Adobe Photoshop CC

Adobe Photoshop CC

• A raster graphics editor
• Developed and published by Adobe Inc
• Compatible with Windows and macOS
• Originally created in 1988 by Thomas and John Knoll
• An industry standard in raster graphics editing and digital art
• The name is a generic trademark, leading to its use as a verb, though Adobe discourages this
• Naming system was initially version-based
• October 2002: the introduction of Creative Suite branding led each new Photoshop version to be designated with "CS" plus a number
• June 2013: The introduction of the Creative Cloud branding led to the change of the "CS" suffix to "CC"
• Adobe also develops and publishes Photoshop Elements, Photoshop Lightroom, Photoshop Express, Photoshop Fix, Photoshop Sketch, and Photoshop Mix
• November 2019: A full version of Photoshop was released for the iPad

Single Canvas vs. Multiple Artboards

• Single Canvas: Can work within the workspace
• Multiple Artboards: Can work outside the workspace

Photoshop Alternatives

• Procreate
• Rebelle
• Paint Tool SAI
• Art Rage
• Clip Studio Paint

Photoshop Working Area

• First time using Photoshop: New document or image opens in the default Essentials workspace, displaying the application bar (Windows) or title bar (Mac OS)
• Below the main menu is the Options bar and the Tools panel is on the left
• There are also other panels, and one or more document windows
• Application Bar: Across the top, it contains a workspace switcher, menus (Windows only), and other application controls
• Options Bar: Allows control panel displays for the currently selected tool
• Document Window: Where the file being worked on is displayed
• Search Icon: Allows searches across UI elements, documents, help content, and stock assets
• Panels: Help monitor and modify your work
  • Certain panels are default, others can be added from the Window menu
  • Panels can be separated, grouped, stacked, and docked as preferred
• Tools Panel: Has tools for creating and editing images, artwork, page elements, etc; related tools are grouped

Exploring The Workspace Options

• Preset workspaces are available and optimized for creative projects and workflows
• The Photoshop workspace's layout and functionality can be adjusted for dedicated uses, using the workspace switcher

How to Create a New Document

• Use: Alt + Shift + Control + K (Windows)
• Working directly with an existing image is common with Adobe Photoshop

Starting a New Document

• Start with a blank document optimized for its intended use
• Photo: Offers common photographic formats such as 4x6, 5x7, 8x10 for high-resolution images
• Print: Provides familiar print formats like letter, legal, tabloid, and A4 in high resolution
• Art & Illustration: Offers layouts for posters, postcards, squares, and video formats in high resolution
• Web: A list common desktop browser window sizes at web-optimized resolution
• Mobile: Provides for different device form factors such as iOS, Android, Surface phones and tablets
• Film & Video: Offers options to select content optimized for HDTV, HDV, DCI, NTSC, and other video formats

Creating Documents the Easy Way

• It is possible to define precise specifications for image dimensions, resolution, and color type
• The Start workspace gives one access to recent files, libraries, and presets
• New Document dialog opens and displays options for various blank document presets on the Create New button

Photoshop Layers

• Like stacked sheets of paper; transparent areas allow seeing layers below
• Layers can be moved to position content
• Opacity of a layer can be adjusted to make content partially transparent
• Layers are helpful for compositing multiple images, adding text to an image, and adding vector graphic shapes
• Can apply a layer style to add effects

Layers Panel Overview

• Often-used panel
• Lists all layers, groups, and layer effects in an image
• Use it to show/hide layers, create layers, and work with layer groups
• Additional commands and options can be accessed in the panel menu

Understanding Color Management

• Moving color images from device to device will likely require moving color images from device to device
• It is possible you will end up with color variations at each stage
• Color Gamut: Range of colors a device displays
  • Devices have limited color gamut
  • No device can reproduce the full range of colors the human eye can see
  • Devices describe color using RGB or CMYK color models -RGB for cameras and monitors; CMYK for printers

Color Management Background

• Computer monitors use RGB color, created by an additive mix of red, green, and blue light, which tends to be better at bright colors and less adept with dull colors
• CMYK is a color space used by four-color printers with a mix of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black and tends to be better at pastels and pure black
• Possible Reasons for Color Variations
  • Differences in image sources
  • Different software applications define color differently
  • Choice of print media
  • Natural variations between devices

Custom Brush Creation

• Create the brush tip in a 100x100 pixel document
• Edit > Define Brush Present
• Adjust Settings
• Save the brush with adjusted Settings

About Color Profiles

• Each device operates within a specific color space that can produce a certain range, or gamut, of colors
• Because spaces and colors shift it is important to transfer documents between different devices

Photoshop Brushes

• Can be customized up until the artist's contented while Illustrator brushes can only be customized up until a certain degree

Rendering in Digital Art

• Rendering: Transforming a painting from unfinished to polished
• It is usually completed in many phases
• The main focus is on refining lighting/shading and including textures/features
• Simple Organic Shapes rendering originally refers to three-dimensional computer graphics, as well as 3D modeling applications
• The word "rendering" is also frequently used in digital painting

How to Render a Digital Paint

• Sketch: The first, rough scribble of an idea for one's painting, with the goal of something on the canvas

Steps to an Effective Sketch

• Three necessary things to do: scribble, establish perspectives, place all characters/objects, and work on poses/proportions
• Preliminary Drawing: Refined, cleaner version of a sketch, an option that many artists skip
• Two things to do: create a clean version of one's sketch, vary line weight
• Flatting/Base Colors: The process of laying down base colors to establish the painting's color scheme
• Light and Shadow: A make-or-break stage involving midtones, reflections, etc in service of establishing the basic lighting situation
• Three general methods for blending neighboring colors include basic blending, soft transitions, and cast shadows
• Adding Textures & Details: Final step that adds to a painting's realism and interesting qualities

Digital Value Sketching

• This provides an aesthetic framework for drawing the viewer in
• Tonal Values help give the artwork a solid base to build from, crucial for its overall success

Acing Light and Shadows

• By keeping the initial shading simplistic, the fundamentals are that much easier to adjust and improve
• Practicing Tonal Value with the same principles helps with creating a figure drawing, or still life
• Separate Light and Shadows is the base of foundation for all shading decisions
• A value scale is a tool that helps you understand tonal relationships so try to use value scales to build a consistent level for understanding values
• Understanding the goal is to establish the basic lightning situation, and determine how to separate areas of light and shadow

Digital Value - Color Inversions

• A color or shading can be described in value or intensity, rather than hue
• Rendering digital art entails painting soft edges where/when needed
• Learning and painting soft edges/gradients is essential for building effective color

Other Digital Value Techniques

• Blending creates a smooth transition/blend
• The approach recommended to beginners is to use a basic round brush with consistent pressure
• Edge control & blending can already take an artist quite far, with or without special blending tools