Adobe CS6: The Graphic Design Portfolio Project 4: Composite Movie Ad Compositing images and artwork Managing layers Creating complex selections Saving

Adobe CS6: The Graphic Design Portfolio

Project 4: Composite Movie Ad

Compositing images and artwork

Managing layers

Creating complex selections

Saving Photoshop files for print


Types of ImagesVector graphics:– Mathematically based

– Scaled without loss of quality

Raster images:– Pixel based

– Resolution determined when created/captured

Line art:– Special type of raster image

with only black and white pixels


ResolutionPixels per inch (PPI)– Number of pixels in a linear

inch

– Fixed when file is created/captured

Dots per inch (DPI)– Number of spots created by

an output device

Lines per inch (LPI)– Number of lines of dots

created in a halftone screen


Effective ResolutionFactor physical size with resolution– Resizing

– Resampling


Opening FilesFile>Open (Command/Control-O)

Double-click in Adobe Bridge

Double-click in Mini Bridge panel

Using any method:– Shift to select multiple contiguous files

– Command/Control to select multiple non-contiguous files


Document Rulers & GuidesView>Rulers

Change default units of measurement:– Units & Rulers preferences dialog box

– Either ruler’s contextual menu

Drag guides from either ruler

Create specific guides using View>New Guide


Crop toolOptions bar – Define size and resolution of cropped image before drawing the crop area

Front Image:– Use original file size as the height/width and resolution

Clear: – Draw a crop area without changing the size or resolution of the resulting

cropped image


Crop tool (cont’d)


Compositing LayersCopy & Paste = new layer

Drag from another window = new layer

File>Place = new Smart Object layer

Drag from Mini Bridge panel = new Smart Object layer


Move tool

Move the selected layer

Move selected contents on the active layer

Auto-Select option: – No need to first select target layer before

dragging

– The layer containing the pixel you click is moved


Layer BasicsDescriptive names– “Storm” is better than

“Layer 1”

– Only used internally; can be anything you want

– Grouping for easier management


Types of Layers

Background layer

Smart Object layer

Regular layer

Shape layer

Type layer

Adjustment layer


Transforming LayersEdit>Transform or Edit>Free Transform (Command/Control-T)

Drag transformation handles

Options bar = specific numeric transformation

Can’t be applied to the Background layer


Making SelectionsMarquee tools

Lasso tools

Magic Wand tool

Quick Selection tool

Select menu options


Marquee toolsClick and drag to select a basic-shape area

Rectangle, Oval, Single Row, or Single Column


Lasso toolsClick and drag to create

a freeform selectionPolygonal Lasso tool– Click to create points– Points automatically

connect to create a straight-edged selection

Magnetic Lasso tool– Click and drag near

edges to snap selection marquee to areas of high contrast in the image


Quick Mask ModeActivated at the bottom of the Tools panel

Semi-transparent overlay of the active selection

Lighter shades in the quick mask indicate partially selected pixels


Quick Selection toolClick and drag to “paint” a selectionArea expands to apparent edges in the image


Magic Wand toolClick to select areas within defined color toleranceContiguous limits the selection to areas that touch the spot where you clickSample All Layers bases selection on all layers in the file


Select Menu OptionsDeselectReselectInverseTransform Selection

Modify>– Border

– Smooth

– Expand

– Contract

– Feather


Select>Color RangeMake complex selections based on layer content

Click to define the color of the initial selection

Fuzziness increases the tolerance of the selection area (away from the original color selection)


Refine EdgeDialog box interface for fine-tuning edges of a selection area

Basically Combines several other techniques into a single interface

Define the type of output (selection, mask, layer, file)


Layer MasksNon-destructive – Enable or Disable

without affecting actual layer pixels

– No longer non-destructive once permanently Applied

Black areas hide underlying pixels

White areas reveal underlying pixels

Shades of gray partially reveal pixels to blend edges


File FormatsPSD – Native, work-in-progress format

– Placement in later versions of other apps

TIFF – Common for high-res file submission

– Supports layers

– No compression/data loss

JPEG – Common for low-res file transfer

– Doesn’t support layers

– Uses lossy data compression

Documents

Adobe CS6: The Graphic Design Portfolio Project 4: Composite Movie Ad Compositing images and artwork Managing layers Creating complex selections Saving