Contents

Introduction

1. Getting Started with Photoshop CS4

Installing Photoshop

Starting Photoshop

Viewing the Photoshop Window

Showing and Hiding Panels

Working with Panels

Working with Photoshop Tools

Creating a New Document

Selecting Color Modes and Resolution

Creating a New Document Using Presets

Working with Non-Square Pixels

Opening Images

Inserting Images in a Document

Importing Raw Data from a Digital Camera

Working with Smart Objects

Changing Image Size and Resolution

Checking for Updates and Patches

Getting Help While You Work

Saving a Document

Using the Status Bar

Closing a Document

Finishing Up

2. Understanding Navigation and Measurement Systems

Changing the View Size with the Navigator Panel

Changing the View Area with the Navigator Panel

Changing the Color of the Navigator Panel View Box

Changing the Screen Display Mode

Changing the View with the Zoom Tool

Increasing or Decreasing Magnification

Moving Images in the Document Window

Working with Multiple Documents

Working with One Image in Multiple Windows

Moving Layers Between Two Open Documents

Creating Notes

Working with the Info Panel

Changing How the Info Panel Measures Color

Working with Rulers

Creating Tool Presets

3. Customizing the Way You Work

Optimizing Photoshop

Setting General Preferences

Modifying File Handling Preferences

Working with Interface Preferences

Working with Cursors Preferences

Controlling Transparency & Gamut Preferences

Working with Units & Rulers

Working with Guides, Grid & Slices

Selecting Plug-Ins

Selecting Scratch Disks

Allocating Memory & Image Cache

Working with Type

Managing Libraries with the Preset Manager

Customizing the Workspace

Defining Shortcut Keys

Creating a Customized User Interface

Using Drawing Tablets

4. Mastering the Art of Selection

Using the Rectangular Marquee Tool

Using the Elliptical Marquee Tool

Using the Single Row and Single Column Marquee Tools

Using the Lasso Marquee Tool

Using the Magnetic Lasso Tool

Using the Polygonal Lasso Tool

Using the Quick Selection Tool

Using the Magic Wand Tool

Selecting by Color Range

Refining a Selection Edge

Modifying an Existing Selection

Adding, Subtracting, and Cropping a Selection

Using Channels to Create and Store Selections

Using Free Transform and Transform

Using Content-Aware Scaling

5. Working with Layers

Understanding the Layers Panel

Defining Layer Designations and Attributes

Creating a New Layer

Selecting Layers

Creating a Layer Group

Creating a Selection from a Layer

Creating a Layer from a Selection

Converting a Background into a Layer

Controlling Image Information Using the Layers Panel

Moving Layers Between Documents

Using Merge Layer Options

Linking and Unlinking Layers

Working with Layer Blending Modes

Duplicating a Layer

Deleting Layers

Changing Layer Properties

Working with the Layer Comps Panel

Exporting Layers as Files

Setting Layers Panel Options

Using Smart Guides

6. Working with the History Panel

Setting History Panel Options

Working with Linear and Non-Linear History

Controlling the Creative Process with Snapshots

Duplicating a History State in Another Document

Saving the History State of a Document

Reviewing the History State Text File

Combining the History Brush with a History State

Using the Art History Brush

Changing the Eraser Tool into the History Brush

Controlling History States

7. Working with Adjustment Layers, Filters, and Tools

Creating an Adjustment Layer

Modifying an Adjustment Layer

Merging Adjustment Layers

Creating a Temporary Composite Image

Controlling Adjustment Layers with Clipping Groups

Deleting an Adjustment Layer

Using Blending Modes and Opacity with Layers

Using Masks with Adjustment Layers

Creating Masks with Selections

Using the Add Noise Filter

Using the Reduce Noise Filter

Keeping Proper Perspective with Vanishing Point

Working with the Lens Correction Filter

Using the Box, Surface, and Shape Blur Filters

Using the Gaussian Blur and Despeckle Filters

Using the Unsharp Mask Filter

Using the Smart Sharpen Filter

Using the Clone Stamp Tool

Using the Dodge and Burn Tools

Using the Healing Brush and Patch Tools

Working with the Spot Healing Brush

Working with the Red Eye Tool

Controlling Tonal Range

Working with the Histogram Panel

8. Understanding Colors and Channels

Working with 8-, 16-, and 32-Bit Images

Working with the Channels Panel

Working with Color Modes

Understanding the RGB Color Mode

Understanding the CMYK Color Mode

Understanding the Grayscale Color Mode

Understanding the Bitmap Color Mode

Understanding the Indexed Color Mode

Understanding the Lab Color Mode

Understanding the Duotone Color Mode

Using Multichannel Color Mode

Using the Replace Color Adjustment

Working with the Color Panel

Working with the Swatches Panel

Using the Stroke and Fill Commands

Creating Spot Color Channels

Using the Variations Adjustment

Using Levels Adjustment Commands

Using the Auto Contrast and Auto Color Commands

Using Curves and Color Adjustments

Using the Hue/Saturation and Desaturate Commands

Using the Match Color Adjustment

Using the Selective Color Adjustment

Using the Channel Mixer Adjustment

Using the Gradient Map Adjustment

Using the Photo Filter Adjustment

Using the Shadows/Highlights Adjustment

Using the Exposure Adjustment

Using the Invert and Equalize Commands

Using the Threshold and Posterize Adjustments

Using the Black & White Adjustment

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

Understanding Foreground and Background Colors

Using the Brushes Panel

Modifying the Brushes Panel

Selecting Brush Tip Sets

Creating Customized Brush Tips

Saving Customized Brush Tips

Working with Brush Presets

Working with the Brush and Airbrush Tools

Working with the Pencil Tool

Working with Auto Erase

Working with the Line Tool

Using the Standard Shape Tool

Working with the Custom Shape Tool

Creating a Custom Shape

Saving Custom Shape Sets

Using the Paint Bucket Tool

Working with the Eraser Tools

Working with the Magic Eraser Tool

Creating and Applying Gradients

Creating and Saving Customized Gradients

Using the Color Replacement Tool

10. Creating Layer and Channel Masks

Understanding the Role of Layer Masks

Creating a Layer Mask

Working with the Paint Tools

Using Selections to Generate Complex Layer Masks

Using Layer Masks to Generate Soft Transparency

Blending Images with Layer Masks

Using a Layer Mask to Create a Vignette

Creating Unique Layer Mask Borders

Understanding Channel Masks

Creating Channel Masks from Scratch

Modifying Channel Mask Options

Creating Channel Masks from Selections

Making Channel Masks from Native Color Channels

Loading Channel Masks

Moving Channel Masks Between Documents

Combining Channel Masks

Using the Quick Mask Mode

Working with Quick Mask Options

Modifying Selections with Quick Mask Mode

11. Using the Paths Panel

Understanding Vector and Raster Images

Converting a Selection into a Path

Working with Pen Tools

Creating Paths Using the Freeform Pen Tool

Using the Magnetic Option with the Freeform Pen Tool

Adding and Deleting Anchor Points

Modifying Anchor Points

Modifying Existing Direction Lines

Converting Straight Points and Curved Points

Working with Clipping Paths

Filling an Area of an Image Using Paths

Stroking an Area of an Image Using Paths

Creating Shapes as Paths

Exporting Paths to Adobe Illustrator

Exporting Paths Using the Export Method

12. Working with Layer Styles

Understanding Layer Styles

Adding a Layer Style

Creating and Modifying a Drop Shadow

Working with Bevel and Emboss

Working with Contour and Texture

Applying a Color Overlay

Using the Stroke Layer Style

Using Pattern Overlays

Working with Outer Glow and Inner Shadow

Applying an Inner Glow Style

Creating Customized Layer Styles

Creating Customized Styles Using the Styles Panel

Moving Existing Layer Styles

13. Getting Creative with Type

Using Standard Type Tools

Working with Type Options

Working with the Character Panel

Working with the Paragraph Panel

Setting Anti-aliasing Options

Using the Warp Text Option

Using Spell Check

Finding and Replacing Text

Using the Rasterize Type Command

Creating Work Paths and Shapes from Type Layers

Creating Shape Layers

Creating a Type Mask

Isolating Image Pixels Using a Type Mask

Creating Chiseled Type with a Type Mask

Using Masks to Generate Special Effects

Creating and Modifying Text on a Path

14. Manipulating Images with Filters

Working with the Filter Gallery

Creating and Working with Smart Filters

Applying Multiple Filters to an Image

Modifying Images with Liquify

Working with Liquify Tool Options

Working with Liquify Mask Options

Working with Liquify View Options

Creating a Liquify Mesh

Applying a Liquify Mesh

Using the Lens Blur Filter

Working with Photo Filters

Blending Modes and Filter Effects

Building Custom Patterns

Using the Fade Command

Controlling Filters Using Selections

Using a Channel Mask to Control Filter Effects

Protecting Images with Watermarks

Viewing Various Filter Effects

15. Automating Your Work with Actions

Examining the Actions Panel

Building a New Action

Recording an Action

Adding a Stop to an Action

Controlling the Playback of a Command

Adding a Command to an Action

Deleting a Command from an Action

Working with Modal Controls in an Action

Changing the Order of Commands in an Action

Copying an Action

Running an Action Inside an Action

Saving Actions into Sets

Saving Actions as Files

Moving and Copying Actions Between Sets

Inserting a Non-Recordable Command into an Action

Using Enhanced Scripting

Enhancing the Process with Droplets

Using a Droplet

16. Controlling Image Output

Working with Page Setup in Macintosh

Working with Page Setup in Windows

Setting Document Print Options

Setting Print Output Options

Printing a Document in Macintosh

Printing a Document in Windows

Printing Part of a Document

Printing One Copy

Understanding File Formats

Saving a Document with a Different File Format

Inserting File Information into a Document

Understanding File Compression

Preparing Clip Art for the Web

Preparing a Photograph for the Web

Preparing an Image for the Press

Preparing an Image for an Inkjet or Laser Printer

Understanding Monitor, Image, and Device Resolution

17. Working with Automate Commands

Working with Batch File Processing

Working with Conditional Mode Change

Using the Crop and Straighten Photos Command

Converting a Multi-Page PDF to PSD

Creating a PDF Document

Using Photomerge

Merging Images to HDR

Processing Multiple Image Files

Using the Fit Image Command

18. Managing Color from Monitor to Print

Producing Consistent Color

Calibrating Using Hardware and Software

Setting Up Soft-Proof Colors

Changing from Additive (RGB) to Subtractive (CMYK) Color

Working with Rendering Intents

Printing a Hard Proof

Working with Color Management

Embedding ICC Color Profiles

Assigning a Different Profile to a Document

Converting the Color Space to Another Profile

Printing a Target Image

Working with the Out-Of-Gamut Warning

Using Hue/Saturation for Out-Of-Gamut Colors

Using the Sponge Tool for Out-Of-Gamut Colors

19. Designing for the Web and Devices

Saving for the Web

Working with Save For Web Options

Optimizing an Image to File Size

Working with Web File Formats

Optimizing a JPEG Document

Optimizing a GIF Document

Optimizing a PNG-8 Document

Optimizing a PNG-24 Document

Optimizing a WBMP Document

Creating an Animated GIF

Working with Animation

Slicing Images the Easy Way

Working with Slices

Arranging Slices

Saving a Sliced Image for the Web

Adding HTML Text or an URL Link to a Slice

Defining and Editing Web Data Variables

Exporting Directly to Video

Exporting an Image to Zoomify

20. Extending Photoshop

Counting Objects in an Image

Taking Measurements in an Image

Aligning and Combining Layers

Opening Video Files and Image Sequences

Creating a Video Layer

Modifying a Video Layer

Splitting a Video Layer

Cloning Video Layer Content

Setting Up Multiple Clone Sources

Creating 3D Model Files

Working with 3D Model Files

Exploring Other Photoshop Extended Features

21. Working Together with Adobe Programs

Exploring Adobe Programs

Exploring Adobe Bridge

Getting Started with Adobe Bridge

Getting Photos from a Digital Camera

Working with Raw Images from a Digital Camera

Working with Images Using Adobe Bridge

Applying Image Adjustments

Creating a Web Photo Gallery

Automating Tasks in Adobe Bridge

Sharing My Screen

Exploring Adobe Device Central

Checking Content Using Adobe Device Central

Using Adobe Extension Manager

Workshops: Putting It All Together

Project 1: Scaling an Image Using Content-Aware

Project 2: Creating a Template Using Smart Objects

Project 3: Creating a Sketch from Scratch

Project 4: Creating a Sharper Image

Project 5: Colorizing a Grayscale Image

Project 6: Managing Images with Masks

Project 7: Getting Creative with Adjustment Layers

Want More Projects

New! Features

Adobe Photoshop CS4

Adobe Certified Expert

Index