Sams Teach Yourself Adobe Photoshop CS4 in 24 Hours

Sams Teach Yourself Adobe Photoshop CS4 in 24 Hours

by Kate Binder
Released November 2008
Publisher(s): Sams
ISBN: 9780768686869

Read it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Book description

Sams Teach Yourself  Adobe® Photoshop® CS4

Kate Binder

In just 24 lessons of one hour or less, you’ll learn all the fundamental Photoshop CS4 skills you need to get great results–in digital photography, graphic design, painting, or anything else! Using this book’s easy, step-by-step approach, you’ll master Photoshop CS4’s revamped interface and powerful new shortcuts. You can also learn professional techniques for repairing damaged photos, creating great composites, black-and-white images, and web graphics, and a whole lot more!

Full-color figures and clear step-by-step instructions visually show you how to use Photoshop.

Notes, Tips, and Cautions provide related information, advice, and warnings.

Q&A sections, quizzes, and exercises help you build and test your knowledge.

Learn how to…

  • Master Photoshop CS4’s new tabbed interface, Application Frame, and Application Bar

  • Personalize your workspace to work more efficiently

  • Repair and retouch black-and-white and color images, no matter what condition they’re in

  • Make “spot fixes” with Photoshop CS4’s improved toning tools

  • Achieve powerful artistry with Photoshop’s filters and effects

  • Master digital painting with Photoshop’s paintbrushes and other tools

  • Get your colors right, in both print and web applications

  • Transform your images using tools ranging from Flip and Warp to Liquify

  • Master professional-level features including layers, channels, and masks

  • Create outstanding typographic special effects

  • Prepare great web images for everything from online photo galleries to cellphones

  • Save time and get better results with Photoshop CS4’s latest enhancements

    • Kate Binder is a design and graphics expert who works from her home in New Hampshire. She has written articles on graphics, publishing, and photography for magazines including Shutterbug, Publish, eDigitalPhoto, PEI, and Desktop Publishers Journal. Kate is also the author of several books, including iMac Portable Genius, Sams Teach Yourself Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 in 24 Hours, Easy Mac OS X Leopard, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Mac OS X, and Easy Adobe Photoshop 7.

    Category:  Graphics

    Covers:  Adobe® Photoshop® CS4

    User Level:  Beginning—Intermediate

    Table of contents

    1. Copyright
      1. Dedication
    2. About the Author
    3. Acknowledgments
    4. We Want to Hear from You!
    5. Reader Services
    6. Introduction
      1. Downloading the Book’s Source Images
      2. Conventions Used in This Book
    7. I. Getting Started
      1. 1. Exploring Photoshop Basics
        1. Finding Your Way Around
          1. The Workspace
            1. The Application Frame and Application Bar
            2. Tabbed Windows
            3. Workspace Presets
              1. Let Me Count the Ways
          2. The Tools Panel
            1. Selection Tools
            2. Painting Tools
            3. Path, Type, and Shape Tools
            4. Viewing Tools
            5. Tool Shortcuts
            6. The Tool Options Bar
            7. Tool Presets
        2. What’s on the Menus?
          1. The File and Edit Menus
          2. The Image Menu
          3. The Layer Menu
          4. The Select Menu
          5. The Filter Menu
          6. The View Menu
          7. The Window Menu
          8. The Help Menu
        3. Setting Preferences
        4. Summary
        5. Q&A
        6. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercises
      2. 2. Opening and Saving Files
        1. Working with Files
          1. Opening Files
          2. Browsing for Images
          3. Creating and Using Metadata
          4. Importing a File
            1. Importing from Digital Cameras
            2. Scanning Pictures
            3. Importing Video Images
          5. Starting a New Image
            1. Image Size
            2. Resolution
            3. Color Mode and Background Contents
            4. The New File
        2. Saving Your Work
          1. Choosing a Format
            1. Making Your Files Smaller
          2. Backup Strategies
        3. Undoing and Redoing
        4. Using Version Cue
        5. Summary
        6. Q&A
        7. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercises
      3. 3. Making Selections
        1. The Selection Tools
          1. Rectangular and Elliptical Marquees
          2. The Lasso Tool
          3. The Polygonal Lasso Tool
          4. The Magnetic Lasso Tool
          5. The Quick Selection Tool
          6. Magic Wand
        2. The Select Menu
          1. Modifying Selections
          2. Refining Selections
        3. Selecting Large Areas
        4. Advanced Selection Techniques
          1. Selecting by Color
          2. Transforming Selections
          3. Saving, Loading, and Combining Selections
        5. Cutting and Copying
        6. Cropping
        7. Summary
        8. Q&A
        9. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
      4. 4. Specifying Color Modes and Color Models
        1. Color Models
          1. RGB
          2. CMYK
          3. HSB
          4. CIE Lab
        2. From Models to Modes
          1. Bitmap and Grayscale
          2. RGB
          3. CMYK
          4. Indexed Color
          5. Converting Between Modes
        3. Color Bit Depth and Why It Matters
          1. 8-Bit Color
          2. 16-Bit Color
        4. Summary
        5. Q&A
        6. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
      5. 5. Adjusting Brightness and Color
        1. Evaluating Your Color Adjustment Needs
        2. Adjusting by Eye with Variations
          1. Adjusting Shadows, Midtones, Highlights, and Saturation
          2. Saving and Loading Corrections
        3. Making Other Adjustments
          1. Consulting the Histogram
          2. Adjusting Levels
          3. Adjusting Curves
          4. Adjusting Color Balance
          5. Adjusting Hue and Saturation
          6. Adjusting Vibrance
          7. Adjusting Brightness and Contrast
          8. Correcting Shadows and Highlights
          9. Applying Photo Filters
          10. What Else Is on the Menu?
        4. Preserving the Original with Adjustment Layers
        5. Understanding Color Channels
        6. Making Spot Fixes
          1. The Toning Tools
            1. Dodge and Burn Tools
            2. Sponging
          2. The Color Replacement Tool
          3. Red Eye Tool
        7. Converting Color to Black and White
        8. Summary
        9. Q&A
        10. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
      6. 6. Choosing and Blending Colors
        1. Foreground and Background Colors
        2. Specifying Colors
          1. The Color Picker
          2. The Color Panel
          3. The Swatches Panel
          4. The Eyedropper Tool
        3. Blending Modes
        4. Summary
        5. Q&A
        6. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercises
    8. II. Painting with Pixels
      1. 7. Drawing and Combining Shapes
        1. Drawing and Editing Shapes
          1. Choosing Paths or Pixels
          2. Setting Shape Options
          3. Applying Shape Styles
          4. About Fill Layers and Shape Layers
        2. Combining and Editing Shapes
          1. Combining Shapes
          2. Editing a Shape’s Outline
        3. Creating Your Own Shapes
        4. Summary
        5. Q&A
        6. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
      2. 8. Different Ways to Paint
        1. Making the Most of Brushes
          1. Choosing a Brush
          2. Brush Options
            1. Using the Wet Edges Setting
            2. Setting Brush Dynamics
            3. Making Other Settings
          3. Using the Brush
        2. Using Other Painting Tools
          1. The Airbrush
          2. The Smudge Tool
          3. The Eraser
          4. The Pencil
        3. Using the Focus Tools
          1. The Blur Tool
          2. The Sharpen Tool
        4. Summary
        5. Q&A
        6. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
      3. 9. Advanced Painting Techniques
        1. Simulating Different Media
          1. Watercolors
            1. Converting a Photograph to a Watercolor
            2. Watercolors from Scratch
          2. Oil Painting
            1. Underpainting
            2. Overpainting
          3. Pencils and Pens
          4. Chalk and Charcoal
            1. The Chalk & Charcoal Filter
            2. The Charcoal Filter
        2. Painting from Your History
          1. Using the History Brush
          2. Using the Art History Brush
        3. Using a Pressure-Sensitive Tablet
        4. Summary
        5. Q&A
        6. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
    9. III. Photoshop Power Tools
      1. 10. Using Transformations
        1. Resizing
          1. Resizing an Image
          2. Resizing a Canvas
          3. Resizing a Selected Area
          4. Content-Aware Resizing
        2. Rotating
          1. Rotate 180° and 90° Clockwise or Counterclockwise
          2. Rotate by Degrees
          3. Rotate a Selected Area
        3. Flipping
        4. Skewing, Distorting, and Changing Perspective
        5. Using Free Transform
        6. Warping and Liquifying
        7. Summary
        8. Q&A
        9. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
      2. 11. Creating Layered Images
        1. Using the Layers Panel
          1. Creating and Copying Layers
          2. Reordering Layers
          3. Hiding and Showing Layers
          4. Removing Layers
        2. Working with Multiple Layers
          1. Layer Opacity and Fill Opacity
          2. Layer Blending Modes
          3. Linking Layers
          4. Grouping Layers
          5. Merging Layers
          6. Using Layer Comps
          7. Applying Layer Styles
        3. Summary
        4. Q&A
        5. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
      3. 12. Using Masks
        1. Applying Masks
        2. Using Quick Mask
        3. Working with Layer Masks
          1. A Different Kind of Layer Mask
          2. Creating a Layer Mask
          3. Editing a Layer Mask
          4. Removing a Layer Mask
          5. Making Layer Masks Visible with Channels
        4. Summary
        5. Q&A
        6. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
      4. 13. Using Paths
        1. Creating Paths
          1. Paths via Selections
          2. Paths via the Path Tools
            1. Corner Points
            2. Smooth Points
            3. Previewing the Path
            4. Completing the Path
        2. Editing Paths
          1. The Path Tools
          2. Basic Path Techniques
        3. Using Paths
          1. Turning Paths into Selections
          2. Filling a Path
          3. Stroking a Path
          4. Using a Path to Clip an Image
        4. Summary
        5. Q&A
        6. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
    10. IV. Fantastic Filters
      1. 14. Getting Started with Filters
        1. Using the Filter Gallery
        2. Applying and Editing Smart Filters
          1. What’s a Smart Object, Anyway?
        3. Combining and Fading Filters
          1. Using Multiple Filters
          2. Fading Filters
        4. Summary
        5. Q&A
        6. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
      2. 15. Applying Filters to Improve Your Picture
        1. Sharpen Filters
          1. Sharpen and Sharpen More
          2. Sharpen Edges
          3. Unsharp Mask
          4. Smart Sharpen
        2. Blur Filters
          1. Blur and Blur More
          2. Gaussian Blur
          3. Smart Blur
          4. Surface Blur
          5. Radial Blur
          6. Motion Blur
          7. Lens Blur
          8. Average Blur
          9. Shape Blur
          10. Box Blur
        3. Noise Filters
          1. Add Noise
          2. Despeckle
          3. Dust & Scratches
          4. Median
          5. Reduce Noise
        4. Summary
        5. Q&A
        6. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
      3. 16. Applying Filters to Turn Your Picture into Art
        1. Artistic Filters
          1. Colored Pencil
          2. Cutout
          3. Dry Brush
          4. Film Grain
          5. Fresco
          6. Neon Glow
          7. Paint Daubs
          8. Palette Knife and Plastic Wrap
          9. Poster Edges
          10. Rough Pastels
          11. Smudge Stick
          12. Sponge
          13. Underpainting
          14. Watercolor
        2. Brush Strokes Filters
          1. Accented Edges
          2. Angled Strokes and Crosshatch
          3. Dark Strokes
          4. Ink Outlines
          5. Spatter
          6. Sprayed Strokes
          7. Sumi-e
        3. Sketch Filters
          1. Bas Relief
          2. Chalk & Charcoal
          3. Charcoal
          4. Chrome
          5. Conté Crayon
          6. Graphic Pen and Halftone Pattern
          7. Note Paper and Plaster
          8. Photocopy, Reticulation, Stamp, and Torn Edges
          9. Water Paper
        4. Summary
        5. Q&A
        6. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
      4. 17. Applying Funky Filters
        1. Distort Filters
          1. Diffuse Glow
          2. Displace
          3. Glass and Ocean Ripple
          4. Pinch, Spherize, and ZigZag
          5. Shear
          6. Twirl
        2. Pixelate Filters
          1. Color Halftone
          2. Crystallize
          3. Facet and Fragment
          4. Mezzotint
          5. Mosaic and Pointillize
        3. Stylize Filters
          1. Diffuse
          2. Emboss
          3. Extrude
          4. Find Edges, Glowing Edges, and Trace Contour
          5. Solarize
          6. Tiles
          7. Wind
        4. Summary
        5. Q&A
        6. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercises
    11. V. Using Text and Special Effects
      1. 18. Adding Type to Pictures
        1. Using the Type Tools
          1. The Character Panel
          2. The Paragraph Panel
        2. Setting Type
          1. Typesetting Principles
          2. Creating Type Layers
          3. Rasterizing Type
        3. Creating Special Effects with Type
          1. Creating Drop Shadows
          2. Cutting and Filling Type
          3. Adding Glows
          4. Creating Bevel and Emboss Effects
          5. Warping Text
          6. Setting Type on a Path
        4. Checking Your Spelling
        5. Summary
        6. Q&A
        7. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercises
      2. 19. Taking Advantage of a Few Useful Tricks
        1. Creating Special Effects
          1. Glows
          2. Lighting Effects
          3. Reflections
        2. Making Notes
        3. Printing Contact Sheets
        4. Summary
        5. Q&A
        6. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
    12. VI. Repairing and Enhancing Your Photos
      1. 20. Creating Composite Images
        1. Making One Picture from Two (or More)
          1. Creating Realistic Composites
          2. Replacing a Background
        2. Tricks to Make Compositing Easier
          1. Autoaligning and Autoblending Layers
          2. Making the Most of Smart Objects
          3. Using Guides
        3. Putting the Pieces Together with Photomerge
          1. Working with Photomerge
          2. Considerations When Shooting a Panorama
        4. Summary
        5. Q&A
        6. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
      2. 21. Repairing Black-and-White Photos
        1. Easy Fixes
          1. Using the Eyedropper
          2. Using the Clone Stamp
          3. Using the Healing Brush and Patch Tools
        2. Cleaning Up a Picture, Step by Step
        3. Applying Tints
          1. Duotones
          2. “Hand-Tinted” Photos
        4. Vignetting
        5. Summary
        6. Q&A
        7. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
      3. 22. Repairing Color Photos
        1. Color Retouching
          1. Fixing Red (and Green) Eye
          2. Using the Color Replacement Tool
            1. How Much Change Is Okay?
          3. Drag-and-Drop Repairs
        2. Editing a Picture’s Content
          1. Replacing Backgrounds
          2. Removing Objects
        3. Summary
        4. Q&A
        5. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
    13. VII. Publishing Your Pictures
      1. 23. Printing and Publishing Your Images
        1. Choosing a Printer
          1. Inkjet Printers
          2. Laser Printers
          3. Dye-Sublimation Printers
        2. Preparing the Image
          1. What’s Color Management?
          2. Working Spaces
          3. Color Management Policies
          4. Conversion Options
          5. Checking the Gamut
        3. Printing the Page
          1. Page Setup
          2. The Print Dialog
          3. Sending the Image to the Printer
        4. Picking the Paper
        5. Placing Photoshop Images in Other Programs
          1. Using Photoshop with PowerPoint
          2. Using Photoshop with a Word Processor or DTP Program
        6. Summary
        7. Q&A
        8. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercises
      2. 24. Going Online with Photoshop
        1. File Formats and File Size
          1. JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
          2. GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
          3. PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
        2. Web Tricks
          1. Preparing Backgrounds
          2. Building Animations
          3. Creating Slices
        3. Sharing Your Photos Online
          1. Making a Web Photo Gallery
          2. Emailing Your Pictures
        4. Creating Images for Phones and More
        5. Summary
        6. Q&A
        7. Workshop
          1. Quiz
          2. Answers
          3. Exercise
    14. Appendixes
      1. A. Photoshop CS4 Panel Quick Reference
        1. 3D Panel
        2. Actions Panel
        3. Adjustments Panel
        4. Animation Panel
        5. Brushes Panel
        6. Channels Panel
        7. Character Panel
        8. Clone Source Panel
        9. Color Panel
        10. Histogram Panel
        11. History Panel
        12. Info Panel
        13. Layer Comps Panel
        14. Layers Panel
        15. Masks Panel
        16. Measurement Log Panel
        17. Navigator Panel
        18. Notes Panel
        19. Paragraph Panel
        20. Paths Panel
        21. Styles Panel
        22. Swatches Panel
        23. Tool Presets Panel
      2. B. A Quick Walk on the Extended Side
        1. Working in 3D and Video
        2. Taking Measurements, Counting Objects, and Analyzing Data
        3. Exploring New Frontiers
    15. Inside Front Cover
    16. Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 Keyboard Shortcut Quick Reference

    Product information

    • Title: Sams Teach Yourself Adobe Photoshop CS4 in 24 Hours
    • Author(s): Kate Binder
    • Release date: November 2008
    • Publisher(s): Sams
    • ISBN: 9780768686869