In Easy Steps: Photoshop Projects in easy steps

Photoshop Projects in easy steps

Publication: July 12, 2004
Pages: 240
ISBN: 978-1-84078-276-9

About the book

This is a book that shows you how to be creative with Photoshop (all versions). It is not a manual that tells you what the program does, but a series of techniques and projects that show how the program can be used. Follow each chapter to progressively increase your skill level and develop both understanding and creativity. All images used in this book are available for download in both Mac and PC formats.

The first chapter provides a quick introduction to the workspace, palettes and basic tools. Following projects include:

Basic Layer techniques
Scan large originals in sections and seamlessly join them (Canvas size & Paint Tools)
Color and Paint line drawings (Paint Tools and Filters)
Basic Image correction techniques and master tonal and color changes (Levels, Burn and Dodge)
Perspective control (Layer transformations)
Retouching Projects (Clone Stamp, Healing Brush, Gaussian Blur and much more)
Change and Replace backgrounds and move multiple images into a single file (Extract, Pen and Eraser Tools)
Simulate drape on line drawings (Quick Mask and Paste-into command)
Stitch images into a Panorama and add new skies for dull landscapes (Layer masking techniques)
Create a brochure with multiple images (Paths and more about Layer masks)
Create something from nothing with the Type, Shape and Gradient Tools
Keep a visual record of your images with contact sheets
Make a web photo gallery and get rid of the boring jobs (Automate and Actions)
Create strong graphics and transform photographs into perfect illustrations (Posterize, color selection techniques and History Brush)
Become a picture framer (selection techniques, Layer styles and Filters)
Create patterns and incorporate these into line drawings (Layer techniques / Paste Into)
Add realistic reflections and shadows (blending modes)
Annotate photographs, Send images by email (Image size and file formats)
Turn color into monochrome or monotone (Colorize)
Get a little more technical with an introduction into Color management.

About the author

John Slater is a freelance commercial photographer and lecturer. For many years he was Technical Manager at Nikon Cameras and taught at the Nikon School of Photography. He now lectures in Photoshop at the London College of Fashion and teaches Photography and Digital Imaging to photographers at the City Literary Institute in London. John's images are available through the Corbis Picture Agency. In 2001 he drove overland to China - and back! He has a postgraduate teaching qualification and is a mentor for The Prince's Trust, helping young people establish photographic businesses in East London.

Quick Start
- Keyboard
- Understand your workspace
- Menus and Options
- Zoom Tool
- Experimentation & History palette
- Get out of Jail - undo errors
- Positioning Aids
- File Browser
- Reset Tools
- Help
Projects with Layers - Basics & Fun
- Introduction to Layers
- Crop Tool
- Saving Files
- File Formats
- I didn't recognize myself - fun Layers project
- Image not square - face caricatures
- Scanning large originals
- Make room - Canvas Size
- Assembly - Eraser Tool and Options
Color Line Drawings - Paint & Fills
- As easy as Painting by numbers
- Understanding default paint colors
- The Color palette
- Type Tool - the basics
- Custom colors
- New Clothes - eliminate unwanted text with the Brush Tool
- Grade, Shade & Mode
- Textures galore - filters
- Line Cheat - clever selection technique
- Just my Type - warp text
- Steal the show - Freehand Painting
- Brush stop - brush palette
- Painting modes
- Add tone with multiple layers
- Easy selections with Quick Mask
- Create tone with Burn & Dodge
- Keep the skeleton - preserve drawing structure
Image Correction - Basic & Creative
- On the Level? - introduction to tonal adjustments
- It's all in the graph - levels dialog box
- Test Run - example of basic tonal adjustments
- Cool blues - Dodge and Sponge Tools
- More control - Levels control with Eyedroppers
- Sharp as a Razor - sharpening photographs
- Cleaning - restore scanned illustrations
- Adjustment Layers
- Two files are better than one - make new files from selections
- Reposition the elements - simplify images
- Metadata and finding files
Perspective
- Perspective with Type - distort type
- Blurry - overcome problems of blurry type
- Space Adventure - 3D Type
- Structural Engineer? - correct distortion in photographs
- In a hurry? - perspective control with the Crop tool
- Please the Architect - architectural correction
- Distort the Truth - architectural distortion
- Continue the Fantasy - add images and patterns
Dolly the Sheep - Retouching projects
- Repair, Restore and Mend
- Clone Stamp Tool - remove marks
- Already an expert - remove scratches
- Disappearing trick - remove type
- Rope trick - clone across layers
- Healing Brush - keep the texture
- Plaster over the faults - clone across layers
- Face up to it - face retouching
- Refine the lips - alter shape
- Red Head - change hair color
- Elizabethan facial - theatrical make-up
- Finishing touches
- Steal body parts!
- Eye surgery - reposition eyes
Backgrounds - Removal & Replacement
- One click removal - the Magic Wand
- Simple background or tiled? - creative use of filters
- Eraser Tools
- Extract
- Refine - Cleanup and Touchup Tools
- Putting it all together - combine files
- Joined up writing - Paths and the Pen Tool
- Path Terminology
Drape
- Upholstery Assistant - selections
- Sew it all together - add fabric to line drawings
- Drapers Assistant - add fabric to photographs
- Layer Sets
- Create the Drape
- Finishing touches - add highlights
Panoramas & Skies
- Panoramas
- Shoot the pictures
- Assembly - Canvas size and Layer masks
- New skies for old - replace boring skies
- Organize the desktop - Tile command
- Stronger than paste - Paste Into command
- Expand your horizon - eliminate unwanted edges
- Name Layers
Brochure Project
- Brochure front cover
- Ideal World - something to aim for
- Reality - Selections with Paths
- Blend the images - Layer masks
- Add the Logo - combine Vector graphics
- Alternative vision - change the design
- Layer sets 2
- Layer Comps
Type, Shapes & Gradients
- Paris Metro - create a file from scratch
- Reflective Words - create a reflection
- Realistic shadows
- Create Perspective
- Background detail - add gradients & shapes
- A little more flair - lens flair
Automate, Actions & Batch
- Contact Sheet - organize and select the files
- Web Photo Gallery
- Actions - automate repetitive tasks
- Here's one I made earlier - run an existing Action
- Stick your nose in - modify an existing Action
- Make your own - record an Action
- Batch
- Slide show presentation
Cheat at Illustration
- Andy Warhol fans look carefully - strong graphics
- Reduce to B&W - Threshold command
- Add Color - use clever selections
- Now the art! - multiple images
- Reduce tones with Posterize
- More Color Control - color adjustment layers
- Ultimate Color Control - selections using Color Range
- Draw to History - use the History Brush
Picture Framer
- Keyline and Background Color
- Always use print with Preview - Print dialog
- Matte - enhance selection & layer skills
- Add a Keyline/Washline - clever use of selections
- Finish with a Bevel - more selection magic
- Apply the Matte to other images
- Framing
- Wooden frame - make a frame
- Frame Scam - scan a frame
- Big frame scam - use selections to eliminate distortion
Five Minute Wonders
- Make pencil drawings strong
- Speedy Illustrations
- Sending pictures by Email
- Make a Step Wedge
- Patterns
- Chameleon - Color to B &W
- Sepia plus - colorize images
- Vignette effects
- Family Tree - shapes & layers
Understanding Color Management
- Let's play tag - the idea of Color Management
- Basic steps in a color managed workflow
- Calibrate - set up your monitor
- Color Settings
- Working profile already assigned
- No profile assigned
- sRGB profile already assigned
- The proof is in the print - print correct colors