9. Using the Paint, Shape Drawing, and Eraser Tools

Adobe Photoshop supplies you with all types of adjustment and manipulation tools. In addition to image enhancement, Photoshop can also be considered a powerful design from scratch application. With the vast array of brushes, tips, and shape drawing tools that are supplied, Photoshop helps you produce the images, either enhanced or developed from scratch, which you might need for virtually any conceivable project.

Brushes come in all sizes and shapes, and can be controlled with a mouse or drawing tablet. Since the shape of the tip controls brushes, Photoshop gives you access to several sets of pre-defined brush tip shapes, or you can create you own customized sets. As for shape drawing tools, Photoshop doesn’t limit your creativity to just drawing circles and squares; it gives you instant access to dozens of pre-defined shapes. You can even create and save your own custom shapes. When it comes to Photoshop’s paint and drawing tools, your choices are limitless, based only on your knowledge of the available tools, and a creative imagination—the more you know, the more you can do with Photoshop.

And, when all the drawing is said and done, there will be a need for cleaning up. With the various Eraser tools that Photoshop provides, you can make quick work of touching up those small problem areas. Photoshop provides straight eraser tools, eraser tools that erase to a definable edge, and even eraser tools that target specific color values.

When enhancing an image, you might want to apply a gradient. Gradients can be something as simple as black and white, or as complex as one that contains the colors of the rainbow. Gradients can be applied to an image; completely covering the original image information, or they can be controlled through targeted selection, and creative uses of blending modes.

Understanding Foreground and Background Colors

PS 11.1

The Foreground and Background colors, located near the bottom of the toolbox, are Photoshop’s way of identifying your primary painting color, as well as the color Photoshop uses in conjunction with the Background layer. When you select any of Photoshop’s painting or drawing tools, the color applied to the document will be the foreground color—that’s its purpose. Hence, it’s sometimes referred to as Photoshop’s active color. The Background color serves several functions—its primary purpose is to instruct Photoshop how to handle erasing on the Background layer. When you use an eraser tool on a Photoshop layer, by default, the pixels are converted to transparent. However, when you use an eraser tool on the Background something different happens. Since the Background does not support transparency, it replaces the erased pixels with the current background color.

Change the Active Foreground and Background Colors

Use any of the following methods to change the active foreground or background colors:

Select the Eyedropper tool on the toolbox, and then click anywhere in the active document to change the foreground color.

Hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key, and then click to change the background color.

Click on a color swatch in the Swatches palette to change the foreground color.

Hold down the Ctrl (Win) or Option (Mac) key, and then click to change the background color.

Create a color in the Color palette. Click the Foreground or Background thumbnail to choose the color’s destination.
Click the Foreground or Background Color box to open the Color Picker dialog box, select a color or enter color values, and then click OK.

Default and Switch the Foreground and Background Colors

Click the Default Foreground And Background Colors button to revert the foreground and background colors to their default values of black and white.

Click the Switch Foreground And Background Colors button to switch current colors.

Timesaver

Press D to change the foreground and background colors to their default values of black and white, and press X to switch the current colors.

Did You Know?

You can add colors from the Color Picker to the Swatches palette. Open the Color Picker dialog box, select the color you want to add to the Swatches palette, click Add To Swatches (New!), type a name for the color, then click OK.

For Your Information: Selecting Colors

In Windows, you can use the Color dialog box, which displays basic and custom color squares and a color matrix with the full range of colors in the color spectrum, to help you select a color. You can enter RGB values or hue, saturation, and luminosity (also known as brightness) values to specify a color. Hue is the color created by mixing primary colors (Red, Blue, and Yellow). Saturation is a measure of how much white is mixed in with the color. A fully saturated color is vivid; a less saturated color is washed-out pastel. Luminosity is a measure of how much black is mixed with the color. A very bright color contains little or no black. You can also change the hue by moving the pointer in the color matrix box horizontally, the saturation by moving the pointer vertically, and the luminosity by adjusting the slider to the right of the color matrix box. On the Macintosh, you click one of the color modes and select a color, using its controls. You can select RGB values by selecting the color sliders at the top of the dialog box; by choosing RGB Sliders from the pop-up menu, then dragging Red, Green, and Blue sliders; or by entering values (color numbers) to select a color. You can select hue, saturation, and brightness (or luminosity) values by selecting Color Sliders, choosing HSB Sliders, then dragging sliders or entering values.

Using the Painting Engine

PS 2.1

Photoshop’s painting engine (released in version 7) changed forever how Photoshop designers use brushes. Previously, Photoshop gave you the ability to create a brush in any size and shape, and then use the brush in a traditional manner. However, with the exception of changing the brush’s spacing, it wasn’t more than a glorified paintbrush. The painting engine with options, such as Shape Dynamics, Scattering, Texture, Dual Brush, and Color Dynamics, gives you control over brushes in ways that once were only available in programs like Corel Painter and Adobe Illustrator.

An Overview of the Brushes Palette

Photoshop’s painting engine is, by default, located in the Dock on the Options bar. To access the painting engine you will first need to have a brush tool, or a tool that requires the use of a brush, such as the Eraser tool, and then click the Brushes palette. If you do not see the Brushes palette, click the Window menu, and then click Brushes.

Modifying the Brushes Palette

PS 2.1

The Brushes palette comes in many forms; you can view brushes as strokes, or you can choose thumbnails, or even text descriptions. The form of the Brushes palette does not impact its performance, only how you view the available brush tips. Choose the version that best suits your current design needs, and then change the view as needed. When you select a brush, it becomes the default for that tool only. This gives you the ability to choose a default brush for each of the brush-specific tools.

Change the Brushes Palette View

Select a Brush tool on the toolbox, and then select the Brushes palette.

Click the Brushes Options button, and then select from the available View options:

Expanded View. Click Expanded View to gain access to painting engine options: Brush Tips, Shape Dynamics, Scattering, Texture, Dual Brush, Color Dynamics, and Other Dynamics.
Text Only. Select this option to display all brush tips by their names.
Small Thumbnail. Select this option to display all brush tips using a small thumbnail.
Large Thumbnail. Select this option to display all brush tips using a large thumbnail.
Small List. Select this option to display all brush tips by their names and small thumbnail.
Large List. Select this option to display all brush tips by their names and large thumbnail.
Stroke Thumbnail. Select this option to display all brush tips with a stroke. (This is useful in determining how the brush will look when applied in the document).

Selecting Brush Tip Sets

PS 2.1

The Brushes palette comes with 12 pre-defined sets. Each set, organizes specific brush tips by name. Since more than the paintbrush tool uses brush tips, it’s important to have the right tool (brush tip) for the right job. Using or making do with the wrong brush tip is akin to digging a swimming pool with a teaspoon. You wouldn’t paint a portrait with a house-painting brush, so don’t settle for anything less than the exact brush tip you need to get the job done.

Select Brush Tip Sets

Select a Brush tool on the toolbox, and then select the Brushes palette.

Click the Brushes Options button.

Click any of the pre-defined brush palettes.

Click OK.

This replaces the current brush tips with the selected set, or you can click Append to add them to the current set.

Did You Know?

You can draw straight lines using Photoshop’s brush tools. Holding the Shift key while dragging, constrains the brush to a 90-degree line. To draw a straight line between two points, click once in the document window, move the mouse to another position, hold down the Shift key, and then click a second time. A straight line will be drawn between the first and last mouse clicks.

Creating Customized Brush Tips

PS 2.6

Photoshop’s painting engine gives you many choices for brush tips. Any good designer will tell you that no matter how many brush tips you have, you’ll always want more. For example, you’re working on a 100-year-old photograph, and you need a specific brush to add hair details to the blown-out areas of the image. It’s a special type of brush that literally creates the illusion of wavy hair. Photoshop, in an effort to help keep you organized, gives you the ability to create your very own customized brush tips, and then save them later in organized sets.

Create a New Brush Tip

Open an image, scan an item, or select any of Photoshop’s painting tools and create a shape for a new brush tip.

Important

Since the color of a brush is determined when the brush tip is selected, create the brush tip using black or in shades of gray.

Select the brush tip using any of Photoshop’s selection tools.

Important

Photoshop picks up any pixel information in the underlying layers, even white. If you want the brush to have a transparent background, make sure the areas surrounding the image show as transparent.

Click the Edit menu, and then click Define Brush Preset.

Enter a name for the new brush preset.

Click OK.

Open the Brushes palette, and then scroll to the bottom of the list to access your newly created brush tip.

Since the Define Brush Preset button picks up any background colors within the selection area, always create the brush tip in a black layer.

Saving Customized Brush Tips

PS 2.6

Once a brush tip is created, it becomes a part of the current set. However, the brush has not yet been permanently saved in Photoshop. Although the new brush tip will reappear every time you access the Brushes palette, if you choose the option to reset the palette, the new brush will be lost. To keep brushes you must save them into customized sets.

Save a Customized Brush Tip

Select a Brush tool on the toolbox, and then select the Brushes palette.

Create a set of customized brushes.

Click the Brushes Options button, and then click Save Brushes.

Type the name of the set (with a .abr extension) in the Save As box.

Click the Where (Mac) or Save In (Win) list arrow, and then select where you want to save the brush.

Click New Folder or Add To Favorites to add your customized brush tip.

Click Save.

Did You Know?

You can access your customized sets directly from the Brushes Options menu. When you save your customized brush set, click the Brushes folder, located in the Adobe Photoshop CS3/Presets folder. Brush sets saved here appear in the Brushes Options menu along with the other Photoshop presets.

Working with the Painting Engine

The Painting Engine is a series of controls that let you define how a brush tip is applied to the active image. Features, such as Scattering and Color Dynamics let you further customize your brush tips so you can create that specialized brush for your image enhancement needs.

Work with the Painting Engine

Select a Brush tool on the toolbox, and then select the Brushes palette.

Click the Brushes Options button, and then click Expanded View.

Click to select a specific brush tip.

Select from the various Painting Engine options:

Brush Tip Shape. Lets you modify the angle, roundness, and spacing of the brush tip. In addition, you can flip the brush shape along its x (left to right), or y (top to bottom) axis.
Shape Dynamics. Lets you randomly (jitter) generate different sizes, angles, and roundness for the brush tip.
Scattering. Lets you randomly scatter the shape. Options include the ability to distribute (Scatter) the shape, as you draw, choose how many to use (Count), and randomly change the number (Count Jitter), as you draw.
Texture. Lets you select a pre-defined or custom texture, in place of a solid color.
Dual Brush. Lets you select a second brush.
Color Dynamics. Lets you key off of the active foreground and background colors.
Other Dynamics. See Table.

Working with the Brush and Airbrush Tools

PS 2.1

Photoshop’s Brush and Airbrush tools were designed to reproduce the visual effect of applying paint to a canvas. You have full control over the brush tip, color, size, opacity, and even the brush’s blending mode. Control over the image is achieved by using additional layers to hold the brush strokes—adding additional layers increases the file size of a Photoshop document. Since layers have their own control systems, such as opacity, fill, and blending modes, you achieve even greater control over the final design, and once the brush stroke is correct, you can always merge the brush-stroke layer into the image to conserve file size.

Work with the Brush and Airbrush Tools

Select the Brush tool on the toolbox.

Select a brush tip on the Options bar or from the Brushes palette.

Specify Paint Engine options for the brush on the Brushes palette.

Select from the following Brush options on the Options bar:

Mode. Click the list arrow to choose from the available blending modes. The blending mode option controls how the active brush color blends with the colors in the active image.
Opacity. Enter an opacity percent (1 to 100), or click the list arrow, and then drag the slider left or right.
Flow. Enter a flow percentage (1 to 100), or click the list arrow, and then drag the slider left or right. When you apply the brush, flow controls the amount of ink supplied to the brush.
Airbrush. Click the button to change the Brush into an Airbrush.

For Your Information: Using the Brush and Airbrush Tools

The Brush and Airbrush tools look the same, but they perform quite differently. The Brush maintains a specific opacity; for example, if you choose 50 percent opacity, the Brush maintains that opacity no matter how many times you drag over an area. If you release and drag again, the Brush adds another 50 percent to the image. The Airbrush tool is an accumulating tool—dragging the image produces a brush stroke based on the opacity of the brush, and the speed you move the tool across the image. If you hold the Airbrush tool in one position, the ink color will slowly increase until it reaches 100 percent, just like a real airbrush.

Working with the Pencil Tool

PS 2.1

The Pencil tool is exactly what its name implies... a pencil. The Pencil tool is limited to hard brush tips of any size or shape, and creates freeform lines using the current foreground color. In fact, the major difference between the Pencil and Brush tools, is the Pencil tool’s inability to draw anything but a hard edge line. A unique feature of the Pencil tool is its ability to switch between the current foreground and background colors using the Auto Erase feature.

Work with the Pencil Tool

Select the Pencil tool on the toolbox.

Click the Brush Preset Picker list arrow, and then click a brush tip.

Click the Mode list arrow, and then select a blending mode.

Enter an Opacity percentage value (1 to 100).

Drag the Pencil tool across the active document.

Did You Know?

You can use the Pencil tool to create calligraphy lettering. Select the Pencil tool, click black as your painting color, and then click one of the oblong brush tips on the Options bar. If you own a drawing tablet, use the tablet with the Pencil tool to create beautifully formed calligraphy letters.

Working with Auto Erase

PS 2.1

The Auto Erase feature lets you automatically switch the Pencil tool’s painting color using the current foreground and background color swatches. The trick is where you start drawing the line. If you start dragging the brush tip from a new location in the document, the Pencil tool creates a line in the active foreground color. If you then place the brush tip on a previously drawn line and drag, the Pencil tool creates a new line in the active background color. Since the Auto Erase feature doesn’t really erase anything, it will perform exactly the same way on a transparent layer as it does on the background layer.

Work with Auto Erase

Select the Pencil tool on the toolbox.

Select the Auto Erase check box on the Options bar.

Drag the Pencil tool across the active document to create a line in the active foreground color.

Click anywhere in the background and the Pencil tool will use foreground color.

Move the brush tip over one of the previous lines, and then drag to create a line in the active background color.

Did You Know?

You can draw straight lines with the Pencil tool. Click once in the document to create a black dot, move to another position, hold down the Shift key, and then click again. When you hold down the Shift key, the Pencil tool creates a straight line between the two mouse clicks.

Working with the Line Tool

The Line tool lets you draw lines by dragging from one point in the active document and releasing in another. Lines drawn at precise 90- or 45- degree angles are achieved by holding down the Shift key as you drag. Select the Line tool, or if you have any drawing tool selected, you can choose the Line tool from the Options bar. Then configure the Line tool, using the Options bar. It’s also a good idea to create the lines in a separate layer. That way once the line has been drawn, it’s as easy as selecting the Move tool, and repositioning the line to the desired position.

Work with the Line Tool

Select the Line tool on the toolbox.

Click the Fill Pixels button to create raster shapes in the active foreground color.

Click the Geometry list arrow, and then select from the following options:

Arrowheads. Select the Start and/or End check boxes to create arrowheads on the line.
Width. Enter a percentage (10 to 1000), to determine the width of the arrowhead in relation to the width of the line.
Length. Enter a percentage (10 to 5000), to determine the length of the arrowhead.
Concavity. Enter a percentage (-50 to +50) to determine the concavity of the arrowhead.

Enter a value (1 to 1000 pixels) to determine the weight of the line.

Click the Mode list arrow, and then select a blending mode.

Enter an Opacity percentage value (1 to 100).

Select the Anti-alias check box to create a visually smoother line.

Drag in the document window to create the line.

For Your Information: Using the Line Tool

The Line tool can be used to create customized guidelines for those projects that require something other than guidelines that are vertical or horizontal. Just create a new layer, and then select the line tool. Choose a line width of one or two pixels, select a drawing color that contrasts with the image, and then draw the required guides. When you’re finished, lock the layer, and use the visual guides to complete your project. Hide the layer when it’s not needed, and finally, delete the layer when your done with the job. One more thing, remember to turn off the arrowhead option.

Using the Standard Shape Tool

Creating standard shapes, such as polygons or rectangles with rounded corners used to be a hassle. That is until Photoshop released its standard shape drawing tools. Now, it’s a simple matter of selecting the correct tool, choosing a color, and then drawing the shape. As with any of Photoshop’s drawing functions, control is maintained with the use of additional layers. Photoshop’s standard shapes consist of rectangles, rounded rectangles, ellipses, polygons; and each one of the shape tools comes with additional options to control exactly how the shape appears when drawn.

Work with the Standard Shape Tool

Select the Rectangle tool on the toolbox.

Click the Fill Pixels button to create raster shapes in the active foreground color.

Click the Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, Ellipse, or Polygon tool buttons.

Click the Geometry list arrow, and then select from the following drawing options or check boxes:

Unconstrained. (Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, Ellipse)
Square. (Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle)
Circle. (Ellipse)
Fixed Size. (Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, Ellipse)
Proportional. (Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, Ellipse)
From Center. (Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, Ellipse)
Snap to Pixels. (Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle)
Radius. (Polygon)
Smooth Corners. (Polygon)
Star. (Polygon)
Indent Sides By. (Polygon)
Smooth Indents. (Polygon)

Click the Mode list arrow, and then select a blending mode.

Enter an Opacity percentage value (1 to 100).

Select the Anti-alias check box to create a visually smoother image.

Useful when drawing shapes with curved edges.

Drag in the document window to create the shape.

Important

Maintain control over your design by drawing shapes in separate layers.

For Your Information: Using the Standard Shape Tool

Once a shape has been created, you can use Photoshop’s extensive layer effects options to colorize the shape, add a drop shadow or bevel, even apply a gradient or pattern to the shape. Remember that in order to apply layer effects to the shape it must be isolated in its own layer.

Working with the Custom Shape Tool

Having the ability to draw a perfect polygon or rounded-corner rectangle is nice, however, Photoshop went way beyond standard shapes when it introduced the Custom Shape tool. Photoshop now comes packaged with dozens of pre-designed shapes, or you can even create your own. User-defined shapes can be literally any vector objects. For example, a company logo can be converted to a custom shape. Custom shapes have many timesaving applications. As previously mentioned, a company logo, if used frequently, is only a mouse click away. Any vector form, outline, or shape used on a recurring basis, can be converted to a custom shape and saved for future use. Select the Custom Shape tool or, if you have any shape drawing tool selected, click the Custom Shape button from the Options bar, and then configure the shape using the options on the Option bar.

Work with the Custom Shape Tool

Select the Custom Shape tool on the toolbox.

Click the Fill Pixels button to create raster shapes, using the active foreground color.

Click the Geometry list arrow, and then select from the available options: Unconstrained, Defined Proportions, Defined Size, Fixed Size, or From Center.

Click the Shape list arrow, and then select a shape from the available options.

Click the Mode list arrow, and then select a blending mode.

Enter an Opacity percentage value (1 to 100).

Select the Anti-alias check box to create a visually smoother line.

Drag in the document window to create the customized shape.

Creating a Custom Shape

Custom shapes can be created from anything you choose, and the process is quick and simple. You just create the shape, select the shape, and name the shape; that’s it. Since shapes are vector images, they’re resolution independent, which means you can draw them at any size without impacting image quality. Once custom shapes are saved, they can be accessed by opening a document, selecting the Shape tool, and choosing your new shape from the Custom Shapes palette.

Create a Custom Shape

Open a document that contains the vector image you want to convert into a shape, or create a shape using any of Photoshop’s vector drawing tools.

Click the Edit menu, and then click Define Custom Shape.

Enter a name for the new shape.

Click OK.

The shape appears as a thumbnail at the bottom of the active custom shapes palette.

Did You Know?

You can move Photoshop shapes into other vector programs, such as Illustrator, FreeHand, and even Flash. Click the File menu, point to Export, and then click Paths To Illustrator. Name the new document, and then click Save.

Saving Custom Shape Sets

Creating customized sets of shapes is an excellent way to get organized. The next time you need a specific shape all you have to do is select the shape from your organized sets. Organization can save you time, but it also lends a sense of consistency to design. Using customized shapes over again, helps to tie the elements of a design together, and Photoshop gives you the perfect way to maintain that consistency with customized shape sets.

Save Custom Shape Sets

Select the Custom Shape tool on the toolbox.

Click the Shape list arrow to see a list of the current shapes.

Create new shapes, and then add them to the current list.

Important

As you create new shapes, if there are some you don’t like, delete them. Right-click the shape, and then click Delete Shape.

To add pre-existing shapes, click the Options button, and then click Load Shapes, or choose from the available pre-defined shape lists.

Click the Options button, and then click Save Shapes.

Enter a descriptive name for the new set in the Save As (Mac) or the File Name (Win) box.

Click the Where (Mac) or Save In (Win) list arrow, and then select a location to save the new set.

Important

If you save the new set in the Custom Shapes folder, located in the Adobe Photoshop CS3 application folder, the new set will appear as a pre-defined set when you click the Shapes Options button.

Click Save.

Using the Paint Bucket Tool

The Paint Bucket tool is not new, in fact it’s been around almost as long as Photoshop. The paint bucket’s primary function is to fill an area with the active foreground color, but that’s not all it’s capable of doing. The Paint Bucket tool can fill areas with a selected pattern and, much in the same way that the Magic Wand tool selects image information, the fill area can be controlled by the shift in brightness of image pixels. Combine those features with the ability to change the paint bucket’s blending mode, opacity, and you have a tool with a lot of horsepower.

Use the Paint Bucket Tool

Select the Paint Bucket tool on the toolbox.

Click the Fill list arrow, and then select an option:

Foreground. Fills a selected area with the current foreground color.
Pattern. Fills a selected area with a pattern.

Click the Pattern list arrow, and then select a pre-defined fill pattern. This option is available if you select Pattern as a fill option.

Click the Mode list arrow, and then select a blending mode.

Enter an Opacity percentage value (1 to 100).

Select a Tolerance value (0 to 255). The Tolerance value influences the range of the Paint Bucket uses to fill a given area.

Select the Anti-alias check box to create a visually smoother line.

Select the Contiguous check box to restrict the fill to the selected area.

Select the All Layers check box to fill all the color range information from the image’s layers.

Click the Paint Bucket tool cursor on the area to be changed.

Working with the Eraser Tools

PS 2.1

Photoshop’s basic Eraser tool converts image pixels in a layer to transparent pixels. While the primary function of the eraser tool has not changed, it has been greatly improved upon. For example, you can use the eraser tool to remove a specific color or to erase around the edge of an image object. You can instruct the Eraser tool to remove a specific color while protecting another color and at the same time, increase or decrease the tools’ tolerance (the range of selection). If you use the Eraser tool on a layered document, the tool will erase to transparency. If the Eraser tool is used on a flattened document (flattened documents do not support transparency), the Eraser tool will use the active background color to perform the eraser. As you can see, the eraser tools do more than blindly erase image information. As you master the eraser tools, you just may find those complicated image eraser jobs becoming easier and easier. The Background Eraser tool lets you select specific colors within an image and erase just those colors.

Use the Basic Eraser Tool

Select the Eraser tool on the toolbox.

Click the Brush list arrow, and then select a brush tip.

Click the Mode list arrow, and then select a blending mode.

Enter an Opacity percentage value (1 to 100) to determine how much the eraser removes from the image.

Enter a Flow percentage value (1 to 100) to determine the length of the eraser stroke.

Click the Airbrush button to change the solid eraser stroke of the eraser to that of an airbrush.

Select the Erase To History check box to temporarily turn the Eraser into a History Brush.

Drag the Eraser over an image layer to convert the image pixels to transparent.

Use the Background Eraser Tool

Select the Background Eraser tool on the toolbox.

Click the Brush list arrow, and then select a brush tip.

Click one of the Sampling buttons (how the Background Erase selects the color range):

Continuous. Continually selects a color range as you drag the Eraser tool across the image.
Once. Sample a color range when you first click your mouse.
Background Swatch. Only erases the active background color.

Click the Limits list arrow, and then click how far you want the erasing to spread:

Discontiguous. Lets the Eraser tool work with all similar color range pixels throughout the image.
Contiguous. Restricts the Eraser tool to the selected color range, without moving outside the originally sampled area.
Find Edges. Looks for a shift in color range and attempts to erase to the visual edge of the image.

Select a Tolerance percentage value (1 to 100). The higher the tolerance, the greater the range.

Select the Protect Foreground Color check box to prevent that color from being erased.

Drag the image to erase.

For Your Information: Using the Background Eraser Tool

The Background Eraser tool erases an image by converting the image pixels to transparent. If you attempt to use the Background Eraser tool on a flattened image, the tool will automatically convert the flattened background into a layer. Photoshop is actually making an assumption, that if you’re using the Background Eraser tool, you obviously need the image to be on a layer not a background.

Working with the Magic Eraser Tool

PS 2.1

The Magic Eraser tool functions the same way the Magic Wand selection tool functions, except instead of selecting an area it erases it. The Magic Eraser tool works on any traditional Photoshop layer, including the Background. Clicking with the Magic Eraser tool converts image pixels into transparent pixels. Since the Background layer does not support transparency, using the Magic Eraser tool causes Photoshop to convert the Background into a traditional layer.

Work with the Magic Eraser Tool

Select the Eraser tool on the toolbox.

Enter a Tolerance percentage value (0 to 255). The higher the value the greater the range the Magic Eraser erases.

Select the Anti-alias check box to create a visually softer eraser (useful when dealing with intensely rounded or curved selections).

Select the Contiguous check box to select adjacent pixels within the active document.

Select the Sample All Layers check box to sample image information from all layers (Photoshop treats the visual image as a composite).

Click within the active document.

The Magic Eraser tool, depending on options, samples the pixel directly under the tool and uses that to create a range for erasing image information.

Creating and Applying Gradients

PS 2.5

While most of Photoshop’s paint and drawing tools let you select and paint with a single color, the gradient tool lets you paint with a veritable rainbow of colors. The gradient tool comes packaged with several sets of pre-designed gradients, or you can create and save your own customized gradient sets. The process of creating a gradient is simple; you select a gradient along with a specific type, and then drag in the document window. The length and angle of the drag, determines how the gradient is applied. Since gradients, by default, overwrite the image, it’s a good idea to create gradients in separate layers.

Create a Standard Gradient

Select the Gradient tool on the toolbox.

Click the Gradient list arrow, and then select from the available gradients.

Click the Gradient list arrow, and then select one of the following:

Linear, Radial, Angle, Reflected or Diamond.

Click the Mode list arrow, and then select a blending mode.

Enter an Opacity percentage value (1 to 100).

Select the Reverse check box to reverse the color order of the selected gradient.

Select the Dither check box to visually create a smoother transition between gradient colors.

Select the Transparency check box to create gradients using a gradient mask (allows for transparency in the gradient).

Drag in the image to create a gradient.

For Your Information: Adding Pre-Defined Gradients

To add a pre-defined gradient, you must first select the Gradient tool. Click the Gradient Picker button, located on the Options bar to use one of the available gradient sets. Choose to append the new gradients to the existing list, or click OK to replace the existing gradients with the new list.

Creating and Saving Customized Gradients

PS 2.5

Customized gradients are easy to create and essential when you just can’t find what you want in Photoshop’s predefined sets. It doesn’t matter how many gradients Photoshop provides for you, there will always be that one instance where they just don’t do the required job. With just a few clicks of your mouse, you can create your own customized gradients. You can start with one of Photoshop’s gradients, and modify it to your needs. You can also start completely from scratch; the choice is yours, and so are the rewards of creating that one-of-a-kind stunning gradient you can use for your current project and in the future.

Create and Save a Customized Gradient

Select the Gradient tool on the toolbox.

Click the thumbnail of the active gradient on the Options bar to open the Gradient dialog box.

Select a gradient from the available options that is close to what you want to create.

Enter a name for the new gradient.

Click New.

A thumbnail (copy of the selected gradient) appears at the bottom of the list.

Click the Gradient Type list arrow, and then select one of the following:

Solid. Uses solid colors for the gradient.
Noise. Uses noise to distribute the colors.

Click the Smoothness list arrow, and then select one of the following:

Smoothness. A percentage value (0 to 100) that determines how smoothly the colors of the gradient blend together (available when the Solid option is selected).
Roughness. A percentage value (0 to 100) that determines how much noise to introduce into the gradient colors (available when the Noise option is selected).

To add Opacity Stops, click above the gradient line; to remove Opacity Stops, drag a stop away from the line.

To add Color Stops, click below the gradient line; to remove Color Stops, drag a stop away from the line.

Click on an Opacity Stop, and then enter an Opacity percentage (0 to 100), and a Location percentage (0 to 100) for the stop to rest on the line.

Click on a Color stop, and then select a color, and a Location percentage (0 to 100) for the color stop to rest on the line.

Click Delete to delete the selected opacity or color stop.

Click Save to save the new gradient set.

The set will include the new gradients, and all the gradients that appear in the Presets panel.

Click OK.

For Your Information: Creating a Customized Gradient

Gradient Gradients serve many purposes. They can be used to jazz up a shape drawn with Photoshop’s drawing tools or they can be applied to an entire document and used as a background on a Web page, brochure or newsletter. Whatever you use gradients for, remember that they are powerful image elements. Use gradients to attract attention to a document, but don’t use them if they draw people’s eyes away from the main elements of the image. It will be a small consolation to know that your fantastic marketing graphic attracted attention, but everyone was so focused on your special effects and gradients, that they forgot to buy what you were selling. Remember, it’s always about the message. An image is worth a thousand words... let the image tell its story.

Using the Color Replacement Tool

The Color Replacement tool lets you replace a specific color in your image. For best results use soft brushes with this tool, to help blend the colors into the original image. Have you ever captured that perfect picture of a family member or friend, only to see the resulting image with red eyes? Or maybe there’s a part of your image where the color draws attention away from the focal point. Either way, the Color Replacement tool is a great feature that allows you to take control of the image output.

Use the Color Replacement Tool

Select the Color Replacement tool on the toolbox.

Select a Brush tip on the Options bar.

Select from the available Sampling options:

Continuous. Samples colors continuously as you drag.
Once. Replaces the targeted color only in areas you click.
Background Swatch. Erases areas matching the background.

Select from the available Limits options:

Discontiguous. Replaces the sampled color under the pointer.
Contiguous. Replaces connected areas containing the sampled color and preserves the sharpness of shape edges.

Enter a Tolerance percentage value (0 to 255).

Select the Anti-alias check box for a smoother edge on areas you correct.

Select a foreground color to use to replace the unwanted color.

Drag in the image the color you want to replace.

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Table of Contents for 9. Using the Paint, Shape Drawing, and Eraser Tools

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