entranceWhat to do with a photo in Photoshop. How to quickly learn to work with Photoshop and which version is best to use
Do you want to surprise your loved ones and present them with an original photo? Perhaps you are just interested in taking a cool photo of yourself next to a celebrity or against the backdrop of a Martian landscape? Or put your face in a medieval setting? Maybe you need to combine photos for work? This can be easily achieved by doing a photomontage on a computer.
With the help of photomontage you can:
- Change the background of a photo
- Remove or add subjects from other pictures
- Combine two photos into one
- Make a greeting card from a snapshot
Photo montage on a computer
The most common way to make a do-it-yourself photomontage is to edit photos in Adobe Photoshop. This professional image processing software is very powerful. But it is quite difficult for a beginner, it is not easy to figure it out on your own in one evening. Of course, there are a lot of courses and video tutorials on the network, according to which you can learn how to work in Photoshop, but for this you need to have time and desire.
A similar program is GIMP. Unlike Adobe Photoshop, it is free.
How to combine photos in Photoshop
In Photoshop, open the photos you want to edit. For example, it will be a picture of your face and a beautiful background with a sunset or sea surf. Duplicate the layer in each image. Drag the second image onto the photo that should become the background. From the Edit menu, choose FreeTransform. Use the mouse to resize the photo and its proportions, drag it to the desired location. When finished, press Enter.
Select the vector layer mask adding mode on the toolbar. Set the foreground color to black, and the second to white, and use a soft brush to paint over unwanted areas of the photo. They will become invisible. For a smoother, more natural transition in the background, vary the size and softness of the brush in small areas.
If you accidentally delete the desired piece of the photo, change the colors - from black to white, and paint over the area you want to restore with a brush. The drawing will return.
When you are finished removing the background, exit vector mask mode.
You can edit photos in Photoshop in another way - using the Lasso tool to select a part of the image. Select the desired area of the photo, and delete the rest of the image. Overlay the image on the photo, which should become the background, and use the tools of the photo editor to achieve their organic connection. In a high-quality collage, individual fragments are combined so that the image appears whole.
To do this, you need to make soft transitions between photos, smooth out the borders, choose the color and brightness of each piece, and adjust the scale. Photoshop tools give you the ability to feather a photo, cut or add objects, apply effects, change the color and brightness of part or all of the photo. Try to achieve the desired effect using different tools.
After you're done with Photoshop, merge the layers and save the file.
Photo montage online
You can do a photomontage with your own hands on a computer just in a browser. To do this, you need a good internet connection and a computer powerful enough to work with graphic files. There are many free sites for photo editing, you can find them yourself by typing the corresponding request in Google or Yandex. For example:
- http://fotostars.me/
- https://avatan.ru/
- http://www.fotor.com/ru
- http://photostreet.ru/
To mount a photo online with your own hands, you do not need any special knowledge or skills. The site will offer you to upload one or more pictures. Sometimes a photo will have to be downloaded from a computer, sometimes you can specify a link to a photo that is stored on another website or on a social network. Please note that the result will depend on the quality of the photo.
The online photo editor will offer a set of backgrounds, frames and other decorations of your choice. After placing your photo on your chosen background, you can play with the settings and effects to get the best result.
After the photomontage is ready, you can get a link to your photo, save it on your computer or send it by mail. If you are not satisfied with the result, you can go back and redo the collage from any stage.
Photo collage using smartphone or tablet
Modern smartphones - both iPhones and phones based on Android and Windows platforms - also allow you to make a do-it-yourself photo collage.
With the help of a photo editor for smartphones and tablets with photography, you can do everything with your own hands as in online photo editors:
- Add or change background
- Add frames and decorations
- Apply effects
- Add text
Do-it-yourself photo editing, if you approach the matter creatively and wisely, is not an easy task. But if you want to, have the time and skills to search the Internet, you can achieve amazing results. We hope our tutorials will help you create an image that you will be satisfied with.
What can be done with Photoshop?
It's no secret that one of the most powerful and functional graphics editors in the world is Adobe photoshop... Its capabilities are truly impressive:
- creating a magnificent collage of several photos (for example, the simplest one can be seen in the lesson "");
- professional retouching of the face: remove acne and skin imperfections, enlarge eyes and eyelashes, correct nose and chin;
- improve the quality of images: darken or lighten the photo, add missing elements (clouds, monuments);
In general, use Photoshop both famous graphic designers and newcomers to this amazing profession, with the help of which you can create your own new, bright and fabulous world.
Figure # 1.
How to master the Photoshop graphic editor for a novice designer?
Did you know that mastering the Photoshop graphic editor is not so difficult. And yes ... you can do that too. To do this, you just need to repeat a few lessons that will help you understand the purpose of this or that. It is the tools of the graphic editor that are the main "weapon" of the designer. With their help, the set goal is achieved.
Take for example Healing Brush tool... Using it, you can easily remove acne from your face in the photo, as well as give it a matte or glossy shade. Remember those gorgeous photos on the covers of glossy magazines. This smooth skin of the face, on which there is not a single defect ... oh, my heart fluttered. Of course, to achieve such a result, you will need to master more than one Photoshop tool and a lot of time, however, it is the Healing Brush that will get you started. And then, you can connect your imagination and you will definitely succeed.
Our site offers several simple Photoshop lessons that will allow you to get a basic understanding of one or more tools, which will then allow you to work in Adobe Photoshop in a professional and easy way.
Sometimes I immerse myself in routine work, we miss some points and stop learning. But in vain, because some interesting and useful properties of Photoshop can really help and speed up the process of creating a design. And after the release of the sixth version of the beloved graphic editor, new and very useful functions have appeared that will help make your work more efficient. Today we are talking about the new usefulness of Photoshop CS6, as well as remembering the old ones.
Set up your workspace
You probably know that in Photoshop CS6 you can easily customize the interface (for this, go to Edit> Preferences> Interface), but we want to introduce you to one more function.
You have the opportunity to customize the workspace as you see fit: to do this, go to Window> Workspace> New Workspace.
Name the new workspace something and customize it to your liking. Now you can select it among other lists.
New options for working with layers
Photoshop CS6 makes it much easier to work with layers. You can now filter them as pixel, vector and text layers, and search for a layer by name, applied effect and blend mode.
You can select several layers and create copies of them using CTRL + J or change their blending mode.
If your PSD file contains many layers, you constantly have to look for a new layer. Many people know that this can be done by holding down the Alt key and right-clicking on the required element, but there is an easier way. Check the box next to Auto Select in the options bar and select Layer... Now, by simply clicking on a layer, you will quickly find the layer you want. This feature was also available in earlier versions.
The hidden features of the Pen tool
The pen is perhaps the most complex tool in Photoshop, we have already written about it in, we bring to your attention a simple lesson in which you will learn about a convenient way to create vector shapes using Pen tool and hotkeys .
Shift - hold to create straight horizontal and vertical lines.
Ctrl / Cmd - helps to drag path points
Alt / Option - helps to change the points of the contour
Ability to record instrument actions
Photoshop CS6 lets you record the actions of an element, such as a brush drawing, and then play them back, but with different settings.
You can read more about this function:
Sneak Peek in Adobe Photoshop CS6
Fast unit switching on rulers
To quickly change the units of measure on the rulers, press CTRL + R to activate the rulers and then hold CTRL, right-click the bear on the rulers.
Quickly close and open the document
You can quickly close the document by clicking Ctrl + F4 (Cmd + W)... Use a keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + F4 (Cmd + Alt + W) to close many documents.
Here is a series of lessons that teach you how to use the graphic editor Photoshop - an incredibly popular and indispensable tool in web design, with which you create not only buttons, banners and logos for the site, but even entire layouts. The design of almost any site that you visited was originally drawn in Photoshop, so knowledge of this program will be definitely useful for a webmaster, although the skills of image processing and creating your own drawings will not harm a simple PC user either. Digitizing photos, retouching old pictures, creating postcards and collages are just the beginning of a long list of useful actions that the editor allows you to do, and a series of lessons will help you get comfortable with it.
Bookmark this page so as not to lose the table of contents and consistently study article after article, comprehending more and more new techniques of working in Photoshop.
But what will you learn in these lessons?
- 1 Getting Started in Photoshop - Quick Selection and Filling
Here you will get acquainted with the program interface, learn what the main interface elements are for, learn how to create documents and save them, master the selection of areas on the canvas. Also from the lesson you will understand how to fill areas with color, you will understand the principles of working with the program. Once you have mastered the information, you will learn how to perform simple actions and be able to independently explore other editor tools.
- 2 Layers and text
All Photoshop images are built on layers. That is why editing in the program is so convenient. The lesson will tell you what layers are, why they are needed and how to work with them. In addition, it describes techniques for creating and processing labels, as well as moving objects on the canvas. After completing the lesson, processing multi-layered documents will not be a problem for you.
- 3 Filters
You will become familiar with a huge library of image-changing scripts. The filters of the editor can not only give the finished image this or that effect, but even create new objects and frame the photo.
- 4 Working with images
The article provides the basics of processing already existing graphic files. Editing several images at once, moving objects from one drawing to another, resizing and removing unnecessary parts - this is just an incomplete list of lesson topics.
- 5 Transformation
The lesson will teach you to scale image elements, change proportions, skew, distort and deform them
- 6 Drawing - brush and pencil
The first in a series of articles about tools for creating your own masterpieces. Already a long time ago, computer technology has developed to the point that it allows you to simulate drawing on paper. You will learn how to create with a virtual pencil and brush - sketches and watercolor paintings can now be easily drawn and distributed on electronic media, making an unlimited number of copies and without worrying about the safety of labor.
- 7 Drawing - Shapes
Freehand creation of objects is one thing, and accuracy and speed are sometimes paramount. The lesson tells about the tools with which in just a few clicks you can create perfectly flat geometric shapes of specified sizes. From a simple square to an ellipse, a star, and even a musical note, this article covers everything.
- 8 Drawing - paths and bitmaps
You will remember once and for all how a vector differs from a raster, what pros and cons both approaches have, and you will also learn why shape outlines are needed in Photoshop and what pixel mode does.
- 9 Drawing - Pen tool
To continue working with paths, explore the tools of the Pen group. Purpose, method of application, description of parameters, and as a result you will learn how to draw atypical contours and create complex geometric objects.
- 10 Drawing - Magnetic pen tool
The Magnetic Pen tool has become so popular that it is called the Magnetic Pen, although there is no such separate tool in Photoshop. What this function allows you to do, why users love it so much and how it will help you personally - read the article.
- 11 Image Retouching Tools
To use these editor functions for the Internet, you do not need to be a layout designer, or a designer, or a webmaster - no one at all. It is enough to be an active user of social networks. How to make your face more beautiful, remove moles and freckles? How can I process an old scanned photo so that colors become brighter, and scratches, spots and dust particles are not so noticeable? How to carefully cut an object, move it or clone it? Where is the tool that will help you get rid of the red-eye effect in a photo in just a couple of minutes? Look for answers to these and other questions in the article.
- 12 Image correction tools
You already know so much that mastering new tools is not a problem. All I had to do was to make an overview with a description of the possibilities to improve the quality of pictures - to lighten where it is too dark, darken where it is overexposed, blur and sharpen, mix and smear colors. In general, additional information on how to make the image better is waiting for you in the tutorial.
The pinnacle of creativity for the web is rendering site templates. When most of the tools are mastered, and the skills are enough to draw and dividers with shapes, and buttons for menus, and logos, and beautiful inscriptions, nothing prevents you from creating a good, complex layout. The article tells what a standard template consists of, describes the principle of creation, and also teaches you how to cut a layout using tools that are previously unfamiliar to you.
Paying attention to each of the lessons, analyzing practical examples and experimenting on your own, as you master the course, you will go from a beginner to an advanced user of Photoshop and will be able to delve into it yourself, moving to a new level of development, and a strong and reliable foundation will help you with this. laid down by the cycle of our articles.
New to Photoshop? We will help you figure out what's what!
Learning Photoshop can take a long time, and there are many things that I, unfortunately, did not know about when I started doing it. Therefore, today I present to your attention ten useful notes, thanks to which it will become much easier to work with Photoshop! You will learn about the most important tools and tricks that even a beginner can master.
1. Get to know the Tools
This is the Photoshop toolbar.
Click on the double arrow to arrange the tools on the panel in one or two rows.
Did you know that you can customize it for yourself?
While there are many useful tools you can always see, you might miss out on the additional tools hidden behind the triangles in the lower right corner, using only those located “on the surface”.
So customize the toolbar for yourself - make it a helpful reminder to try new tools!
Click on Edit> Toolbar(Edit> Toolbar ...) to manually select tools. Group them according to priority levels - for example, one group may be composed of tools that have yet to be mastered, and another - those that you use regularly.
Don't overload the panel with tools you don't use; put your favorite instruments in it instead!
Decide on the Core Toolbox
All tools will not be needed in every job, and therefore it is important to build a strong base, with several flexible tools that are good at different types of work.
Here you see two different projects: drawing on a tablet and photo manipulation. Notice that the tools for both projects are identical?
While the first project is all about drawing, the second is very dependent on my illustrative skills. So don't worry if you are not familiar with these tools yet! Your main set should reflect your interests, be it design, photography, or illustration.
Also, keep in mind that many of Photoshop's tools can be used for different purposes. For example, the tool Pen(Pen) can be used to separate the model from the background or to create a vector illustration.
There are other tools that you will need, but consider them secondary. For example tools Pen(Feather) and Move(Moving) may not seem particularly creative at first glance, but they are needed (and sometimes needed very often) to improve the workflow.
What are your main tools?
In the beginning, you will always have favorites. But as your skills improve, challenge yourself and try new tools and creative effects.
2. Introduction to the Layers Panel
Simultaneous keystrokes Control-Shift-N creates a new layer.
Layers panel very effective and helpful. It will change the way you think about development, opening up countless possibilities in Photoshop.
But how?
Well, in general, the panel allows you to control several parameters. Opacity(Opacity), Fill(Fill) and Color(Color) are just a few. With these options, you can modify your layers to create many cool effects.
Text effects, for example, are often created with incredible Layer Styles(Layer styles).
In the beginning, you will probably use the Layers panel for its primary purpose - to keep your work on separate layers, but I highly recommend getting to know it in more detail. Explore the panel as much as you can and you will discover new ways to create detailed artwork.
Experiencing color problems? Try to work with Layer Blend Modes(Layer Blending Modes). Want to get a brighter result? Perhaps your solution is Adjustment Layer(Adjustment layer).
3. Save time with Layer Masks
Now is the time for an important conversation - the conversation about layer masks.
Layer masks can be confusing for beginners, but they are vital to effective editing.
To use a layer mask:
Here I drew a circle in the middle of the mask to show the white background under the layer filled with blue.
Use layer masks in any artwork! Incorporate them into your regular work so that any adjustments can always be painlessly undone.
Most of the time, difficulties with this function arise from a misunderstanding of when to use it. Beginners will often just use the tool. Eraser(Eraser) as this is the fastest solution.
You can also use masks to create isolated objects and then insert them into your artwork.
4. Control-S Right?
Quality matters, so before you save your work and close the program, think about this:
- Why do I need this file?
- Where can I store it?
- What format do I need it in?
- How to keep it in the best quality?
Above you can see a comparison of different quality levels, 1 - 83%, 2 - 1%. Image via Envato Elements.
What and Where
The answer to the first question is whether your work will be used online. In graphic materials for online posts, quality is not so important, while printed materials must be saved in high resolution. Explore the printing guidelines to understand why important settings such as Color modes(Color Profile) and how to manage them.
Store your files in a location on your computer where you have quick access. Photoshop can throw an error if the file is missing some elements (for example, fonts), so try to keep everything in order.
Format and quality
Now that you know what your work is for, you can move on to saving it in a suitable format. Many designers save their work in multiple formats for added flexibility.
Click on File> Export> Save for Web(File> Export> Save for Web).
Check how your work looks like with different compression settings. Avoid losing quality!
How good will your design look when printed?
You also need to save your work in different formats in order to understand the print quality. If, for example, your drawing, design or other work contains bright neon colors, then you may be disappointed with the physical result.
Minimalist design is a huge trend, in part because it offers great printability. This design is often easier to print and therefore is used more frequently.
What looks good on screen doesn't always look good on paper. There are many reasons for this, and one of them is how the ink is applied to the paper. This step also requires an understanding of the difference between color profiles. RGB and CMYK.
Work according to your situation. To open / change Color Mode(Color Profile) of your file, click Edit> Color Settings(Editing> Adjusting Colors ...).
Test your work by printing them in the printing industry! For best results, learn the intricacies of the printer for a specific printing industry.
6. Sets! Sets! Sets!
In the real world, there are such things as tight deadlines and daunting tasks. So save precious time by using Photoshop's built-in presets!
There are sets of brushes, shapes, patterns and more. You can quickly add a filter to your photo or create a brochure with abstract elements.
To view all of them, click Edit> Presets> Preset Manager(Edit> Sets> Manage Sets).
Some of my favorite sets are the brush sets. Brush sets from your favorite artists are cool too, but use the ones you already own!
These sets include various textures, beautiful gradients, and more.
In the screenshot you can see an example of the Wet Media brush set.
Use the kits to create amazing effects! They are already organized for your convenience, so all you have to do is download them and get started.
7.Easy to change colors with adjustment layers
Create incredible lighting schemes with just a couple of clicks!
Adjustment Layers(Adjustment Layers) are just perfect for those new to Photoshop. They allow you to seamlessly change many visual aspects of your work.
Need to keep your original photo? No problems. Tools that allow you to undo any changes, such as Adjustment Layers, can help you create stunning effects without losing quality.
To use an adjustment layer Color Lookup(Color Search):
Click on Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Color Lookup(Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Find Color). Select the set for the file 3DLUT File from the dropdown menu. Click OK and enjoy the result.
Stock photo from Envato Elements.
Adjustment layers are one of my favorite tools, and I am thrilled to know that they work just as well for tablet illustrations!
Photoshop artists use these adjustments to try different color palettes before making a final decision. Explore different lighting schemes and more with incredible tools like Curves(Curves).
8. Learn to Organize Your Workspace
Chefs love to keep their kitchens tidy as this contributes to their neatness and productivity. So why not create yourself a clean workspace in Photoshop?
The organization contributes to the creation of a good working atmosphere. And even if sloppiness seems to be very creative, an organized workplace can improve your work.
First, close all unnecessary tabs!
After that, there are still many ways to make everything even neater. For example, you can pin and unpin your favorite panels and toolboxes.
Then press Window> Arrange(Window> Arrange).
Choose one of the following layout options to keep all your documents neat. Keep sources of inspiration close at hand to make them easier to reach.
The standard solution is Consolidate All to Tabs(Combine all in tabs), but you can also choose, for example 2-up Vertical(2 up, horizontally) to place the sample next to your work.
Need to return your workplace to its original form? Click on Window> Workspace> Reset Essentials(Window> Workspace> Reset Main Workspace).
Each artist's workplace will be different. Some people like to see more dashboards than others. For example, I am not one of those, since I prefer to minimize the clutter. But whatever your liking, you can always customize the work environment the way you want.
9. Master the Pen Tool
Tool Pen(Feather) (P) can be scary at times, however, over time you will be able to fully master it.
First, study the tool itself. Option Path(Outline) is needed to select an area, and Shape(Shape) allows you to create your own shapes.
Then get to know Path operations(Operations with a contour), Alignment(Outline alignment) and Arrangement(Contour ordering). Designers who are familiar with Adobe Illustrator may find it easier to get comfortable with this tool.
The best way to learn something is to experiment! Create a bunch of lines and curls and then play around with settings like Blending options(Blending options). The possibilities are truly endless! Don't forget to use the Pen Tool when creating text effects, illustrations, and more!
10. Remember Hotkeys
Hotkeys are nothing new.
However, designers sometimes have trouble remembering them. Want to learn a little trick to help you remember these keys?
Try this old trick to help you think about tools. When you think of a hotkey, imagine an image that explains what it is, or how to use it.
By pressing the letter B, which calls the tool Brush(Brush), I automatically render this:
Remember these keys in order of priority. As in the first part of the tutorial, it is important to figure out which hotkeys you need the most. You will also need to memorize additional keys related to your favorite instruments.
To increase the size of the brush, for example, click the right or left square bracket: [ or ] .
Your favorite keyboard shortcuts are easy to remember as you will use them frequently, but it's worth exploring the possibilities.
You won't master Photoshop overnight, and that's totally fine! Just think of it as a creative adventure that gets better over time.
Before you close this tutorial, remember:
- Decide on your core toolbox
- Get to know the layers panel
- Save time with Layer Masks
- Save files correctly
- Know the difference between print and web recommendations
- Use kits ...
- ... and adjustment layers.
- Organize your workplace.
- Examine the Pen tool.
- Remember the hotkeys.
Try these tips and tell us in the comments what you find best for you!