Photoshop Secrets – Part 5
Other Features And Special Effects
Adding Text In Photoshop
You can add text to an image or a blank document. The Type tool is what you would use to do that. This tool also works to choose an image size, a font and allows you to make additional changes in regard to text. Everytime you make changes in regard to text, the image or document will look different. Here’s how you would go about adding text:
Use an old file from Photoshop or you can create a new one. You will use the Type tool.
Using the first button on the type tool bar, you will be able to change back and forth from horizontal to vertical text and vice versa.
Choose a text size, font and style. You can do this from the Type tool options bar.
There are different ways that you can have your text set up. You have a choice of choosing from the following styles: Smooth, Strong, Crisp, Sharp or None. Each one looks different, so you may want to look at them all to see which one looks the best for your creation. When you’re aligning your text, you can choose to do it from the left, center or right.
To use the color picker box, select the color square. You can select the color for your text.
You can click the selection anywhere in your document. You will start typing your text and it will show with whatever selections you have chosen. If you need to make changes use the Type tool to highlight the text already there and change what needs to be changed.
Creating 3-D Effects
3-D or three dimensional effects is something that is unique to create for your graphic projects. Using this technique will allow you to see your graphics differently.
Using Photoshop is a great way to create 3-D effects and other related images. You can start with something as simple as a cube. You want the cube to been seen from three different angles, top, left and right. You would then include different effects on the cube to make it stand out. Using Photoshop for this technique allows you to use your imagination and creativity.
Using the 3D Transform is used to create 3-D effects in Photoshop. You can also use it to create different images into a 3D shape. If you’re just looking for a basic image, then you can choose Select and Direct Select. You can move objects with the Select function, while you can change the images by dragging with the Direct Select function.
To create shapes in 3-D, you will have to create a new layer. Then you can use color to fill in the white space. To step it up a bit, you may want to add darker colors or shadows. Using fillers can help you to better see the 3-D effects in Photoshop.
You can also create text using 3-D effects in Photoshop. With the Alt key, and E/F, and the Ctrl key (hold down), you can use the dragging method to do what you wish.
With the text layer, you will need to convert your image to make it look presentable for people to see on the monitor prior to you including filters or layers. The text will be changed to where you can edit it as needed. Prior to completing the conversion, create an extra copy. After the conversion, you are not allowed to edit any text.
To get different image creations, it is probably a good idea to test out some image effects. Create some where you can do 3-D images with shapes, text and other effects.
Creating A Lighting Effect
Including special effects such as lights to provide some pizzazz to a photo can be interesting. You can turn regular lights into some unique lighting effects. A lot of people that have substantial experience using Photoshop use these effects for their projects. It’s a pretty easy task to learn. Here is how you can learn it and create your masterpiece:
Select File, New and then click OK.
Choose the “Gradient” tool and click on the left button of your mouse, holding it down. Choose the “Paint Bucket” tool and choose the color Black.
Click the screen once. The background should turn black. Select the Filter component and choose “Render”, then choose Lightning Effects.
Select “Circle of Lights” and choose OK. You will see something called objects that look like spheres (orbs).
Choose “Render” from the Filter menu and choose “Lens Flare”. This is how you will make changes to your photo. In order to get the light where you need it to be, you will have to move the cross in the center of the screen. Using the “Brightness” bar, slide it to the middle. Use the “50 to 300 mm zoom” selection for the lens and select Ok. You will see a lot of lighted halo shapes.
Staying in the Filter menu, choose the “Stylize” command. Choose “Glowing Edges”. This is used to decrease thickness of the halos. The rings will stand out on the screen. Using the “Image” menu, choose Adjustments and then Auto Levels. You will see the halos in the special effects on your computer screen.
Creating Backgrounds
You can create different backgrounds for your images. You will have to use more than one filter to do this. Using the filters can help to create a background that is different than what you may have seen before. You can create custom backgrounds that are unique and stand out from other creations.
To do this, you would have to select the File menu and choose New for a brand new dialog box.
In order to create a canvas, you would have to select the Width and Height components. If you have anything you would like to change, change them in the settings section. You can change the colors and resolutions if you wish.
Close the New dialog box and present the canvas on the computer screen. You should see the word “Background” in the layer of the Layers palette.
In the “Filter” menu, select “Artistic” and choose on the options for the Filter dialog box. You have a choice of filters that you can use for your document. There is Artistic, Brush Strokes, Distort, Sketch, Stylize or Texture. They are all located in the drop down box where the Filters category is.
Select a filter from the category you have chosen. You will be able to see a preview of this filter to the left side of the “Filter” dialog box.
Go to the right side of the dialog box if you need to adjust the setting. Confirm the filter that you want to use by choosing OK. If you need to include additional filters you can do so. This will help you to have additional custom backgrounds.
Importing And Exporting
Learning about importing and exporting images from Photoshop can boost your credibility in creating images from this graphics software. Once you learn this, you will be able to do just about anything using Photoshop.
If you are going to use an image in a Photoshop file that was already created, you can import it and use it as a layer. People that look to have several images to put together implement this step. With the original image in the background, the other image will be a separate document.
The new image can be transferred to a layer where it can be adjusted or edited. Move the new image over the original document. The new image will stay the same, but there will be an additional layer with the first image.
If you have an image to import as a layer, you can use the Place command to do that. Look in the File menu for this command. The image would be placed in a Photoshop document. If you have to make adjustments you can save the image to the first file. So, if you make changes to the Photoshop file image, the same thing will be done to the image file.
If you have movie frames that you want to import, you can use the video frames to layer command to do that. You will have several choices that you can use to import certain parts of the movie. You can also import frames in a certain succession. This means that not every single frame has to be imported.
Use the shift key and place the slider on the movie clip to get certain portions of the movie. The “Limit to frames” component allows you to choose frames that you want. You can choose every second, third or fourth frame if you wish. It depends on how you want it set up. If you don’t choose anything, every frame will be imported.
Zooming Techniques
Using the zoom tool in Photoshop is a good way to get a close-up look at your photo or image. It can also be used when you need to correct details. You can also look at your photo or image as a larger or smaller view.
Use the zoom tool to start. You will see a magnifying glass with a plus sign in it.
Deactivate the Resize Windows to Fit button. When you do this, the image window won’t change sizes as you adjust the size of the view.
Activate the Ignore Palettes command. When you do this, the size of the window will increase to the screen’s edge.
Position where you want to enlarge the image and select it. Any clicks after that will help to enlarge it.
Choose and drag a marquee to the part of the image that will be enlarged. Press the Alt key in order to decrease the size of the view. Hold the key down and continue to click with your mouse until the size of the image has decreased to the size that you want it.
Strokes
People that create images in Photoshop, in particular Photoshop CS3, will use strokes. They also use them with text and shapes. Photoshop provides different variations of what strokes you can add to your image.
Using Photoshop CS3, select a file that you wish to use to implement a stroke with. Choose the layer in which you want to use to apply the stroke. You will find this in the Layers palette. When it is chosen, the layer will be highlighted.
Using the right click button from your mouse, select “Blending Options”. You will see the Layer Style dialog box. In the same box, you will find the “Stroke” component in the Styles listing. You will see it on the right side of the box.
If you want different stroke settings, you can make changes as follows:
Changing the size – move the slider to the right for a larger size; move it to the left for a smaller size.
Changing position – You have three choices, inside, center or outside.
Changing fill type – You can choose from color, gradient or pattern.
You can either choose to change the stroke’s opacity (cloudiness or dullness) or implement blend mode. After you’ve selected what you wanted, save your settings and close the dialog box. You will see the changes in the chosen layer of your image or photo.
Creating A Watermark In Photoshop
You can create your own watermark to your image in a matter of minutes by using your mouse.
Select File, New and create the width and height using 250X125 px. You will also need to have a background that is transparent.
Select the “Horizontal Type Tool”, set you color to your choosing and type in what you want your watermark image to read.
Using the Ctrl button, also press the letter “T” keys on the text and choose the rotate command. With your mouse, go over the image and rotate it to what you want.
Select Edit, Define Pattern and give it a sample name since it is a sample and not the real thing; you’re testing this technique first to make sure it works.
If you have other images or photos that you want to do this with, open the file that you want to watermark. Apply a new layer by pressing the Ctrl and the letter “J” keys. Select the Edit and Fill commands. Choose a pattern from the Custom Pattern selection box. You can set the layer’ opacity to what you want it to be. Save the new image with the watermark.
Creating A Shadow Effect
Create a new image in Photoshop. As a sample, use 200 pixels and 72 pixels as the resolution. This is for the width and the height. After you’ve created the effect, then you can do more using different settings. You want to make sure it comes out right, hence the reason for using 200 pixels and 72 pixels as the resolution.
Using the Horizontal Type Tool, create a text box. The image that you are using should be blank. This can be done by using your cursor at the upper left corner, clicking it and using the dragging method to bring it to the lower right corner.
Use 48 point font for the text and center it. Choose a simple color and put it in the text box several times using the return key. The word “shadow” should be typed in the text box. Place the word in the center of the image. Make sure it is showing up large inside of the box. You should eventually notice a shadow behind the word.
Using the “Styles and Effects” menu, look for two drop-down menus. The one on the left should be “layer styles” and the one on the right should be “drop shadows”. Select one of the options for the drop shadow. Select the “low” shadow and you will see the shadow behind the text.
You should test the shadow effect options in Photoshop using different styles. Eventually, you will find one that suits you the best. Also, you need to make sure that it blends in with whatever images you will be using.
The most important thing about using Photoshop overall is to make sure that you save whatever you create. At least you’ll have examples that you can go back to later.
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