I know for sure that many people are fond of photography and retouching. Read the article below, which contains many useful retouching techniques, which will allow you to make candy from any photo. The article will be published in two parts, today - its first part
1) Natural light amplification
Sunlight creates texture. These are both areas of shadow, and those places where it can shine without interference. To somehow control the intensity of light in the picture, you can use this method:
Create a new layer, Ctrl + Shift + N and set it to Color Dodge Mode 15%. Now using a brush and an eyedropper (just pressing Alt) try adjusting the colors a little.
This way you can increase not only the light, but also the saturation of the color gamut, getting a more realistic result.
2) Infrared simulation
File - Browse In Bridge - and open our PC image - Open in Camera raw.
Edit the image of your choice by moving the sliders .. Then go to the HSL / Grayscale tab, and select “Convert to Grayscale”, and set the blue -85, green +90, yellow +20.
Now the sky is almost black, but the bushes are white. You can add a grainy effect - in the Effects tab set 15 for quantity, 20 for size and 80 for roundness. Also add vignette - -30 count, 40 midpoint and -35 roundness.
3) Levels
With the Levels adjustment, you can set black and white points to adjust the tints, but how do you determine where the darkest and lightest areas are?
To do this, go to New Adjustment Layer\u003e Threshold. Move the slider to the right until only a couple of white spots remain. These are the lightest spots. So, using the Color Sampler tool, place a marker there.
We do the same, moving the slider to the left - this way we get the darkest part.
Now let's find the neutral gray. Add a new blank layer between the Threshold adjustment layer and the photo layer and fill it with 50% gray. To do this, go to Edit\u003e Fill (Shift + F5), and select 50% Gray - select the Blending Mode Difference.
Select our Threshold again, and move the slider to the left to the end. Then - to the right, until small black dots begin to appear - these are intermediate tones. We put the third marker there.
Remove Threshold and 50% Gray. Create a new adjustment layer, “Levels”. First, top, pipette
click on the 1st marker (dark), and then further, respectively.
Done! We have reduced the number of shades.
4) Working with color
Go to the Layer menu, then New Adjustment Layer\u003e Hue / Saturation, set the blending mode to Soft Light, and check the Colorize checkbox.
Let's play with shades - for example, for cold shades we put
hue 210,
saturation 50
lightness 10
but for warm
hue 30
saturation 30
lightness 5
Alternatively, you can create an additional tint layer. Create a new layer, fill it with color, Blending Mode will be Vivid Light, and Opacity 12%. Now invert the mask of this layer, Ctrl + i (anyway, make it transparent). Now you can paint on it with a white brush, giving the desired places the desired shade.
Very useful when working with portraits and textures in the background.
5) Adjust the midtones contrasts.
To increase the amount of detail in landscape photography, you need to increase the contrast of the midtones.
Copy the background to a new layer, Filter\u003e Convert for Smart Filters. Then go to Filter\u003e Other\u003e High Pass with a 3px radius. Change the blending style to Overlay, and open the layer properties menu.
For the first gradient, This Layer, using Alt (breaking the arrows), set the values \u200b\u200b- from 50/100 to 150/200
Thus, we only increased the contrast in the middle tones. To change the High Pass value, simply click on it 2 times in the Layers panel.
6) Sunset
Sunset, especially at sea, is a very beautiful sight. You can imitate it. To do this, go to New Fill / Adjustment Layer-Gradient Map, and open the gradient panel. We expose this gradient, at the same time setting the Soft Light mode to 50%.
You see the result !:
7) creating a smile
Trace the area around the mouth with the Polygon Lasso tool. Then Select\u003e Modify\u003e Feather by 10px. Copy to a new layer with Ctrl + J and go to Edit\u003e Puppet Warp. You will get such a grid ..
The size of the grid can be controlled through the Expansion field in the top panel. Place points at the anchor points - those places that should not move. Imagine hanging a picture on the wall. Now put dots in those places that you will displace - and move them.
You can hide the grid by pressing Ctrl + H.
8) Illumination of drops
Falling drops are quite a picturesque sight, and it will not be superfluous to slightly correct them in color. Alternatively, use a gradient. Create a New Gradient Layer Style (# 772222 (RGB 119, 34, 34) to # 3333bb (RGB 51, 51, 187)):
9) Skin color
If the skin does not look perfect after retouching, then it may be due to its overall shade.
You can control it. To do this, create a new layer Adjustment Layer\u003e Hue / Saturation. Select the mask and make it transparent by inverting the color Ctrl + I.
Now paint over the mask with a white brush in the places where the skin is. Depending on the color scheme of the photo, we adjust the sliders - everything is very individual here. Our skin color should change, and nothing more.
10) Matching skin tones
Sunburn or blush can ruin the photo, especially if there are people with different skin tones nearby. But Photoshop has a tool to fix that: Match Color.
Let's imagine that there is a photo where 2 people are captured, and in one of them the skin is clearly cast red.
First select the red skin (for example, the Quick Selection Tool - W). Apply a 10-15px feather to the selection and copy it to a new layer.
Then select the non-red skin. And we do the same.
Activate the red skin layer and go to Image\u003e Adjustments\u003e Match Color. Use the sliders to adjust the tone to the desired result. The intensity of the effect can be adjusted through the Opacity of the layer)
11) lower the noise
Images with a lot of noise are annoying. One way to remove noise is through channels.
Copy the layer and go to the Channels panel - we want the channel with the least amount of noise. Copy it and go to Stylize\u003e Find Edges. Then apply a 3px Gaussian Blur.
Now click on the channel thumbnail holding Ctrl and turn on RGB mode back. Go back to the Layers panel and create a mask.
LK on the layer thumbnail, Filter\u003e Blur\u003e Surface Blur - then adjust the sliders to the most convenient option for us. The mask guarantees safety.
The essence of the method is that the darkest parts of the photo - the contours - remain unaffected by the mask, and we blur everything else.
12) Retro effect
Go to Layer\u003e New Adjustment Layer\u003e Curves. Switch to Red mode, and drag the slider a little down for shadows and a little up for highlights. The same goes for Green. But for Blue we do the opposite. The shadows will appear blue, and the highlights will turn yellowish.
Create a new layer and fill it with # 000066. Blending mode - "Exclusion." Now copy the photo's layer and set the Blending Mode to “Soft Light.”
Again, you can group the layers with the photo and play with transparency until you get the desired result.
13) defining layers
If you are working on some complex collage or template, you probably have an overabundance of layers with names like layer 47 / layer 3 copy 2, etc. To avoid confusion, Photoshop has several solutions.
For example, if you select the Move Tool and click on the PC layer, then a list of layers located behind the current layer will appear (although, admittedly, not a very convenient way - if there are a lot of layers and groups, it is difficult to find the one you need)
Or Move Tool + Ctrl + LK on a layer - the transition to the layer on which you clicked will be performed immediately.
If you press CTrl + LK on the layer's thumbnail, the entire contents of the layer will be selected.
If you click on the arrow in the upper right corner of the Layers panel and select Panel Options, then you can adjust the size of the thumbnails, as well as the style of displaying thumbnails - either displaying the layer relative to all content, or simply displaying the layer.
14) Save resources
If you use plugins, you've probably noticed how they slow down Photoshop loading times.
To avoid this, create a folder named, for example, Plugins_deactivated in the Adobe\u003e Adobe Photoshop CS5 directory (or whatever you have) - and move the extensions that you rarely use there. When you start Photoshop again, it will load faster, and the plugins can be returned to their folder as soon as you need them.
15) Sepia
Sepia is a classic of the genre) To enhance the sepia effect, go to Layer\u003e New Adjustment Layer\u003e Photo Filter, and select the Sepia filter with a density of 100%.
Now go to the layer properties and move the sliders for the first gradient. Use Alt to split them apart. This will give us a smooth transition between the corrected and unadjusted areas. Sepia now looks elegant.
16) Remove the binding
Probably, many are annoyed that sometimes objects do not stand where we want, but are attached to other objects. This, of course, is good and convenient, but sometimes it is not necessary. To release the anchor, simply hold down Ctrl while dragging the object.
17) Many shadows from one object
Sometimes you need to create from one object, for example, 3 shadows. It is quite possible to do this. First, cast one shadow. We click the PC on the fn icon - and in the list that appears, select “Convert to Smart Object” - our object and shadow are now one whole. Now we can cast a shadow from it and convert it back to Smart Object.
Plus, as I already wrote in the post "10 useful Photoshop tricks", you can convert the shadow to a new layer, again by clicking on the PC on fn - and choosing Create Layer. So you can create an infinite number of shadows, and apply to each separate effects.
That's all! This was the first part of the post! Thanks for reading! I hope this material was useful to you) In order not to miss the second part, as well as receive all other blog materials on time, you can subscribe to or
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Any processing of a photo can be compared to the development of a film - without this, you will not be able to get an impressive result. In the simplest case, the camera is editing the frame. We don't even notice it. But in-camera algorithms don't always work perfectly. Firstly, the capabilities of the camera are limited (the processor is not as powerful there as in the computer). Secondly, automation cannot accurately predict your creative ideas, therefore, it will produce an average result.
By the way, the author's ideas are not always embodied even in ideal conditions for shooting. For example, when photographing in low light, we often get “noisy” shots. What if the camera can't handle the noise on its own? In this situation, you should resort to post-processing in a photo editor.
In this article, we will explain how to remove noise from an image. This is one of the first operations with which photo retouching begins. We will be working in Photoshop CC. All screenshots were taken in the MacOS operating system, but in Windows the windows and settings dialogs look the same.
There are several ways to remove noise in Adobe Photoshop, we will consider two of the simplest ones.
We recommend that you duplicate the original layer and perform all operations with noise on the copy of the layer. If the correction turns out to be very strong, you can always reduce the opacity of the layer or add a mask to it to remove the effect from certain areas of the image.
To duplicate a layer, use the keyboard shortcut Command + J or select the menu item Layer → Duplicate Layer / "Duplicate layer".
Removing noise in a RAW converter
You should start working with noise at the stage of RAW conversion. This is what will allow you to get the highest quality image without loss of detail. By the way, sometimes it is better to leave a little noise, but retain the details in the image, than to get a "clean" but blurry and undefined picture.
But even if you are processing an already converted image or one shot in JPEG format, you can use the Adobe Camera Raw module to convert, it works great on any images.
To launch Camera Raw, either open the RAW file in Photoshop or use the menu item Filter / "Filter" → Camera Raw Filter / "Camera Raw Filter".
In Adobe Camera Raw, noise reduction controls are located on the Detail / "Detail".
The noise is usually divided into two components: color (Color) and luminance (Luminance). The color component is visually expressed in the form of multi-colored grains and is quite easy to remove. The luminance component is the grain. And here, when adjusting, the main thing is to find a balance between the moment when the noise interferes with the perception of the image, and the moment when the photo becomes "plastic" due to excessive blurring of details in the process of dealing with noise.
It is often sufficient to remove only color noise. Luminance is left because it looks more like a film grain and does not interfere with the perception of the image so much. Work with noise removal should be carried out at 100% magnification of the image and select the values \u200b\u200bof all parameters based on the structure and size of the photo.
Let's now figure out the parameters that can be affected when removing noise in Adobe Camera Raw.
Color noise:
Color / "Color" - the force of the tool. The higher the value, the stronger the effect on the color component. 0 - the degree of influence is 0, the parameter is not applied.
Color Detail retains color details in border areas. High values \u200b\u200bprotect subtle, detailed color gradients, but can cause discoloration. Lower values \u200b\u200ballow for better noise reduction, but may cause color loss. Anything outside this radius will be perceived as noise and gag.
Smoothness / "Color smoothness" helps fight remaining color artifacts. Raise the values \u200b\u200bif the color spots do not go away.
Luminance Noise (default off):
Luminance / "Luminance" - force of impact.
Luminance Detail - everything outside this radius will be perceived as noise and choke. The lower the value, the greater the loss of detail and the softer the image becomes, but more noise is removed. Increasing the value of this parameter retains more detail, but also more noise.
Contrast / "Contrast of brightness" - adding local contrast at the border areas while preserving details. As you increase the values, the noise will return, but the image will become more contrasting.
All these and many other techniques of image retouching are discussed in detail and described in the course at Fotoshkola.net.
Here are 100% fragments of frames at various stages of noise removal:
Remove noise with the Reduce Noise filter
The second way to remove noise is to use a filter Reduce Noise: Filter / "Filter" → Noise / "Noise" → Reduce Noise.
Let's take a photo shot at ISO 12800 with a lot of noise.
This filter has two modes of operation: Basic / "Basic" and Advanced / "Advanced"... And any set of parameters can be saved as a preset by clicking on the icon in the header of the parameter block. Then the adjusted settings can be used for all pictures in a series or for all pictures taken at the same ISO value.
The following parameters are available for adjustment here.
From the series "Pfff, I knew that for a long time!"
In fact, these are rather useful tools and techniques that help in working on projects in CG, identity and the web that you might not know about.
Let's start with some useful tricks in Photoshop, and let's go!
1 - Content-aware fill
Edit\u003e Fill or Shift + Backspace
A convenient tool for removing objects from the image, taking into account the content, just select the object with the lasso, click Shift + Backspace and OK.
2 - Blending Options
fx\u003e Blending Options
It happens that the usual blending modes are not suitable for the task, in which case you can use the sliders in the layer blending properties to help you. Hold down the key Alt pull the triangles depending on what you want to get.
3 - Defringe
Layer\u003e Matting\u003e Defringe
Image edge processing tool. A simple trick to get rid of light or dark edges in a layer. This command recolours the pixels on the border of the selection to match the color of pixels located at a certain distance within the area to help fit the object better.
4 - Rubber Band
Top control panel\u003e Rubber Band
Surely many do not know that there is such a checkbox in the pentule settings, try it, you will like it :)
5 - Normal noise
Filter\u003e Camera RAW Filter or Shift + Cmd (Ctrl) + A
The standard noise filter is often not suitable for compositing, it is too digital and has no settings, so it is better to use Grain in Camera RAW Filter, the settings of which allow you to change the grain size and its sharpness. This often helps in final post-production to give the image an optical naturalness.
6 - Nik Collection by Google
An excellent plug-in for Photoshop with various effects and presets, there is point editing. It's not without trash, of course, but there are also some good tools. For example, in Analog efex pro there is a section Classic Camera, where you can simulate the optical distortion of the camera, there is a fairly correct Boke effect, blur at the corners and other tools that will help make the picture more realistic and lively. And in Color Efex Pro there are convenient tools for increasing the contrast and detail of images (Tonal Contrast, Pro Contrast, Detail Extractor).
7 - Chromatic aberration
Filter\u003e Lens Correction or Shift + Cmd (Ctrl) + R
If it is customary to remove chromatic aberrations in the photo, then when composing, especially scenes using 3D, these distortions, on the contrary, make the picture more natural, reviving raw renders. Just keep yourself in control, do not abuse it :)
8 - View a specific layer
Alt + left mouse button while on a layer
Sometimes you need to look at the original of a particular layer, so as not to copy it on top of all layers, just hover over the eye icon next to the layer and hold down the key Alt click on left mouse button, pressing it again returns to its original state.
9 - Crop taking into account the content
Crop Tool\u003e Top Control Panel\u003e Content-Aware
Starting with the version of Photoshop CC (2015.5), it became possible to crop taking into account the content, for this click c key and check the box Content-Aware in the top control panel. By the way, in the same panel there is a wonderful tool Straighten, which helps to align the horizon, just draw a line along the object and the algorithm will do everything.
10 - Fast export of layers
Right mouse button on selected layers\u003e Export As ...
To save several layers at once into separate files, simply highlight them and clicking right mouse button, select Export As... and in the window that appears, you can change the size, select the required format and
Keyboard shortcuts for manipulating layers.
Note: the "Cmd" key is used for Mac computers, for PC computers this key is replaced by (Ctrl).
Creation of a new layer.
Usually, when working in a program, you need to quickly add new layers.
You can save time by using the following keys:
New layer with dialog box (Ctrl + Shift + N);
New layer without dialog (Ctrl + Shift + Alt + N).
Zoom in and out:
Zooming in and out is a necessary step when creating a monoblock with a lot of detail or when working on a large printed sheet.
Zoom in (Ctrl + \u003d);
Zoom out (Ctrl + -).
Another useful trick for resizing the canvas to the size of the monitor's working window: fit to window (Ctrl + 0).
Merging layers.
This keyboard shortcut allows you to combine two or more layers into one and reduce the size of the document or the number of layers in your work.
Merging layers (Ctrl + E).
Grouping layers.
Sometimes you need to combine certain layers into a group to organize your work. To do this, first select the layers we need in the layers palette. (Ctrl + click on the layer data thumbnails), then click (Ctrl + G).
Create a new layer with all layers visible.
This trick can be a great find for many reasons. You can experiment with flattening a file without actually flattening it. This is often used in the final process to sharpen the entire image or when adding other final adjustments. To create a new layer with all visible work layers, click: (Ctrl + Shift + Alt + E) (Print visible).
Using activities to personalize your workflow.
One of the useful features of Photoshop is the Operations panel. (Actions)... What are these operations? Why repeat an infinite number of steps for any similar action, if all this can be simply recorded, like on a tape recorder, and activated with one click of the mouse or a keyboard shortcut?
What it looks like.
Let's take a look at the palette of operations in Photoshop. Open it through the Windows-Actions menu (Window-Operations)... Then, load the operations "Production" (click on the arrow on the right in the operations dialog and select Production from the menu)... There are many simple steps in this collection. Let's consider in detail the operations of this function.
For example, notice the first action in the set: Canvas 150 .. (Letter Canvas 150)... Create an 8.5 x 11 inch document (inch) US paper size you probably do often. But such a blank in the operations menu will greatly speed up the creative process. Activate this line of operation and press the Start button (Play) at the bottom of the operations bar. The required file has been created.
Create your own operations.
This is very easy to do. At the bottom of the operations panel, click the new operation icon. When you create a new activity, the record button is activated at the bottom of the panel (Record)... Now Photoshop will record your every action until you stop this process with the Stop key (Stop).
For example: you want to convert your document to 800x500px, then add a logo watermark and save the file as JPG for the Web (Internet)... All these operations can be recorded sequentially and then used at the touch of a button.
Did you know?
Did you know that the operations palette (Palette Actions) can be thought of as buttons? To do this, click on the arrow on the right in the operations dialog box and select the first item from the menu - Present as buttons (Button Mode)... Now you can start actions by clicking on the corresponding button.
Simultaneous batch processing of 500+ files.
Batch processing is an extremely powerful tool. Imagine that you have 500 images that need to be reduced to 100x200 px, converted to black and white images, and saved in Gif format.
We just learned that you can create an operation and execute it with the click of a button. Given the size of this task, we need to open 500 images and press the action button 500 times?
Wrong! To do this, we will use batch processing (Batch Processing)to open all the images one by one, perform the desired actions, and save each file. What can take hours of your work, Photoshop will do in a few minutes. Let's explore the possibilities of batch processing through the File | Automate | Batch (File-Automation-Batch Processing).
Did you know?
You can use batch processing to save a copy of your files to a new directory while leaving the original files intact. Just specify the output folder (Destination) in the batch dialog box.
Using the parameter sets function (Tool Presets) to save your best brushes.
If you've taken the time to create specific brush presets, why not save those presets as a preset? For example, you took the time to customize the splatter brush from the watercolor set. Instead of re-adjusting this brush every time, open the palette of presets for brushes through the menu Window - Tool Presets (Window-Parameter Sets) and click the new set icon (looks like a new layer icon) at the bottom of the palette.
If you already have a set of brushes, then you can save them for later use. To do this, click the arrow on the right in the parameter sets dialog box and select from the menu - Save Tool Presets (Save parameter set).
Several sets of tools are already presented in Photoshop. Just choose a brush (Brush) and in the top menu view these sets by opening their panel.
Keyboard shortcuts for processing the canvas.
Several cancellations.
Typically, most Adobe software packages combine (Ctrl + Z) makes multiple undo actions. In Photoshop, the same combination cancels only one action, and if a repetition is needed, pressing is done again.
For multiple undo (Ctrl + Alt + Z).
Moving from one document to another.
This is a handy technique that allows you to work with multiple files at the same time in Photoshop. Switch between documents (Ctrl + Tab).
Moving (Move tool).
Very easy to remember. When working on a large canvas or moving the work in a larger version, the Move tool makes a big difference.
Hold down the spacebar and freely move the document in the working window, or switch to the Hand tool (H).
Show or hide rulers and guides (Show / Hide Rulers and Guides).
With rulers and guides, you can accurately position objects on the canvas. But sometimes you need to turn them off to view your work without these distractions.
Switching rulers (Ctrl + R);
Toggle guides (Ctrl +;).
Rotate view.
If you are working on a tablet, you will need to rotate the document 45 degrees for a more realistic view. Rotation is carried out with the R key.
History palette (History) for quick experimentation.
If you are a designer like me, then you are probably familiar with experimentation. For example, your project is nearing completion and you want to try a few filters or tweaks to see how the project will look. But if you are not happy with the result, you need to return to the previous state of work.
Before experimenting, click on the camera icon at the bottom of the History panel. This creates a snapshot of the current state of the document in the history palette. You can create multiple snapshots to compare different experiments.
Did you know?
Snapshots are not saved with the document. They only work while you are working on a document, so be sure to save your work as you want before closing it.
Create seamless textures with Patterns (Patterns).
An often overlooked feature of creating seamless textures in Photoshop. You can do powerful things using this feature. For example, you might want to create a grunge-style background that grows larger as your document expands.
We will do this using the technique of creating seamless patterns.
Creation and definition of patterns.
Not all textures are seamless, so you'll have to be creative to achieve a single canvas effect. The best way in Photoshop to create a seamless texture is with the "Shift" filter. (Filter | Other | Offset)... Let's say your canvas is 500x500 px, so you need to shift it vertically and horizontally by 250 px, i.e. half.
After clicking the OK button, you need to remove the shift boundaries. For this purpose, we use the tools Stamp (Clone Stamp [S]) or Healing Brush (Healing Brush [J]).
To define the texture, go to the Edit | Define pattern (Edit-Define Pattern) and give a name to our pattern. This pattern will be available when you activate the Fill tool (Paint Bucket tool) in pattern mode (Pattern) or when creating a fill layer (Layer-New Fill Layer-Pattern ..).
Create your own brushes.
Creating your own brush sets is a favorite way to customize your workflow. You can do incredible things with just one brush stroke.
There are very few restrictions on how to create brushes. The only thing you should keep in mind is the brush size. It should not exceed 2500x2500 px with a black and white result. I usually create a grayscale document (grayscale mode) with the maximum size for a brush.
We scan the object and photograph it as a print material for the brush.
By loading the image into Photoshop in grayscale mode (Grayscale), define it as a brush using the Edit | Define Brush Preset (Editing-Define Brush)... Assign a name to our brush and click OK. Now your brush is in the set of brushes of the program and you can see it at the very end of the brushes palette by activating the Brush tool (Brush) and opening this palette.
Creating custom brushes is fun. Experiment with your image options and create your own brush style.
Custom vector shapes.
Custom shapes are a very handy tool in Photoshop, but some of them are hidden in the program. To find what we need, activate the Freehand Shape tool (Custom Shapes), it is in the same group with vector tools, press the other mouse buttons on the "Rectangle" tool icon (Rectangle Tool) and select the "Arbitrary Shape" tool from the context menu (Custom Shape).
In the top menu, open the shape palette (Shape), then, to see all the shapes in the program, click the arrow on the right in the palette dialog box and open the drop-down menu of shape sets. We select the one we need and press either the Add button (Apply), or Ok (in case of replacement of previous figures)... In our example, all shapes are loaded.
You can also create your own custom shapes from vector files. Create an outline of any shape in Illustrator with the Pen tool (Pen tool), then transfer the shape from Illustrator to Photoshop (Ctrl + click on the shape outline in Illustrator, then Ctrl + C (copy)) and insert (Ctrl + V) like outline (Path)... Define the path as a vector shape via the Edit - Define Custom Shape from menu (Editing-Define an arbitrary shape) and give the shape a name, click OK. Your shape is now in the program's shapeset at the very end. Open up and see for yourself.
Keyboard shortcuts for brushes and tools.
Default colors or color change:
Default colors ("D");
Switching foreground and background colors ("X").
Tools Brush (Brush) and eraser (Eraser tool):
Brush ("B");
Eraser ("E").
It is very convenient to change the size of the brush or eraser with the square brackets keys while working.
Increase brush size (]) ;
Reducing size ([) .
Using a clipping mask (Clipping Mask) to show / hide the layer.
I'm sure a tool like clipping mask (Clipping Mask) is a powerful tool for non-destructive and flexible design.
To create a clipping mask you need two layers: the bottom layer (or the visible part of it), according to the shape of which the mask will be created and the upper one, which is the mask itself and will correspond to the shape of the underlying layer. A clipping mask can affect multiple layers.
In the example below, the top layer of the grunge texture will serve as the clipping mask, and the text layer below it will serve as the base for the mask. This means that when creating a clipping mask, the texture will be placed inside the letters of the text and will correspond to their shape, as shown by the down arrow on the mask thumbnail.
To create a clipping mask on a texture layer (our example), press the pr. mouse buttons on the thumbnail of this layer and select from the context menu - Create Clipping Mask (Create Clipping Mask)... You can remove the clipping mask by clicking the other mouse buttons on the thumbnail of the layer with the mask and choosing from the menu - Release Clipping Mask.
This is a good practice as the interacting layers remain virtually intact and can be edited at any time as you see fit.
Did you know?
You can always add layer styles to a layer with a clipping mask (Layer Style) for additional design. Try shadows and strokes!
Scaling while maintaining proportions.
Scaling is such a commonly used tool in Photoshop that you rarely think about it. There are several techniques for maintaining the proportions of your artwork or the ratio of width to height.
I often see photos that are incorrectly scaled and, as a result, noticeable distortion of proportions in the form of stretched vertically or horizontally objects.
When resizing an object (Ctrl + T or Edit-Transform) be sure to hold down the Shift key to maintain the proportions of the image.
An alternative method is to introduce height and width parameters in the top menu when scaling (Ctrl + T).
If, after entering the width values, you click the paperclip icon next to the field, the height value will change automatically according to the width value, i.e. proportions will remain.
Using smart objects and filters for non-destructive design.
This new feature has been around since Photoshop CS4. It allows you to keep the layers intact and at the same time add some effects to the image and even replace the content of the layers!
Yes, you can replace the Smart Object with something completely new and the change effects will remain separate from the processed layer.
How it works.
Let's try to practice with an example. We have an image that we need to convert to a smart object first (click on the thumbnail of this layer and select Convert to Smart Object from the menu).
Now, apply the "Gaussian Blur" filter to the smart object. (Filter | Blur | Gaussian Blur)... Have you noticed that the filter is applied as a smart filter (Smart Filter)... This means that the filter is applied as a mask and you can paint on this mask by adding something or removing unnecessary filter elements. Very comfortably!
But wait, that's not all! You can always replace one smart object with another as you wish, without canceling your existing smart filters.
To do this, click the other mouse buttons on the thumbnail of the smart object and select from the menu - Replace content (Replace Contents)... Select the image you need and press the Place key (Place).
To edit the smart object itself, double-click the mouse button on its icon in the layers palette and edit it in a new document.
This is an incredible tool for avoiding destructive effects on the image.
Layer Compositions with Layer Comps.
Layer compositing is an easy way to maintain multiple layouts in one file. This method is much more convenient than managing multiple files in one composition.
To apply this function, open the Layer Comps panel (Layer Composition) via the menu Window-Layers Composition (Window-Layer Comps).
After a certain layer structure has already been formed in your document, you can write it down in the program's memory by clicking the new composition icon at the bottom of the panel (New Layer Comp)... Now continue editing freely. At this point, you can update the current layer or create a new composition.
Once you get used to using Layer Comps, you can't work without it.
Masking in Quick Mask Mode (Quick Mask).
One of the tedious tasks in Photoshop is selecting objects. Selection can be very easy using the Quick mask mode (Quick Mask).
To select an object, first enter the quick mask mode by clicking its icon at the very bottom of the toolbar, and start painting over the selection area we need. Having painted over, exit the quick mask mode by clicking on its icon again, and we get an object selection.
Did you know?
In quick mask mode, you can adjust the size and hardness of the brush. Try adjusting the softness of the brush to highlight areas of the image that are out of focus.
Quick masking with the Quick selection tool (Quick Selection).
If you want to make a selection of an object even faster than in the previous example, then use the Quick Selection tool (Quick Selection).
This tool highlights similar colors as if you were painting the selected object on a canvas.
How to refine the edges of your selection.
Now that you've made your selection, you’ll ask yourself, "What about jagged lines and a hard selection edge?" The Refine Edge function will help us to make the selection neat. (Select | Refine Edge)... A dialog box with refinement functions opens.
The main advantage of this method is full control over changes and the ability to see the process in real time.
Fine-tuning your selection has never been easier and easier.
Did you know?
You can bring your selection to a new masked layer following the principle of non-destructive design! At the bottom of the dialog box, select the "Output to" section (Output To) and in the drop-down menu select "New layer with layer mask" (New Layer with Layer Mask).
Using the Background Eraser tool (Background Eraser Tool) to quickly remove the background color.
It would be nice to erase only the background without affecting the foreground image. This is possible with the Background Eraser tool (Background Eraser Tool)... It's in the Eraser toolset. (Eraser tool).
The top panel has three options for how the tool works:
Sample continuously (Sampling Continuous): Erases colors where you swipe the instrument.
Sample once (Sampling Once): erases the colors you selected (before deleting, specify this color by holding Alt and clicking on it).
Sample sample background (Sample Background Swatch): erases the color set as the background swatch. This is my favorite use of the tool.
Did you know?
You can set the foreground color that you do not want to remove from the image. In the top menu, activate the checkbox "Primary color" (Protect Foreground Color) and your chosen shade will not be removed.
Keyboard shortcut for handling selection.
Add / remove from selection area.
After you have made a selection, it may be necessary to delete or add an additional selection to this area, not starting from scratch.
Activating the Quick Selection tool (Quick Selection), then to add a selection, press Shift + click the mouse button while dragging the cursor. In case of deletion from the selection, press Alt + click of the mouse button with dragging the cursor.
Limiting selection.
With the selection tool (Marquee tool) you can create an even circle or square. Hold Shift and drag the cursor in any direction.
Making a selection from the center.
Instead of selecting from the edge of the shape, try creating a selection from the center. Hold Alt and drag the cursor.
To draw from the center of the square and circle, press Alt + Shift + drag the cursor.
Preserve color schemes using the Swatches panel (Swatches).
So, you've created a logo and color palette to use branding materials for a specific client, and you should be able to access these diagrams across multiple documents. Why not save this color scheme as a swatch set in the Color Picker panel (Swatches Palette)... It's pretty easy.
Open the palette via the Window-Swatches menu (Window-Swatches) and to create a new color swatch, click the new swatch icon at the bottom of the panel (looks like a new layer icon)... The foreground color will be taken as a sample of your color. If you need to save the swatches for later use, click the arrow in the upper right corner of the palette dialog box and select Save Swatches from the menu.
Non-destructive editing using adjustment layers.
Adjustment layers are another example of non-destructive design, leaving the original image completely intact.
You can add adjustment layers using the icon at the bottom of the layers palette.
A menu with corrections appears. For example, let's use a Levels adjustment layer. (Levels).
A new layer appeared above all the previous ones and the setting for this adjustment opens. This is where you make the adjustments necessary for the layer to which this adjustment is added.
One more detail. An adjustment layer has a mask on which you can edit your adjustment with a brush (Brush).
Save your layer styles for use in other documents.
If you are a designer, then you often come across with creating buttons in Photoshop. The appearance of buttons assumes styles such as gradient overlay (gradient overlay), stroke (stroke), thin shadow (drop shadow) or external glow (outer glow).
It will take a lot of clicks and time to create each button, especially in multiple documents. You can save your layer styles in the styles palette (Styles Palette) for future use.
After adding layer styles to the image, press the "New Style" key on the right in the styles dialog (New Style).
Your style is now saved in the styles palette. If you have a collection of styles, then you can save them anywhere on your computer by clicking in the upper right corner of the styles window and choosing from the menu - Save Styles (Save styles).
Using multiple sources with the Clone Stamp tool (Clone Stamp tool).
Everyone is familiar with the Clone Stamp tool and its use with one clone source. But I'm sure you didn't know that the Stamp can be used with multiple sources, namely up to 5 inclusive! You can switch between sources in the Clone Source panel (Clone Source)... The source can be many layers or documents.
Activating the Clone Stamp tool (Clone Stamp tool) and in the top menu turn on the cloning panel (stamp icon)... Inside the window, click the icon of any cloning source (from 1 to 5) and indicate the source of cloning (Alt + click the mouse on the sample)... We continue to indicate the sources by alternately clicking the icons inside the window.
Apply multiple filters at the same time with the Filter Gallery.
Sometimes the hardest part is deciding on which artistic filters you choose in Photoshop. To make this task easier, let's use the filter gallery (Filter | Filter Gallery)... Here you can add many effects, edit and remove them as you want.
Pay attention to the lower right part of the filters dialog.
You can add a new filter layer by clicking its icon at the bottom of the window.
You can even swap layers for different effects.
Content-Aware Fill (Content-Aware Fill).
This new feature allows you to delete an image or part of it without using old methods such as cloning (Stamp Clone tool) and Healing Brush (Healing Brush).
For example, let's choose an image with some element that needs to be removed. I have a telegraph pole against a cloudy sky.
Create a selection around the post with any selection tool (Lasso)... We outline the pillar at some distance from its borders, the selection should not be perfect - this is one of the advantages of this function.
Go to the Edit-Fill menu (Edit-Run Fill) and specify in the fill dialog box "Content-Aware Fill" (Content-Aware).
Typically, the fill effect depends on the image being edited and the result may not always be satisfactory. But it is still better than using a Stamp, as it saves a lot of time.
I am sure these tips will help you in your creativity and replenish your Photoshop knowledge box. Good luck!
Here is a series of lessons that teach you how to use the graphic editor Photoshop - an incredibly popular and indispensable tool in web design, with which not only buttons, banners and logos are created for the site, but even entire layouts. The design of almost any site you visited was originally drawn in Photoshop, so knowledge of this program will be definitely useful for a webmaster, although the skills of image processing and creating your own drawings will not harm a simple PC user either. Digitizing photos, retouching old photographs, creating postcards and collages are just the beginning of a long list of useful actions that the editor allows you to do, and a series of lessons will help you get comfortable with it.
Bookmark this page so you don't lose the table of contents and consistently study article after article, comprehending more and more new techniques of working in Photoshop.
But what will you learn in these lessons?
- 1 Getting Started in Photoshop - Quick Selection and Filling
Here you will get acquainted with the program's interface, learn what the main interface elements are for, learn how to create documents and save them, master the selection of areas on the canvas. Also from the lesson you will understand how to fill areas with color, you will understand the principles of working with the program. Once you have mastered the information, you will learn to perform simple actions and will be able to independently explore other editor tools.
- 2 Layers and text
All Photoshop images are built on layers. That is why editing in the program is so convenient. The lesson will tell you what layers are, why they are needed and how to work with them. In addition, it describes techniques for creating and processing labels, as well as moving objects on the canvas. After completing the lesson, processing multi-layered documents will not be a problem for you.
- 3 Filters
You will become familiar with a huge library of image-changing scripts. The filters of the editor can not only give the finished image this or that effect, but even create new objects and frame the photo.
- 4 Working with images
The article provides the basics of processing already existing graphic files. Editing several images at once, moving objects from one drawing to another, resizing and removing unnecessary parts - this is just an incomplete list of lesson topics.
- 5 Transformation
The lesson will teach you to scale image elements, change proportions, tilt, distort and deform them
- 6 Drawing - brush and pencil
The first in a series of articles about tools for creating your own masterpieces. Already a long time ago, computer technology has developed to the point that it allows you to simulate drawing on paper. You will learn to create with a virtual pencil and brush - sketches and watercolor paintings can now be easily drawn and distributed on electronic media, making an unlimited number of copies and not worrying about the safety of labor.
- 7 Drawing - Shapes
Freehand creation is one thing, and accuracy and speed are sometimes paramount. The lesson tells about the tools with which, in just a few clicks, you can create perfectly flat geometric shapes of specified sizes. From a simple square to an ellipse, a star, and even a musical note, this article covers everything.
- 8 Drawing - paths and bitmaps
You will remember once and for all how a vector differs from a raster, what the pros and cons are of both approaches, and you will also learn why shape outlines are needed in Photoshop and what pixel mode does.
- 9 Drawing - Pen tool
To continue working with paths, explore the tools of the Pen group. Purpose, method of application, description of parameters, and as a result you will learn how to draw atypical contours and create the most complex geometric objects.
- 10 Drawing - Magnetic pen tool
The magnetic mode of the Free Pen tool has become so popular that it is called the Magnetic Pen, although there is no such separate tool in Photoshop. What this function allows you to do, why users love it so much and how it will help you personally - read the article.
- 11 Image Retouching Tools
To use these editor functions for the Internet, you do not need to be a layout designer, or a designer, or a webmaster - nothing at all. It is enough to be an active user of social networks. How to make your face more beautiful, remove moles and freckles? How can I process an old scanned photo so that the colors become brighter, and scratches, spots and dust particles are not so noticeable? How to carefully cut an object, move it or clone it? Where is the tool that will help you get rid of the red-eye effect from a photo in just a couple of minutes? Look for answers to these and other questions in the article.
- 12 Image correction tools
You already know so much that mastering new tools is not a problem. All I had to do was make an overview with a description of the possibilities to improve the quality of pictures - to lighten where it is too dark, darken where it is overexposed, blur and sharpen, mix and smear colors. In general, additional information on how to make the image better is waiting for you in the tutorial.
The pinnacle of creativity for the web is rendering site templates. When most of the tools are mastered, and the skills are enough to draw and dividers with shapes, and buttons for menus, and logos, and beautiful inscriptions, nothing prevents you from creating a good, complex layout. The article tells what a standard template consists of, describes the principle of creation, and also teaches you how to cut a layout using tools that are previously unfamiliar to you.
Having paid attention to each of the lessons, disassembling practical examples and experimenting on your own, as you master the course, you will go from a beginner to an advanced user of Photoshop and will be able to delve into it on your own, moving to a new level of development, and a solid and reliable foundation will help you with this. laid down by the cycle of our articles.
