So you’ve decided to teach yourself Photoshop? That is so exciting! Thank you for choosing Tuts+ as your place to learn. Photoshop is a fantastically powerful application that will allow you to manipulate images in just about any way you can think of. You can remove unwanted people or distractions from a photo, make color or exposure adjustments, restore damaged photos, create icons and interface elements, and much more.
While Photoshop might be fantastically powerful, it is also quite complex. It has been around for many years. Since then, Adobe has added quite a few features, some you will use every day, others, much less often.
Before you get started, it is important to understand how some of Photoshop’s basic tools work. In this article, we will explain several of these tools in detail. When you are finished, you will be ready to tackle most of the every day tasks that you will face in Photoshop. Let’s get started!
Contents
- Getting to Know Photoshop’s Interface
- Using Adobe Bridge
- Understanding Pixels, Image Size, and Resolution
- What Are Color Modes?
- How to Crop an Image
- How to Use Layers
- What is a Mask?
- How to Use Clipping Masks
- How to Make Selections
- How to Apply Layer Styles
- Using Blending Modes
- Understanding Adjustment Layers
- What Does a Histogram Tell Us?
- How to Use the Brush Tool
- Using the Clone Stamp Tool
- How to Use the Pen Tool
- Typing Text in Photoshop
- How to Save Your Work
- Ready for More?
Getting to Know Photoshop’s Interface
In this tutorial, we will teach you about Photoshop’s user interface as well as the customization of keyboard shortcuts, and workspace.
- See Also: Knowing Photoshop’s Interface.
Using Adobe Bridge
In this tutorial, we will teach you how to use Adobe Bridge to import images into one Photoshop document, process, preview, label, and keyword collections of images.
Understanding Pixels, Image Size, and Resolution
In this tutorial, we will explain the theory behind how pixel images work. We will also explain a bit about the crop tool, image size and resolution.
What Are Color Modes?
In this tutorial, we will explain the difference between RGB vs. CMYK, JPEG vs. RAW, as well as how to proof and manage colors.
How to Crop an Image
In this tutorial, we will share some great tips explaining how to use the new Crop Tool in Photoshop CS6.
How to Use Layers
In this tutorial, we will explain how to work with layers, opacity, free transform, groups, and layer styles.
What is a Mask?
In this tutorial, we will explain how to save selections as layer masks and refine them using the brush tool in Photoshop.
How to Use Clipping Masks
In this tutorial, we will explain clipping masks, the advantages of clipped adjustments, and how they compare to layer masks in Photoshop.
How to Make Selections
In this tutorial, we will explain the quick selection tool, the quick mask, and the pixel mask in Photoshop.
- See Also: How to Work With Selections More Efficiently.
How to Apply Layer Styles
In this tutorial we are going to learn some new things about Layer Styles that will save you a lot of time and make you work much more efficiently.
- See Also: Introduction to Photoshop Layer Styles.
Using Blending Modes
In this tutorial, we will explain how to get to grips with layer blend modes in Photoshop.
Understanding Adjustment Layers
In this tutorial, we will explain how to apply non-destructive tonal and color changes to images in Photoshop.
What Does a Histogram Tell Us?
In this tutorial, we will explain the Histogram panel in Photoshop, specifically the Shadow/Highlights and Levels adjustments.
How to Use the Brush Tool
In this tutorial, we will explain a little about brush diameter, hardness, opacity, the brush panel, how to save a custom brush, and work with a tablet in Photoshop.
Using the Clone Stamp Tool
In this tutorial, we will explain a little about retouching images and cloning non-destructively in Photoshop.
How to Use the Pen Tool
In this tutorial, we will explain shape layers, making selections, and stroking a path with the pen tool in Photoshop.
- See Also: Hidden Features of the Pen Tool.
Typing Text in Photoshop
In this tutorial, we will explain how to work with type layers, kerning, keyboard shortcuts, and more in Photoshop.
How to Save Your Work
In this tutorial, we will explain a bit about PSD, JPEG, PNG files, the web gallery, and contact sheet with Bridge.
Ready for More?
Now that you have learned about some of Photoshop’s most basic tools, you might be ready to learn some more advanced techniques. Below is a list of video tutorial series that you might be interested in.