UNIT 54 Digital Graphics Checklist

Evidence needed in the table below.

Range Evidence / Screen-shot / Explanation

Work area The work area includes the command menus at the top of your
screen, the window containing the image you are editing, and a
variety of tools and palettes that let you edit images and add
elements such as masks, layers, and channels. You can also add
commands and filters to the menus by installing plug-in modules,
software programs designed to extend the functionality of Adobe
Photoshop.
Toolbox Tools can be selected using the Tool Bar, or the Shortcut Keys.
Clicking and holding on tools in the toolbar can access other
Hidden Tools. The Tool Bar and Palettes can be moved around the
work area as needed. In addition, the Palettes can be resized,
collapsed, separated and reorganized as needed.

Status bar Each Photoshop CS6 image window comes equipped with a status
bar. On the far left of the bar is a box that displays an active
images current zoom level (such as 33.33%). Incidentally, the
title bar of the document itself also shows the zoom level.
File information When you take a photo with your digital camera, each image file
includes information such as the date and time the
photo was taken, the shutter speed and aperture,
the specific camera model, and so on. All of this
information is called metadata, and you can view
it and add to it in the Properties panel of the
Elements Organizer and the File Info dialog box in
the Photoshop Elements.

You can add file information, such as a title,

keyword tags, and descriptions, to help identify
your images as you manage and organize your
collection. As you edit your images, Photoshop
Elements automatically keeps track of the files
edit history and adds this information to the files
metadata.

In addition, opened images are automatically

scanned for Digi marc watermarks. If a watermark is detected,
Photoshop Elements displays a copyright symbol in the image
windows title bar and includes the information in the Copyright
Status, Copyright Notice, and Copyright Info URL sections of the
File Info dialog box.
Tool option bar Most tools have options that are displayed in the tool options bar.
This bar is located right underneath the menu line. The options
bar is context sensitive, it changes as different tools are selected.

You can move the options bar from its default location to
anywhere in the work area.

To display the tool options bar do one of the following: Choose

Window > Show Options.

Brush Tool bar

This bar example shows that the Brush tools has been selected, it
shows a thumbnail of the thickness of the brush. Next to this is a
small arrow indicating that a pop-up window is available with
more options (pop-up windows explained later in this page).
There is also several painting modes from where to choose from,
opacity and a checkbox for a Wet Edges style.
Palette well; The Photoshop options bar includes a palette well that helps you
organize and manage palettes. The palette well stores, or docks,
palettes that you use frequently, without having to keep them
open on the work area.

The palette well is available only when using a screen resolution

greater than 800 pixels x 600 pixels (a setting of at least 1024 x
768 is recommended).
Floating palettes Palettes [shown right] are groups of tools used to edit and
manipulate your image.

Photoshop contains over two dozen palettes that can be shown or

hidden by using the Window menu and selecting the palette you
wish to reveal. Palettes with a checkmark beside their names
[below] indicate that they are open in your Photoshop workspace
and selecting those check marked palettes will hide them.
Save After you edit an image in Photoshop Elements, ensure that you
save it. To ensure that all the image data is preserved, save
regular images in Photoshop (PSD) format. Multiple-page
creations are always saved in Photo Creations (PSE) format.
These formats dont compress your image data.

Save your photos in PSD format (instead of JPEG), unless you

plan to share your photos or use them in a web page. Each time
you save in JPEG format, the image data is compressed,
potentially causing some data to be lost. You may start to notice
reduced image quality after saving the file as a JPEG 2-3 times.
The disadvantage of saving in PSD format is that the file size
increases significantly because the file is not compressed.

Photoshop Elements can save images in several file formats,

depending on how you plan to use them. If you are working with
web images, the Save For Web command provides many options
for optimizing images. To convert several images to the same file
format, or the same size and resolution, use the Process Multiple
Files command.

Photoshop Elements can save images in the following file formats:

BMP

A standard Windows image format. You can specify either

Windows or OS/2 format or a bit depth for the image. For 4-bit
and 8-bit images using Windows format, you can also specify RLE
compression.

CompuServe GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)

Commonly used to display graphics and small animations in web

pages. GIF is a compressed format designed to minimize file size
and transfer time. GIF supports only 8-bit color images (256 or
fewer color). You can also save an image as a GIF file using the
Save For Web command.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

Used to save photographs, JPEG format retains all color

information in an image but compresses file size by selectively
discarding data. You can choose the level of compression. Higher
 compression results in lower image quality and a smaller file size;
lower compression results in better image quality and a larger file
size. JPEG is a standard format for displaying images over the
web.

Photoshop (PSD)

The standard Photoshop Elements format for images. You should

generally use this format for edited images to save your work and
preserve all your image data and layers in a single page file.

Photo Creations Format (PSE)

The standard Photoshop Elements format for multiple page

creations. You should generally use this format for photo creations
to save your work and preserve all your image data and layers in
a multiple page file.

Photoshop PDF (Portable Document Format)

A cross-platform and cross-application file format. PDF files

accurately display and preserve fonts, page layouts, and both
vector and bitmap graphics.

Note:
PDF and PDP are the same except that PDPs are opened in Adobe
Photoshop and PDFs are opened in Acrobat.

Pixar

Used for exchanging files with Pixar image computers. Pixar

workstations are designed for high-end graphics applications,
such as those used for three-dimensional images and animation.
Pixar format supports RGB and grayscale images.

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

Used for lossless compression and for displaying images on the

web. Unlike GIF, PNG supports 24-bit images and produces
background transparency without jagged edges; however, some
web browsers do not support PNG images. PNG preserves
transparency in grayscale and RGB images.

TIFF (Tagged-Image File Format)

Used to exchange files between applications and computer

platforms. TIFF is a flexible bitmap image format supported by
most paint, image-editing, and page-layout applications. Most
desktop scanners can produce TIFF files.
In addition, Photoshop Elements can open files in several other
older formats: Pixel Paint, Portable Bit Map, SGI RGB, Soft Image,
Wave front RLA, and Electric Image.
Undo
By using the Undo/Redo commands and the History panel, you
can easily control the state(s) of your images.
 Use the Undo or Redo commands

The Undo and Redo commands let you undo or redo operations.
You can also use the History panel to undo or redo operations.

Choose Edit > Undo or Edit > Redo.

If an operation cant be undone, the command is dimmed and

changes to Cant Undo.

Palettes (colour, PALETTES - By default, Photoshop palettes are arranged in three

layers, objects, groups, stacked along the right side of the window. They include:
Figure 3 - Hidden Tools
brushes, history, Color / Swatches / Brushes group - contains options to select,
actions, size, create, and edit color and to select different brush sizes and
resolution); shapes.
Navigator / Info / Options group - contains options for viewing
images and for measuring the color values in an image. The
Options palette has additional controls for the currently selected
tool.
Layers / Channels / Paths group - contains options for adding,
deleting and assistance in editing these elements in an image.
Actions palette - contains options for recording repetitive tasks,
which can then be "played back" on one or more files.
Each palette has a unique palette menu, from which you select
additional options
Tools (marquee, Rectangular Marquee Tool (M)
lasso, magic wand,
Use this tool to make selections on your image, in a rectangular
magnetic lasso, shape. This changes the area of your image that is affected by
selecting, other tools or actions to be within the defined shape. Holding the
cropping, clone [Shift] key while dragging your selection, restricts the shape to a
tool); perfect square. Holding the [Alt] key while dragging sets the
centre of the rectangle to where your cursor started.

Polygon Lasso Tool (L)

Ok, this should be the Lasso Tool, but I use the Polygon Lasso a
lot more often. Use this to draw selections in whatever shape you
would like. To close the selection, either click on the beginning
point (youll see the cursor change when youre on it), or just
double-click. When holding the [Ctrl] key, youll see the cursor
change, and the next time you click, it will close your selection.

Magic Wand Tool (W)

Use this to select a color range. It will select the block of color, or
transparency, based on wherever you click. In the Options Bar at
the top, you can change the Tolerance to make your selections
more/less precise.

Crop Tool (C)

The Crop Tool works similarly to the Rectangular Marquee tool
(see above if you have no short-term memory). The difference is
when you press the [Enter/Return] key, it crops your image to the
 size of the box. Any information that was on the outside of the
box is now gone. Not permanently, you can still undo.

Clone Stamp Tool (S)

This is very similar to the Healing Brush Tool (see above). You
use it the exact same way, except this tool doesnt blend at the
end. Its a direct copy of the information from the first selected
area to the second. When you learn to use both of these tools
together in perfect harmony, you will be a Photoshop.
Layers
(transforming Photoshop layers are like sheets of stacked acetate. You can see
through transparent areas of a layer to the layers below. You
layers, copying move a layer to position the content on the layer, like sliding a
and saving layers, sheet of acetate in a stack. You can also change the opacity of a
arranging layers, layer to make content partially transparent.
opacity and
blending modes, Photoshop layers representation
Transparent areas on a layer let you see layers below.
layer effects)
You use layers to perform tasks such as compositing multiple
images, adding text to an image, or adding vector graphic shapes.
You can apply a layer style to add a special effect such as a drop
shadow or a glow.

A new image has a single layer. The number of additional layers,

layer effects, and layer sets you can add to an image is limited
only by your computers memory.

You work with layers in the Layers panel. Layer groups help you
organize and manage layers. You can use groups to arrange your
layers in a logical order and to reduce clutter in the Layers panel.
You can nest groups within other groups. You can also use groups
to apply attributes and masks to multiple layers simultaneously.

For some great tips for working with layers, see the tutorial video
Organize with layers and layer groups.

Sometimes layers dont contain any apparent content. For

example, an adjustment layer holds color or tonal adjustments
that affect the layers below it. Rather than edit image pixels
directly, you can edit an adjustment layer and leave the
underlying pixels unchanged.

A special type of layer, called a Smart Object, contains one or

more layers of content. You can transform (scale, skew, or
reshape) a Smart Object without directly editing image pixels. Or,
you can edit the Smart Object as a separate image even after
placing it in a Photoshop image. Smart Objects can also contain
smart filter effects, which allow you to apply filters non-
destructively to images so that you can later tweak or remove the
filter effect. See Non-destructive editing and Work with Smart
Objects.
Manipulation
(feathering edges, Any filter applied to a Smart Object is a Smart Filter. Smart Filters
appear in the Layers panel below the Smart Object layer to which
filters, brightness they are applied. Because you can adjust, remove, or hide Smart
and contrast, hue Filters, they are non-destructive.
and saturation,
You can apply any Photoshop filter (that has been enabled to
masks, paths, work with Smart Filters)except for Lens Blur, Flame Picture
textures, warps, Frame, Trees, and Vanishing Pointas a Smart Filter. In addition,
effects); you can apply Shadow/Highlight as Smart Filters.

To work with Smart Filters, select a Smart Object layer, choose a

filter, and then set filter options. After you apply a Smart Filter,
you can adjust, reorder, or delete it.

To expand or collapse the view of Smart Filters, click the triangle

next to the Smart Filter icon, displayed to the right of the Smart
Object layer in the Layers panel. (This technique also shows or
hides Layer Style.) Or, choose Layers panel Options from the
Layers panel menu, then select Expand New Effects in the dialog
box.

Use filter masks to selectively mask Smart Filter effects.

The Warp command lets you drag control points to manipulate the
shape of images, shapes, or paths, and so on. You can also warp
using a shape in the Warp Style pop-up menu in the options bar.
Shapes in the Warp Style pop-up menu are also malleable; drag
their control points.

When using the control points to distort an item, choosing View >
Extras shows or hides the warp mesh and control points.

Photoshop Using warp

Using Warp

A. Selecting the shape to be warped B. Choosing a warp from the

Warp Style pop-up menu in the options bar C. Result using several
warp options

Select what you want to warp.

Do one of the following:

Choose Edit > Transform > Warp.

If you chose a different transform command or the Free

Transform command, click the Switch Between Free Transform
And Warp Modes button in the options bar.

Do one or more of the following:

To warp using a specific shape, choose a warp style from the

Warp pop-up menu in the options bar.

Photoshop Dragging a control point to warp the mesh

Dragging a control point to warp the mesh

To the manipulate the shape, drag the control points, a segment

of the bounding box or mesh, or an area within the mesh. When
adjusting a curve, use the control point handles. This is similar to
adjusting the handles in the curved segment of a vector graphic.

Note:
To undo the last handle adjustment, choose Edit > Undo.

Photoshop Manipulating the shape of a warp

Manipulating the shape of a warp

To change the orientation of a warp style that you chose from

the Warp menu, click the Change The Warp Orientation button in
the options bar.
To change the reference point, click a square on the Reference
point locator in the options bar.
To specify the amount of warp using numeric values, enter the
values in the Bend (set bend), X (set horizontal distortion), and Y
(set vertical distortion) text boxes in the options bar. You cant
enter numeric values if you have chosen None or Custom from the
Warp Style pop-up menu.

Do one of the following:

Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS), or click the Commit

button in the options bar.

To cancel the transformation, press Esc or click the Cancel

button in the options bar.

Note:
When you warp a bitmap image (versus a shape or path), the
image becomes slightly less sharp each time you commit a
transformation; therefore, performing multiple commands before
applying the cumulative transformation is preferable to applying
each transformation separately.

Puppet Warp

Puppet Warp provides a visual mesh that lets you drastically

distort specific image areas, while leaving other areas intact.
Applications range from subtle image retouching (such as shaping
hair) to total transformations (such as repositioning arms or legs).

In addition to image layers, you can apply Puppet Warp to layer

and vector masks. To non-destructively distort images, use Smart
Objects. (See Create Smart Objects.)

In the Layers panel, select the layer or mask you want to

transform.

Choose Edit > Puppet Warp.

In the options bar, adjust the following mesh settings:

Mode
Determines the overall elasticity of the mesh.

Note:
Choose Distort for a highly elastic mesh good for warping wide-
angle images or texture maps.

Density

Determines the spacing of mesh points. More Points increases

precision but requires more processing time; Fewer Points does
the opposite.

Expansion

Expands or contracts the outer edge of the mesh.

Show Mesh

Deselect to show only adjustment pins, providing a clearer

preview of your transformations.

Note:
To temporarily hide adjustment pins, press the H key.

In the image window, click to add pins to areas you want to

transform and areas you want to anchor in place.

Photoshop Moving a pin on a mesh

Moving a pin on the puppet mesh. Adjoining pins keep nearby
areas intact.

To reposition or remove pins, do any of the following:

Drag pins to warp the mesh.

To reveal a mesh area youve overlapped with another, click the

Pin Depth buttons in the options bar.

To remove selected pins, press Delete. To remove other

individual pins, place the cursor directly over them, and press Alt
(Windows) or Option (Mac OS); when the scissors icon appears,
click.

Click the Remove All Pins button in the options bar.

Note:
To select multiple pins, Shift-click them or choose Select All from
the context menu.

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To rotate the mesh around a pin, select it, and then do either of
the following:

To rotate the mesh a fixed number of degrees, press Alt

(Windows) or Option (Mac OS), and position the cursor near to,
but not over the pins. When a circle appears, drag to visually
rotate the mesh.

Note:
The degree of rotation appears in the options bar.

To rotate the mesh automatically based on the selected Mode

option, choose Auto from the Rotate menu in the options bar.

When your transformation is complete, press Enter or Return.