This document provides an overview of the basics of Photoshop taught in a workshop. It discusses tools like the move tool, quick selection tool, and crop tool. It demonstrates how to clean edges when extracting an object from its background using refine mask, layer matting, and contracting selection. Methods for altering photos like adjustments, blending options, and filters are also covered. The document walks through an example of combining images and applying effects to create a composite image.

1. Photoshop Wor k shop
By: Jef f Zhan & St ephani e
Cheng
Publications Committee Fall 2012
1

2. To-Do’s for Today:
• About Photoshop
• Examples
• Basics of Photoshop
• Quick Tips
• Review / Applications of Techniques
To-Dos

3. What is Photoshop?
• Photoshop is a Worldwide Leading
Digital Imaging Editing Software
About Photoshop

4. The Power of Photoshop is like THIS!

5. Make art that is
simple and clean!

6. And beautiful.

7. Who uses Photoshop?
• Photoshop is Used by millions of Graphic
Artists, Web Developers, and Journalists
• It is gaining popularity in:
– Marketing/Advertising
– Public Relations
– Business Management
– Software Programming
– News Editing
– SEO/Consulting
About Photoshop

8. Why use Photoshop?
• To Express Yourself
• Retouch & Edit photos
• Restore Old Images
• Enhance a Portfolio + Resume
• Exceed certain job requirements
• Complement your skillset
• Do freelance work for money
(eLance.com)
• Share work with family & friends
About Photoshop

9. To-Do’s for Today:
• About Photoshop
• Examples
• Basics of Photoshop
• Quick Tips
• Review / Applications of Techniques
• Assignment
To-Dos

10. What is it used for?
1. Image Editing
1. Cropping
2. Color Adjustment
3. Applying Filters
4. Brightness/Contrast
5. Blur/Burn/Dodge
6. Hue/Saturation
7. Noise Reduction
8. Sharpen/Soften
9. Gamma Correction
10. “Healing” an image
3 Important Things:
Retouching a photo
Examples

11. Photoshop offers
many different
auto-effects
Examples

12. Make Instagram Effects!

13. (continued)
2. Photo Manipulation: Application of image editing
techniques to photographs to create an illustion/deception.
1. Creativity
2. Effects + Filters
3. Brushes
4. Layering
5. Use of Text
6. Masking/Opacity
7. Combining Images
8. Stock Images
9. Image Blending
10. Applying Textures
Examples

14. Merging Different Image

16. Use of Creativity!

17. Adding Effects to People

22. Layering/Opacity/Colors

23. Text effects are very useful and common.

24. Application of Photoshop + Indesign for covers.

25. Examples

26. (continued)
3. Vector Drawing:
Using clean, defined lines &
shapes to create artwork (like
the circles on this powerpoint)
1. Pen Tool
2. Shape Tool
Curves by “Pen Tool”
Shapes combine “Shape
Tool” and “Pen Tool”
Examples

29. More Complicated Vector Art

30. In Application. Used for clean design in advertisements,
logos, and flyers.

31. To-Do’s for Today:
• About Photoshop
• Examples
• Basics of Photoshop
• Quick Tips
• Review / Applications of Techniques
• Assignment
To-Dos

32. Basics of Photoshop
Basics of Photoshop
Cropping, Curves, Saturation, Blend Mode, Text, Filters

33. Ultimate Goal:
Teach the essentials – what
Publications Committee
believes you will need to use in
creating amazing compositions!
We will teach you to use
common tools, fix common
mistakes, and start you off
using good practices!
Basics of Photoshop

34. Goals for Tutorial:
1. Learn Basic Tools:
1. Move, Selection, Eraser, Crop,
Clone, Text, Layers
2. Learn Photo Effects:
1. Brightness, Saturation, Color
Balance, Levels & Curves, Blur,
Layer Effects, Lighting
3. Basic Photo Manipulation:
1. Put two images together
2. Change overall composition, lighting
Basics of Photoshop

35. In the End…
You will know how to:
1. Apply Image Filters/Effects
2. Work with Backgrounds
and People
3. Change the Lighting
according to a situation
4. Best Practices for
Correcting Edges and
Color
5. Know the Basics of
Photoshop Tools & Layers!
Basics of Photoshop

36. Using This
Background…
Basics of Photoshop
And Jessica Alba...
We will make….

37. Basics of Photoshop

38. Creating a New Doc
1. Name your file
2. Set Width & Height to
2560x1600 pixels.
3. Resolution set to default 72
pixels/inch
a. More pixels/inch increases
quality for the same
width/height
4. Set Mode to RGB
a. In contrast to what others say
about starting with CMYK
(Color mode for print), starting
with RGB gives you more
flexibility and access to photo
manipulation tools. Convert to
CMYK at the vey end.
5. Set Background Contents to
White
For Newsletter, use:
•Height: 8.5 in, Width: 11 in
•Resolution: 300 pixels/inch
•Color Mode: RGB
(ImageModeCMYK at very end)
Basics of Photoshop

39. Toolbar Workspace Layers
Your Workspace in Photoshop (in CS6):

40. Toolbar Workspace Layers
Your Workspace in Photoshop (in CS5):

41. Basics of Photoshop
Layers
1. Photoshop
works in layers
2. Allows for
easier editing
and photo
manipulation
3. Layers above
are always on
top of the layer
below
Click here to create new layer
on top of selected layer.
Windows: (Ctrl + Shift + N)
Macs: (Cmd + Shift + N)
Change opacity of a layer here.
(0% hides layer, reveals bottom layer)

42. Basics of Photoshop
1. File  Open…  PBL_Winter_Night.jpg
2. Duplicate the Background
1. Drag “Background” to “New Layer” (Auto-duplicates)
3. Turn Background Layer Off (we have a copy to work with now)
3
1
2

43. Basics of Photoshop
Other 2: Filter & Layer Effects
1. Select “Background copy” Layer
2. In Layers Panel, on bottom (looks
like a half moon), click “Create new
fill or Adjustment Layer”
1. One of 3 Important Photo
Manipulation places you will need
to know

44. Basics of Photoshop
Alternative:
1.Image 
Adjustments
1. Same thing, but
unlike the previous
method, this
method affects your
image directly. In
other words,
instead of creating
adjustment layers,
you permanently
alter your image.
Harder to undo
later on.

45. Basics of Photoshop
1. Adjust Brightness to -35, Contrast to 30
1. Brightness changes Lightness of Pixels
2. Contrast changes “Flatness” of Pixels. Left = More Flat, Right =
More Intensity for Darker Colors
1

46. Let’s Cool this Photo
Basics of Photoshop
2 Options!
1.Image  Adjustments  Color
Balance…
THE BAD:
Only Cools/Applies filters to certain
colors, unlike the next option (applies to
whole image).
Ex: Moving “Yellows” to “Blues” only
affect “Yellow” tones

47. Let’s Cool this Photo
Basics of Photoshop
We will use THIS option
2.Image  Adjustments  Photo
Filter…
• Choose Cooling Filter (80)
• Set to 75
This option allows Photoshop to
auto-correct the entire image for
warming or cooling.
Alternatively, you can choose
another color filter.

48. Saturation
Basics of Photoshop
Notice the Intense Blue Light
that really stands out.
1.Select “Background copy” Layer
again
2.Create adjustment Layer 
Hue/Saturation…
3.Move Hue/Saturation Layer
above Photo Filter (to prevent the
layer from cooling our saturation)
4.Click Hand Icon
1. This allows you to saturate
only the colors you want,
instead of using the Saturation
bar and saturating the entire
image
2
3
4
5
5. Hide Properties Window for now
1

49. Basics of Photoshop
1. Click and Hold on the Blue Color
2. Drag Left to Saturate the Blue
Color a Bit
1
BEFORE

50. Basics of Photoshop
1. Reselect “Background Copy” Layer
2. Filter  Blur  Gaussian Blur…
1. We will put focus on Jessica Alba, and blur the
background
BlurBlur, vs. BlurGaussian Blur…
Gaussian Blur gives you more power to
affect a blur and its intensity.
Blur is Photoshop’s automatic filter. No
options, less powerful. Use Gaussian.

51. Basics of Photoshop
1. Background is good for now! Let’s open Jessica Alba. File  Open…
 PBL_Jessica_Alba.jpg
2. Press Ctrl + A, to copy the whole image, then Ctrl + C to copy

52. Basics of Photoshop
1. Go back to PBL_Winter_Night document. Select “Background copy”
Layer, and press Ctrl + V to paste Jessica
2. Notice Layer is under the adjustment effects! Move Alba above them.

53. Basics of Photoshop
1. Right-Click the Image, click Free Transform. While holding Shift
(keeps proportion), scale/move Jessica to somewhere like the
picture above. Press Enter to confirm transformation.
1
*You will use Free Transform a lot!

54. Basics of Photoshop
1. Erase area around Alba:
Pick the Quick Selection
tool (4th
icon in toolbar. If
not there, hold icon and
choose Quick Selection)
2. Choose a Brush 65px
and 100% Hardness, and
brush the background
around Alba
3. Do not worry if it cuts into
Jessica! We will fix this!
1
1
Selection 2
Quick Selection uses Photoshop’s
algorithm to cleverly select areas with lots
of color, to select the area only YOU
need.
What it does: Erases backgrounds from
objects!
3

55. Basics of Photoshop
1. Select “Subtract from
Selection” at top
2. Start brushing the
selection areas that cut
into Alba. Remember, we
want to remove the
background, not Alba, so
make the selection only
the background!
3. If you make a mistake,
press Ctrl + Z to undo.
OR, click “Add to
selection” at top
1
Selection
2

56. Basics of Photoshop
Three Techniques
for Cleaner Edges

57. Basics of Photoshop
1. With selection highlighted,
before you press Delete
(only works before),
select Refine Edge… at
top
1
Technique 1: Refine Mask…
2
3
3. Hit Delete on keyboard
to delete selection
4. Press Ctrl + D to
deselect
5. Much cleaner edge! But
still not clean!
4
2. Set Smooth to 10, and Feather to 2px,
click OK (smooth smooths selection,
feather gradually fades in selection)

58. Basics of Photoshop
1. Refine Mask does not get rid
of everything. Lines have
been left. Click the Eraser
Tool halfway down toolbar
2. Set eraser to around 80px
3. Erase the line areas by
brushing over area. If you
hold Shift and brush down,
you will brush in a straight
path up/down.
1
Technique 1: Refine Mask…
2
3
Holding Shift while brushing, moving
objects, or free transforming either
keeps the brush/move path straight, or
makes transforming images proportional
(free transform)

59. Basics of Photoshop
1. With Jessica Alba layer still selected, click
Layer  Matting  Defringe…
2. Choose a value around 3px.
Technique 2: Layer Matting…

60. Basics of Photoshop
1. While holding Ctrl, click the Thumbnail of the Jessica Layer. This
selects the pixels around Jessica.
2. Click Select  Modify  Contract…, and Contract by 3px
3. Your selection now caves in 3px. Click Select  Inverse to get the
Background (*inverse selection can come pretty handy!)
4. Press Delete. Then Ctrl + D to deselect selection
Technique 3: Contracting Selection
1

61. Basics of Photoshop
Result:
Cleaner Edges, Blends with Background
Technique 3: Contracting Selection

62. Basics of Photoshop
1. First, select Area to Remove (e.g.
Background)
• E.g. Use Quick Selection Tool
1. Use Refine Mask… to
smooth/feather deletion selection
2. Erase leftovers/Use Layer Matting
or Contract Selection
REMINDERS FOR CLEANING
SELECTION:

63. Basics of Photoshop
1. Click Move (or press V key) and move Alba bottom-left corner
2. We will clean her arm next, with the Clone Stamp tool
1
2

64. Basics of Photoshop
1. Zoom into her arm with Ctrl +
(plus key). With a mouse, this is
also Ctrl + (scroll up)
2. Choose the Clone Stamp tool
3. Make the brush reasonable
(60px)
4. Hold Alt and click at the indicated
spot. This picks up the pattern we
will clone from, onto the pink blur
5. Click and Brush over the pink blur
edge and into the pink blur to
“clone” our alt+click area onto the
blur. Continue brushing.
Clone Stamp
12
3
4
5

65. Basics of Photoshop
1. You may need to Alt+Click a
new area often, to copy patches
from new areas
2. Copy close to the pink blur (patch
area) but not too close, to get
similar colors/the same coat
pattern
Clone Stamp

68. Under Image  Adjustments,
• Brightness  -35
• Photo Filters… 
Cooling Filter (80) 
40%

69. 1. Right click the Jessica Alba Layer, and choose Blending Options…
2. Go to Outer Glow and set Opacity to 8% and Size to 60px for subtle
light effect
*Like Image  Adjustments, you will use Blending Options frequently
You can create text drop shadows, glows, change opacity, shadows, etc.

70. 1. Click Filter  Render  Lighting Effects to change Jessica’s
lighting to fit the background.
2. Scale/move dots to something like above (light from diagonal angle) to
make Jessica feel like a part of the picture. Hit Enter to accept.

71. Basics of Photoshop
Now, let’s play with the image as a whole, instead of
in layers. We will have a merged image, still keeping
the layers.
1.First, Create a Group
1. Good for organizing layers
2.Select your 4 layers (including adjustment layers),
holding Ctrl and clicking the layers. Alternatively,
click the top layer (Jessica) and hold Shift and click
bottom (Background copy)
3.Drag these layers into Group 1
4.Drag Group 1 to New Layer at bottom to duplicate
group. Then Hide the original layer
5.On Group 1 copy, right click  Merge Group
Group/Merge
1
2
3
4

72. Basics of Photoshop
You get this:
One merged layer! We can work with the overall
composition now. Our working layers are now hidden.

73. 1. Change Image 
Adjustments  Color
Balance…  Cyan Bar
to -27
1. This pulls the red tint of the
background to a more
bluish tint
2. Go to Filter  Render
 Lens Flare
3. Choose 100%
Brightness and 105mm
Prime for a bright lens
flare. Place it near the
lamppost in the
background

75. Basics of Photoshop
We are almost done!
1.Click the Crop tool
2.Set the crop to be 7in.
x 5in. and drag the crop
selection / image to the
7x5 frame you want.
3.Press Enter to finalize
the crop!
Cropping
1
2
…And Voila! Done!

79. Basics of Photoshop
Move Tool: Moves selection/layer
Quick Selection: Selects hard to select areas
- Good for Backgrounds
Crop Tool: Crops image & canvas to any size
Clone Stamp Tool: Clone an area, and paste
Eraser Tool: Erase an area
Zoom: Like Ctrl+(plus) or Ctrl+(scroll up)
Self-Explanatory
Rectangular Marquee Tool: Normal selection
Brush Tool: Create brush strokes according to Foreground color
Text Tool: Create text, change font, etc.
Foreground/Background Color: Foreground is left (here it is
purple), Background is right (here it is black)
What you learned:

80. Basics of Photoshop
Three Ways to Clean Edges:
1.Refine Mask
2.Layer  Matting…
3.Select  Modify  Contract…
Three Ways alter Photos:
1.Image  Adjustments
2.Right-click layer  Blending Options…
3.Filter
What you learned:

81. Basics of Photoshop
Image  Adjustments:
•Brightness/Contrast
•Hue/Saturation
•*Levels/Curves
•Color Balance
•Photo Filter
Filter:
•Gaussian Blur
•Lighting Effects
•Lens Flare
What you learned:
Blending Options:
•Outer Glow

82. To-Do’s for Today:
• About Photoshop
• Examples
• Basics of Photoshop
• Quick Tips
• Review / Applications of Techniques
• Assignment
To-Dos

83. To-Do’s for Today:
• About Photoshop
• Examples
• Basics of Photoshop
• Quick Tips
• Review / Applications of Techniques
• Assignment
To-Dos

84. To-Do’s for Today:
• About Photoshop
• Examples
• Basics of Photoshop
• Quick Tips
• Review / Applications of Techniques
• Assignment
To-Dos

85. Good Resources
• www.psdtut.com
• Vector Art:
– http://search.88000.org/en/Gold_Fish_Vector_Art/1.htm
• Photo Manipulation Ideas:
– http://www.instantshift.com/2009/07/20/80-excellent-examples-of-photo-manipulation-art
– Landscapes:
http://acrisdesign.com/2010/01/50-landscapes-and-scenery-photo-manipulation/
– Cool Filters/Effects:
http://webdesignledger.com/freebies/40-vintage-and-retro-photoshop-actions
Basics of Photoshop