What is digital imaging

Wikipedia says that

Digital imaging or digital image acquisition is the creation of photographic images, such as of a physical scene or of the interior structure of an object. The term is often assumed to imply or include the processing, compression, storage, printing, and display of such images.

The ECDL Foundation, who prescribe the European Computer Driving Licence curriculum, have used the phrase image-editing to mean working with images using image editing software (eg Photoshop).   Their curriculum (see my notes on it) doesn't include creating or capturing digital images, presumably because this is regarded as photography. 

Some local institutions which teach this image-editing curriculum use Digital Imaging as the title of their courses.

As the lines between computers and cameras has blurred (to the point where all cameras are now computers, and most computers and mobile phones include a camera), the distinction between image capture and image editing has become less useful.

The working definition in this blog is that Digital Imaging is working with digital images in any way:

• creating them, 
• editing or manipulating them, 
• outputting (on any medium - via a printer, plotter, screen)
• managing them  (storing, filing / cataloging, sharing, archiving, deleting).

ECDL syllabus and these notes WIP

Links between the ECDL Digital Imaging syllabus and my notes about each item on it when Photoshop is the application being used.

1 Imaging Concepts

1.1 Digital Images

1.1.1 Identify common uses of digital images
Web and print publishing, distribution by e-mail and mobile phone, home printing, digital photo frames.

1.1.2 Understand the terms pixel, resolution and identify the key features of a digital image: composed of discrete pixels, represented digitally in binary code.
My notes:  Basic imaging concepts

1.1.3 Understand the terms lossy, lossless image file compression.
My notes:   some common imaging formats

1.1.4 Understand the term copyright and the implications for image use. Understand the terms royalty-free images and rights-managed images.
My notes:   copyright, digital images and rights management

1.2 Graphic Formats

1.2.1 Understand the terms raster and vector graphics and distinguish between them. Identify common raster (jpeg, gif) and vector (svg, eps) formats.
My notes:   Types of graphics - raster vs vector

1.2.2 Recognize proprietary digital image editing application formats: psd, psp, xcf, cpt.
My notes:   some common imaging formats

1.3 Colour concepts

1.3.1 Understand the term colour model and recognize common colour models: RGB, HSB, CMYK, grayscale.
My notes:  colour concepts

1.3.2 Understand the terms colour palette, colour depth.
My notes:  colour concepts

1.3.3 Understand the terms hue, saturation, colour balance.
My notes:  colour concepts

1.3.4 Understand the terms contrast, brightness, gamma.
My notes:  colour concepts

1.3.5 Understand the term transparency.
My notes:  colour concepts

2 Image Capture

2.1 Capturing Images

2.1.1 Save an image from a digital camera to a location on a drive.
My notes:  saving an image from a digital camera to your computer

2.1.2 Use the print screen facility to capture a full screen, active window.
My notes:  using the PrintScreen function in Windows

2.1.3 Save an image from an image library, web page to a location on a drive.
My notes:  Image capture - saving a web-page to your computer

2.1.4 Open a scanning application and scan an image: preview, set scanning parameters, scan, save.
My notes:  Image capture - scanning a document

3 Using the Application

3.1 Image Creation

3.1.1 Open, close an image editing application. Open, close image files.
3.1.2 Create a new image file and set options: colour model, size, resolution, background colour.
3.1.3 Create a new image file from clipboard.
3.1.4 Switch between open image files.
3.1.5 Save an image to a location on a drive. Save an image under another name to a location on a drive.
3.1.6 Save, export an image as another file type like: jpeg, gif, tiff, png.

3.2 Settings 

3.2.1 Set background colour, foreground colour.
3.2.2 Set grid properties: units, horizontal spacing, vertical spacing, colour.

3.3 Enhancing Productivity

3.3.1 Set basic options/ preferences in the application like: transparency, grid settings, measurement units.

3.3.2 Use available Help functions.

3.3.3 Use magnification/zoom tools.

3.3.4 Use the undo, redo command. Use the undo history.

3.3.5 Display, hide built-in toolbars, palettes, windows.

4 Working with Images

4.1 Selection

4.1.1 Select an entire image, layer(s).
4.1.2 Set selection tool properties: relationship between multiple selections, feathering, antialiasing, width, height.
4.1.3 Select part of an image using selection tools: rectangular, elliptic, magic wand, magnetic lasso, freehand image.
4.1.4 Inverse a selection.
4.1.5 Save a selection, load a saved selection.
My notes:   Basic image actions

4.2 Image Manipulations

4.2.1 Change the canvas size of an image.

4.2.2 Resize an image in pixels, measurement units.

4.2.3 Crop an image.

4.2.4 Copy, move image(s), selection within an image.

4.2.5 Rotate, mirror an image, selection within an image.

4.3 Layers 

4.3.1 Define and understand the term layer.
4.3.2 Create, copy, delete a layer.
4.3.3 Set layer properties: name, hide, show, lock, opacity, blending mode.
4.3.4 Arrange, merge, link, flatten layers.
4.3.5 Transform layer(s): scale, rotate, flip, move, trim.
4.3.6 Convert a drawn object to a raster layer.
My notes:   Working with layers in Photoshop

4.3.7 Create an animated gif from layers.
My notes: 

• How to create an animated GIF using Photoshop
• How to make animated GIF using GIMP  (link to external article)

4.4 Text

4.4.1 Add, edit, delete text.
4.4.2 Copy, move text.
4.4.3 Align text: left, centre, right, justified.
4.4.4 Apply text formatting: font sizes, font types, font colour.
4.4.5 Apply a text warp.
My notes:   Working with text in Photoshop

4.5 Effects and Filters 

4.5.1 Apply artistic, distortion effects: pixelate, emboss, wind, ripple, twirl, desaturate.
4.5.2 Apply blur effects: gaussian, motion.
4.5.3 Apply lighting effects: lighting, flare.
4.5.4 Apply adjustments: brightness, contrast, hue-saturation, colour balance.
4.5.5 Apply sharpen, unsharpen mask.
4.5.6 Apply red eye reduction. 

My notes:

• Effects vs Filters in Photoshop
• Adjusting images in Photoshop (filters etc)
• Red eye recuction in Photoshop

5 Drawing and Painting

5.1 Drawing Tools 

5.1.1 Add a line to an image: straight line, free drawn line, curves. Set, modify line weight, style and colour.

5.1.2 Add a shape to an image: rectangle, ellipse, n-shaped polygon. Set, modify line, fill style and colour.

5.2 Painting Tools

5.2.1 Pick up a colour value with the dropper.

5.2.2 Fill a portion of an image with the gradient tool, selecting opacity/transparency, radial, linear, position, rotation.

5.2.3 Colour a portion of an image with the paintbrush tool, selecting colour, shape, size.

5.2.4 Erase a portion of an image with the eraser tool, selecting its shape and size.

5.2.5 Fill a portion of an image with colour using the paint bucket tool.

5.2.6 Clone a portion of an image using a clone tool, selecting size, opacity.

6 Prepare Outputs

6.1 Setup

6.1.1 Preview an image.
6.1.2 Select appropriate colour depth, resolution, image size, graphic format for web, screen, print use.

6.2 Print 

6.2.1 Change print output orientation: portrait, landscape. Change paper size.
6.2.2 Print an image to an installed printer using defined options, default settings.

My notes for this whole section:   Preparing image output from Photoshop

Photoshop - basic image actions

Before doing any action in Phtotshop, you need to select the correct layer to work on.

How to select a layer

1. Use the Select drop down menu and choose all layer OR

2. Click on them in the layers tab.



Once you have selected a layer, you need to choose which part of the image on that layer to work on

How to select a whole image

• Use a selection tool: Click once to select; click again to deselect  OR
• Use a keyboard shortcut: the fastest whole-image selection, is Ctrl+A (Windows) or command+A (Mac).  OR
•  Use menu command: Selection > Select All (or similar - may chancge between versions)

Note: other useful items on the Selection menu: Select None or Deselect (Ctrl/d) that turns off an existing selection.

Use one of these tools to select part of an image:

• Lasso
• Polygonal Lasso
• Magnetic Lasso
• Elliptical Marquee
• Magic Wand
• (and more?)

Note that once you have selected the tool, you can see its options bar - tools have different options.

Properties of the Selection tools 

The Lasso, Polygonal Lasso, Magnetic Lasso tools are hidden in the Toolbox under one and the same icon. The icon on the Toolbox displays the last selected tool. Use the floating menu to choose one of these others. To access it, right-click on the arrow in the lower right corner of the displayed icon.

The Lasso tool 

This is useful for drawing freeform segments of a selection Select the Lasso tool, and set feathering and anti-aliasing in the options bar. (See Soften the edges of selections.), and then use the mouse to draw the border of the area.

The options bar has selectors for a new selection, or

• add to,
• subtract from,
• intersect with

the existing selection.


With the Lasso tool, you can:

• Drag to draw a freehand selection border.
• Switch between freehand and straight-edged selection by pressing Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac).
• Click where segments should begin and end.
• Erase recently-drawn straight segments by pressing the Delete key.
• Close the selection border by releasing the mouse without holding down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac).
• Optional - Click Refine Edge to adjust the selection boundary.

To use the Lasso tool

• Select the tool
• Click at the first point of the area to be selected using the left button
• Left-click at points around the area, to outline it.

The Rectangular marquee tool

This is used to select rectangular and square areas.

• Activate it by clicking on the icon or select it from the floating window.
• Put the mouse cursor where the corner of an imaginary rectangular should be, and press the left button.
• Keeping the left button pressed, move the cursor to the diagonally-opposite corner
• Release the button.

To select a square area keep the SHIFT key pressed while selecting. But remember that this will also add the new selection to any existing selection.

The Elliptical marquee tool 

This is used to select ellipses and circles.

• Select the Elliptical marquee tool from the Toolbox by clicking on the icon or select it from the floating window.
• Put the cursor at the point where the corner of an imaginary rectangular with an inscribed ellipse should be
• Press the left button.
• Keeping the left button pressed, move the cursor to the diagonally-opposite corner
• Release the button.

Select a circular area by keeping the SHIFT key pressed. But remember that this will also add the new selection to any existing selection.

Alternative: hold the Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) key while when selecting an elliptical or a rectangular area, and the selection is made from the center to borders, instead of corner to corner.

The Polygonal Lasso 

This is also used to make freehand selections, but the contour of the selections is made up of straight segments. To use it:

• Select the Polygonal Lasso tool
• Put the cursor on any point that is to be part of the outline,
• Click the left mouse button, to mark the first point of the contour.
• Move the cursor an adjoining point of the contour and left-click it: a straight-line selection will be made between the two points.
• Repeat the previous step until the 2nd-to-last point is made.
• Click on the first point (which is also the last point) again to close the contour.

The Magnetic Lasso 
This is also used to make a freehand selection, but you don't have to follow the contour of the object precisely: any object that stands out against the background of the selected area is traced automatically when you move the cursor along the object. To use it:

• Select the Magnetic Lasso tool
• Put the cursor on any point on the edge of the object to be selected
• Hold down the left button and start dragging the cursor along the object. Fastening points will appear as you outline the object and when you make a click. If a one is irrelevant, remove it by pressing the DELETE key and return to the previous fastening point to continue outlining the object.
• Close the contour by joining the first fastening point to the last one by bringing the cursor to the first point or by making a double-click.

The Magic Wand tool 

This elects a consistently coloured area.  The options bar has a place to set the Tolerance - for this, the higher the tolerance, the more colours will be selected with a single click. Valid values are 0 to 255:  0 means only one colour is selected, 2255 means all colours in the image will be selected.

To use it:
1. Select the magic wand tool.
2. Move the cursor to a pixel which must be in the selection and left-click. 
When you do this, an outline ("marching ants") appears around the pixel, and all other pixels in image with a similar colour, within the specified Tolerance value.

These selection tools are efficient due to the flexibility of their usage: you can add to, subtract from or intersect a selection.

• Add by holding the SHIFT key.
• subtract by holding the Alt (Option in Macintosh) key 
• Intersect by holding the SHIFT and Alt (Shift and Option in Macintosh) keys 

 while selecting more pixels with the "same" colour.

Invert a selection

Inverting a selection swaps the currenly selected and unselected areas  (so currently unselected becomes selected)

Use it from the menus, by choosing Select > Inverse.

Hint:  this is the easiest way to select an object which is set against a solid-colored area:  just select the solid colour with the Magic Wand tool, and the use Select > Inverse.

Softening the edges of a selection

There are two techniques for this.

Anti-aliasing smooths the jagged edges of a selection by softening the colour transition between edge pixels and background pixels. Only the edge pixels change, so no detail is lost. This technique is useful when cutting, copying, and pasting selections to create composite images.

Anti-aliasing is available for these tools:
Lasso
Polygonal Lasso
Magnetic Lasso
Elliptical Marquee
Magic Wand


You need to specify anti-aliasing before using the selection tool -  you cannot add it after selection.   Therefore to use it:

1. Select the tool.
2. Select Anti-aliased in the options bar.
3. Select the area to be anti-aliased.

Feathering blurs edges by building a transition boundary between the selection and the surrounding pixels. This may cause some loss of detail at the edge of the selection. 

Feathering is available for these tools:

• Marquee
• Lasso
• Polygonal Lasso
• Magnetic Lasso tool

Feathering effects only show after you move, cut, copy, or fill a selection.   So to use feathering

1. Select a tool.
2. Enter a Feather value in the options bar. (from 0 to 250 pixels)
3. Select the area to be feathered
4. CHECK - IS THIS WHERE YOU NEED TO CUT/COPY AND THEN PASTE?

To define a feathered edge for an existing selection
1. Choose Select > Modify > Feather.
2. Enter a value for the Feather Radius, and click OK.

Issues with feathering:
A small selection made with a large feather radius may be so faint that its edges are invisible and therefore not selectable. If you see the message “No pixels are more than 50% selected,” either decrease the feather radius or increase the size of the selection. Or click OK to accept the mask at its current setting and create a selection in which you cannot see the edges.

Facts for marketing about cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is “digital money” (a means of payment) that isn't controlled by any single entity (eg a bank or a government). This gives people and organisations using it more anonymity than normal online payments, the payment experience is simple, with few / no fees or middleman.

Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency (created in 2009), there are now 1,000+ of them, all tryng to get market share. Eg Dash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Monero.

Most cryptocurrencies work using blockchain technology: essentially an encrypted ledger of transactions simultaneously kept and updated by a very large number of peer-to-peer computers in a decentralized network, based on a set of cryptographic rules.

Not relying on a single certification authority, means that blockchain can be sure that every cryptocurrency unit can only be spent once and transactions can't be forged.

One way to create cryptocurrency units is mining: people use powerful computers to solve complex cryptographic puzzles (complex mathematical equations).
Blockchain is important beause the underlying concept has potential for many more valuable business uses. No one can change data stored in a blockchain so it's always a “single source of truth”
Possible applications of blockchain are many and it's currently in the very early stages.

Some possible ways that blockchain will affect business:

• Frictionless transactions – faster and easier buying experience, with less fees and delays. Sellers get immediate cash flow, full transaction value (no fees to a middleman), and no the possibility of chargebacks and fraudulent credit card transactions. 
• Greater customer privacy – cryptocurrency transactions don't have to reveal the customer’s identity. So Marketing might not automatically get the data they get today.
• Fewer data breaches – with cryptocurrency transactions, seller deosn't store any personal payment details that could be stolen in a data breach. 
• Micropayments – consumers paying small amounts for things like consuming content - so publishers and vendors could earn revenues, without using ads. Cryptocurrencies may finally make micropayments viable (maybe). 

Why to consider accepting cryptocurrencies now:

• To attract customers who prefer to pay using cryptocurrencies such for privacy or who are attracted to more tech-savvy businesses. 
• To get experience with this new payment method. 
• Media coverage if it's new in your industry

Risks and issues
Volatility in the value of cryptocurrencies, due to no government backing
Limted circulation, newness, high-risk investment vehicle
Some major companies accept Bitcoin now (eg Microsoft, Amazon, Apple App Store, Home Depot, Victoria’s Secret, Dell, Expedia) but they are large enough to take the volatility risks
Volatility may or may not disappear with maturity,

Brush tool details

Photoshop's Brush tool draws lines and shapes, using strokes.

At their most basic, brushes let you achieve the same effect as physical media like paint or colouring pens. But they can be used other things, eg textures, patterns and lighting too.

As well as the standard brushes that come with Photoshop, designers can create others and release them as .ABR (a-brush?) files.

Installing brushes

If you get 3rd party .abr files, you can install them by

• Dragging and dropping them into Photoshop (for versions that support this)
• From the menu, choose, Edit > Presets > Preset Manager. Then select Brushes from the dropdown, and use the Load button to add them.

Configuring brushes

Once a brush is selected, there are settings:

• In the top toolbar for the type of brush, size, mode, opacity, and flow of the brush.
• In the brush panel (menu Window > Brush) - options for shape dynamics, scattering, texture, dual brush, colour dynamics, transfer, noise, wet-edge, airbrush, smoothing, protect-texture.

Using brushes

Single click for a single brush stroke, or hold the mouse button and drag the cursor around to create effects.

How to use filters to sharpen something in Photoshop

Use Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp mask     

Effects (fx) vs Filters

An effect is applied to a selected item   (eg text, shape).

A filter is applied to a whole image.

How to draw an N-sided star, using Photoshop

Select the Polygon tool from the toolbar

In the options bar, enter the number of points the star should have into the Sides option

Then choose the Custom Polygon drop-down, and tick the Star option

Click and drag on the canvas to draw the star.

Adjusting images in Photoshop

How to adjust an image

1. Select the image that you want to change.
   
2. From the menu, choose Imag > Adjustments > Color Balance (or one of the other third-level adjustment options)
   
3. Select the tones of that want to work onOptiosn are Shadows, Midtones, or Highlights
   Usually, Midtones is the best choice, unless your image has a colorcast in the shadows or highlights that doesn’t affect the overall image. That sometimes happens when a subject is close to a colored wall or other object that reflects light onto, for example, the shadowed side of a subject.
   
4. Preserve LuminosityWhen this option is selected, Photoshop modifies the colors of the image, but the brightness and contrast of the tones stay the same. If you’re not happy with the results, deselect the option.
   
   
5. Add or subtract colourMove the Cyan/Red, Magenta/Green, or Yellow/Blue slider to add or subtract color, watching the effects of your adjustments on the original image.

How to use red-eye reduction in Photoshop

This is a tool which removes red colouring cuased by reflected light in some early digital photos - it is not usually required with photos taken by modern cameras.

How to reduce red-eye

1. Ensure you are working with a file with a RGB or Lab color model
2. Open the original photo with red-eye showing.
3. Select the Red Eye tool (on multi tool like band aid).
4. Single-click the red portion of the eye in the image.

With this one click, the tool darkens the pupil and while keeping the tonality and texture of the eye. You can adjust the quaility of the results by altering these options for the tool

• Pupil Size: Use the slider to increase or decrease the size of the pupil.
• Darken Pupil: Use the slider to darken or lighten the color of the pupil.

Questions

text - character panel - what is kearning / tracking?



Put an image into a shape (eg circle)
Open the image
Make sure your image is above the shape layer in the Layers panel.




How to do a white (whatever) outline around an image?


Transform - what do these really mean?
Perspective - Applies one‑point perspective to an item.
Warp - Manipulates the shape of an item.



tables for text - any support?

circular

 Answered

Syllabus - text warp - just an option

Fixing headshot with deep shadow spot - use the spot-healing and patch tools to take colour from another area and put it into the troublesome one
How does   Use Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp mask      work - example?

How to pick black / white  (ans = items on the toolbar.   note also the swap foreground / background)

How to blend edges of pictures together to make a collage?

• background colour
• images in separate layers
• feather edges
• smudge - burn - dodge tools (these aren't covered in the introductory course - need to research separately)

Best fix for lens flares?  No specific one, use a mix of spot healing and others

Magnetic lasso- how to correct wrong segments while selecting?   Best to avoid using it.  Just do multi-select with the magic-wand instead

Documenting layers - is there any kind of notes field beyond the layer-name, eg to keep a note of the image source?
No, not on a layer by layer basis.   There is a File Information field.   Otherwise just keep images in a folder and keep a notes file there.

Working with text to a layer in Photoshop

How to add text

From the toolbar, select the Horizontal Type tool or the Vertical Type tool .
Do one of the following:

• To create a single line of text, click in the image to set an insertion point for the type.
• To create paragraph text, drag a rectangle to create a textbox for the type.
  
  
  • The small line through the I beam marks the position of the type baseline. 
  • For horizontal type, the baseline marks the line on which the type rests; 
  • For vertical type, the baseline marks the center axis of the type characters.

Select type options, such as font, style, size, and color, in the Tool Options bar - ideally before you start typing.

Available options are

Font Family - Applies a font family to new or existing text.
Font Style - Applies font styles, such as bold, to new or existing text.
Font Size - Applies a font size to new or existing text.
Alignment - Aligns the text left, centre or right justified.
Colour menu - Applies a colour to new text or selected text.
Leading menu - Sets the space between lines of new or selected text.
Faux Bold - Applies a bold style to new or existing text. Only use this if the font you select doesn’t have a true bold style that you can select from the Font Style menu.
Faux Italic - Applies an italic style to new or existing text. Only use this if the font you select doesn’t have a true italic or oblique style that you can select from the Font Style menu.
Underline - Applies an underline to new text or selected existing text.
Strikethrough - Applies a line through new text or selected existing text.
Align Text - Specifies text alignment. If text orientation is horizontal, lets you align text: left, center, or right. For vertical orientaion text: top, center, or bottom.
Toggle Text Orientation - Changes vertical text to horizontal and horizontal text to vertical.
Warp text - Warps text on the selected layer.
Anti-aliased - Applies anti-aliasing to make text appear smoother.

Working with Layers in Photoshop

What is a Layer

Photoshop layers are like plastic sleeve protectors, stacked one on top of each other. You can see through the transparent areas in a layer, and so see the contents of the layer(s) below it.

You move a layer to position the content in it, like moving a sleeve protector in the stack.

You can also change the opacity of a layer to make content partially transparent, so that viewers cannot fully see through it.

Layers are used for tasks like:

• compositing multiple images
• adding text to an image
• adding vector graphic shapes to an image
• add a special effects such as a drop shadow or a glow.

How to see the layers in a Photoshop file

Turn on the Layers panel (Window > Layers) to see what layers are present in a PSD file - you should have this on almost all the time when you are working with Photoshop.

Selecting  VS seeing layers

• To select a layer - click on it in the Layers Panel. It turns blue, and so you know it is the active layer.
• To have a layer visible in the screen, turn on the eye to the right of its name in the Layers Panel.

Just because you can see a layer in the main screen doesn't mean you are working on it: the changes you make at any time are made to the currently selected layer only.

Only layers that are visible will be included in any action you do - eg printing. Hiding layers while you print can be useful if you need to have several versions of an image within the same document. You can view selective layers, print them, get a decision on what to go ahead with and then delete the layers with the unwanted versions.

Actions you can do with Layers

How to make a new layer

• Menus, Layer > New OR
• Use the icon next to the trash can in the layers panel  OR
• Right click on an existing layer, and choose Duplicate  OR
• Select something on an existing layer or background, and choose Layer > New→Layer via Copy. The copied selection is placed on a new layer with the default name of Layer 1.

How to remove a layer

• Right clicking on it in the Layers panel and select Delete from the drop down menu  OR
• Use the trash can icon in the layers panel 

How to rearrange Layers

To move a layer to another position in the stacking order, drag it up or down in the Layers panel. While you drag, you see a fist icon. Release your mouse button when a highlighted line appears where you want to insert the layer.

Alternatively, use menu commands: select the layer (or layer group) and choosing Layer > Arrange - and select a commands from the submenu. Options are
• Bring to Front and Send to Back: Send the layer to the very top or very bottom of the stacking order.
• Bring Forward and Send Backward: Move the layer one level up or down.
• Reverse: Switches the order of two or more selected layers.

If your image has a background, it is always remains the very bottom layer. If you need to move the background, convert it to a layer by double-clicking the name in the Layers panel and enter a name for it.

How to Lock a layer

Select the layer in the Layers pane, then and select one or more of the lock options at the top of the Layers panel

• Choose Layer→Lock Layers from the menu OR
• Select Lock Layers from the Layers panel menu.

Why to lock a layer?   You do this when, for whatever reason, you are certain you don't want to change it, and don't want to risk accidental changes while you are working with other layers.

How to change the opacity (or Fill Opacity) of a Layer

Select one or more layers in the Layers pane, then access the slider by either

• clicking the right-pointing arrow,
• entering a percentage value in the Opacity text box, or
• simply scrubbing over the word Opacity (it converts to a two-way arrow).

Alternatively, double-click a layer thumbnail, then

• Choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options from the menu or
• Select Blending Options from the Layers panel menu. (Clicking the triangle in the top-right corner opens the menu.)

How to transform a Layer

Select the layer in the Layers Panel.

1. Choose Edit > Transform from the menus
2. Choose the transformation you want to apply from the submenu.

Available transformations include

• Scale Enlarges or reduces an item relative to its reference point, the fixed point around which transformations are performed. You can scale horizontally, vertically, or both horizontally and vertically.
• Rotate - Turns an item around a reference point. By default, this point is at the center of the object; however, you can move it to another location.
• Skew - Slants an item vertically and horizontally.
• Distort - Stretches an item in all directions.
• Perspective - Applies one‑point perspective to an item.
• Warp - Manipulates the shape of an item.
• Rotate - rotates the item by the specified number of degrees, either clockwise (CW) or counterclockwise (CCW)
• Flip - Flips the item vertically or horizontally.

These can be used on individual items as well as whole layers - but if you find yourself doing this, it's good practise to put the item in a layer of its own.

Merging, Linking and Flattening Layers

Merging

Combines visible, linked, or adjacent layers into a single layer. The intersection of all transparent areas is retained. You can merge layers or layer groups. You can also merge adjustment or fill layers, but they can’t act as the target layer for the merge. Merging layers can help decrease your file size and make your document more manageable. But you can still only use a file format which supports layers.

Flattening an image

Combines all visible layers into a background. Hidden layers are deleted, and any transparent areas are filled with white.   Flattening is usually only used when you’re completely finished editing and image.

Converting an image from one colour mode to another may cause the file to flatten.   Watch for warning dialog box about this, and if necessary make a backup copy of the file in native Photoshop format in the current colour made, in case you need to access things from the layers again.

How to Merge Layers

• Ensure that the layers and layer sets you want to merge are all visible.
• Right click and choose Merge Visible from the Layers panel menu or the Layer menu.
• All visible layers are smushed into a single layer.

If you hold down Alt (Option on the Mac) when choosing Layer→Merge Visible, Photoshop will; merges those layers onto a new one and leave the original layers intact.

Alternative method of merging layers

• Arrange the layer or layer groups that you want to merge adjacent to each other in the Layers panel.
• Select the top layer of those you want merged.
• From the Layers panel menu or the Layer menu, choose choose Merge Down  (or f the top layer is a layer group, Merge Group.)

This merges your selected layer with the N layers directly below it
.

How to Link layers

• Select the layers 
• right click when the layers are selected and click on Link.

Rasterizing Layers

Various functions (painting tools, filters) cannot be used on layers containing vector data (eg text layers, shape layers, vector masks, or Smart Objects) or generated data (eg fill layers).

But you can rasterize these layers to change their contents into a flat, raster image, which these functions can work on.

How to rasterize a layer

1. Select the layer(s)
2. From the menu, choose Layer > Rasterize, and then choose an option from the sub-menu:

• Type - rasterizes the type on a type layer. It does not rasterize any other vector data on the layer.
• Shape- rasterizes a shape layer.
• Fill Content - fasterizes the fill of a shape layer, leaving the vector mask.
• Vector Mask - vasterizes the vector mask on a layer, turning it into a layer mask.
• Smart Object - Converts a Smart Object into a raster layer.
• Video - rasterizes the current video frame to an image layer.
• 3D (Extended only) - rasterizes the current view of 3D data into a flat raster layer.
• Layer - rasterizes all vector data on the selected layers.
• All Layers - rasterizes all layers that contain vector and generated data.

To rasterize linked layers

1. Choose one a linked layer
2. From the menu, choose Layer > Select Linked Layers,
3. Rasterize as above

Image capture - scanning a document or image using Windows Fax and Scan

Firstly, make sure that the scanner is properly installed and turned on.

1. Start the Windows Fax and Scan program on your computer
2. Click Scan at the bottom of the left pane.
3. On the toolbar, click New Scan.
4. In the New Scan dialog box, in the the Profile list, choose Documents to scan a text document, or Photo to scan a picture.
   This displays the default settings for the item you choose are shown. You can use them, or change them if you want to .
5. To see how your document will look when it is scanned, click Preview.
6. Click Scan
7. Save the output file in a location of your choice.

A very similar procedure is used for other software that can scan images, eg Paint.

Image capture - saving a web-page to your computer

Using Internet Explorer

• Click on the File menu
• Click on "Save As"
• In the "Save as type" field, choose "Web Archive (Single File)"

This will compile the entire web page and all of its other elements as a single file.

Using Google Chrome

• Right click on the web page
• Select "Save As"
• In the "Save as type" field, choose "Web page, Complete"

Firefox

• Right click on the web page
• Select "Save page as" 
• In the "Save as type" field, choose "Web page, Complete"

Image Capture - How to take a screen-capture of the entire screen or active window

To make an image file which shows the entire contents of the computer screen as it is now

1. Press the PrtScn key - usually this is near the top right of the keyboard

2. Open the Paint application.

3. Choose Paste (either from the menu or using the Ctrl/V keyboard shortcut).

4. To make the image smaller or bigger, use the options on the Ribbon a the top of the screen: in the Home tab, in the Image group, click Resize, and enter a new percentage or pixel size and press OK.

5. Save the file.


To make an image file which shows only the current active window, hold down the Alt key then press PrtScn. You can work with this in the same way as with a whole-screen image, ie paste it anywhere that an image can be placed.

Image Capture - How to save an Image from a digital camera to a location on a drive

If you use a digital camera, then to work on the pictures in Photoshop, you need to first transfer them from the camera onto a PC. Ways of doing this include::

Using a USB cable

Connect the camera to your PC by using a USB cable plugged in at both ends. The images must then be send into the PC from the camera, or the camera may appear as a “disk drive” in the computer's file system allowing you to locate the pictures and copy the files across. This works - but can be awkward and fiddly. Ensure that the camera battery does not go flat during the transfer.

Using a memory card

Remove the memory card from the camera, and put it into the memory card reader on the PC. When you do this you usually see an AutoPlay dialog box.

From the AutoPlay dialog box, you need to choose a program to use for transferring the images. You most likely see the options shown in the figure, including perhaps any custom software you’ve installed. Use one of the following options:

• Import Pictures Using Windows:
  All images are read from the memory card and transferred to the PC’s hard drive. The images are organised and can be viewed by using the Windows Photo Gallery program.

• Import Pictures and Videos to My Computer:
  This was a special import wizard available only in versions of Windows Vista that came with the Microsoft Digital Image Starter Edition. It gives the more control over which images are transferred to the PC.

• Open Folder to View Files:
  A Windows Explorer window opens, which lets you see files that are on the memory card. You can then manually transfer the files you want from the memory card onto the computer.

Making a softened shape to go underneath a logo or headline text

If you are making a poster with a full-size background image, and you also want to include logo or other prominent item (text-headline), then you may want to soften the background image underneath the logo etc.

The long way of doing this

1. Make a new layer
2. On it, draw a shape that is the size you want to soften
3. Make a gradient overlay affect on the shape: Choose radial gradient in fx settings, and play around with the values to get the look required.
4. To give it a soft edge, use an outer glow affect (Layer panel - right click the layer, Blending options)

Tutorial about adding gradients: http://www.photoshopbuzz.com/shape-transparent-gradient/

The fast way

1. Go to a website like https://www.freevector.com/vector/glow and download something which is close-enough to the shape you want in a vector format (eg .eps or .ai)
2. Open the file in photoshop, resize etc if necessary,
3. If necessary, apply an outer glow effect.

Preparing output from Photoshop

When you first create a Photoshop file (File > New), set it up with the size, resolution and colour model required for the the end result you need to produce.

Always save designs as

• An original photoshop (.psd) file - so that all the layers are preserved.
• An appropriate format for the item that is being produced from your design.

Output settings to use

If you are designing something for Print Media

Colour Mode: CMYK
Resolution: 300 dpi
Size: paper (etc) size it to be used: include bleed - usually an extra 3mm on all sides, but check with the printer what they need
File type: Preferred formats include .pdf or high resolution (300dpi) .jpeg

If you are designing something for Web or on-screen

Colour Mode: RGB (also used on TV screens)
Resolution: 72 or 96 dpi (72 preferred)
Size: Measured in Pixels, based on the space that the item going to be placed into.
File type: .jpeg for logos, .png for files that require transparency .gif for animated gifs or slideshow images

Printing directly from Photoshop

There are two main print commands:

• Print One Copy - Prints one copy of a file without displaying a dialog box.
• Print - Displays the Print dialog box, where you can preview the print and set options. Customised settings are saved as new defaults when you click Done or Print.

The print dialog box lets you
A. Preview print
B. Set printer and print job options
C. Set paper orientation
D. Position and scale the image
E. Specify pre-press output options
F. Specify colour management and proofing options

Start by selecting the printer, number of copies, and paper orientation.

Adjust the position and scale of the image in relation to the selected paper size and orientation.

Set Colour Management and Output options:  access these from the pop-up menu in the upper-right corner.

When you have selected the required options:

• To print the image, click Print.
• To close the dialog box without saving the options, click Cancel.
• To save the options and close the dialog box without printing, click Done.

If you see a warning that your image is larger than the printable area of the paper, start by cancelling the current print job.    Then you have two options after selecting File > Print from the menu again:

• Select the Scale To Fit Media box, OR
• Use different options for paper size and layout, under Print Settings.

Photoshop drawing and painting tools NEED TO REVIEW ALL THESE

The drawing toolbox has a number of shape options: 

• rectangle, 
• rounded rectanglel, 
• ellipse (includes circles), 
• polygons (ie N-sided items), 
• straight lines, 
• custom shapes.

Drawing a Line

1. Select the Line tool on the toolbox.
2. Click the Fill Pixels button to create raster shapes in the active foreground colour.
3. Click the Geometry options list arrow, to select from the following options:

• Arrowheads - has options for Start and/or End.
• Width. A percentage value (10 to 1000), setting the width of the arrowhead relative to the width of the line.
• Length. A percentage value (10 to 5000), setting the length of the arrowhead relative to the width of the line.
• Concavity. A percentage value (-50 to +50) setting the concavity of the arrowhead.

4. Enter a value (1 to 1,000 pixels) to determine the weight of the line.
5. Click the Mode list arrow, and then select a blending mode.
6. Enter an Opacity percentage value (1% to 100%).
7. Select the Anti-alias check box to create a visually smoother line.
8. Drag and drop in the document window to create the line.

Draw a straight line followed by curves

1. Using the Pen tool, click corner points in two locations to create a straight segment.

2. Position the Pen tool over the selected endpoint. A small diagonal line, or slash, appears next to the Pen tool. To set the slope of the curved segment you’ll create next, click the anchor point, and drag the direction line that appears.

A. Straight segment completed
B. Positioning Pen tool over endpoint
C. Dragging direction point

3. Position the pen where you want the next anchor point; then click (and drag, if desired) the new anchor point to complete the curve.

A. Positioning Pen tool
B. Dragging direction line
C. New curve segment completed

How to draw a shape
1. Select the shape you wish to draw from the shape tool.
2. On the shape-bar, set the line, fill style and colour.
3. Click and drag to make the shape.

Picking a colour using the eyedropper tool
1. Select the eye dropper tool.
2. Click on an area which contains the colour you want to pick - it will now be in your foreground.
3. To see the specifications of the colour, double click on the foreground box.


Using the Gradient Tool: you can either apply an existing gradient, or design a new one.
1. Select the gradient tool. Change radial, linear etc. sdettings.
2. Open the gradient editor by clicking on it.
3. foo
4. Click a stop then click the color swatch to the right of the word Color to open the Color Picker - use ti to assign a different color to the stop.
5. Click anywhere below the gradient preview to add more color stops.
6. Drag a color stop off the Gradient Editor dialog box to delete it.
7. Click the top of the gradient preview to assign different stops with varying opacity.
8. When you’re finished editing the gradient, name it and then click the New button.
9. The new gradient is added to the preset gradient choices.
10. To apply your gradient, drag across a selection or image with the Gradient tool.


Using the Brush Tool
1. Select the Brush tool
2. Change options for the preset brush.
Diameter - Temporarily changes the brush size. Drag the slider or enter a value. If the brush has a dual tip, both the primary and dual brush tips are scaled.
Use Sample Size - Uses the original diameter of the brush tip if the brush tip shape is based on a sample. (Not available for round brushes.)
Hardness - Temporarily changes the amount of anti-aliasing for the brush tool. At 100%, the brush tool paints with the hardest brush tip, but is still anti-aliased. The Pencil always paints a hard edge that is not anti-aliased. (Available only for round and square brushes.)


Erase with the Eraser tool
The Eraser tool changes pixels to either the background colour or to transparent. If you’re working on a background or in a layer with transparency locked, the pixels change to the background colour; otherwise, the pixels are erased to transparency.
You can also use the eraser to return the affected area to a state selected in the History panel.

1. Select the Eraser tool .
2. Set the background colour you want to apply if you are erasing in the background or a layer with locked transparency.
3. In the options bar, choose a Mode setting. Brush and Pencil set the eraser to act like those tools. Block is a hard-edged, fixed-sized square with no options for changing the opacity or flow.
4. For Brush and Pencil modes, choose a brush preset, and set Opacity and Flow in the options bar.
5. An opacity of 100% erases pixels completely. A lower opacity erases pixels partially.
6. To erase to a saved state or snapshot of the image, click the left column of the state or snapshot in the History panel, and then select Erase To History in the options bar.
7. Drag through the area you want to erase.




Use the Paint Bucket tool
The Paint Bucket tool fills an area, that is similar in colour value to the pixels you click. You can fill an area with the foreground colour or a pattern.

Note: When you are filling a portion of an image, make sure you have selected the part you wish to fill first.

1. Choose a foreground colour.
2. Select the Paint Bucket tool in the toolbox.
3. Set options in the Tool Options bar, as desired, and then click the part of the image you want to fill.
4. You can specify any of the following Paint Bucket tool options:
Paint / Pattern
Sets a foreground color (Paint) or a pattern design (Pattern) to use as the fill.
Opacity - Sets the opacity of the paint you apply. A low opacity setting allows pixels under a paint stroke to show through. Drag the slider or enter an opacity value.
Tolerance - Defines how similar in colour filled pixels must be. A low tolerance fills pixels with colour values very similar to the pixel you click. A high tolerance fills pixels that have a broader range of colours.
Mode -
Specifies how the paint that you apply blends with the existing pixels in the image.
All Layers - Fills similar pixels on any visible layer that are within the levels set by the Tolerance and Contiguous options.
Contiguous - Fills similarly coloured pixels that are next to each other. Deselect this option to fill all similar pixels in the image, including those that aren’t touching. The Tolerance option defines how similar the colors must be.
Anti aliasing - Smoothes the edges of the filled selection.

How to use the Clone Tool:
1. Select the Clone tool from your toolbox. Select settings, size, opacity etc.
2. In the Options bar, set the tool's tip size and hardness as we did it for the Brush Tool.
3. Point the cursor at the image area you want to paint with, hold down [Alt] key, then mouse-click. You have just selected the source point for cloning.
4. Paint with the copied pixels.
5. The "Aligned" gadget in the Options bar (checked by default) forces the source point to follow your mouse, even after you complete a stroke. In other words, every new stroke continues the image started by the first stroke.
6. Deselecting the "Aligned" option starts the sample point back to its original location every time you release the mouse button. That is, every new stroke re-starts cloning your image from the source point.

How to create an animated GIF using Photoshop

Changing layer visibility one frame at a time is a classic Photoshop animation technique which can be used in many different circumstances to make a GIF file (recall, GIFs are useful because they support animation). To use this technique:

1. In  a new file, create a layer for each image that is to be put into the final animation, and put the image you want into the layer.
   
   
2. From the menu, chose Windows > Animation to open the animation palette.
   
   
3. On the first frame, turn off visibility for all layers you don't want showing at the start of the animation.
   
   
4. Add one frame for each image you do want to include. For this frame, turn on the layers you want to show on that frame, and leave the others turned off.
   
   
5. Set the timing for each frame, using the value (shown in seconds) below the frame.
   Hint: Hold down Shift to multi-select frames and change them together.
   
   Not required for ECDL, but in real life - also choose Do Not Dispose for each frame.
   
   
6. If there is a linear action which you want to spread over a number of frames (eg something dropping from the top to the bottom of the image), use the Tween function:
   
   • Make sure that the start of the motion is shown on all the frames you want to spread it over
   • Add a frame which shows the very end of the motion.
   • Select“Tween…” from the Animation palette’s pop-out menu.
   • Enter the number of frames to add and press OK - Photoshop spreads the motion evenly between this number of frames, giving the effect of motion.
     
7. Export the animated GIF by choosing File > Save For Web & Devices (in Photoshop CS3 & higher).
   
   
8. Check that the animation is correct by opening the file in a web-browser (double click the file from Explorer to do this) - you should see the animation occur.