of irregularly shaped areas, with or without straight edges. When working with these tools, the pointer takes the shape of the tool. To make the selection process more precise, you can convert it to a crosshair pointer by pressing [Caps Lock].

HINT: You can switch between the Lasso tools by pressing [Shift] + [L].

Making Free Hand Selections

Selecting with the Lasso Tool is similar to drawing a line around an area with a pen. NOTE: The method used is click and drag. When you release the mouse button, the selection is completed.

    

1. From the Toolbox, select Lasso Tool

    

2. Click and drag around the contours/border of the area you want to select

3. Release the mouse button. The point at which you release will be connected with the beginning point to enclose the area. NOTE: The selected area is now surrounded by animated dashes. HINT: If your selection is not quite right, press [Ctrl] + [D] and repeat steps 2-3.

4. Complete the desired action (e.g., copy, add color) The area remains selected.

5. To prevent inadvertent changes to the selected area, when complete, deselect the area

Making Straight‐Edged Selections

The Polygonal Lasso Tool allows you to select oddly shaped areas of an image. You can use this tool if you want to select a triangular or other polygonal area of an image.

1. From the Toolbox, select the Polygonal Lasso Tool. NOTE: The Polygonal Lasso Tool is a hidden lasso tool. Click and hold the Lasso Tool button on the Toolbox to select the Lasso tool of your choice, e.g., the Polygonal Lasso Tool.

2. Position the polygonal lasso pointer where you want to start selecting and click the mouse

3. Move to the next corner of the area you want to select and click HINT: To ensure a straight line selection, press [Shift] before clicking. A line and an anchor point appear.

4. Repeat step 3 until the desired area is selected

5. To finish the selection, double click on the last point

6. Complete the desired action (e.g., copy, add color)

The area remains selected.

7. To prevent inadvertent changes to the selected area, when complete, deselect the area

Photoshop CS3: Printing Files

Photoshop CS3 has an improved Print dialog box with easy to use features that help you customize how your images are printed. The new Print dialog box includes ways for you to reposition your image on the printed page, control the coloring of the image from the printer, and resize the print size of your image. This section will give instructions on selecting a printer, repositioning the image on the page, and page setup.

1. From the File menu, select Print...

The Print dialog box appears.

2. From the Printer pull-down list, select your printer

3. In the Copies text box, type the number of copies you want to print

4. OPTIONAL: To center the printed image on the page, in the Position section verify that

Center Image checkbox is selected

NOTE: The option is selected if a checkmark appears in the box.

5. OPTIONAL: To position the printed image on the page manually,

a. Verify that the Center Image option is unselected and that Show Bounding Box is

selected

NOTE: The options are selected if a checkmark appears in the box.

b. On the page preview at the right, click on the image

Handles appear at the four corners of your image.

c. Click and drag the image to the desired location

OR

In the Position section, in the Top and Left text boxes, type the size of the top and

left margins

Your image is repositioned.

6. To make the image the size of your page, in the Scaled Print Size section select the Scale

to Fit Media option

7. OPTIONAL: To change the layout of the page, use the PORTRAIT or LANDSCAPE

buttons

8. When you are finished setting up your image, click PRINT

Your image is printed.

Photoshop CS3: Printing Files

Photoshop CS3 has an improved Print dialog box with easy to use features that help you customize how your images are printed. The new Print dialog box includes ways for you to reposition your image on the printed page, control the coloring of the image from the printer, and resize the print size of your image. This section will give instructions on selecting a printer, repositioning the image on the page, and page setup.

1. From the File menu, select Print...

The Print dialog box appears.

2. From the Printer pull-down list, select your printer

3. In the Copies text box, type the number of copies you want to print

4. OPTIONAL: To center the printed image on the page, in the Position section verify that

Center Image checkbox is selected

NOTE: The option is selected if a checkmark appears in the box.

5. OPTIONAL: To position the printed image on the page manually,

a. Verify that the Center Image option is unselected and that Show Bounding Box is

selected

NOTE: The options are selected if a checkmark appears in the box.

b. On the page preview at the right, click on the image

Handles appear at the four corners of your image.

c. Click and drag the image to the desired location

OR

In the Position section, in the Top and Left text boxes, type the size of the top and

left margins

Your image is repositioned.

6. To make the image the size of your page, in the Scaled Print Size section select the Scale

to Fit Media option

7. OPTIONAL: To change the layout of the page, use the PORTRAIT or LANDSCAPE

buttons

8. When you are finished setting up your image, click PRINT

Your image is printed.

Photoshop CS3: Make a Special Gradient

The Gradient tool helps you blend multiple colors as you fill an area in an image. You can use the
Gradient tool in many ways, such as by itself to fill text with soft gradations of color, to fill backgrounds with a gradient, or in combination with layers and masks. Gradients are often used when making composite images. Photoshop includes default gradient color sets and has other gradient sets listed in the drop-down menu in the Options bar. You can also create your own gradient by sampling colors from areas in your image or choosing different colors altogether.

You can add intermediate colors and design a blend among multiple colors in any order that you want. You can even design gradients that fade from any color to transparent.

You can also choose a style for the gradient, such as linear, radial, angled, reflected, or diamond. You customize the gradients from the Gradient Editor. Start with an existing gradient and modify the colors, the color stops, and other variations in the dialog box. The possibilities are almost endless!


1 Click the Gradient tool.
2 Click a gradient type in the Options bar.
3 Click inside the gradient thumbnail in the Options bar.

• The Gradient Editor dialog box appears.

4 Click the left color stop under the gradient bar to select it.
5 Click the Color thumbnail to choose a new color.

• The Color Picker dialog box appears.

6 Select a color from the dialog box.

• Note: If you have an image open, you can move the cursor over the image to select a color.

7 Click OK.

• The selected color fills the left color stop in the Gradient Editor.

8 Click the right color stop under the gradient bar to select it.
9 Repeat steps 5 to 7 to select the colors for the right color stop.
10 Type a name for your new gradient in the Name field.  Click New.
1l The custom gradient appears in the presets. Click OK.

Photoshop CS3: Adjustment Layers

You can make a variety of adjustments to an image by using the Adjustments option on the Image menu. If you made a duplicate of your Background layer, you can adjust your photo using the duplicate and not alter the original layer. However, each time you change the pixels in an image, you lose some data.

If you combine adjustments, you lose even more pixel information. By applying an adjustment layer instead, you can apply color and tonal changes to your image without changing any pixel values.

With an adjustment layer, you can try various settings and edit the adjustment at a later time. You can reduce or vary the effect of the adjustment by using the Opacity or Fill sliders. You can also combine various adjustment layers. An adjustment layer affects all the layers below it.

Photoshop includes a number of different types of adjustment layers, which you access through the Layer menu.

1 Click Layer.

2 Click New Adjustment Layer.

3 Click to select the adjustment that you want to make — for example, Levels.

The New Layer dialog box appears.

4 Type a name for the adjustment layer.

5 Click OK.

The dialog box for the type of adjustment layer you selected appears.

Note: Make sure that the Preview box

is checked.

6 For Levels, drag this slider to the right until it is just below the rise of the black histogram on the left side.

7 For Levels, drag this slider to the left until it is just below the rise of the black histogram on the right side.

8 For Levels, drag this slider slightly to adjust the midtones if necessary.

Note: Different adjustment layers’ dialog boxes have different options.

Make the changes your adjustment layer type requires.

9 Click OK.

The adjustment layer’s changes are applied to

the image. Repeat steps 1 and 2.

Select a different adjustment layer, such as Exposure.

The dialog box for the type of adjustment layer you selected appears.

For Exposure, click here and drag slightly to the left or right to adjust the exposure.

Note: Make the needed changes to the options that are available for your adjustment layer type.

Click OK.

The adjustment layer’s changes are applied to the image.

Click here to turn off the Visibility icon for each adjustment layer and hide the

adjustment. Compare the effect of the adjustment layers.

Note: If you do not like the effect of an adjustment layer, you can simply delete that layer.

Photoshop CS3: Adjustment Layers

You can make a variety of adjustments to an image by using the Adjustments option on the Image menu. If you made a duplicate of your Background layer, you can adjust your photo using the duplicate and not alter the original layer. However, each time you change the pixels in an image, you lose some data.

If you combine adjustments, you lose even more pixel information. By applying an adjustment layer instead, you can apply color and tonal changes to your image without changing any pixel values.

With an adjustment layer, you can try various settings and edit the adjustment at a later time. You can reduce or vary the effect of the adjustment by using the Opacity or Fill sliders. You can also combine various adjustment layers. An adjustment layer affects all the layers below it.

Photoshop includes a number of different types of adjustment layers, which you access through the Layer menu.

1 Click Layer.

2 Click New Adjustment Layer.

3 Click to select the adjustment that you want to make — for example, Levels.

The New Layer dialog box appears.

4 Type a name for the adjustment layer.

5 Click OK.

The dialog box for the type of adjustment layer you selected appears.

Note: Make sure that the Preview box

is checked.

6 For Levels, drag this slider to the right until it is just below the rise of the black histogram on the left side.

7 For Levels, drag this slider to the left until it is just below the rise of the black histogram on the right side.

8 For Levels, drag this slider slightly to adjust the midtones if necessary.

Note: Different adjustment layers’ dialog boxes have different options.

Make the changes your adjustment layer type requires.

9 Click OK.

The adjustment layer’s changes are applied to

the image. Repeat steps 1 and 2.

Select a different adjustment layer, such as Exposure.

The dialog box for the type of adjustment layer you selected appears.

For Exposure, click here and drag slightly to the left or right to adjust the exposure.

Note: Make the needed changes to the options that are available for your adjustment layer type.

Click OK.

The adjustment layer’s changes are applied to the image.

Click here to turn off the Visibility icon for each adjustment layer and hide the

adjustment. Compare the effect of the adjustment layers.

Note: If you do not like the effect of an adjustment layer, you can simply delete that layer.

Photoshop CS3: Adjustment Layers

You can make a variety of adjustments to an image by using the Adjustments option on the Image menu. If you made a duplicate of your Background layer, you can adjust your photo using the duplicate and not alter the original layer. However, each time you change the pixels in an image, you lose some data.

If you combine adjustments, you lose even more pixel information. By applying an adjustment layer instead, you can apply color and tonal changes to your image without changing any pixel values.

With an adjustment layer, you can try various settings and edit the adjustment at a later time. You can reduce or vary the effect of the adjustment by using the Opacity or Fill sliders. You can also combine various adjustment layers. An adjustment layer affects all the layers below it.

Photoshop includes a number of different types of adjustment layers, which you access through the Layer menu.

1 Click Layer.

2 Click New Adjustment Layer.

3 Click to select the adjustment that you want to make — for example, Levels.

The New Layer dialog box appears.

4 Type a name for the adjustment layer.

5 Click OK.

The dialog box for the type of adjustment layer you selected appears.

Note: Make sure that the Preview box

is checked.

6 For Levels, drag this slider to the right until it is just below the rise of the black histogram on the left side.

7 For Levels, drag this slider to the left until it is just below the rise of the black histogram on the right side.

8 For Levels, drag this slider slightly to adjust the midtones if necessary.

Note: Different adjustment layers’ dialog boxes have different options.

Make the changes your adjustment layer type requires.

9 Click OK.

The adjustment layer’s changes are applied to

the image. Repeat steps 1 and 2.

Select a different adjustment layer, such as Exposure.

The dialog box for the type of adjustment layer you selected appears.

For Exposure, click here and drag slightly to the left or right to adjust the exposure.

Note: Make the needed changes to the options that are available for your adjustment layer type.

Click OK.

The adjustment layer’s changes are applied to the image.

Click here to turn off the Visibility icon for each adjustment layer and hide the

adjustment. Compare the effect of the adjustment layers.

Note: If you do not like the effect of an adjustment layer, you can simply delete that layer.

Photoshop CS3: Adjustment Layers

You can make a variety of adjustments to an image by using the Adjustments option on the Image menu. If you made a duplicate of your Background layer, you can adjust your photo using the duplicate and not alter the original layer. However, each time you change the pixels in an image, you lose some data.

If you combine adjustments, you lose even more pixel information. By applying an adjustment layer instead, you can apply color and tonal changes to your image without changing any pixel values.

With an adjustment layer, you can try various settings and edit the adjustment at a later time. You can reduce or vary the effect of the adjustment by using the Opacity or Fill sliders. You can also combine various adjustment layers. An adjustment layer affects all the layers below it.

Photoshop includes a number of different types of adjustment layers, which you access through the Layer menu.

1 Click Layer.

2 Click New Adjustment Layer.

3 Click to select the adjustment that you want to make — for example, Levels.

The New Layer dialog box appears.

4 Type a name for the adjustment layer.

5 Click OK.

The dialog box for the type of adjustment layer you selected appears.

Note: Make sure that the Preview box

is checked.

6 For Levels, drag this slider to the right until it is just below the rise of the black histogram on the left side.

7 For Levels, drag this slider to the left until it is just below the rise of the black histogram on the right side.

8 For Levels, drag this slider slightly to adjust the midtones if necessary.

Note: Different adjustment layers’ dialog boxes have different options.

Make the changes your adjustment layer type requires.

9 Click OK.

The adjustment layer’s changes are applied to

the image. Repeat steps 1 and 2.

Select a different adjustment layer, such as Exposure.

The dialog box for the type of adjustment layer you selected appears.

For Exposure, click here and drag slightly to the left or right to adjust the exposure.

Note: Make the needed changes to the options that are available for your adjustment layer type.

Click OK.

The adjustment layer’s changes are applied to the image.

Click here to turn off the Visibility icon for each adjustment layer and hide the

adjustment. Compare the effect of the adjustment layers.

Note: If you do not like the effect of an adjustment layer, you can simply delete that layer.

Photoshop CS3: Adjustment Layers

You can make a variety of adjustments to an image by using the Adjustments option on the Image menu. If you made a duplicate of your Background layer, you can adjust your photo using the duplicate and not alter the original layer. However, each time you change the pixels in an image, you lose some data.

If you combine adjustments, you lose even more pixel information. By applying an adjustment layer instead, you can apply color and tonal changes to your image without changing any pixel values.

With an adjustment layer, you can try various settings and edit the adjustment at a later time. You can reduce or vary the effect of the adjustment by using the Opacity or Fill sliders. You can also combine various adjustment layers. An adjustment layer affects all the layers below it.

Photoshop includes a number of different types of adjustment layers, which you access through the Layer menu.

1 Click Layer.

2 Click New Adjustment Layer.

3 Click to select the adjustment that you want to make — for example, Levels.

The New Layer dialog box appears.

4 Type a name for the adjustment layer.

5 Click OK.

The dialog box for the type of adjustment layer you selected appears.

Note: Make sure that the Preview box

is checked.

6 For Levels, drag this slider to the right until it is just below the rise of the black histogram on the left side.

7 For Levels, drag this slider to the left until it is just below the rise of the black histogram on the right side.

8 For Levels, drag this slider slightly to adjust the midtones if necessary.

Note: Different adjustment layers’ dialog boxes have different options.

Make the changes your adjustment layer type requires.

9 Click OK.

The adjustment layer’s changes are applied to

the image. Repeat steps 1 and 2.

Select a different adjustment layer, such as Exposure.

The dialog box for the type of adjustment layer you selected appears.

For Exposure, click here and drag slightly to the left or right to adjust the exposure.

Note: Make the needed changes to the options that are available for your adjustment layer type.

Click OK.

The adjustment layer’s changes are applied to the image.

Click here to turn off the Visibility icon for each adjustment layer and hide the

adjustment. Compare the effect of the adjustment layers.

Note: If you do not like the effect of an adjustment layer, you can simply delete that layer.

Photoshop CS3: Adjustment Layers

You can make a variety of adjustments to an image by using the Adjustments option on the Image menu. If you made a duplicate of your Background layer, you can adjust your photo using the duplicate and not alter the original layer. However, each time you change the pixels in an image, you lose some data.

If you combine adjustments, you lose even more pixel information. By applying an adjustment layer instead, you can apply color and tonal changes to your image without changing any pixel values.

With an adjustment layer, you can try various settings and edit the adjustment at a later time. You can reduce or vary the effect of the adjustment by using the Opacity or Fill sliders. You can also combine various adjustment layers. An adjustment layer affects all the layers below it.

Photoshop includes a number of different types of adjustment layers, which you access through the Layer menu.

1 Click Layer.

2 Click New Adjustment Layer.

3 Click to select the adjustment that you want to make — for example, Levels.

The New Layer dialog box appears.

4 Type a name for the adjustment layer.

5 Click OK.

The dialog box for the type of adjustment layer you selected appears.

Note: Make sure that the Preview box

is checked.

6 For Levels, drag this slider to the right until it is just below the rise of the black histogram on the left side.

7 For Levels, drag this slider to the left until it is just below the rise of the black histogram on the right side.

8 For Levels, drag this slider slightly to adjust the midtones if necessary.

Note: Different adjustment layers’ dialog boxes have different options.

Make the changes your adjustment layer type requires.

9 Click OK.

The adjustment layer’s changes are applied to

the image. Repeat steps 1 and 2.

Select a different adjustment layer, such as Exposure.

The dialog box for the type of adjustment layer you selected appears.

For Exposure, click here and drag slightly to the left or right to adjust the exposure.

Note: Make the needed changes to the options that are available for your adjustment layer type.

Click OK.

The adjustment layer’s changes are applied to the image.

Click here to turn off the Visibility icon for each adjustment layer and hide the

adjustment. Compare the effect of the adjustment layers.

Note: If you do not like the effect of an adjustment layer, you can simply delete that layer.