Thread: Tell me about photoshop!!

Thank you jaasum.

No problemo

If that was an attempt at spanish... it's "problema."

Just by the way.

no it wasn't.

Ok, good.

Anyway... I find that when I'm moving around different layers they tend to want to "lock" into different places. It's actually pretty useful but occasionally it will interfere with what I'm doing.

For more explanation: the layer will pull and "stick" to the edge of the canvas for instance.

I THINK that is fixed in View>Snap to edges

But that could just be thinking in adobe illustrator.

If that doesn't fix it you can always use the arrow keys on the keyboard (if you are using the selection, or move, tool) and nudge it pixel by pixel.

Thank you very much. I didn't know about the arrow keys.

Sounds a really good technique.



[EDIT] Woo 900th post.

Apologies for double posting but the Edit button has mysteriously vanished.

When I use the magnetic lasso or magic wand I am frequently left with a pixellated/jagged edge. Is there any way to fix this?

Yes but it is a little complicated? Feel like stepping it up?

I will attempt to explain it here, if not maybe I will search for a tutorial but I will try to keep it simple here. Many tutorials I have seen on this make it more complicated than need be.

You have to understand how to use bezier (pronounced beh-zeer) paths. This is done through the pen tool. This will use vector vs. raster to get you a clean selection mask.

Raster graphics are what photoshop mainly works in, this is a grid of pixels basically and it is almost impossible to get perfectly clean edges with this (especially using the lasso tool) Vector graphics is what illustrator works with. Instead of pixels it uses these bezier paths, which is mathematical points that are connected by values to create curves. Vectors are scaleable and have the sharpest edges possible, this is why it is best to mask your selections using vectors.

1. In your layers window you should see three tabs. "Layers, Channels, Paths" you are going to select paths. We are going to create a path using the pen tool and then convert it to a selection.

2. At the bottom is a button similar to the "new layers" button in the layer pallet. Click it to create a new path, once the path appears in the pallet select it.

3. Select the pen tool, and this is where it can get tricky. The pen tool isn't as easy to use as the lasso because it wont just automatically let you draw around or lasso the pixels you have to go around the object slowly and do it yourself, but the results are well worth it.

The pen tool works by creating a series of points, these points are connected by curves. The first thing you want to to do is select a starting point and click it. You will see a point created. Now move to the next simplest spot in the image and create another point, before letting go of the mouse button bend the curve to fit the image and then let go. Then move to your next point. By default the pen tool will automatically create another curve in the opposite direction of the previous curve. To fix this, before you create another point alt click (option on a mac) and you should see the little handles on either side of the point drop to only one (if I am wrong try using the ctrl key as I am on a mac and I forget if it works the same as pc). This resets the curve and will let you create a new one without it automatically adjusting. Now sometimes when it automatically bends the curve in the opposite direction this is desirable, you can adjust it's strength by holding down the mouse button and bending it before letting go. Just play around with this until you get comfortable. I do this almost everyday at work and I have become quite proficient with it. It just goes against logic at first.

If you were trying to create path around, lets say a person. Then you will want to go just slightly inside the form. So the path cuts just a small amount of color off of the person, this will give you edges without any nasty parts of the background showing through.

To complete your selection do the above techniques all the way around the image until you get back to your starting point and a small "O" should appear next to the pen tool. This will complete your path.

4. This is how you convert a path to a selection:

Under the paths pallet you will see small thumbnail of the path you just created. Take this path and drag it into the selection button at the bottom (looks like an dashed "O") and you will have a perfectly clean selection to use on your image.

5. The best way to use this selection is through layer masks. Because one rule in photoshop is NEVER DESTROY PIXELS and you can do this with layer masks. Layer masks will knock out or hide unwanted pixels but not destroy then (destroying them is using something like the erase tool or blocking over pixels with solid color), in case you ever want to go back and edit them.

So to use the path you just created and turn it into a layer mask. Go back to you layers palette. Select the layer you want to mask and click the "Create Layer Mask" button from the bottom. If you are trying to do this on the locked background layer, double click the layer and then just hit "OK" from the pop up menu and it will unlock it.

The layer mask will create two thumbnails of your layer. One of the original layer and then one showing the mask. The mask will be in black and white, white meaning pixels that are visible and black meaning pixels that are hidden by the mask. Eventually you can edit layer mask on your own by clicking the thumbnail and then adjusting pixels from black to white and even shades of gray. But at this point you are done, you have created a smooth selection in your image with sharp edges.


Sorry if this seems confusing without visuals, and really sorry if I misnamed a button or two because I don't have photoshop directly in front of me. But there is no better way to get clean edges on an image.

Or you can just feather your selection 1 or 2 pixels.

1. Select something
2. Click select on title bar
3. Click feather.
4. Enter in a small value.
5. Press enter

Also, enter in a large value like 30 to get an idea of what the feather tool does, then fill in the selection with black.

Much shorter steps than the above, but I didn't read the above and it may be better.