EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ADOBE PHOTOSHOP SOFTWARE
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ADOBE PHOTOSHOP SOFTWARE
If you're new to photography, you've probably heard a lot about Photoshop. Everyone appears to use it, but when they speak about it, it's as if they're speaking an alien tongue if you've never used it yourself. This is an introduction to Photoshop that covers everything you need to know to get started on your path to becoming a professional-level retoucher.
What exactly is Photoshop?
Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing program that is used to create a variety of different types of graphics, from photography to digital art. For the purposes of this article, we'll focus on its photography applications – though there is considerable overlap with art and graphic design tools when it comes to more complex editing.
There have been numerous editions of Photoshop released over the years, and you may encounter references to various versions. Photoshop CC is the current version of Photoshop. It is only available as part of a subscription package, though you can try it out for free for a limited time. Photoshop CS6 was the last edition of Photoshop released prior to CC, and it was available for a one-time purchase fee.
Photoshop may appear to be an expensive program at first, but it is well worth the investment. While there are some free editing programs available, none of them come close to Photoshop's editing power and flexibility. Using actions is just one of the many features that make Photoshop so much easier to use than other programs.
How do I obtain Photoshop?
Obtaining Photoshop is relatively straightforward, but you must ensure that you go to the correct source. If you download the program from a source other than the Adobe website, the likelihood is that you are downloading a virus-infected fake. Before you begin, ensure that you are on the official website.
Once there, you can choose to sign up for either Photoshop alone or the entire Creative Cloud package. Adobe's other creative products include Lightroom, Illustrator, InDesign, and Dreamweaver, among others. Photoshop CC and Lightroom CC are the only applications you'll need for strictly photographic purposes.
The Creative Cloud membership entitles you to sign in and use all of Photoshop's tools, as well as personalize and configure the program to your liking. If you cancel your monthly subscription, you will be unable to log in or use the service. The advantage of Photoshop CC over previous versions is that you no longer need to purchase new software releases. As a subscriber, you automatically receive all new updates and releases, eliminating the need to purchase new software.
Why should I choose Photoshop?
Photoshop has a plethora of advantages over other image editing programs. To begin, Adobe has put together an excellent package for photographers. You can purchase Photoshop and Lightroom together for less than the cost of purchasing each separately, and you'll also receive a slew of free mobile apps. You can even create a free portfolio website.
Another compelling reason to use Photoshop is the breadth of its capabilities. It is the industry standard for photo editing, and for good reason. Photoshop allows you to edit your photos in any way you can imagine, from smoothing skin to changing body shapes, to replacing colors and even backgrounds, to combining multiple images into a single finished image. Whatever you wish to accomplish, the tools are available.
Finally, the number of tools available for downloading to assist you even more with Photoshop is astounding. With actions that trigger predefined functions in a single click, overlays that add new parts of images to alter the mood or appearance of your photo, and batch processing that edits each photo automatically, it's a very powerful toolset. Once you've configured everything to your liking, you can edit photos professionally in a matter of minutes – or even seconds – rather than hours.
If you own a photography business or are a beginner, there are numerous advantages to using Photoshop and Lightroom.
How do I begin working with Photoshop?
After installing the program on your computer, it's definitely worthwhile to spend some time experimenting and seeing what you can do. Open a photograph using the 'file' menu and wait for it to load – which may take only a blink of an eye. You are now prepared to begin editing.
There are a few fundamental tools with which you may want to begin. When you first open Photoshop and before repositioning the toolbars, there are two primary areas to examine. These are located on the left-hand side, where basic tools are located, and on the right-hand side, where adjustments are located.
Take the time to experiment with these tools on your photograph until you feel comfortable with them. On the left, you'll find several examples:
• Move tool: enables you to reposition an image within the frame.
• Marquee tool (rectangular or elliptical): allows you to select a portion of an image within a predefined shape.
• Crop tool: reduces the size or proportion of an image.
• Quick selection tool: selects portions of an image automatically based on the edges detected by the program.
• The eyedropper tool is used to select a color in your image.
• Lasso tool: enables you to freely select a portion of an image.
• Brush tool: for directly painting on your image
• Eraser tool: for erasing errors
There are numerous additional tools to peruse, including some that are more advanced. If you click and hold on any of these tools, you'll discover a variety of additional options that perform similar functions – but with significant differences.
On the right, you'll find a variety of tools, including the following:
• Contrast/brightness
• Degrees
• Slopes
• Exposition
• Splendor
• Color/Saturation
• Color Harmony
• Monochrome
And so forth. These are all used to adjust the color, darkness and brightness levels, and overall appearance of your image. Experiment with them and observe what happens. Also, you can use the 'auto' function on a number of them to see how Photoshop's processors believe your image should be edited.
There are numerous online resources available to assist you in getting started and learning how to use Photoshop. A good place to start would be to peruse our editing education articles and video tutorials, as well as our YouTube video learning channel.
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