The History menu allows you to track every move you are doing in Photoshop. It also allows you to go back to previous steps or undo tasks. To open the History menu, click on the History menu button:
Notice how it has kept track of each task you have added to the image. To undo a task or step backward, simply click on the last task completed. For example, in this screenshot click on the CMYK Color option to go back to that step.
The History menu allows you to see your progress, the steps you have taken to edit your image and also allows you to backtrack if you have made an error and want to start over.
Cropping can be used in a multitude of ways and is best used when you want to crop out a part of an image, focus on a section of an image or crop the image to be a certain size. Click on the cropping tool to access it in your Photoshop menu:
The default setting for cropping is labeled as 'Unconstrained', meaning the crop settings are not limited to a certain dimension.
Once you select the cropping tool, you can crop your image a few different ways. The simplest cropping is done by clicking on the cropping tool, placing your cursor over the image and holding and dragging the crop over the image.This will give you a preview of the area you are cropping with marching ants placed around the image area you have selected. Once you release your mouse, this will still show a preview. Not until you double-click over the cropped area does the cropping take place.
If you want your cropped image to be within a certain dimension, select your cropping tool and go to your top menu to change the 'Unconstrained' cropping to be a certain dimension. Click on the 'Unconstrained' drop-down menu for suggested sizes or place the numbers you need in the dimensions boxes and Photoshop will show a preview of what the cropped image will look liike:
Photoshop defaults to inches in the dimensions menu. Also remember that when placing numbers in the dimensions menu, width always comes first:
When you want to crop an image in dimensions not using inches, place the dimension code after each number. For example, place a 'px' after each number for the dimensions to be in pixel width and height.
After you place the dimensions in the dimensions menu, Photoshop will show you a preview of the cropped area of the image:
To move the cropped area to another part of the image, simply move your mouse/cursor over the image and drag the image into the cropped area. Once you have selected the area you want cropped, double-click to activate the cropping.
Tip: Whenever you click away from or select another option in your Photoshop menu, a pop-up menu will appear, asking if you want to 'Crop the image?'. Select 'Cancel' or 'Don't Crop' if you do not want to crop the image or 'Crop' to crop the image.
Images in Photoshop almost always need some sort of color adjustment, whether it's adjusting the colors to show less magenta or yellow. Adjusting the color can be done a few different ways. But the best way to begin adjusting color is by changing your color mode to CMYK. CMYK color mode allows more accurate color adjustments to be made:
Tip: If you are editing an image to be used for the web and need the color mode to be in 'RGB', make your color adjustments in 'CMYK' color mode. When you are finished making color adjustments and are ready to save your image, divert back to 'RGB' color mode.
To access the color adjustments, go to your 'Image' menu and select 'Adjustments' from the drop-down menu. From this menu, you will see many options for image adjustment such as 'Curves', 'Levels', 'Hue/Saturation' and 'Color Balance'.
The first and most recommended option in adjusting color is through the 'Curves' menu. Once you have your 'Curves' menu open, this will allow you to adjust colors according to 'CMYK', which will adjust all colors, or through each color such as 'Magenta' or 'Cyan' by clicking on the drop-down menu:
To make adjustments, it is recommended to place two dots or marks in the color adjustment line. One towards to middle-bottom and one towards the middle-top. To place a dot or mark in the line, simply place your cursor over the line and click. Once you have your marks in the line, hold your mouse over the line and move the mark up or down. This will take away or increase the color in that selected area of the image. To see a preview of the changes this will make to the image, make sure to have the 'Preview' option checked off. To confirm color adjustments in the 'Curves' menu, click the 'OK' button.
Color adjustments can also be made through the 'Levels', 'Hue/Saturation' and ''Color Balance' menus:
The 'Levels' adjustment menu allows you to adjust by 'CMYK' or individual colors. Move the level arrows to adjust the color throughout the whole image. To see a preview of the changes this will make to the image, make sure to have the 'Preview' option checked off.
The 'Hue/Saturation' adjustment menu allows you to adjust by 'Master' or individual such as 'Reds' or 'Yellows'. Move the adjustment arrows in 'Hue', 'Saturation' or 'Lightness'. It is recommended to adjust the 'Saturation' or 'Lightness' rather than 'Hue'. To see a preview of the changes this will make to the image, make sure to have the 'Preview' option checked off.
Tip: Want to create a cool effect by eliminating an entire color? Take away an entire color by selecting a color such as 'Greens', and moving the 'Saturation' to the far left. This image has desaturated the 'Yellows' and 'Greens', which takes the color out of the leaves, making the red apples stand out.
The 'Color Balance' menu works very similar to the 'Levels' or 'Hue/Saturation' menu in which you adjust the color options. The difference lies in the adjustment options. For example, when you move your Cyan/Red option to the right, it will increase the reds in the image. When you move the option to the left, it will increase the cyans in the image. You can also select 'Shadows', 'Midtones' and 'Highlights'. For example, when selecting 'Highlights', this will adjust any brighter areas of the image with your color adjustments. To see a preview of the changes this will make to the image, make sure to have the 'Preview' option checked off.
Clipping paths allow you to cut out any section of an image or select a part within an image to make edits or add effects to. For example, have you ever wanted to select one part of an image and blur the background to have it stand out? Clipping paths make this possible.
To create a clipping path, select the pen tool:
Once you have an area of the image you want to select, zoom into that area, place your pen tool over the area and click. This will create an anchor point. You will continue to select points by clicking over the area of the image that you want the clipping path to be created on. Click and hold to create anchor points that have a curve. This is helpful for shapes that are round or not perfectly straight.
Tip: Get as close to the pixels inside the area of the shape you are selecting (as seen in the picture to the right above). This allows the area of the image to be selected while not including any outside areas such as the green leaves or green color in this example. Always go inside the image rather than outside so no unwanted colors get picked up.
Once you select the entire shape or area, close the path. Closing the path means you are connecting your very first anchor point with the last anchor point. After you have closed your path, it should create a path around the shape or area you have selected as seen below.
To see your path, click on the 'Paths' menu. It should be labeled as a 'Work Path'.
Now that a work path has been created, it will need to be saved. To save it, select the work path, click on the drop-down menu and select 'Save Path'. After you select the save option, a menu will pop up asking you to save the path by clicking 'OK'.
After saving the path, you will see the name of the path change in your 'Paths' menu to the name you have selected.
Now that the path has been saved, you can convert it to a clipping path. To convert the path to a clipping path, select the path in the 'Paths' menu, click on the drop-down menu and select 'Clipping Path'. After you select the 'Clipping Path' option, a menu will pop up to confirm the path. Click 'OK'.
After you click 'OK', the path will convert to a clipping path. Now that it is converted, you can select the clipping path to add effects or cut out that part of the image. To select the clipping path, select the path in the 'Paths' menu, click on the drop-down menu and select 'Make Selection', then click 'OK'. After you click on this, your clipping path will be selected.
Once you have your path selected, you can edit that area of the image by adding effects or cutting out the background. Two examples will be shown here of the most commonly used tools for clipping paths. This first example is cutting out the background using the layer mask tool. To cut out the background, select the path in the 'Paths' menu, click on the drop-down menu and select 'Make Selection', then click 'OK'. After you click on this, your clipping path will be selected. Click on the 'Layers' menu and select the 'Add layer mask' button. This will eliminate the background using a layer mask.
Tip: By using a layer mask, this will allow the background to be eliminated, but not permanently. If you ever want the background back, select the layer mask, right-click and select 'Delete Layer Mask'.
The other most common use of clipping paths is being able to select a part of an image to be focused on more than the rest of the image. The most common effect that is used is blurring the background. To add this effect, select your clipping path in the 'Paths' menu by clicking on the drop-down menu and selecting 'Make Selection', then click 'OK'. From there, go to your 'Select' menu at the top and select the 'Inverse' option. Selecting the inverse option will select every part of the image except your clipping path.
From there you can select a filter from the 'Filter' menu as an effect. For the example, the 'Blur' and 'Gaussian Blur' options have been selected.
When you have your blur menu open, move the 'Radius' to the left to decrease the blur or to the right to increase the blur. Increasing it as seen here applies a blur effect to the background, allowing the apple to be the main focus.
Tip: Clipping paths are detected when importing images into Adobe InDesign. When wanting to eliminate the background of an image, create a clipping path in Adobe Photoshop and import the image into InDesign. InDesign will pick up the clipping path automatically or through the 'Clipping Path' option.
Flattened images are used to decrease file size, for the web or to share files without having to worry about the other person editing the image or having to worry about a printer not detecting a font.
To flatten an image means you are merging all layers into one as a 'Background'. To flatten an image, click on the 'Layer' menu. From the drop-down menu, click on 'Flatten Image':
Once you choose that option your layers will be converted into a 'Background'.
Tip: Always save your original file with layers so you can go back to the editable file. A copy of a flattened image should be saved for the web or for file sharing. Flattening an image cannot be undone once you close the file.
Inserting text into a Photoshop file is actually quite simple. Select the 'Text' tool, place your cursor over the area of the image you want to insert text and click with your mouse. Once you click, start typing.
Editing the text is much like any other software. You can highlight, change fonts and font sizes. Just be sure to have your Text tool selected first:
Fonts and font sizes can be changed using your top menu or through the 'Paragraph' and 'Character' menus. To open these menus, select your 'Window' menu and click on 'Paragraph' or 'Character'. These menu options allow for advanced editing such as spacing between lines.
To change the color of text, highlight the text and select the color in your main menu or the 'Color' option in the 'Character' menu:
Once you click on the color, a menu will pop up. This menu allows you to select any color you want your text to be. Click on any area within the color options in the left of the menu. Use your arrows to move your colors up or down. For example, move the arrows up to select blue, down to select red. The preview of 'new' will show the color you have selected as compared to the 'current' color. Click 'OK' to have the color change.
If you want to move your text to a different area of the image, click on the 'Move Tool' and make sure your text layer is selected in the 'Layers' menu. Hold down your mouse and start moving the text layer. Once you have the text where you want it, release your mouse.
If you want to add effects to the text, you will probably need to rasterize the text layer. Rasterizing means you are converting the text into an image. To rasterize text, select the text layer, click on the 'Text' menu and click on 'Rasterize Type Layer'.
It is recommended to make a duplicate of the text layer before rasterizing. This is because once a text layer is rasterized, you will not be able to edit the text. Making a duplicate will allow you to go back to the original text layer if needed.
Tip: Use text in Photoshop if you want to create effects to the text. Photoshop is made for editing images, therefore it tends not to print text well. Use Photoshop to edit images and Illustrator or InDesign for text. For example, import an image into InDesign and place text over the image in InDesign using your text tool.
Filters allow you to add visual effects to your image. For example, you can create a blur or apply a filter that makes your image look like a watercolor painting. For this example, the 'Watercolor' filter will be applied to an apple image.
To have the most filters available, you must be in RGB mode. To do this, select your 'Image' menu, select 'Mode' and click on 'RGB'.
Once your mode is in RGB, select your 'Filter' menu and click on 'Filter Gallery':
When the 'Filter Gallery' is open you will see many different filters to choose from. Click on a filter and it will show a preview of what the image will look like to the left of the gallery. For this example, the 'Watercolor' option has been selected.
Click on the folders in the gallery to expand the filter options of each category:
When you have a filter selected, move your arrows to the left or right to increase or decrease elements such as 'Brush Detail' or 'Texture' in the image. A preview of the effects will be shown to the left of the gallery. Once you have your elements set to what you desire, click 'OK'. The filter will then be applied to the image.
Tip: You can apply multiple filters to one layer. For example, apply a 'Watercolor' filter to a layer by selecting the filter in the 'Filter Gallery' and clicking 'OK'. Then go back to the 'Filter Gallery' and select another filter.