Photoshop Basics 3. The Grid Colors dropdown menu enables you to pick from a prede termined set of colors and shades for the checkerboard grid pattern Task 4 Your preset options are categorized in two groups: shades and colors The first group includes Light, Medium, and Dark options. The color options include Red, Orange, Green, Blue, and Purple colors To create a custom-colored checkerboard pattern for the grid, select Custom from the Grid Colors drop-down menu If you don't like the default the colors you want and then press OK. The colors you picked are sizes for the Photoshop displayed in the preview square grid, or if the image you are grays and it's hard to tell what's transparent from the Crd Colony is always a good idea if you cant readily discern the waming color from a color E Uve wideo alpha tre eler ecker in your work. Gamut warning ect transparency gnd toler CUstom OR 8O* Ob CC0000 JOmt web Co Figure 4-2: Choosing a color for the Photoshop grid 6. If your graphics card s the overlay of images on top of a live video signal and you want to make use of this feature, select the Use Video Alpha checkbox 7. To change the color thats used to indicate a gamut warning, click the ross-peference Color swatch under Gamut Warning. This brings up the Color Picker dialog box. Pick the color you want and then click OK. f-gamut warning, check out Task 46 about proofing in the Opacity text field or click the triangle and adjust the slide, ge 8. To adjust the opacity of the gamut warning color, enter a percent
tips • If you don’t like the default sizes for the Photoshop grid, or if the image you are working on uses whites and grays and it’s hard to tell what’s transparent from the image, adjust the grid to your tastes. • Changing the gamut color is always a good idea if you can’t readily discern the warning color from a color in your work. 3. The Grid Colors dropdown menu enables you to pick from a predetermined set of colors and shades for the checkerboard grid pattern. Your preset options are categorized in two groups: shades and colors. The first group includes Light, Medium, and Dark options. The color options include Red, Orange, Green, Blue, and Purple colors. 4. To create a custom-colored checkerboard pattern for the grid, select Custom from the Grid Colors drop-down menu. 5. Click the swatch colors below the Grid Colors drop-down menu to bring up the Color Picker dialog box as shown in Figure 4-2. Pick the colors you want and then press OK. The colors you picked are displayed in the preview square. Figure 4-2: Choosing a color for the Photoshop grid 6. If your graphics card supports the overlay of images on top of a live video signal and you want to make use of this feature, select the Use Video Alpha checkbox. 7. To change the color that’s used to indicate a gamut warning, click the Color swatch under Gamut Warning. This brings up the Color Picker dialog box. Pick the color you want and then click OK. 8. To adjust the opacity of the gamut warning color, enter a percentage in the Opacity text field or click the triangle and adjust the slider. Photoshop Basics 9 Task 4 cross-reference • To learn more about outof-gamut warning, check out Task 46 about proofing colors
Part 1 Task 5 Setting Units and Rulers Preferences he old builder's adage "measure twice; cut once"holds just as true in digital naging as it does in woodworking. If you don't measure your images care ully in the correct units, you might end up with an image that is too small or too large for your purposes. In the Units Rulers preferences you can choose your units for rulers, column sizes, resolutions, as well as the point or pica sizes. notes It's recommended that you you are a Macintosh user, go to the Photoshop menu and select use pixels for the rulers Preferences 5 Units Rulers to open the Units Rulers and points for type. Preferences dialog box. If you are working on the Windows platform, Leaving the default print hoose edit s Preferences and select units rulers. If the dialog box from the previous task, select Units Rulers from the acceptable, but check with drop-down menu at the top of the dialog box your printer or client to ensure you are designing 2. In the Units Rulers preferences dialog box(see Figure 5-1), under for the correct dimensions. Units, you can select several units for Rulers: pixels, inches, You don't want to change measurements dunng the (centimeters), mm(millimeters), points, picas, or percent. middle of a project and realize you need to start W国8(m igure 5-1: The Units Rulers preferences dialog box
Setting Units and Rulers Preferences The old builder’s adage “measure twice; cut once” holds just as true in digital imaging as it does in woodworking. If you don’t measure your images carefully in the correct units, you might end up with an image that is too small or too large for your purposes. In the Units & Rulers preferences you can choose your units for rulers, column sizes, resolutions, as well as the point or pica sizes. 1. If you are a Macintosh user, go to the Photoshop menu and select Preferences ➪ Units & Rulers to open the Units & Rulers Preferences dialog box. If you are working on the Windows platform, choose Edit ➪ Preferences and select Units & Rulers. If you are in the dialog box from the previous task, select Units & Rulers from the drop-down menu at the top of the dialog box. 2. In the Units & Rulers preferences dialog box (see Figure 5-1), under Units, you can select several units for Rulers: pixels, inches, cm (centimeters), mm (millimeters), points, picas, or percent. Figure 5-1: The Units & Rulers preferences dialog box notes • It’s recommended that you use pixels for the rulers and points for type. • Leaving the default print resolution at 300 ppi is acceptable, but check with your printer or client to ensure you are designing for the correct dimensions. You don’t want to change measurements during the middle of a project and realize you need to start over. 10 Part 1 Task 5
Photoshop Basics 3. Under Units, you can select the units for Type: pixels, points, or mm. A pixel is on grid unit on a computer screen. One point is equ Task 5 to h2 inch and 25. 4 millimeters(mm)is one inch. 4. Under Column Size, you can specify the Width and Gutter measure ments for placing images into a desktop publishing program. These settings enable you to precisely place an image in a set number of 5. The print and screen resolutions are set under New Document Preset Resolutions. When you are creating a new image, Photoshop To access the Units presents the values you place here as editable settings before creatin ers preferences while he image. These values can be set in pixels per inch or pixels per orking on an image, press Cul+R to show the rulers 6. Under Point/Pica Size you find two options: PostScript and Traditional. Post Script sets picas at a value of 72 pixels per inch(ppi) Since Photoshop uses whereas Traditional places the value at 72. 27 ppi Postscript and creates digi tal files, it's best to stick 7. Another way to change units is in the Info palette, which with the PostScript option changes the preference setting. To change the units thro this alternative method, select Windows 4 Info to open Info palette 8. Click the crosshairs in the lower lefthand corner of the Info palette Select the units you want from the drop-down menu with the avail able units will appear as shown in Figure 5-2 Figure 5-2: The units available from the Info palette rOSS- ance and angles in images, see Task 25
tips • To access the Units & Rulers preferences while working on an image, press Ctrl+R to show the rulers and then double-click a ruler. • Since Photoshop uses PostScript and creates digital files, it’s best to stick with the PostScript option under Point/Pica Size. 3. Under Units , you can select the units for Type: pixels, points, or mm. A pixel is on grid unit on a computer screen. One point is equal to 1 ⁄72 inch and 25.4 millimeters (mm) is one inch. 4. Under Column Size, you can specify the Width and Gutter measurements for placing images into a desktop publishing program. These settings enable you to precisely place an image in a set number of columns. 5. The print and screen resolutions are set under New Document Preset Resolutions. When you are creating a new image, Photoshop presents the values you place here as editable settings before creating the image. These values can be set in pixels per inch or pixels per centimeter. 6. Under Point/Pica Size you find two options: PostScript and Traditional. PostScript sets picas at a value of 72 pixels per inch (ppi), whereas Traditional places the value at 72.27 ppi. 7. Another way to change units is in the Info palette, which also changes the preference setting. To change the units through this alternative method, select Windows ➪ Info to open the Info palette. 8. Click the crosshairs in the lower lefthand corner of the Info palette. Select the units you want from the drop-down menu with the available units will appear as shown in Figure 5-2. Figure 5-2: The units available from the Info palette Photoshop Basics 11 Task 5 cross-reference • To see how to measure distance and angles in images, see Task 25
Part 1 Task 6 Setting Guides, Grid, and Slices Preferences default color for guides and slices in Photoshop is light blue. When you are working on an image that contains the color blue or if you just dont like the default color, you can change the color of these helpful guides, grids, and slices to a more suitable color using the Guides, Grid Slices preferences dialog box. 1. If you are a Macintosh user, go to the Photoshop menu and select Preferences s Guides, Grid Slices to bring up this dialog box. As Windows user, select Edit s Preferences and select Guides, grid Slices. If you are in the dialog box from the previous task, select Guides, Grid Slices from the dropdown menu at the top of the dialog box. See figure 6-1 Guides, Crid&si图 caor(口Ca Une Cole Figure 6-1: The Guides, Grid Slices preference dialog box 2. To change the color of the guides, select from a predetermined list of colors in the drop-down menu or select Custom to pick your own color. If you select Custom, Photoshop's color picker pops up. Select the color you want and then press Ok. The default gui or Is 3. You can choose among two styles for guides: Lines(default) and Dashed lines 4. To change the color settings of the grid, you can select a color to your liking from a pre-determined list of colors in the drop-down menu or pick your own color by selecting Custom. If you select Custom, you' ll get Photoshops color picker(see Figure 6-2), which nables you to select the color you want. Press OK when finished 5. You can choose from three styles for the lines: Lines(default) Dashed Lines, and Dots(see Figure 6-3)
Setting Guides, Grid, and Slices Preferences The default color for guides and slices in Photoshop is light blue. When you are working on an image that contains the color blue or if you just don’t like the default color, you can change the color of these helpful guides, grids, and slices to a more suitable color using the Guides, Grid & Slices preferences dialog box. 1. If you are a Macintosh user, go to the Photoshop menu and select Preferences ➪ Guides, Grid & Slices to bring up this dialog box. As a Windows user, select Edit ➪ Preferences and select Guides, Grid & Slices. If you are in the dialog box from the previous task, select Guides, Grid & Slices from the dropdown menu at the top of the dialog box. See Figure 6-1. Figure 6-1: The Guides, Grid & Slices preference dialog box 2. To change the color of the guides, select from a predetermined list of colors in the drop-down menu or select Custom to pick your own color. If you select Custom, Photoshop’s color picker pops up. Select the color you want and then press OK. The default guide color is light blue. 3. You can choose among two styles for guides: Lines (default) and Dashed Lines. 4. To change the color settings of the grid, you can select a color to your liking from a pre-determined list of colors in the drop-down menu or pick your own color by selecting Custom. If you select Custom, you’ll get Photoshop’s color picker (see Figure 6-2), which enables you to select the color you want. Press OK when finished. 5. You can choose from three styles for the lines: Lines (default), Dashed Lines, and Dots (see Figure 6-3). 12 Part 1 Task 6
Photoshop Basics Task Color:Cu Gridline every o66 Select guide color tibs You might want to change default colors for the v sow Miee N that stands out more Os 100 s o (R:153 5, B: 0), or ay other Keeping numbers on the lices is helpful for a cou- ple of reasons. It helps in Figure 6-2: Selecting a custom color for guides the automatic numbering of file names when creating easier to update only a slice of an image rather than having to rename the mages all over again. Figure 6-3: An example of a grid set to dots with two guides 6. If you want, you can change the intervals of the gridline. A gridline can be placed at any number of units per pixels, inche area and dragging then cm (cente into view. To learn mot ters), mm(millimeters), points, picas, or percent. You can also select about rulers, see Task 26. the number of subdivision lines that occur in between each gridline 7. You can change the line color for slices, but only to a set of nine colors The default color is, once again, light blue 8. When you create slices with the Slice tool, they are automatically numbered starting with the first slice at the top left corner of the mage. If you select Show Slice Numbers under Slices you can make those numbers visible
tips • You might want to change the default colors for the slices and guides to a color that stands out more against image-rich designs. Try neon green (R: 153, G: 255, B: 0), or any other neon color. • Keeping numbers on the slices is helpful for a couple of reasons. It helps in the automatic numbering of file names when creating Web-ready graphics out of the Slices. It also makes it easier to update only a slice of an image rather than having to rename the images all over again. Figure 6-2: Selecting a custom color for guides Figure 6-3: An example of a grid set to dots with two guides 6. If you want, you can change the intervals of the gridline. A gridline can be placed at any number of units per pixels, inches, cm (centimeters), mm (millimeters), points, picas, or percent.You can also select the number of subdivision lines that occur in between each gridline. 7. You can change the line color for slices, but only to a set of nine colors. The default color is, once again, light blue. 8. When you create slices with the Slice tool, they are automatically numbered starting with the first slice at the top left corner of the image. If you select Show Slice Numbers under Slices you can make those numbers visible. Photoshop Basics 13 Task 6 cross-reference • Guides are created after clicking rulers in an image area and dragging them into view. To learn more about rulers, see Task 26