Requested by wishmakerz.
So you got a hold of photoshop, but don't know how to use it? Don't worry! I got ya covered! This is only Part 1 of our exploring photoshop for new users!

Let's jump right in and talk about the Tool Pallet. I'll cover both other and newer versions, but keep in mind, this isn't going to cover ALL the versions, so things may look different, arranged differently, or may not even be there, but generally, most of it's the same thing. If you don't see a pallet like the images below, click "window" located at the top, and you should be able to find and click on "tools"

*click here* for a better view of the image
Figure A. Older Photoshop's Tool Pallet
If you notice by my square boxes, the pallet is sectioned off into groups based on their fuctions.
Selection tools
These are tools that help you select part of your image for editing. when you select part of your image, a dotted outline will appear
-Marquee tool: is the most commonly used tool, and will create basic shapes when selecting. Notice how there's a tiny arrow on the corner? (check Figure B) that's a drop down menu! (took me a few weeks to notice it xpx') and holds over shapes besides the rectangle sown there.
-move tool: allows you to move the selected piece.
-laso tool: lets you "laso" part of the image. Just hold down the left mouse and drag around the place you want selected. comes with variants in drop down.
-magic wand: will select a "area" automatically. When selecting it, notice at the top somewhere something that says "tolerance"? Increase that number if you want it to select a more general place and decrease it to 1 if you want to be more specific.
-selection brush tool: lets you "paint" the selection you want. useful if you want to single out a particular stroke for coloring.
-crop tool: selects part of the image, and then cuts the rest out. good for quick cutting.
Drawing tools
This will probably be the most used set of tools you could use. Here contains the drawing, the filling, and the text tools.
-custom shape tool: has a bunch of preset images, shapes and lined vectors you can use. a Vector is basically a premade shape that no matter how to resize it, the quality is never lost. however they can be annoying, 'cause you can't draw over them 'til you make them a normal image.
-Text Tool: Use it for adding text!
-paint bucket: used to fill in a particular area quickly with color.
-Gradient tool: takes two or more colors from the gradient bar (should be located at the top) and makes them fade into each other. useful for skies.
-brush tool: commonly used tool that most people use to draw with. (default is at 3 pixels wide) can use custom brushes.
-pencil tool: similar to the brush tool, but more pixely. Perfect for Sprite making!
-eraser tool: for those mistakes you make!
-red eye brush: this is a specific photo imaging effect. I don't think there's a use for it as far as drawing goes, but it basically gets rid of the red eye in your photos.
Edit tools
Tools used to give you different effects and abilities in your drawings.
-blur tool: used to blur things. good for smoothing out coloring.
-sharpen tool: not particularly useful in most drawings, but if you're scans are a tad blurry, try using this to sharpen them up a little.
-sponge tool: essentially "brightens" up your colors. I never use it myself, but if your pictures are looking dull (even scans) try that to give them colors!
-smudge tool: lets you smudge things around and "streak" them. the higher the setting, the more it streaks. good for flame or light effects.
-dodge tool: lightens images. Setting it's exposure (should be located at the top) to high can cause it to create some interesting glowing effects
-burn tool: the direct opposite of the dodge tool. it darkens things. SOME people will use them to shade, but it's extremely easy to overdo it. I use them to make bark on trees, or spots on dragons. (in conjunction with the dodge)
Misc.
That's what I call 'em at least o_O'
-pattern stamp tool: allows you to paint on patterns. extremely useful if you have manga screen tone patterns. Drop down comes with a clone tool brush.
-eye dropper: used to pick a color you want to use again on a image when you don't (or can't) remember the color you used there.
-hand tool: just a way to grab the image and move it around when it's zoomed in
-zoom tool: used to zoom into the image.

Foreground and Background colors
Basically these are your two colors that you'll be using at any given time. the color in the front is the one you will draw in, and the color in the back has a "background color" function when it comes to certain filters, are layers. Mostly, I just use it as "that other color I'll be using back and forth with" the two arrows on top switch between the two. the black and white box at the bottom changes the colors to black and white defaults.

Figure B. The Drop down arrow
I'll go ahead and quickly talk about it again, but any button with a lil' arrow like the one seen there means that button has a drop down and that tool has more functions to it than what's just being shown.

Still awake? No? WAKE UP! I'm moving on to the newer pallet!
But instead of repeating myself, I'm only gonna touch on the new things not in the older versions. notice how a few tools aren't on the new pallet? that's probably because they became part of one of the other tool's drop down. Won't bore you with anymore details on that, so check things out and get familiar with it >o>! Head to the next page for the new features in the newer photoshop versions!

Guide: 06/17/08 | Posted By: whtdragon | 0 comments