Photoshop Tools and Features User Log

The purpose of this log is for you to record what tools and features you used in the creation of your digital graphics. You should try to use as many
as possible and you must record how, why and when you used them. You do not need to record repeated actions but each single new action
should be recorded. An example of this would be setting up a new Photoshop file/image which would cover the ranges; Image Settings (all) and
part of Menus (some of). You only need to do this once. Remember that where the e.g. appears in a range, as many of the items should be
covered as possible but not all of them; your tutor will guide you here. Where possible you should also provide a screen dump to illustrate the
action (see sample image below).

Tools and
features
Menus:

Open;

When I click file, one of the option is

open. This is there to open files. I use
this when I need to open files.
I use this when I need to save my
work.
I use this when I need to import my
work.
I use this when I need to export my
work.
I use this to edit images so that they
look good for the design I am
creating.
this will alter the view of the image I
am editing, making it easier for me to
create.
I will use this whenever I get stuck or
confused of a certain element
featured within Photoshop.

save;
import;
export;
edit;

view;

help

Image
settings:
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How, why and when used.

Screen dump

size;

This will be used when I need to edit

the size of the image.
This will be used when I need to
change the resolution of my image so
it is easier to edit.
This will be used when I need to
change the width of the image.
This will be used when I need to edit
the height of the image.

Resolution;

width;
height;

colour mode;

This is used when I want to enhance

a certain colour.
This is used to edit the background,
changing to all sorts of different
variety of colours, this can also use
images.
This will determine of clear you want
the image to be, this can be also
called fading.
An aspect ratio is the ratio between
the width and height of a film image.
This is the name of the file you are
creating. This can be located when
saving or opening files.

background;

transparency;

aspect ratio,
file name

Drawing tools:

tool options;

brush;

pencil;

duplicate;

clone;
fill;

text;

line;

This is the option of the tools, giving

a variety of different options that I
could use to create my product.

This acts like a digital paint brush,

also you can change the style,
hardness, and size so you can create
amazing images.
This acts like a digital pencil, much
like the paintbrush tool, this acts the
same way, just as a pencil, meaning
it will offer style, size and hardness
again.
This is where you can create a copy
of the image, if you need more than
one.
This works just like duplications.
This is where you can fill in any white
space, making a whole complete
image.
This is where you can include any
type of text you want to include, for
example; making a title.
This is where you can add a line, all
the size and colour is determined by
the user

stroke;

This is the border that can be located

around the edge of text, using either
a gradient or a solid colour.

shape;

This can be a shape that is included

within Photoshop, using triangles,
circles and squares.

zoom;

This is the tool to use when you wont

to look closely at the image you are
editing, making sure that all aspects
are to standard.
Guides and rulers are the tools to use
if you want to measure or have
guidance with the product you are
creating.
The grid helps with the measurement
and with the creation of the image.
The snap tool is where you quickly
want to go to another place on the
product you are creating Photoshop.
Colour: determines what colour you
want anything to be.
Gradients: is a fade of 2 or more
colours.
Layers: how many aspects you have
in your product.

guides and
rulers;

Grid;
Snap;

Palettes, e.g.
colour,
gradients,
layers, object,
brushes,
history, actions,
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size, resolution;

Object: is an object featured within

Photoshop.
Brushes: can be used for artistic
designs for the image you are
creating.
History: Is the history of the process
I made to create my product.
Actions: are steps I take to complete
my product.
Size: can be the size of anything I
am creating
Resolution: is the quality of the
image or image I am editing.

Layers, e.g.
copying, saving,
arranging;
flattening;
colour selection,

Copying: where you are taking one

thing from one place, and placing it
in another.
Saving: where you can save your
work and return to it at a later date.
Arranging: where you can adjust
the position of the work you are
creating.
Flattening: Where you can flatten
an image so that it is easier to work
with.
Colour Selection: where you can
select the colour of anything you are
creating.
Foreground: is the taking place of
what is in front.

Colour
selection, e.g.
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foreground,
background,
colour swatch,
eyedropper

Editing tools:

Selection, e.g.
marquee, lasso,
magic wand,
magnetic lasso,
deselect;

Transform, e.g.
scale, rotate,
skew, flip; cut;
copy; paste;
crop; trim;
erase; undo; fill

Background: is the taking place of

what is in the back.
Colour Swatch: is a palette of
different colours that are simple and
easy to obtain.
Eyedropper: is the tool to use if you
want to obtain a certain colour but
you dont know how to get it.
Marquee: can be used to make
shapes within Photoshop.
Lasso: can be used to select a
certain place you want.
Magic wand: is used to quickly
select a certain part of the image.
Magnetic Lasso: sticks to the
nearest border so you can easily edit
an image.
Deselect: this is when you want to
deselect the tool you are using so
you can edit something somewhere
else.
Scale: is when you want to change
the size of the image, but keep it in
the same area, so you dont distort
the image.
Rotate: Is when you want to change
the image into a different angle on a
360-degree rotation.

Skew: skew is when you change the

image shape, using 3-D effects.
Flip: Flip is when you change the
image the opposite way, this is also
called mirroring.
Cut: this is when you want to delete
an element from your work so it is
easier for you to edit images.
Copy: Copy is where you can make
another of something, and place it
within your work.
Paste: Paste is linked with copy; this
is the method you use to place the
image within your work.
Crop: this is when you want to cut
down an image.
Trim: works like a crop but deals with
a shorter space.
Erase: Works a lot like a rubber,
where you can erase a certain part of
your work.
Undo: Is when you can go back a
step if you accidently do something
that you didnt mean to happen.
Fill: Is when you can fill in any
whitespace.

Advanced

tools:
Effects, e.g.
layer effects,
filters, channels;
image
adjustments,

Image
adjustments,
e.g. brightness
and contrast,
hue and
saturation,
colour balance,
gradients,
transparency,
invert; masks;

Layer: A layer is a certain place

where you do all your Photoshop
work. You can have multiple layers
for different elements.
Effects: can be used to change the
way the image looks.
Filters: These filter over an image
with a certain colour, gradient or
texture.
Channels: Is the place where you
can
Image Adjustments: is where you
can adjust the image.

Brightness and contrast: all this

is, is how colourful and bright you
want your image to be.
Hue and saturation: is the tools
you can use to edit your colours
Colour balance: is how to make an
equivalent amount of each colour
within the product
Gradients: using two or more
colours, we make your colours fade
into each other.
Transparency: is how opaque you

want your image to be.

Invert: is where you can swap the
colours round to the opposite colour.
Masks: is where you can cover up.
Paths, e.g.
vector paths,
converting text
to paths; image
slicing.

Vector Paths: is the path you can

create to make a vector.
Converting text to paths: this is
where you can make text go along a
certain path.
Image Slicing: Is where you can
slice an image into as many
segments as you wish.