va140/icam101 - Week TWO Addendum

What's important for the 1st assignment Brackets [ ] are menu commands

• How to scan
• Dealing with image resolution
• Print in this lab = 200 dpi / ppi
• What file type to have
  • The photoshop file type (psd) allows layers, for color use RGB mode
  • JPEG is a bad way to store images, it degrades every time you use it (it's "lossy")
• [File -- Save As]
• Resizing while keeping image quality
  • Resizing can refer to resolution and image / print size
  • Resampling UP usually gives poor results - computer has to guess and add pixels
  • [Image -- Image Size]
• Making and dealing with selections
  • You can copy between images (drag and drop or using keyboard - check resolution and size)
  • Paste Into = pastes into a selection
  • Feathering
  • [ selection -- matting -- remove black/white ] to get rid of left over pixels from anti-aliasing
  • Use Paths for doing careful selections
• How the rubber stamp tool can repair images or hide junk
  • aligned = aligns with your cursor, non-aligned = stays in original spot
  • can clone between images
  • always use clone to fix photos (dust, etc), never pencil / paint (it will show)
• Use transform options for rotating or reshaping a selection
• Use the dodge / burn or smudge tools for integrating images
• Use the eyedropper tool for matching colors
• Layers
  • re-ordering layers
  • transparency
  • new layer via copy
  • copy layers between images
  • merge down = 2 layers, merge visible = click off eye of those you don't want merged
  • link layers = to preserve relative postioning
  • layer blend = to blend two layers together (sort of like transparency)
  • layer effects = specialized (could've used this to make shadows)
  • Defringe [ layer -- matting -- defringe ] to get rid of seam when pasting
• Layer Masks - to mask or hide/show elements of a layer
  • Button at bottom of palette for Add Layer Mask
  • Select mask thumbnail in layer to work on it
  • Paint tool - painting with white shows pixels, black hides pixels (makes what you paint disappear)
  • Make a selection if you want the mask to be that shape
  • Black mask hides pixels, white mask shows pixels
• Type mask tool , click on image and type, add layer mask

Shortcuts = start using both hands

• Ctrl in Windows = Apple in Mac
• Alt in Windows = Option in Mac

• Tab = show / hide palettes and tools
• Shift +Tab = hide palettes
• Esc = escape a crop, a transform, or a dialog box
• Shift + Drag = contrains action of many tools to horizontal / vertical (pencil, etc)
• Alt = toggle between options on many tools
• Double - Click on Zoom tool = 100%
• Alt + Click w/ Zoom = Zoom Out
• Alt = toggles between Cancel / Reset in Dialog boxes
• Ctrl + Z = undo
• Ctrl + A = select all
• Ctrl + D = deselect
• Ctrl + S = save
• Ctrl + C = copy
• Ctrl + X = cut
• Ctrl + V = paste
• Ctrl + H = show / hide marching ants

  
  Email me with any confusions during the week, I'll try and address then over email, and may bring them up next section - if you had a problem, chances are someone else did too.