14/01/2010 by admin.

This tip is suitable for Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop students.

If, after having applied text with Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop, you notice its edges are ragged and unsightly, you will find changing the Antialias setting produces smooth, sharp edges.

Resolution Tip
Remember to set a New Image Resolution that is suitable for your needs.  For example, you may find increasing the Image/Canvas Resolution to 200 Pixels per Inch, as illustrated below - produces smooth, sharp text.

Paint Shop Pro New Image Resolution

Photoshop New Image Resolution

Photoshop CS CS2 CS3 CS4 (Extended)
First apply your text: then experiment with the following Antialias settings to see how they improve its appearance.

(Turning the Antialias setting to None can produce unsightly, ragged text).

Paint Shop Pro 7
Prior to applying your text: (from the following Text Entry dialogue); ensure the Antialias tick box is marked, as illustrated below.

Paint Shop Pro 8 9 X XI X2 Photo (Ultimate)
Prior to applying your text: (from the following Text Entry Bar); experiment with the Smooth and Sharp Antialias settings. (Turning the Antialias setting Off can produce unsightly, ragged text).

Saving Your Work: Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop
If you are printing or redistributing your work, remember to save it as a Gif, and not a Jpeg: - Optimise and Save Images Adobe Photoshop: Optimise and Saves Paint Shop Pro.

Wendi E M Scarth. (14th January 2010).

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02/12/2009 by admin.

To straighten crooked horizons using Photoshop’s Ruler Tool: (I am utilising CS4 Extended).  First, open your image onto Photoshop’s workspace.  Then from the left-side Toolbar, activate the Ruler Tool.  (You will find this tool hiding beneath the Eyedropper Tool). Once the Ruler Tool has been activated, hover your cursor over the edge of your photograph’s horizon, then left-click and drag a straight line right across the image - to the opposite side.   Once the horizon line has been applied: from the top menu, choose Image then choose Image Rotation then choose Arbitrary.  Photoshop will now automatically enter the correct rotation Angle.  Now, click OK - and providing you have applied a straight line with the Ruler Tool, your crooked horizon will straighten.

You may need to Crop away areas of blank space that this technique generates.

Best Wishes.

Wendi E M Scarth.  (2nd December 2009). 

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12/11/2009 by admin.

This tip explains how to quickly scroll through an open Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop Palette or Dialogue Box (including the Layers Palette), using your Keyboard’s Arrow Keys. First, (using your cursor) highlight the settings or values of an open dialogue box or palette - as illustrated below.

Then whilst the values remain highlighted, tap the Keyboard’s Top-facing or Bottom-facing Arrow Key.

Tapping the Top-facing or Bottom-facing Arrow Key quickly scrolls through the values or settings.

Note
I am using a Windows XP PC.

Best Wishes.

Wendi E M Scarth.

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06/11/2009 by admin.

1/ Create A New Layer From An Open Document Or Photograph
In Photoshop you can create a New Layer from an opened image or photograph.  To do so, right-click the Layer/Background Layer in the Layers Palette, then choose Duplicate Layer.  Now, from the subsequent Duplicate Layer dialogue box, instead of automatically clicking OK: first clear the As box (this is beneath the Duplicate: Background tab) - then type in New, and click OK.

2/ Highlight/Select Multiple Layers: Photoshop CS2, CS3, CS4 (Extended)
Hold down the Shift Key, then left-click over the Layers you would like to select.  All Layers between the first and last clicked Layer will be automatically selected.

Best Wishes.

Wendi E M Scarth.

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15/10/2009 by admin.

Whilst drawing out a Freehand Selection Marquee, for example, when employing Photoshop’s Polygonal Lasso Tool or Paint Shop Pro’s Freehand Selection Tool: whilst drawing it, you can cancel it at any time by tapping your ESC Key.
You can then redraw the Selection Marquee in the usual way.

Best Wishes.

Wendi E M Scarth. (15th October 2009).

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02/10/2009 by admin.

I am demonstrating this Photoshop Keyboard tip using Windows XP.

Begin by setting the Foreground and Background Swatches to your choice of colours.  Now, to Fill an active image or canvas with the Foreground Swatch: press the Alt Key.  Then tap the Backspace (Arrow) Key.

To Fill the canvas with Background Swatch, press the Ctrl Key.  Then tap the Backspace (Arrow) Key.

(Tapping Shift + Backspace brings up the Fill dialogue box).

Best Wishes.

Wendi E M Scarth. (2nd October 2009).

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24/09/2009 by admin.

To apply Photoshop’s or Paint Shop Pro’s Paint Brush Tool; or one of Paint Shop Pro’s Picture Tubes in a straight line. First, activate the Paint Brush Tool or the Picture Tube Tool: then left-click to apply your first Picture Tube or Paint Brush application.  Then press and keep pressed the Shift Key: and move your cursor where you would like the line of Paint or Picture Tubes to end.  Then left-click to apply your second Picture Tube or Paint application - and a straight line of Paint or Picture Tubes will then be applied between the First and Second points. (If multiple straight lines are needed, repeat my previous steps).

Best Wishes.

Wendi E M Scarth. (24th September 2009).

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17/09/2009 by admin.

When working with Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, you may suddenly find, without prior warning, your workspace has changed, and you have lost familiar Palettes and Toolbars.  This can be somewhat frustrating, especially if you have organised your workspace to a personalised workflow.  If you save them, unpredictable workspaces will no longer be an issue.  Once saved, as soon as Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop starts to misbehave, you can quickly reload a saved workspace of your choice.

To save your workspace with Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4, Extended: (once you have organised it to your liking): from the top menu, choose Window then choose Workspace then choose Save Workspace.  From the subsequent Save Workspace dialogue box, enter a unique name for your workspace, then click Save.   Now, should Photoshop mislay your workspace; from the top menu, choose Window then choose Workspace then click the saved Workspace of your choice, and it will load.  You can delete your workspace, or workspaces, by choosing Window then Workspace then Delete Workspace.  (There is no limit to the number of workspaces you can save).

Paint Shop Pro 7, 8, 9, X, XI, X2, X3 Photo; once you have organised your workspace to your liking: from the top menu, choose File then choose Workspace then choose Save.  From the subsequent Save Workspace dialogue box, enter a unique name of your choice, then click Save.  Now, should Paint Shop Pro mislay your workspace: from the top menu, choose File then choose Workspace then choose Load.  From the subsequent Load Workspace dialogue box, highlight the saved Workspace of your choice, then click Load.  You can delete a workspace by clicking File then Workspace then Delete.  (There is no limit to the number of workspaces you can save).

Best Wishes.

Wendi E. M. Scarth.

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04/09/2009 by admin.

There will be times when you need to layer one photograph, (or a transparent object), onto another.  To do so, first open two photographs, or transparent objects, onto Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4 (Extended’s) workspace.

Photoshop CS4 Students
Please read my notes on CS4’s Workspace Here.

Now, from the left-side Tools Toolbar, activate the Move Tool.

And left-click and drag one photograph, or transparent object, onto another - as illustrated below.

Centralisation Tip
To centralise your object: press and keep pressed your Shift Key as you drag a photograph, (or transparent object), onto another.

Image Duplication Tip
To quickly duplicate a single photograph, or a transparent object: first activate the Move Tool - then press and keep pressed the Alt Key.  Your cursor will then change to two tiny arrow-tips, one black and one white.  Now, hover your cursor over the photograph; or transparent object - then press the left-mouse button, and pull your cursor away from your image, towards the right.   Then release the left-mouse button: repeat as necessary.

Best Wishes.

Wendi E M Scarth.  (4th September 2009).

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27/08/2009 by admin.

This tip demonstrates how to quickly change an image’s colour using
Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4 (Extended) and Paint Shop Pro 7, 8, 9, X, XI, X2 Photo.

First, open your choice of Start Image onto your workspace.

Then, Photoshop students: bring up the Hue/Saturation command by pressing the Ctrl Key and simultaneously tapping your U Key.  Paint Shop Pro students, pressing and holding down the Shift Key, then simultaneously tapping the H Key will display the Hue/Saturation/Lightness dialogue box. Now, Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop students; ensure the Colourise box remains unmarked, and experiment with the Hue and Lightness sliders until you have found replacement colours to your liking, then click OK - as illustrated below.

Paint Shop Pro 7, 8, 9, X, XI, X2, X3 Photo

Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4, (Extended)

Now you are familiar with this technique, you can create pop-art/colour conversions, very quickly.

Best Wishes.

Wendi E M Scarth.  (27th August 2009).

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