Photoshop

We have started using Photoshop learning the basic skills. Today we talked about layers and how to alter the colours and make a photo black and white.

Opening a photo in PS

The first thing you want to do is to open a photo in Photoshop. Go to File > Open > find the photo you would like to edit.

Layers

When you have done that you can see in the box to the left there is a small photo of your picture and this is your first layer. We use layers to separate our workprojects from each other so that its possible to remove or add an edit without interfering with another. To make a second layer you press the first layer and drag it down to the ''Create a new layer'' that has a picture of a sheet of paper under the layers.You now have two layers! This is what the ''new layer'' button looks like:

Light and contrast

Now. To edit the lighting and contrast of the photo you can either go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/contrast OR you can go to Image > Adjustments > Curves to adjust the brighness and darkness. 

Black & White

If we want to make the photo black and white, sepia, negative and so on we go to Image > Adjustments > Gradient Map > Then choose the setting you want.

Pencil

A pencil is used if we want to draw on the photograph or maybe edit colour into only certain places. This is where the black and white setting comes in. Because now we can decide what in the picture we want to be in gray tones and what we want to be colourful. All we have to first is to drag the first layer into the ''Add layer mask'' that looks like a camera:

Once you've done that you can see there is a little white box next to your 1st layer photo. The drawings you do to your masterpiece now will show up as black marks on the white box. You can now draw on colour! If you make any mistakes - don't worry, just hit the x button on your keyboard and you can now erase any mistakes. 

Spot Healing Brush Tool

This tool is great if you want to remove any blemishes and such. One does usually not remove birthmarks and/or scarring because its a part of ones body, but if wanted thats possible too, of course. Just press the button (picture below) and you are now free to click or drag over any imperfections and they will disappear. 

 Dodge Tool / Burn Tool 

These are nice to use for teeth whitening and eye whitening. Also you can use it to darken your eyebrows if you forgot to put them on one day, no one will ever notice. Dodge Tool is for whitening or brightening certain areas up. Burn Tool does the opposite. It darkens the photo. The tool looks like this in the bar to the left (don't confuse this symbol with the symbol for zooming, they are quite similar :

 Clone Stamp Tool

This tool is used to copy whatever you mark out and put it in another place by paining it on where ever you want it to be. This can be used to remove items you dont want in the picture or even make ones eye disappear.