Adobe Photoshop CS4 Classroom in a Book

Adobe Photoshop CS4 Classroom in a Book

Released November 2008
Publisher(s): Adobe Press
ISBN: 9780321618344

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Book description

The fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn Adobe Photoshop CS4

Fourteen lessons in Adobe Photoshop CS4 Classroom in a Book cover basic and advanced techniques in Adobe Photoshop, the world’s best image-editing software. Learn how to retouch digital photos, work with layers and masks, navigate the workspace, prepare images print, and explore the latest features. Tips, extra-credit exercises, and step-by-step lessons help you become more productive using Photoshop.

Learn to correct and enhance digital photos, create image composites, transform images in perspective, and prepare images for print and the web. Combine images for extended depth of field, and try out the new 3D features in Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended.

“The Classroom in a Book series is by far the best training material on the market. Everything you need to master the software is included: clear explanations of each lesson, step-by-step instructions, and the project files for the students.” —Barbara Binder, Adobe Certified Instructor, Rocky Mountain Training

Classroom in a Book®, the best-selling series of hands-on software training workbooks, helps you learn the features of Adobe software quickly and easily. Classroom in a Book offers what no other book or training program does—an official training series from Adobe Systems Incorporated, developed with the support of Adobe product experts.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. What’s on the Disc
    1. Lesson files ... and so much more
  3. Getting Started
    1. About Classroom in a Book
    2. What’s new in this edition
    3. What’s in Photoshop Extended
    4. Prerequisites
    5. Installing Adobe Photoshop
    6. Starting Adobe Photoshop
    7. Copying the Classroom in a Book files
    8. Restoring default preferences
      1. To restore all preferences to default settings
      2. To save your current color settings
      3. To restore your color settings
    9. Additional resources
    10. Adobe certification
  4. 1. Getting to Know the Work Area
    1. Starting to work in Adobe Photoshop
      1. Starting Photoshop and opening a file
      2. Opening a file with Adobe Bridge
    2. Using the tools
      1. Selecting and using a tool from the Tools panel
      2. Selecting and using a hidden tool
      3. Using keyboard combinations with tool actions
      4. Applying a change to a selected area
    3. Using the options bar and other panels
      1. Previewing and opening another file
      2. Setting tool properties in the options bar
      3. Using panels and panel menus
    4. Undoing actions in Photoshop
      1. Undoing a single action
      2. Undoing multiple actions
      3. Using a context menu
      4. More about panels and panel locations
      5. Expanding and collapsing panels
      6. Special notes about the Tools panel and options bar
    5. Customizing the workspace
    6. Finding resources for using Photoshop
    7. Checking for updates
    8. Review questions
    9. Review answers
  5. 2. Basic Photo Corrections
    1. Strategy for retouching
      1. Organizing an efficient sequence of tasks
      2. Adjusting your process for different intended uses
    2. Resolution and image size
    3. Getting started
    4. Straightening and cropping an image
    5. Making automatic adjustments
    6. Removing a color cast
    7. Manually adjusting the tonal range
    8. Replacing colors in an image
    9. Adjusting lightness with the Dodge tool
    10. Adjusting saturation with the Sponge tool
    11. Comparing automatic and manual results
    12. Repairing areas with the Clone Stamp tool
    13. Using the Spot Healing Brush tool
      1. Painting with the Spot Healing Brush
    14. Using the Healing Brush and Patch tools
      1. Using the Healing Brush to remove flaws
      2. Using the Patch tool
    15. Applying the Unsharp Mask filter
    16. Saving the image for four-color printing
    17. Review questions
    18. Review answers
  6. 3. Working with Selections
    1. About selecting and selection tools
    2. Getting started
    3. Using the Quick Selection tool
    4. Moving a selected area
    5. Manipulating selections
      1. Repositioning a selection marquee while creating it
      2. Moving selected pixels with a keyboard shortcut
      3. Moving with the arrow keys
      4. Selecting from a center point
      5. Moving and changing the pixels in a selection
      6. Moving and duplicating a selection simultaneously
    6. Using the Magic Wand tool
    7. Selecting with the lasso tools
    8. Rotating a selection
    9. Selecting with the Magnetic Lasso tool
    10. Cropping an image and erasing within a selection
    11. Refining the edge of a selection
      1. Isolating and saving selections
      2. Creating a soft drop shadow
    12. Review questions
    13. Review answers
  7. 4. Layer Basics
    1. About layers
    2. Getting started
    3. Using the Layers panel
      1. Renaming and copying a layer
      2. Viewing individual layers
      3. Adding a border to a layer
    4. Rearranging layers
      1. Changing the opacity of a layer
      2. Duplicating a layer and changing the blending mode
      3. Resizing and rotating layers
      4. Using a filter to create artwork
      5. Adding text
    5. Applying a gradient to a layer
    6. Applying a layer style
      1. Updating layer effects
      2. Adding a border
    7. Flattening and saving files
    8. Review questions
    9. Review answers
  8. 5. Masks and Channels
    1. Working with masks and channels
    2. Getting started
    3. Creating a quick mask
    4. Editing a mask
      1. Converting a quick mask to a layer mask
      2. Refining a mask
    5. Viewing channels
    6. Adjusting individual channels
    7. Loading a mask as a selection
    8. Applying filters to a mask
    9. Applying effects using a gradient mask
    10. Resizing the canvas
    11. Removing the background from an image
    12. Moving layers between documents
    13. Colorizing with an adjustment layer
    14. Grouping and clipping layers
    15. Inverting a mask
    16. Using type as a mask
    17. Review questions
    18. Review answers
  9. 6. Correcting and Enhancing Digital Photographs
    1. Getting started
    2. About camera raw
    3. Processing files in Camera Raw
      1. Opening images in Camera Raw
      2. Adjusting white balance
      3. Making tonal adjustments in Camera Raw
      4. Applying sharpening
      5. Synchronizing settings across images
      6. Saving Camera Raw changes
    4. Correcting digital photographs in Photoshop
      1. Adjusting shadows and highlights
      2. Correcting red eye
      3. Reducing noise
      4. Sharpening edges
    5. Editing images with a vanishing-point perspective
      1. Defining a grid
      2. Editing objects in the image
    6. Correcting image distortion
    7. Adding depth of field
    8. Creating a PDF image gallery
    9. Review questions
    10. Review answers
  10. 7. Typographic Design
    1. About type
    2. Getting started
    3. Creating a clipping mask from type
      1. Adding guides to position type
      2. Adding point type
      3. Making a clipping mask and applying a drop shadow
    4. Creating a design element from type
    5. Using interactive formatting controls
    6. Warping point type
    7. Designing a paragraph of type
      1. Using guides for positioning
      2. Adding paragraph type from a sticky note
      3. Adding the last two lines
      4. Adding vertical type
    8. Warping a layer
      1. Grouping layers into a Smart Object
      2. Warping with Smart Objects
    9. Review questions
    10. Review answers
  11. 8. Vector Drawing Techniques
    1. About bitmap images and vector graphics
    2. About paths and the Pen tool
    3. Getting started
    4. Using paths with artwork
      1. Drawing the outline of a shape
      2. Converting selections to paths
      3. Converting paths to selections
      4. Converting the selection to a layer
    5. Creating vector objects for the background
      1. Drawing a scalable shape
      2. Deselecting paths
      3. About shape layers
      4. Subtracting shapes from a shape layer
    6. Working with defined custom shapes
    7. Importing a Smart Object
      1. Adding the title
      2. Adding a vector mask to a Smart Object
      3. Rotating the canvas (OpenGL only)
      4. Finishing up
    8. Review questions
    9. Review answers
  12. 9. Advanced Layering
    1. Getting started
    2. Clipping a layer to a shape
    3. Setting up a Vanishing Point grid
    4. Creating your own keyboard shortcuts
    5. Placing imported artwork
    6. Adding artwork in perspective
    7. Adding a layer style
    8. Placing the side panel artwork
    9. Adding more artwork in perspective
    10. Adding an adjustment layer
    11. Working with layer comps
    12. Managing layers
    13. Flattening a layered image
    14. Merging layers and layer groups
    15. Stamping layers
    16. Review questions
    17. Review answers
  13. 10. Advanced Compositing
    1. Getting started
    2. Assembling a montage of images
      1. Opening and cropping the images
      2. Positioning images using guides
      3. Adding text to a montage
    3. Applying filters
    4. Hand-coloring selections on a layer
      1. Applying painting effects
      2. Saving selections
      3. Painting with a special effects brush
    5. Applying Smart Filters
    6. Adding drop shadows and a border
    7. Matching color schemes across images
    8. Automating a multistep task
      1. Preparing to record an action
      2. Recording actions
      3. Playing an action
      4. Batch-playing an action
    9. Stitching a panorama
    10. Review questions
    11. Review answers
  14. 11. Preparing Files for the Web
    1. Getting started
    2. Selecting a web design workspace
    3. Creating slices
      1. Selecting slices and setting slice options
      2. Creating navigation buttons
      3. Creating slices based on layers
    4. Adding animation
      1. Creating an animated GIF
      2. Tweening the position and opacity of layers
    5. Animating a layer style
    6. Exporting HTML and images
    7. Using the Zoomify feature
    8. Creating a web gallery
    9. Review questions
    10. Review answers
  15. 12. Working with 3D Images
    1. Getting started
    2. Creating a 3D shape from a layer
    3. Manipulating 3D objects
    4. Using the 3D panel to adjust lighting and surface texture
    5. Merging two-dimensional layers onto 3D layers
    6. Importing 3D files
    7. Merging 3D layers to share the same 3D space
    8. Adding a spot light
    9. Painting on a 3D object
    10. Adding 3D text
    11. Creating a 3D postcard
      1. Adding a gradient background
      2. Animating a 3D layer
    12. Review questions
    13. Review answers
  16. 13. Working with Scientific Images
    1. Getting started
    2. Viewing and editing files in Adobe Bridge
      1. Customizing Adobe Bridge views and workspaces
      2. Using Bridge to organize and search your elements
      3. Ranking and stacking images
      4. Viewing file information
    3. Brightening and boosting color in an image
    4. Creating a map border and work area
    5. Making a custom border
    6. Measuring objects and data
      1. Working with the Measurement tool
      2. Measuring irregular shapes
      3. Measuring lines
    7. Exporting measurements
    8. Measuring a cross-section
    9. Measuring in perspective using the Vanishing Point filter
    10. Adding a legend
    11. Creating a slide show
    12. Review questions
    13. Review answers
  17. 14. Producing and Printing Consistent Color
    1. About color management
    2. Getting started
    3. Specifying color-management settings
    4. Proofing an image
    5. Identifying out-of-gamut colors
    6. Adjusting an image and printing a proof
    7. Saving the image as a CMYK EPS file
    8. Printing
      1. Specifying halftone screens
    9. Review questions
    10. Review answers
  18. Production Notes
    1. Images
    2. Typefaces used
    3. Team credits
  19. Contributors

Product information

  • Title: Adobe Photoshop CS4 Classroom in a Book
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: November 2008
  • Publisher(s): Adobe Press
  • ISBN: 9780321618344