Making Meaning Matter - Photoshop

From Help Wiki

Collage, Scale & Copyright

Finding images for re-use

Find images whose copyright has been set as free to use or modify

  • Use Google Image search and expand the Search Tools and select Usage Rights
  • Choose the appropriate filter, keeping in mind that the most restrictive of the license "noncommercial reuse" will probably yield the most results More about usage rights
  • Open the image you want to use (looking for the largest version available) and right click to Save Image As

Photoshop interface and navigating an image

  1. Opening a file File > Open and navigate to your file. Never open a file over the network (if your file is on Orca, first copy it to your local hard drive).
  2. Intro to basics Photoshop interface elements
  3. navigating an image
    • Zoom: Cmd +/-
    • Hand tool: Space Bar (used to move around an image)

Image size and resolution

  1. What is a pixel? Zoom all the way in on your image.
  2. What are the dimensions of your image?
    • Go to Image > image Size to see the overall size in pixels of your image
    • Resizing photos for various usages including: Web, email attachment, and print
  3. What is the resolution or pixel density of your image? Why does it matter? See more in discussion depth on resolution.
  4. Cropping - using the crop tool to remove portions of the image outside of the crop selection
    • You can set the image size to crop to in the properties bar i.e. 400 px (remember the px)

Saving your work

File > Save as. Choose Photoshop as the file format. This will create a uncompressed Photoshop native image file format (.psd). It's a good idea to keep an uncompressed copy of your images.

Working with Layers

  • What are layers in Photoshop?
  • Create new layers
  • Hiding and linking layers
  • Copying between layers
  • Duplicating layers
  • Adjustment layers
  • Clipping layers
  • Layer masks

Working with selections


Saving for web

  1. Saving for web: File > Save for Web & Devices
    • Choose the highest quality with the best (smallest) file size.


If we have time: Scanning

Scanning from a Macintosh in the Computer Center