If you have Photoshop CS6 and want to learn more about using the tools, this guide will help you.
Steps
Step 1. Review all options
The tools are located in the icon menu. Learn to recognize icons and associated features.
You can choose one of the selection types by keeping the tool clicked, and then decide which is the most useful among the Rectangular, Elliptical, Single Row or Single Column Marquee Tool. Long-clicking works for all tools except the Move and Zoom tool; each individual set of tools offers different options
Step 2. To select some areas of your image, you can use different tools:
- Rectangular Marquee Tool: activate the tool and drag the cursor over the image to select a part of it
- Move tool: click and drag to move the selected layer. This tool is mainly used to move objects (layers).
- Polygonal Lasso Tool: it is also used in the selections for which the Rectangular Selection Tool is usually applied, but, unlike the latter, it allows greater freedom of form. You can create your selection area by hand: choose the tool and then click in different points, the last point must coincide with the initial one to close the selection or press enter. With a long click on the tool you can select the Lasso Tool and draw the outline of the area to be selected.
- Magic Wand Tool: it's really magical to make a selection! Click anywhere in the image and the tool will automatically select the area with the same color parameters.
Step 3. Resize your image with the Crop Tool
It is used to crop the image. Click and drag to define the area to crop, and then hit enter.
Step 4. Sample the colors of your image with the Eyedropper Tool
You can sample a color from anywhere in the image and then reuse it for painting or any other purpose.
Step 5. Correct imperfections with the Spot Healing Brush Tool
This tool works on image imperfections. Activate it, paint on the unwanted spot and it will magically disappear.
Step 6. Draw images using multiple tools
- Brush tool: used for painting, is a favorite of artists and painters. You can change its type and size with a right click on the workspace (image).
- Clone Stamp Tool: used to clone a part of an image and reposition it in another point. Activate the tool, hold down alt="Image" and click on the area you want to clone. Release the alt="Image" key and start painting on the area where you want to apply the clone.
- History Brush Tool: this tool is used to show the initial state of the image, i.e. when opened in Photoshop. For example, let's say you changed your (color) image to black and white (Alt + Shift + Ctrl + B), and then applied the History Brush; in the points where you passed the brush, your image will be colored again.
- Pen tool: this tool allows the creation of vector images. Activate the tool and click anywhere in the picture, then click again in another point; if you want to create a rounded corner, keep clicked and drag until you get the desired result. Complete the shape by clicking on the first anchor point or press Enter.
Step 7. Erase with the Eraser Tool
It is used to erase brush strokes or even layers of the image.
Step 8. Create effects in some areas of the image
- Gradient tool: applies a gradient over the selected area or the entire image. Activate it and drag in the direction the gradient should have. The gradient is also affected by the length of the drag.
- Blur tool- applies a blur to the image or brush strokes. Activate the tool and paint the area you want to blur.
- Fencing Tool: it is applied to lighten the dark parts. Activate the tool and apply it on the desired part.
Step 9. Add lettering with the Text Tool
This tool is used to insert text into the image. Activate it and click where you want to insert the text.
Step 10. Insert and arrange the shapes
- Direct Selection or Path Selection tool. These tools are used to select and edit shapes and paths, created with the Pen Tool or one of the shape creation tools.
- Ellipse / Shape Tool. These tools are used to create predefined shapes such as Rectangle, Line, Star, etc. Activate the tool and draw any shape, then edit them by changing their shape. Hold Shift to maintain aspect ratio.
Step 11. Set the view to be able to work better on the image
- Hand tool: used to set the image display. Activate the tool, click and drag to set the view of the canvas.
- Zoom tool: Used to zoom the image. Activate the tool and click to zoom in, press alt="Image" to zoom out.
Advice
- Right-click on the panel to access the tool settings, or use the options bar at the top.
- Keyboard shortcuts are displayed by clicking on the tool or simply by hovering over it for a second.
Warnings
- Some tools don't work on an empty layer.
- After using the Crop tool, the History Brush does not work.
- You cannot select an empty layer.
