Here is a series of lessons that teach you how to use the Photoshop graphics editor - an incredibly popular and indispensable tool in web design, with the help of which not only buttons, banners and logos are created for the site, but even entire layouts. The design of almost any site that you visit was originally drawn in Photoshop, so knowledge of this program will definitely be useful for a webmaster, although image processing skills and creating your own drawings will not harm a simple PC user either. Digitizing photos, retouching old pictures, creating postcards and collages - this is just the beginning of a long list. useful action, which the editor allows you to make, and a cycle of lessons will help you get used to it.
Bookmark this page so you don't lose the table of contents and consistently study article after article, learning more and more new techniques for working in Photoshop.
But what will you learn in these lessons?
- 1 Getting Started in Photoshop - Quick Selection and Fill
Here you will get acquainted with the interface of the program, find out what the main elements of the interface are for, learn how to create documents and save them, master the selection of areas on the canvas. Also from the lesson you will understand how to fill areas with color, understand the principles of working with the program. After mastering the information, you will learn how to perform simple actions and be able to independently explore other editor tools.
- 2 Layers and text
All photoshop images built on layers. That is why editing in the program is so convenient. The lesson will tell you what layers are, why they are needed and how to work with them. In addition, it describes the techniques for creating and processing inscriptions, as well as moving objects located on the canvas. After completing the lesson, processing multilayer documents will not be a problem for you.
- 3 Filters
You will get acquainted with a huge library of scripts that change the image. Editor filters can not only give the finished image one effect or another, but even create new objects and frame the photo.
- 4 Working with images
The article gives the basics of processing already existing graphic files. Editing multiple images at once, moving objects from one drawing to another, resizing and deleting unnecessary parts- this is just a partial list of topics of the lesson.
- 5 Transformation
The lesson will teach you how to scale image elements, change proportions, tilt, distort and deform them.
- 6 Drawing - brush and pencil
The first in a series of articles about tools for creating your own masterpieces. For a long time, computer technology has developed to the point that it allows you to imitate drawing on paper. You will learn how to create with a virtual pencil and brush - sketches and watercolor paintings can now be easily drawn and distributed on electronic media, making an unlimited number of copies and without worrying about the safety of labor.
- 7 Drawing - Shapes
Creating objects by hand is one thing, and accuracy and speed are sometimes paramount. The lesson tells about the tools with which you can create perfectly smooth shapes in just a few clicks. geometric figures given sizes. From a simple square to an ellipse, a star, and even a musical note, the article covers it all.
- 8 Drawing - paths and bitmaps
Once and for all, you will remember the difference between a vector and a raster, what are the pros and cons of both approaches, and also learn why Photoshop needs shape outlines and what the pixel mode does.
- 9 Drawing - pen tool
In continuation of working with contours, we study the tools of the Pen group. Purpose, method of application, description of the parameters, and as a result, you will learn how to draw atypical contours and create the most complex geometric objects.
- 10 Drawing - Magnetic pen tool
The magnetic mode of the Freehand Pen tool has become so popular that it's called the "Magnetic Pen" tool, even though there's no such tool in Photoshop. What this function allows you to do, why users love it so much and how it will help you personally - read the article.
- 11 Image retouching tools
To use these functions of the editor for the Internet, you do not need to be either a layout designer, or a designer, or a webmaster - no one at all. It is enough to be an active user social networks. How to make your face more beautiful, remove moles and freckles? How to process an old scanned photo so that the colors become brighter and scratches, spots and dust particles are not so noticeable? How to carefully cut an object, move it or clone it? Where is the tool that literally in a couple of minutes will help rid the photo of the red-eye effect? Find answers to these and other questions in the article.
- 12 Image Correction Tools
You already know so much that learning new tools is not a problem. All I had to do was make a review with a description of the possibilities that allow improving the quality of pictures - lighten where it is too dark, darken where it is overexposed, blur and sharpen, mix and smudge colors. All in all, Additional Information How else to make the image better is waiting for you in the lesson.
The pinnacle of creativity for the web is the rendering of site templates. When most of the tools have been mastered, and the skills are enough to draw separators with shapes, and buttons for the menu, and logos, and beautiful inscriptions, nothing prevents you from creating a good, complex layout. The article tells what a standard template consists of, describes the principle of creation, and also teaches you how to cut a layout using tools that were previously unfamiliar to you.
Paying attention to each of the lessons, analyzing practical examples and experimenting on your own, as you master the course, you will go from a beginner to an advanced user of Photoshop and will be able to delve into it yourself by moving to new level development, and will help you in this strong and solid foundation, laid down by a series of our articles.
Good day, dear readers. Do you seriously want to learn how to work in Photoshop and hope that you will succeed? Hundreds of people every day, inspired by the video miracles in three-minute videos, open this program and forget about it after a week.
“They teach and teach at school, and here, in adulthood, they piled on!”, A quote from a Soviet cartoon appears in my head. After a week, everything is forgotten, a person begins to think that he already knows how to do everything, and much more, you can’t apply it anywhere anyway.
As a rule, all this knowledge remains unfulfilled by useless talents No. 7463. Why do you think that you will succeed? Well, at least you still haven't stopped reading this article and that's good enough. So you're kind of a realist, that's great, which means we have something to talk about. Then, let's find out how to work with Photoshop, or rather, from which side it is better to approach it, so as not to leave everything halfway.
How not to stop there
Motivation is the most important thing in life, especially for beginners. You can start writing a book and quit after a month, leave cross-stitch after a week, as a rule, you forget about the work of creating websites somewhere in six months. Why is this happening? Initially, the wrong approach to business.
You must constantly work on your own motivation. How to do it? First things first, let's find out what you want from Photoshop?
Play and process a couple of your own photos?
Don't even bother learning. Find tutorials on YouTube for dummies, or dig into Photoshop yourself, at random. Here are some interesting drawings that can be obtained when working with just a few buttons.
What exactly? "Image" in top panel tools. Special attention make corrections. There are a lot of gizmos that can surprise friends and diversify your leisure time.
One of the most interesting tools here, in my opinion, "Curves" and "Juiciness".
You will also definitely like the "Filter Gallery".
You do not even have to download the program itself and spend money on it. There is a wonderful online service with a program in Russian ( https://editor.0lik.ru ), it is less functional when it comes to work, but it is ideal as a toy. In addition, you can work with it for free. Create.
Have tried, are interested and want to go further
Wait. It's too early to work with layers and other advanced features. First decide why you need it, otherwise you will just waste your time.
If you don’t feel sorry for days, weeks, months, that’s good, but when you start one thing, don’t finish it, take on a second or third, then in the end you don’t get anything.
How many more roads do you have to go to earn real money from your hobby. Do you really not need it? Many people take on some stupidity and create something incredible, getting millions from the project. And in the end, you will remain a person who knows a little more than others in each area.
How can you make money with photoshop?
- Sell cool photos own production through photobanks.
- Create your own page and offer photo processing services.
- Create illustrations for books, of which there are now about a million.
- Make logos for companies.
- Web design.
Do not believe that someone will really pay for this? Pf, don't hesitate. You can find a bunch of offers on the Weblancer site ( https://weblancer.net ).
Do not worry that you do not have enough strength or lack of experience. Take more time to complete the project, and less money so that the claims against you are not too serious. You can always justify your own actions later: “What did you want for 1,000 rubles? If you don’t like it, don’t take it, I completed the work on time, and it’s up to you to decide whether to refuse or take the results.”
You are new and that's great. Keep your ambitions to yourself as long as possible. Professionals can take at least 5,000 rubles for corporate identity. Do not think about big money during training while gaining experience. Over time, good orders will come, and then you will be able to set your own prices with all responsibility. In the meantime, set yourself tasks and solve them through educational articles and videos, of which there are a million on the Internet.
Start creating projects as early as possible. Make them for yourself, create projects for any money. No one will know how much you were paid, but you will have a great portfolio. Over time, you will learn to cope with tasks faster, which means you will be able to complete more orders.
The ambition is very strong and you want to earn a lot of money
If hard work and impressive performance are observed behind you, then you need to earn money on this and start doing it as soon as possible. There is a lot of money in design. Per good project sites can pay about 80,000, for corporate identity 30,000, for a cool illustration 1,000. But to get that kind of money and find customers you have to really try.
Of course, you can't get by with tutorial videos, articles, or the poke method. You need real professional education. You will need to understand the intricacies of art, quickly learn the intricacies of business, see how specialists work, what they use when creating, study, so to speak, the case to the maximum and do it quickly.
Talent alone is not enough, experience is also needed. Whatever industry you start in, you need to grow to a professional. We don't have time for this! If you are very hardworking, then you are ambitious, and if the earnings do not go, you, again, will abandon what you started without completing it. You need to do everything so that the work performed by you is liked by others, and especially by customers.
I recommend you the course of Zinaida Lukyanova ( https://photoshop-master.org/disc15 ). It costs about two and a half thousand rubles and provides everything you need for work. All knowledge in 18 hours. A day will not pass before you reach a good level. Of course, it will have to be improved, but at least you will know the basics. Further - a matter of technology, it remains only to look for your options. No one will tell you where to put this or that element, but you will know how it can be done and will not waste time on the technical side. It is not difficult to figure it out, if you have already seen how one or another tool of the master is used, you will be able to grab a lot of useful chips.
You will know specifically what can be done in Photoshop and what you can do, and therefore you will be able to find quick ways creation. Why spend an hour lighting up a shape perfectly when you can insert it perfectly and quickly into another object?
Which photoshop to choose
Naturally, in this case, there will not be enough online versions. She is only interested as a toy. On your own, you can install your own gradients, brushes, stamps, fonts. By the way, in last time I managed to download as many as 4,000 options. Look at some of them. Can you imagine how they simplify the life of a designer?
Naturally, you can install them on any version. By the way, let's talk about software. First came Photoshop CS5, this version is slightly less functional compared to latest version CS6.
And the coolest is CC 2015. I have it. Of course, for the designer it is better to choose it. There are a bunch of extra features that you probably won't need. For example, support for 3D printing. But what do you want from her, is it bad or what? There is and is. But in addition to this, you use smart sharpening, perspective deformation, improved layer correction CC just can't dance!
Do not think that you will not understand such a cool version or that it will be more difficult. All photoshops are basically the same. It's just somewhere additional functions and buttons that you are not required to use. But what options do the latest versions perform a little better. For example, add a glow or sharpness.
Learn one Photoshop - you will understand all the rest. The main thing is to understand the logic of the developers, and it will not be difficult to figure it out further.
Finally, I will leave you a motivating video, where without them. Cool, the girl is turned into a robot. Great, by the way, if you remove the acceleration, then I think that it took him from two to eight hours to work. Agree, not so much. Just a day, and this is the result:
If you liked this article, subscribe to the newsletter and get more useful and necessary information which will help you do right choice and earn more money on the Internet, even if you don't know anything yet.
Is Photoshop new to you? We'll help you figure out what's what!
Learning Photoshop can take a lot of time, and there are a lot of things that I, unfortunately, did not know about when I started. Therefore, today I present to your attention ten useful notes, thanks to which working with Photoshop will become much easier! You will learn about the most important tools and tricks that even a beginner can master.
1. Get to know the Tools
This is the Photoshop toolbar.
Click on the double arrow to arrange the tools on the panel in one or two rows.
Did you know that you can customize it for yourself?
Although many useful tools will always be in your sight, you may miss additional tools, hidden behind the triangles on the right bottom corner, using only what is located "on the surface".
So customize the toolbar for yourself - let it be a useful reminder to try new tools!
Click Edit > Toolbar(Edit > Toolbar...) to manually select the tools. Group them according to priority levels - for example, one group could be tools that you have yet to master, and the other - those that you use constantly.
Don't overload the panel with tools you don't use; put your favorite instruments in it instead!
Decide on the Core Toolkit
All tools will not be needed in every job and so it is important to build a strong base, with a few flexible tools that are good at different types works.
Here you see two different projects: tablet drawing and photo manipulation. Did you notice that the tools for both projects are identical?
While the first project is entirely drawing, the second one is very dependent on my illustrative skills. So don't worry if you're not familiar with these tools yet! Your core set should reflect your interests, be it design, photography, or illustration.
Also, don't forget that many of Photoshop's tools can be used for different purposes. For example, a tool Pen(Pen) can be used both to separate the model from the background, and to create a vector illustration.
There are other tools you will need, but consider them secondary. For example, tools Pen(Feather) and move(Move), at first glance, do not seem very creative, but they are needed (and sometimes needed very often) to improve the workflow.
What are your main tools?
In the beginning, you will always have favorites. But as your skills improve, challenge yourself to try new tools and creative effects.
2. Introduction to the Layers Panel
Rollover Control-Shift-N creates a new layer.
Layers panel very efficient and helpful. It will change the way you design, opening up the myriad possibilities in Photoshop.
But how?
Well, in general, the panel allows you to control several parameters. Opacity(Opacity), Fill(Fill) and color(Color) are just a few. With these options, you can modify your layers to create many cool effects.
Text effects, for example, are often created using incredible Layer Styles(Layer styles).
In the beginning, you will probably use the Layers panel for its primary purpose - to contain your work on separate layers, but I highly recommend to deal with it in more detail. Explore the panel as much as you can and you'll discover new ways to create detailed work.
Experiencing color issues? Try to work with Layer Blend Modes(Layer blend modes). Want to get a brighter result? Maybe your solution is adjustment layer(adjustment layer).
3. Save Time With Layer Masks
It's time to have an important conversation - a conversation about layer masks.
For beginners, layer masks can be confusing, but they are vital to effective editing.
To use a layer mask:
Here I have drawn a circle in the middle of the mask to show White background under the layer filled with blue
Use layer masks in any work! Embed them in your regular work so that any adjustments can always be safely undone.
Most of the time, the difficulty with this feature comes from not knowing when to use it. Beginners often just use the tool Eraser(Eraser) as this is the fastest solution.
You can also use masks to create isolated objects and then insert them into your work.
4. Control-S Right?
Quality matters, so before you save your work and close the program, consider the following:
- Why do I need this file?
- Where can I store it?
- In what format do I need it?
- How to save it in the best quality?
Above you see a comparison of different quality levels, 1 - 83%, 2 - 1%. Image courtesy of Envato Elements.
What and Where
The answer to the first question is whether your work will be used online. In graphic materials for online posts, quality is not as important, while printed materials must be saved at high resolution. Explore the print guidelines to understand why you need important settings such as Color Modes(Color Profile) and how to manage them.
Store your files somewhere on your computer that you have quick access to. Photoshop can throw an error if some elements (such as fonts) are missing from the file, so try to keep everything in order.
Format and quality
Now that you know what your work is for, you can move on to saving it in a suitable format. Many designers save their work in multiple formats, which provides additional flexibility.
Click File > Export > Save for Web(File > Export > Save for Web).
Check out how your work looks with different compression settings. Avoid quality loss!
How good will your design look when printed?
Save work in different formats You also need to understand the quality of the print. If, for example, your drawing, design or other work contains bright neon colors, then you may be disappointed with the physical result.
Minimalist design is a huge trend in part because it gives you more typing options. This design is often easier to print and therefore used more often.
What looks good on screen doesn't always look good on paper. There are many reasons for this, and the essence of one of them is how exactly the ink falls on paper. It is also essential for this step to understand the difference between color profiles. RGB and CMYK.
Work according to your situation. To open/change Color Mode(Color Profile) of your file, click Edit > Color Settings(Edit > Adjust Colors…).
Test your work by printing it out! For achievement best result learn the intricacies of the printer of a particular printing industry.
6. Sets! Sets! Sets!
In the real world, there are things like short time and daunting tasks. So save valuable time by using Photoshop's built-in presets!
There are sets of brushes, shapes, patterns, and more. You can quickly add a filter to your photo or create a brochure with abstract elements.
To view them all, click Edit > Presets > Preset Manager(Edit > Presets > Manage Presets).
One of my favorite sets is brush sets. Brush sets from your favorite artists are great too, but use the ones you already have!
These sets include various textures, beautiful gradients and more.
In the screenshot you see an example of a set of brushes Wet Media (Wet brushes).
Use kits to create amazing effects! They're already organized for your convenience, so all you have to do is download them and get started.
7. Easily Change Colors With Adjustment Layers
Create incredible lighting schemes with just a couple of clicks!
Adjustment Layers(Adjustment Layers) are just perfect for beginners in Photoshop. They allow you to seamlessly change many of the visual aspects of your work.
Need to save original photo? No problem. Tools that let you roll back any changes, like adjustment layers, can help you create amazing effects without losing quality.
To use an adjustment layer color lookup(color search):
Click Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Lookup(Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Search). Select file set 3DLUT File from the dropdown menu. Click OK and enjoy the result.
Stock Photo Envato Elements.
Adjustment layers are one of my favorite tools, and I'm absolutely thrilled that they work just as well for illustrations on a tablet!
Photoshop artists use these adjustments to try out different color palettes before making a final decision. Explore different schemes lighting and more with incredible tools like Curves(Curves).
8. Learn to organize your Workspace
Chefs love to keep their kitchens tidy as it keeps them tidy and productive. So why not create yourself a clean workplace in Photoshop?
Organization contributes to the creation of good working atmosphere. And even if sloppiness seems very creative, an organized workspace can enhance your work.
First, close all unnecessary tabs!
After that, there are still many ways to do everything even more accurately. For example, you can pin and unpin your favorite panels and toolboxes.
Then click Window > Arrange(Window > Arrange).
Choose one of the layout options listed so that all your documents display neatly. Keep sources of inspiration close at hand so you can easily access them.
The standard solution is Consolidate All to Tabs(Combine all in tabs) but you can also choose to e.g. 2-up Vertical(2 up, horizontal) to place the sample next to your work.
Need to get your workspace back to its original state? Click Window > Workspace > Reset Essentials(Window > Workspace > Reset Main Workspace).
Each artist's workplace will be different. Some people like to see more dashboards than others. For example, I am not one of those, as I prefer to minimize the mess. But whatever you personally like, you can always customize the working environment the way you want.
9. Master the Pen Tool
Tool Pen(Feather) (P) can be intimidating at times, however, with time you will be able to fully master it.
First, get to know the tool itself. Option Path(Contour) is needed to select an area, and shape(Shape) allows you to create your own shapes.
Then get to know Path Operations(Operations with contour), Alignment(Outline alignment) and Arrangement(Contour ordering). Designers who are familiar with Adobe Illustrator may find it easier to get comfortable with this tool.
Most The best way to master something is to experiment! Create a bunch of lines and swirls and then play around with the settings like Blending Options(Overlay options). The possibilities are truly endless! Don't forget to use the Pen tool when creating text effects, illustrations, and more!
10. Memorize Hot Keys
Hotkeys are not new.
However, designers sometimes have trouble remembering them. Want to learn a little trick to help you remember these keys?
Try this old trick to help you think about tools. When you think of a hotkey, imagine an image that explains what it is, or how to use it.
By pressing the letter B, which calls up the tool Brush(Brush), I automatically render like this:
Remember these keys in order of priority. As in the first part of the lesson, it is important to figure out which hotkeys you need the most. You will also need to memorize additional keys related to your favorite instruments.
To increase the size of the brush, for example, press the right or left square bracket: [ or ] .
Your favorite hotkeys will be easy to remember as you use them often, but it's worth exploring new possibilities.
You won't master Photoshop in one day, and that's absolutely fine! Just think of it as a creative adventure that gets better with time.
Before you close this lesson, remember:
- Decide on your core toolkit
- Get to know the Layers panel
- Save time with layer masks
- Save files correctly
- Know the difference between print and web recommendations
- Use sets...
- ...and adjustment layers.
- Organize your workplace.
- Learn the pen tool.
- Memorize hotkeys.
Try these tips and tell us in the comments about the most useful for you!
Photoshop is a very versatile program that gives us amazing possibilities. However, if you are just learning this software, then you probably still do not understand which techniques are best to use. In this post, Hungarian designer Martin Perhiniak shares his experience and talks about how NOT to work in Photoshop. Here are 10 bad habits you need to get rid of!
1. Work in one layer
Whatever you do in Photoshop, try to do it in extra layers. If you make all your edits directly on the original image layer, you'll run into problems anyway. In particular, with the ability to undo or edit changes. The basic principle of the so-called non-destructive method of working in Photoshop is based on working in new layers. In this case, it becomes incredibly easier to make changes to the work done.
2. Delete and erase instead of masking
It's also a bad habit to erase and delete parts of an image. This is the most destructive way of working! Instead, use masks. For example:
- Pixel Mask
- Vector Mask
- Clipping Mask
The easiest way to hide part of an image is with a mask. At the same time, you hide the objectionable part only for the time you need. In case you change your mind, you can always edit the mask or cancel it altogether.
3. Losing time on extra clicks
Using Photoshop without hotkeys is like eating soup with a fork. It is possible, but very long and inconvenient. A true Photoshop master should have one hand on the mouse (or tablet) and the other hand on the keyboard. Here are some of the most common keyboard shortcuts you'll find useful:
- Cmd / Ctrl + T - Free Transform / Free Transform
- Cmd / Ctrl + Enter - accept text / Accept typing
- Cmd / Ctrl + S - save document / Save document
- Cmd / Ctrl + A - select all / Select all
- Cmd/Ctrl + D - Deselect
- Cmd / Ctrl + I - invert colors / Invert colors
- Cmd / Ctrl + Shift + I - invert selection / Invert selection
- Cmd/Ctrl + click on layer icon - call selection from object in this layer
- Cmd/Ctrl + Option/Alt + A - select all layers
- Option / Alt + click between two layers - Clipping Mask / Clipping Mask
- Cmd/Ctrl + G - group layers
- Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + G - ungroup layers
If you are interested in more Photoshop hotkeys, study this picture:
4. Transforming raster layers
Many Photoshop users have heard about the usefulness of Smart Objects, but not everyone uses them regularly. But in vain, because when you convert a raster layer into a smart object, Photoshop starts working with it as a separate file. And this is what it means:
Thanks to the technologies that appeared in Photoshop CS2, we have the ability to transform Smart Objects as much as we want, without losing the quality of the file contained in them. Try to do the same with a bitmap file, and after reduction you will not return to the previous quality.
5. Ignoring Adjustment Layers
Working in Photoshop without using adjustment layers / Adjustment Layers is similar to working in one layer. This is a big mistake. If you apply an adjustment from the Image menu directly to an image, you won't be able to edit the changes afterwards. And when using adjustment layers, you can change the selected parameters at any time, as well as experiment with opacity and blending mode.
6. Disorganized
When working in Photoshop, it is very important to build your work in an organized manner. If you have already learned, or already used the first tip about working in new layers, then you should definitely get into the habit of naming each new layer according to its content. This may seem like a waste of time, but trust me, it will save a lot more time for you and especially your colleagues if you work in a team.
7. Using destructive filters
Photoshop filters can be applied non-destructively using Smart Filters. In this version, you can turn filters on and off, change parameters, opacity and blending mode.
8. Sub-optimal navigation
Some users drag the vertical and horizontal scroll bars to move around the document. This is instead of pressing Space, thus activating the Hand / Hand tool and moving around the document in any direction. There are several keyboard shortcuts to help you navigate.
- Space - hand tool / Hand tool
- Z + drag left and right - zoom in and out
- Hold down H + click - bird's eye view mode
- Cmd/Control + 0 - Expand to screen size
- Cmd/Control + 1 - Actual Size
9. Not Using Bridge
Adobe Bridge is a program that has been included with Photoshop since version CS2. The software helps you structure and not get confused in the files you work with in Photoshop. ( Nevertheless, Adobe Bridge is still an amateur program. It is quite possible not to include it in the list of mandatory software for use. - approx. ed.)
10. PSD not saving
Never forget to save the PSD file. Also ALWAYS save the document as you work. It should become a habit on a reflex level. There is nothing worse than loss a large number work done, due to the fact that your computer freezes. Always save PSD files. You do not need to show it to anyone, but if you suddenly need to make changes, the file will be at hand.
Translation - Desk