As a bit of a self assessment, I’d like each of you to complete this if you haven’t already. Any answers you aren’t familiar with, do a search to find the answer online. I don’t need to know how you did, but knowing all of the answers to these questions is a good beginning place.
Next, I want to make sure you are familiar with your ‘Tool’ Palette. When you open photoshop, it could look one of several ways, depending on your computer (PC, Mac) Your Operating System (Windows 7, NX, OSX, etc) and your version of photoshop (I’m working with CS2, as it is a good middle. I’d recommend CS – CS4).
Here is what my computer looks like when you open photoshop:
On the left is the Tools Palette. I’ve made a little outline for you to see what each default tool is. Your tools may look a little different, so hover your mouse over each tool, or click and hold to see the tools expanded (expanded means that each tool may have some other options when you click and hold the mouse over them in the tool bar) Play around a little bit, see what each tool says when you click and hold.
Now, to the right of your screen when you open photoshop, as well as any file (images are referred to as ‘files’) are other palettes. I will tell you right now, the two palettes I cannot live without are the LAYERS palette and the HISTORY palette. If they aren’t showing, I’d suggest you go up to your ‘window’ menu at the top of your screen, and check them in the drop down list so that they are showing. Once you do this, barring any problems with memory on your system, they will stay as your default palette.
*EXTRA: To save your palettes how you want them (after you’ve dragged them about a bit and played a little, and get comfortable with a ‘setup’), go to the tabs at the top of your screen, click on the ‘window’ menu, click on ‘workspace’, and then choose ‘save workspace’ and name it something you’ll remember, like your name and a date. this way, if someone else changes your palettes while you’re not there (don’t you just hate that!) you can go back into the windows menu, and at the bottom of the menu it should say that name. Mine is called ‘Jenn’!
Okay, so that will start to get your familiar with your palettes and your ‘workspace’ in photoshop.
Tomorrow I will be posting your first assignment. We’ll be dealing with ‘layer adjustments’ and some of the tools in your tools palette.
See you then!
j
2010 Photoshop Mentoring Project 