Yes, you know that old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words can be a great truth in the virtual environment.
That is why it is more and more common to see people trying to learn how to use Photoshop, as this way their images will reflect the message they want to pass on to their audience.
But, like everything that is new, Photoshop can be a complex tool and full of resources to learn, especially if you are not familiar with it.
The first thing we would like to say is that you don’t need to use all available resources to create good images and do a good job when you need small edits on your images! You’ll see how well you do with the tool!
So, do you want to learn how to use Photoshop and some of its main resources?
If the answer is positive, in this post you will find some simple tips that will help you take your first steps with this tool.
Let’s go ahead!
The creation of a document
When creating a new file in File > New, a window will appear with some options.
It’s important to set up the fields correctly to ensure your final image is of good quality for both digital and print media.
width and height
If your image is destined for printing, put its measurements in centimeters or millimeters; if it is for digital media, select pixel as main unit.
Keep in mind to do a previous search to find out what are the best sizes that can be used, since if you plan to enlarge them they can lose quality, especially if you have already defined the width and height and started the production of your image.
Resolution
It is very important to define the correct resolution for the type of image you are going to produce.
If you want good print quality, for example, set a resolution higher than 300 PPI. In the case of digital files, 72 PPI is usually sufficient, since the most important thing in this case is to generate a file that is as light as possible.
color mode
Select RGB in the case of digital files and CMYK if they are printed. This will ensure superior color fidelity when generating the final image.
background content
The background content will be the background color of your document.
After configuring everything correctly, it is time to give OK and start the production of your image.
Production of an image
Now, have you created the document, but need to resize it?
There are two ways to do it: through Image > Image Size or the shortcut Ctrl+Alt+C/Option+Command+C you only resize the area of your document without changing the size of the image.
Through Image > Image Size or Ctrl+Alt+I/Option+Command+I you change the size of everything that is contained in the document. Here is the danger!
If you are working with images and want to enlarge your file, Photoshop will add new pixels to it, causing a loss of quality.
Tip: The ideal is to work with images that have a high resolution so that they are not pixelated.
Another care you need to take when learning how to use Photoshop is to check if a chain icon is selected so that the image maintains its proportions when it is resized. Otherwise, this action will deform it.
If you are starting to learn how to use Photoshop, always get in the habit of saving your documents to avoid small mishaps that can make you lose what you have already done.
A quick shortcut is Ctrl+S / Command+S, but you can also go File > Save from the menu.
Import and resize an image
Click File > Place Embedded and select the image you want to import. She will appear with a border indicating the transformation.
Put the cursor on its corner and, holding Shift so as not to deform it, move the mouse to increase or decrease it.
All images have an enlargement limit, so be careful not to enlarge too much and leave it blurry.
By right-clicking on the image, you have some options that can help you, such as:
- To turn,
- Rotate 90º,
- flip horizontally,
- Tilt, among others.
When you’re done editing, just press Enter.
A shortcut for this function is Ctrl+T / Command+T or the menu Edit > Transformation.
If you need to move your image, simply select the layer in the panel in the lower right corner of Photoshop and press the V key.
In addition, you can also activate this tool by clicking the first icon in the tool panel on the left side of Photoshop.
To zoom in, select the magnifying glass icon in the tools panel or press the Z key, click the image to zoom in and out, and press the Alt/Option key while clicking.
layer creation
Creating an organized file will save you a lot of work when editing a document, either by yourself or someone else.
Everything you insert into Photoshop appears as layers, and depending on the number of images, finding what you need can be a daunting task.
For this reason, a good practice that you can acquire when creating a new layer is to change the name of each one of them by clicking twice on the text.
Name your layers in a clear and simple way so that it is easy to understand.
Another practice that will help you is to group them in folders. To do this, simply Ctrl / Command-click the layers and then press Ctrl+G / Command+G or click the folder icon at the bottom of the panel.
If you want to keep the layer in your file, but don’t want it to be visible, you can click the eye icon on the left to hide it, or if you prefer the image to have some transparency, simply change the value that is already set as 100% at the top of the layers panel.
To duplicate a layer, you can go through the menu Layer > Duplicate Layer or press Ctrl+J / Command+J on the layer that is selected at the same time.
layer styles
Photoshop allows you to add some styles that give your piece more value.
To do this, simply double-click on the layer to open a window that contains border, gradient, shadow, and several other options.
It is possible to work with many different effects, but be careful not to overdo it and risk contaminating your image.
Adjustment and fill layer
Do you remember that image with little contrast or that black and white that you like so much and wanted to use?
Well, you can make changes to those settings and others by clicking the black and white circle icon at the bottom of the layers panel.
The advantage of this setting is that it preserves the original photo. If you don’t like the effect that has been applied, just delete the created layer.
Be careful not to use too many effects, because the image will not represent reality.
Another option that can be useful is padding.
When you select Solid Color and Gradient, you create new layers with the colors you want and you can change it by double clicking on the part where the color shows on the layer.
An important function that Photoshop has is Blending Modes, which allows us to merge the upper layer with the lower one, creating some interesting effects in the image such as blends, application of color and light, among others.
This feature is located at the top of the Layers panel.
add text
To include a text in your images press the T key or go to the tools panel and click on the icon of the letter T.
The mouse cursor will change its shape. Click on the desired place, enter your text and press Enter to finish.
Also with this tool selected, in Photoshop’s top menu, you can change the font, color, size, and alignment of the text.
To type or paste larger text, click on the image and, while holding the mouse button down, drag the cursor until the bounding box is at the ideal size, release the mouse button and insert your text.
By pressing Ctrl+A / Command+A you can select all the text to edit.
If you need some more advanced settings, like line spacing, go to the Window > Paragraph or Window > Character menu which will open a new panel with other settings.
Creation of forms
If you need to add some basic shape to your images, simply right-click on the rectangle icon in the tools panel and select the shape you want to work with.
Click on the desired place and, with the button pressed, drag until you reach the ideal size.
If you hold down the shift button you can create proportional shapes if you want a perfect square or circle.
In the top menu you can change the fill color of shapes and lines, as well as define their thickness and style.
Image export
To export an image to the web, go to File > Export > Save to Web. This ensures that the generated file is lighter without losing quality. The PNG format is ideal for saving backgrounds with transparency.
If your document was created with the ideal resolution, size, and images for printing, you should save in TIFF or BMP, as these formats preserve the original quality of the file.
To do this, go to File > Save As and under Type/Format, select one of these options.
using photoshop
If you’re just starting out now, it might seem complex to learn how to use Photoshop to make your images amazing. However, like any tool, you need to use it to familiarize yourself with the available resources.
Our advice is to start using some resources and, little by little, you will notice that you will be able to use Photoshop much more easily.
Now is the time to get down to business and start producing the images for your business. Do not stop exploring the tool, since you can learn other resources that will provide more value to your piece.
In addition to Photoshop, it is also very important to learn how to do good video editing. Do you have questions and want to know more about it? Be sure to read our post that teaches you the .
Until next time!
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