Understanding Adobe Photoshop CS4: The Essential Techniques for Imaging Professionals

Understanding Adobe Photoshop CS4: The Essential Techniques for Imaging Professionals

by Richard Harrington
Released November 2008
Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
ISBN: 9780321618269

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

Photoshop is the foundation of every digital career. It is the most pervasive technology on the market. Many users think they know it, but in truth they have gaping holes. This book covers what a professional truly needs to know about Photoshop to be employable. For students (whether in formal programs, certified training centers, or self-paced) this book offers a chance to explore the many aspects of the program interactively.  The book cuts though the clutter and is unique in that it focuses not just on digital photography, but Internet, graphic design, multimedia, and video uses.

Readers will learn the basics in correcting, editing, sharpening, retouching, and presenting photos as well as work on specific projects/exercises, including: digital painting; preparing images for newsprint; designing a CD/DVD label, magazine cover, and advertisements; and building an electronic portfolio.

The full-color book includes a CD-ROM with hand-on exercises and practice images, access to a reader’s only Web site for bonus downloads and files, and access to the popular video tutorial Podcasts (150 at time of publication).

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
    1. Dedication
  2. Acknowledgments
  3. Richard Harrington, PMP, CEO RHED Pixel
  4. Introduction
    1. The Role of Photoshop in Education
    2. The Role of Photoshop in Professional Industries
    3. Purpose of This Book
    4. Suggestions on Learning
  5. Understanding Adobe Photoshop CD and Downloads
    1. CD
      1. Lesson files
      2. Interactive quizzes
    2. Web and Other Resources
      1. Video training and extra images
      2. Bonus exercises
      3. Raster | Vector resource blog
  6. 1. Digital Imaging Fundamentals
    1. Pixels: Digital Building Blocks
      1. In the Beginning...
      2. So What Are Megapixels?
    2. Understanding Resolution
      1. Dots Per Inch (dpi)
      2. Pixels Per Inch (ppi)
      3. Samples Per Inch (spi)
      4. Lines Per Inch (lpi)
    3. Image Mode
      1. RGB Color
      2. CMYK Color
      3. Grayscale
      4. Duotone
      5. Bitmap
      6. Indexed Color
      7. Lab Color
      8. Multichannel
    4. Bit Depth
    5. Time to Move On
  7. 2. Photoshop’s Interface
    1. Understanding the Interface
      1. Application Frame
      2. Tools
      3. Options
      4. Layers
      5. Channels
      6. Paths
      7. Adjustments
      8. Masks
      9. Color
      10. Swatches
      11. Styles
      12. Navigator
      13. Histogram
      14. Info
      15. History
      16. Actions
      17. Character
      18. Paragraph
  8. 3. Acquiring Digital Images
    1. Digital Cameras
      1. Digital Camera Technology
      2. Shooting JPEG vs. RAW
      3. Acquiring Images from a Digital Camera
    2. Scanners
      1. Choosing a Scanner
        1. Flatbed scanners
        2. Film/Slide scanners
        3. Drum scanners
      2. What Size to Scan? Think in Pixels
      3. Scanner Operation
    3. Importing from CD/DVD
    4. Stock Photo Services
    5. Public Domain Images
  9. 4. Sizing Digital Images
    1. Resolution Revisited
    2. Resampling
      1. Choose an Interpolation Method
      2. Setting the Default Method
    3. Resizing an Image
      1. Image Size
      2. Canvas Size
      3. Crop Tool
        1. Power crop
        2. Nondestructive cropping
        3. Perspective cropping
      4. Rotate Canvas Command
      5. Free Transform Command
      6. Using Smart Objects Before Transforming
  10. 5. Selection Tools and Techniques
    1. Basic Selection Tools
      1. Marquee Tools
        1. Putting the Marquees into action
        2. Selection options for Marquee tools
        3. Moving a selection
      2. Selection Lassos
        1. Putting the Lasso tools into action
        2. Selection options for Lasso tools
        3. Magnetic Lasso options
      3. Wand Tools
        1. Selection options for the Magic Wand tool
        2. Putting the Magic Wand into action
        3. Quick Selection tool
    2. Additional Selection Commands
    3. Intermediate Selection Techniques
      1. Color Range Command
      2. Quick Mask Mode
      3. Creating a Path with the Pen Tool
      4. Refine Edge Command
    4. Advanced Selection Techniques
      1. Using a Channel
      2. Calculations Command
    5. Advice on Selections
  11. 6. Painting and Drawing Tools
    1. Working with Color
      1. Adobe Color Picker
        1. Color Libraries
        2. Kuler
        3. Creating spot color channels
      2. Eyedropper Tool
      3. Color Panel
      4. Swatches Panel
    2. Painting Tools
      1. Brushes Panel
        1. Brush presets
        2. Brush Tip Shape
        3. Shape Dynamics
        4. Scattering
        5. Texture
        6. Dual Brush
        7. Color Dynamics
        8. Other Dynamics
        9. Other brush options
      2. Brush Tool
      3. Pencil Tool
      4. Color Replacement Tool
      5. History Brush Tool
      6. Art History Brush Tool
      7. Paint Bucket Tool
      8. Working with Gradients
        1. Gradient Editor
        2. Solid Editor
        3. Noise Editor
      9. Gradient Tool
    3. Eraser Tools
    4. Drawing Tools
      1. Choosing the Right Drawing Tool
      2. Loading Custom Shapes
      3. Drawing Shapes
  12. 7. Layer Masking
    1. Layer Mask Essentials
      1. Adding Layer Masks
      2. Disabling Layer Masks
      3. Deleting Layer Masks
      4. Using Vector Masks
    2. Mask Creation Strategies
      1. Using a Gradient as a Mask
      2. Using a Channel
      3. Using the Color Range Command
      4. Using Calculations
    3. Refining Masks
      1. Using the Masks Panel
      2. Maximum and Minimum
      3. Using Smudge and Blur
      4. Adjusting Content Within a Mask
    4. Advice on Masks
  13. 8. Compositing with Layers
    1. What Are Layers?
    2. Why You Need Layers
      1. Dissecting a Composite Image
      2. Creating Layers
      3. Duplicating Layers
      4. Deleting Layers
      5. Fill Layers
      6. Adjustment Layers
    3. Working with Multiple Layers
      1. Selecting Multiple Layers
      2. Linking Layers
      3. Aligning Layers
      4. Distributing Layers
      5. Grouping Layers
      6. Locking Layers
      7. Clipping Mask
      8. Merging Layers
      9. Flattening an Image
    4. Creating a Panorama
    5. Auto-Aligning Layers
  14. 9. Using Blending Modes
    1. About Blending Modes
      1. List of Blending Modes
      2. Blending Modes in Practice
    2. Blending Modes in Action
      1. Instant Spice
      2. Fixing a Shadowed Image
      3. Applying a Rubber Stamp
  15. 10. Color Correction and Enhancement
    1. Approach to Color Correction
    2. Primary Image Adjustments
      1. Levels
        1. Auto-Levels
        2. Color cast
        3. Manual adjustment
      2. Curves
      3. Hue/Saturation
        1. Recolor
        2. Tinting a photo
      4. Color Balance
    3. Useful Image Adjustments
      1. Match Color
      2. Black & White
      3. Gradient Map
      4. Photo Filter
      5. Shadows/Highlights
      6. Exposure
      7. Exposure for Raw Files
      8. Invert
      9. Equalize
    4. Not-so-useful Image Adjustments
      1. Brightness/Contrast
      2. Replace Color
      3. Selective Color
      4. Posterize
      5. Variations
  16. 11. Repairing and Improving Photos
    1. Image Selection
      1. Working with Modern Images
      2. Working with Historical Images
    2. The Retoucher’s Toolbox
      1. Clone Stamp Tool
      2. Healing Brush Tool
      3. Spot Healing Brush Tool
      4. Patch Tool
      5. Red Eye Tool
      6. Blur and Sharpen Tools
      7. Smudge Tool
      8. Dodge and Burn Tools
      9. Sponge Tool
    3. Restoration in Action
      1. Alignment
      2. Aspect Ratio
      3. Soft Focus
        1. Smart Sharpen
      4. Faded Historical Photos
      5. Blown-out Skies
      6. Remove Grain/Noise
      7. Adding Grain
      8. Adding Lens Blur
      9. Using Vanishing Point
  17. 12. Using the Type Tool
    1. Role of Type
    2. Choosing Fonts
      1. Serif vs. Sans Serif
      2. X-height, Ascenders, and Descenders
      3. Font Weight/Font Families
    3. Using Vector Type
      1. Type Tool
      2. Point Text vs. Paragraph Text
    4. Character Panel
      1. Font Family
      2. Font Style
      3. Font Size
      4. Leading
      5. Kerning
      6. Tracking
      7. Vertical Scale
      8. Horizontal Scale
      9. Baseline Shift
      10. Text Color
      11. Type Enhancement Buttons
      12. Language Selection Menu
      13. Anti-alias Menu
    5. Paragraph Panel
      1. Alignment/Justification Buttons
      2. Indent Fields
      3. Spacing Fields
      4. Enable Hyphenation
    6. Modifying Text
      1. Free Transform
      2. Text on a Path
      3. Warped Text
      4. Using Layer Styles
      5. Filters on Text
  18. 13. Layer Styles
    1. Adding a Layer Style
      1. Drop Shadow
      2. Inner Shadow
      3. Outer Glow and Inner Glow
      4. Bevel and Emboss
      5. Satin
      6. Color Overlay
      7. Gradient Overlay
      8. Pattern Overlay
      9. Stroke
    2. Working with Layer Styles
      1. Using Prebuilt Layer Styles
      2. Creating Your Own Layer Styles
      3. Saving Layer Styles
  19. 14. Maximizing Filters
    1. Filters Defined
    2. Preparing to Use Filters
      1. Fix Major Errors
      2. Set Your View
      3. Check the Color Mode
      4. Check the Bit Depth
    3. Understanding Filter Interfaces
      1. Using the Filter Gallery
      2. Using Smart Filters
    4. Getting the Best Results
      1. Better Define the Target Area
      2. Smooth the Edges
      3. Fade and Blend
    5. The Guide to Standard Filters
      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
        9. Plastic Wrap
        10. Poster Edges
        11. Rough Pastels
        12. Smudge Stick
        13. Sponge
        14. Underpainting
        15. Watercolor
      2. Blur Filters
        1. Average
        2. Blur and Blur More
        3. Box Blur
        4. Gaussian Blur
        5. Lens Blur
        6. Motion Blur
        7. Radial Blur
        8. Shape Blur
        9. Smart Blur
        10. Surface Blur
      3. Brush Stroke Filters
        1. Accented Edges
        2. Angled Strokes
        3. Crosshatch
        4. Dark Strokes
        5. Ink Outlines
        6. Spatter
        7. Sprayed Strokes
        8. Sumi-e
      4. Distort Filters
        1. Diffuse Glow
        2. Displace
        3. Glass
        4. Lens Correction
        5. Ocean Ripple
        6. Pinch
        7. Polar Coordinates
        8. Ripple
        9. Shear
        10. Spherize
        11. Twirl
        12. Wave
        13. ZigZag
      5. Noise Filters
        1. Add Noise
        2. Despeckle
        3. Dust & Scratches
        4. Median
        5. Reduce Noise
      6. Pixelate Filters
        1. Color Halftone
        2. Crystallize
        3. Facet
        4. Fragment
        5. Mezzotint
        6. Mosaic
        7. Pointillize
      7. Render Filters
        1. Clouds
        2. Difference Clouds
        3. Fibers
        4. Lens Flare
        5. Lighting Effects
      8. Sharpen Filters
        1. Sharpen and Sharpen More
        2. Sharpen Edges and Unsharp Mask
        3. Smart Sharpen
      9. Sketch Filters
        1. Bas Relief
        2. Chalk & Charcoal
        3. Charcoal
        4. Chrome
        5. Conté Crayon
        6. Graphic Pen
        7. Halftone Pattern
        8. Note Paper
        9. Photocopy
        10. Plaster
        11. Reticulation
        12. Stamp
        13. Torn Edges
        14. Water Paper
      10. Stylize Filters
        1. Diffuse
        2. Emboss
        3. Extrude
        4. Find Edges
        5. Glowing Edges
        6. Solarize
        7. Tiles
        8. Trace Contour
        9. Wind
      11. Texture Filters
        1. Craquelure
        2. Grain
        3. Mosaic Tiles
        4. Patchwork
        5. Stained Glass
        6. Texturizer
      12. Video Filters
        1. De-Interlace
        2. NTSC Colors
      13. Other Filters
        1. Custom
        2. High Pass
        3. Minimum and Maximum
        4. Offset
  20. 15. Actions and Automation
    1. Actions
      1. Meet the Actions Panel
      2. Working with Third-party Actions
      3. Creating Actions
      4. Saving Actions
    2. Automate Commands
      1. Batch
      2. Create Droplet
      3. Crop and Straighten Photos
      4. Conditional Mode Change
      5. Fit Image
      6. Photomerge
      7. Merge to HDR
    3. Scripts
      1. Image Processor
      2. Flatten All Layer Effects and All Masks
      3. Layer Comps to Files
      4. Export Layers to Files
      5. Script Events Manager
    4. Automation with Adobe Bridge
      1. Batch Renaming Files
      2. PDF Contact Sheet and Presentation Output
        1. Contact sheet
        2. Slide Show
      3. Web Gallery Output
  21. 16. Printing, PDF, and Specialized Output
    1. Professional Printing Options
      1. Color Separation
      2. Halftoning
      3. Quality of Detail
    2. Desktop Printing Options
      1. RGB vs CMYK
      2. Printing Paper
    3. Printing Commands
      1. Page Setup
      2. Print
      3. Print One Copy
    4. PDF Essentials
      1. Compression Options for Adobe PDF
        1. Compression
      2. Output
      3. Security
      4. Summary
    5. Specialized File Formats
      1. Photoshop (.psd)
      2. CompuServe GIF (.gif)
      3. Photoshop EPS (.eps)
      4. JPEG (.jpg)
      5. Large Document Format (.psb)
      6. Photoshop PDF (.pdf)
      7. PICT File (.pct)
      8. PNG (.png)
      9. Targa (.tga)
      10. TIFF (.tif)
      11. Adobe Digital Negative (.dng)
    6. Specialized Processes
      1. Save For Web & Devices
      2. Convert to CMYK
      3. Add an Alpha Channel
      4. Include a Clipping Path
    7. End of the Road
  22. Bonus Exercises
    1. Exercise #1
      1. Digital Painting
    2. Exercise #2
      1. Creating a Collage
    3. Exercise #3
      1. Designing Speaker Support
    4. Exercise #4
      1. Designing a Magazine Cover
    5. Exercise #5
      1. Preparing Images for the Internet
    6. Exercise #6
      1. Designing a CD/DVD Label
    7. Exercise #7
      1. Creating a DVD Menu
    8. Exercise #8
      1. Artistic Reinterpretations of a Photo
    9. Exercise #9
      1. CD/DVD Package
    10. Exercise #10
      1. Preparing Images for CMYK Printing

Product information

  • Title: Understanding Adobe Photoshop CS4: The Essential Techniques for Imaging Professionals
  • Author(s): Richard Harrington
  • Release date: November 2008
  • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
  • ISBN: 9780321618269