Figure C. New User's Photoshop
Rather than explain everything again, I'll only talk about the features that weren't in the earlier versions. Everything is basically the same, just moved around a little differently, and I will admit is intimidating for those new to photoshop as a whole. My advice is though take the newer featured ones slowly, and get to know where everything is. Example being that the burn tool is now a drop down from the dodge tool.
Don't be discouraged, and don't be afraid to play around with things!

Selection tools: what's new
-Slice tool: used in conjunction with the "image ready" program to basically prepare images for buttons and rollover images for a website. useless for the artist that just wants to draw.
Drawing/brushes tool: what's new
-spot healing: is a particularly nifty image for getting rid of impurities in a photo. (like say a blemish) drawing wise, I'd say it could help clean up some of the spots that pop up in a scanned drawing, but that's about it.
-history brush tool: known to me as "the impressionist" tool which gives the drawing a "artistic" effect. I don't care for it myself, but I'm sure it has it's uses. It's supposed to replicate famous art styles.
vector tools
Vectors have become so useful that it's got it's own section now!
-path selection: lets you select a "path" on a vector image. paths are lines that dictate where and how the vector is shaped.
-text tool: nothing's changed here, but the text tool has always been treated as a vector, so thought I'd point that out.
-pen tool: lets you make your own vectors, which completely frustrates me every time I try >_o
-shapes tool: has all the shapes and then some as before.
misc. what's new
-note tool: I wasn't sure what this was until I looked it up. Apprently you an leave notes and even sound clips for instructions on photoshop images. useful for explaining how you did things or for learning purposes.

-Masking tools is very helpful in doing more advanced things in the drawing by "masking" part of your image away keeping you from accidentally drawing over other parts. It basically makes selecting parts more specific and easier to do.
-Full screen tools allows you to work in a fuller screen if you don't like to look at all the hoo-ha settings surrounding your image. won't blame you for using it lol.
-image ready button is for quickly moving into image ready, a program for web making.

Aaaand there you have it folks! a rather lengthy explanation on photoshop's most used and useful pallet! Next Time I'll talk about the pallet dock where there's even MORE pallets and features!

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