Utilise Photoshop’s CS4’s Rotate View Tool To Rotate A Canvas

09/01/2010 by admin.

This tutorial demonstrates how to utilise Photoshop CS4’s Rotate View Tool.

Read Adobe’s Notes On GPU And Open GL Features And Limitations In Photoshop CS4 Here

To begin, mark the Enable OpenGL Drawing box: (from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Preferences then choose Performance).

If your Enable OpenGL Drawing setting is greyed out as illustrated below, it could indicate that your Video Card doesn’t support Open GL.  Another reason why this option could be greyed out is, if you also work with Paint Shop Pro X, XI, X2 Photo, you might have reduced your Hardware’s Acceleration.  If, like myself, reducing your Hardware’s Acceleration (in order to open Paint Shop Pro), is greying out the Enable OpenGL Drawing option, then read my Paint Shop Pro tips explanation to discover how to increase your Hardware’s Acceleration.

Increasing Your Hardware’s Acceleration Note
Close Photoshop before increasing your Hardware Acceleration: then restart Photoshop once you have increased the Hardware Acceleration.

Reduced Hardware Acceleration: Enable OpenGL Drawing Is Greyed Out

Hardware Acceleration Increased: Enable OpenGL Drawing Setting Is Now Active

If increasing your Hardware Acceleration has worked; upon reopening Photoshop CS4, you will see the following dialogue box.

Rotate View Tool Note
You use the Rotate View Tool to rotate a canvas non-constructively; this Tool rotates the canvas and not the image.   Rotating your canvas can be useful for many reasons, including facilitating easier painting, drawing and designing. OpenGL is required.  It can also used with Macbook Pro and Macbook Air computers with multi-touch trackpads to non-destructively rotate a canvas.

To use the Rotate View Tool, first open an image onto Photoshop’s workspace.

Then from the Toolbar, activate Photoshop CS4’s Rotate View Tool.

Then left-click over your image, and rotate it by swivelling (or dragging) your cursor in a circular or semi-circular movement.

Compass Note
A compass will indicate north of the image, regardless of the current canvas angle - as illustrated below.

Alternatively, enter a numerical value (to indicate degrees of shifting), into the Rotation Angle field.

You can also click (or click and drag to scrub) on the following Set Angle of Rotation dial.

To restore your canvas to its original angle, click the Reset View tab.

Now you are familiar with this Tool, it can be implemented within your workflow to produce better paintings, drawings and designs.

Wendi E.M. Scarth. (9th January 2010).

 

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Utilise Photoshop’s Slice Tool to Slice Web Images

05/01/2010 by admin.

This tutorial demonstrates how to slice an image (or a website design) into smaller sections using Photoshop’s Slice Tool, and is an alternative method to slicing an image using the Crop Tool.  After they have been created in Photoshop, your slices are then ready to export into an HTML editor such as GoLive or Dreamweaver, in your usual manner.

(I am demonstrating this technique using Photoshop CS4 - 342+ Photoshop PDF Tutorials).

Slicing up a large image, or website design - ensures your website doesn’t take an unreasonable time to load, and hopefully stops visitors from leaving your website before your image loads.  In addition, slicing a large image or a website design lets you save different areas as Jpegs, which is the format used to save high-colour photographic areas: or Gifs, which is the format used to save text, navigation buttons or images with a low colour-count.

Slices divide an image into smaller images that are reassembled on a web page using HTML table or CSS Layers.  By dividing the image you can assign different URL links to create page navigation, or optimise each part of an image using its optimisation settings. You export and optimise a sliced image using the Save for Web (& Devices) command.  Photoshop then saves each slice as a separate file and generates the HTML or CSS code needed to display the sliced image.

When working with slices, keep these basics in mind:
You can create a slice by using the Slice Tool or by creating Layer-based slices.
After you create a slice, you can select it using the Slice Select Tool and then move, resize, or align it with other slices.
You can set options for each slice’s such as slice type, name, and URL in the Slice Options dialogue box.
You can optimise each slice using different optimisation settings in the Save for Web (& Devices) dialogue box.

Ruler Tip
Press Ctrl then tap the R Key to display Photoshop’s Rulers.

Quickly Step Backwards
You can quickly undo a step by clicking a previous snapshot in the History Palette. (From the top menu, choose Window then click a tick before History).

Create Slices from Guides
You can create image slices from Guides.  To do so, first apply the guides to your image - View then New Guide.  Then activate the Slice Tool, and click the Slices from Guides tab, circled below.

Note
When creating slices from Guides, any existing slices are deleted.

Create Slices from Layers
A Layer-based slice encompasses all the pixel data in the Layer.  If you move the Layer or edit the Layer’s content, the slice area automatically adjusts to include the new pixels.  Layer-based slices are less flexible than user slices; however, you can convert (“promote”) a Layer-based slice to a user slice.

1. Activate a Layer in the Layers Palette.
2. Choose Layer, and then choose New Layer-based Slice.

Don’t use a Layer-based slice when you plan to move the Layer over a large area of the image during an animation, because the slice dimension may exceed a useful size.

1/
To begin, open an image or website design onto Photoshop’s workspace.

2/
Then from the left-side Toolbar, activate the Slice Tool.

And select your choice of slice Style from the Tool Options Bar.

Now, you are looking to slice your image into smaller, rectangular slices: therefore, left-click and drag out your first (rectangular) slice over your image, as illustrated below.

Tip: Resize the Slice’s Bounding Box
After you have applied your slice you will see the following repositioning handles: this means the slice is active and you can therefore resize the slice’s bounding box, should you need to.

To resize the bounding box, drag out the rectangle’s sides, (one-at-a-time), as illustrated below.

Tip
To activate an inactive slice, press down the Ctrl Key, then simultaneously left-click inside the portion you want to activate.  You can then make any final adjustments to the active portion.

3/
Now, continue slicing (or dividing) your photograph into manageable portions; and when you have completed this, you are ready for the next step.

Note
Each slice will be assigned a numerical value, as illustrated below.

Copy a Sliced Section
If you have areas of your image or website design that are roughly the same size, (for example, navigation buttons or tabs), to save time, you can copy the bounding box and drag it over to slice a different area.  To do this, hover your cursor over the bounding box you want to copy, and then press your Alt Key: and simultaneously drag the bounding box over a different area - as illustrated below.

4/
Now, either double-left-click over a rectangular slice: or click the following tab that is found on the Tool Options Bar.

Then from the subsequent Slice Options dialogue box, give each slice a unique name, and don’t forget to add an Alt Tag, so that your visitors can read about the image before it completely loads.   After you have added your text, click OK to close the Slice Options dialogue box.

(Once you have created your slices, their URLs can then be assigned to them in an HTML editor, for example Dreamweaver or Golive, in your usual way).

Note
When entering a name for your slices, don’t use capital letters or special characters.  In addition, if you are leaving spaces, remember to underscore them _ (as illustrated below).

5/ Saving/Exporting your Image Slices
Now you have created your rectangular slices, it’s time to save them.  Saving your slices exports them into a single folder names Images, where they can be utilised in your HTML editor, in your usual manner.

To save your sliced image: from the top menu, choose File then choose Save for Web (& Devices).  Then from the subsequent Save for Web (& Devices) dialogue box, optimise and save your slices.

(My Optimise and Save Images tutorial demonstrates how to operate the Save for Web (& Devices) dialogue box).

Optimisation Tip
Always save plain text graphics and images that have a low colour-count as Gifs: and save photographs or complex graphics with a high colour-count, as Jpegs.

When you are completely happy with the optimisation settings, click Save.

You will then see the following Save Optimised As dialogue box.  If you would like to save your sliced images as images only, ensure Save as type is set to Images Only, then click Save.  Your sliced images will then be saved to a folder named Images, in a destination of your choice; for example, My Documents.

 

If you would like to save your slices as HTML and Image or HTML Only, then click open the Save as type drop-down menu, and make your choice, as illustrated below.

HTML and Images

 

HTML Only

 

Centre your Work Note
If you select HTML, Photoshop places it into a table for you.  If you would like your table to be aligned to the centre, instead of to the left; then add align=”center” to your code, as illustrated below.

<TABLE WIDTH=300 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0 align=”center”>

Previewing Your Work
To preview your work in a web browser, click the following Preview tab.

Assigning URLs to your slices
Assigning a URL to a slice makes the entire slice area a link in the resulting web page. When a user clicks the link, the web browser navigates to the specified URL and target frame. This option is available only for Image slices. (Note: most designers prefer to assign the URLs in their HTML Editor, and not Photoshop).

Select a slice. If you are working in Photoshop, double-left-click the slice with the Slice Select Tool to display the Slice Options dialogue box.

1. Then from the subsequent Slice Options dialogue box, enter a URL in the URL text box. You can enter a relative URL or absolute (full) URL. If you enter an absolute URL, remember to include the correct protocol (for example, http://www.mysite.com, not www.mysite.com).
2. If desired, enter the name of a target frame in the Target text box:

   _blank Displays the linked file in a new window, leaving the original browser window open.

   _self Displays the linked file in the same frame as the original file.

   _parent Displays the linked file in its own original parent frameset. Use this option if the HTML document contains frames and the current frame is a child. The linked file appears in the current parent frame.

   _top Replaces the entire browser window with the linked file, removing all current frames. The name must match a frame name previously defined in the HTML file for the document. When a user clicks the link, the specified file appears in the new frame.

Congratulations, your sliced image is complete and is ready to utilise in your HTML editor, in your usual manner.

Wendi E.M. Scarth. (5th January 2010).

 

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Quick Text Art Effects Using Adobe Photoshop’s Warp Text Tool

01/01/2010 by admin.

This tutorial demonstrates how to warp text using Adobe Photoshop’s Warp Text Tool - and I am demonstrating this technique using Photoshop CS4 (Extended).

Mixing Filters Note
There is nothing preventing you from applying more than one warping Tool or Filter at a time: in fact, mixing warping filters and further warping your text using one of Photoshop’s Transformation Tools can produce much better and personalised text-warps.

Tip
To quickly navigate through a Filter’s numerical value: first highlight the numerical value with your mouse, as illustrated below.

Then immediately (whilst the text remains highlighted) tap either the top-facing or bottom-facing Keyboard Arrow Keys: this increases (or decreases) the values - one digit at a time.

My on-line tutorial here demonstrates how to warp text around a label.

My PDF tutorials demonstrate how to warp text along different objects.

There are alternative methods of warping text; however, before using those methods, you need to Rasterise the text first: Layer then Rasterise then Type. (Note: You don’t need to Rasterise your text if you are applying the Vector-based Warp Text Tool).  After Rasterising your text, from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Transform then select your choice from the subsequent Transformation Tools - for example Perspective; as illustrated below.

Alternatively, from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Distort, then experiment with different Distortion Filters - as illustrated below.

Sharpening Tip
After you have finished warping your text, it is always a good idea to apply a Sharpening Filter to it afterwards: Filter then Sharpen.

Apply Photoshop’s Warp Text Filter

To begin, onto an open canvas, apply the Horizontal Type of your choice.

Then drag the type to a central position. (Remember to leave plenty of room for the subsequent displacement).

Tip
If you are applying a Drop Shadow to your text, do so now: Layer then Layer Styles.

Now, from the Horizontal Type Tool’s Toolbar, click the following Create Warped Text button.

Then from the subsequent Warp Text dialogue box, click open the Styles; and experiment with different text-art Styles - as illustrated below.

Tip
Before clicking OK to apply the Style of your choice: click through different Styles and Settings to see how they effect the look of your text.

The following examples demonstrate different Styles, (I have applied the default settings).  However, for personal results, always experiment with the Styles dialogue box settings.

Arc

Arc Lower

Arc Upper

Arch

Bulge

Shell Lower

Shell Upper

Flag

Wave

Fish

Rise

Fisheye

Inflate

Squeeze

Twist

Now you are familiar with the Warping Tools, Commands and Filters that Photoshop offers, you can have lots of fun creating uniquely warped text.

My Photoshop PDF Tutorials Here demonstrate how to snap type around a circular path.

Best Wishes and a Happy New Year. 

Wendi E.M. Scarth. (1st January 2010).

 

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Eye-catching Gradient Avatars: Paint Shop Pro & Photoshop Mini Tutorial

09/12/2009 by admin.

Paint Shop Pro Examples 

Photoshop Examples 

Filling a transparent image with a Gradient can create eye-caching forum and message board avatars.  To begin, open a New Transparent Document onto Paint Shop Pro’s or Adobe Photoshop’s workspace, ensuring it measures 100 Pixels X 100 Pixels: or select a document size that suits your needs.

Paint Shop Pro students, set the Colour/Materials Palette Foreground Swatch to a Gradient of your choice (Metallic Gradients work well).  And experimenting with different Gradient Styles, Angles and Repeats, find a Gradient that you like the look of.  (I selected a Paint Shop Pro Gradient called Metallic Silver and I set the Style to Sunburst). Then from the left-side Tools Toolbar, activate the Flood Fill Tool, then left-click over your Transparent Canvas to fill it with your Gradient choice.

Congratulations, your Gradient Avatar is ready to save and upload to a message board or forum, in your usual manner.

 

Photoshop Students
From the left-side Tools Toolbar, activate the Gradient Tool.

And from the Gradient Tools Options Palette, select a Gradient of your choice. (Metallic Gradients work well).

Then left-click and stretch a Gradient Line across your Transparent Canvas.

(For personal results, experiment with different Gradients and stretch the Gradient Line in the direction of your choice).

Congratulations, your Gradient Avatar is ready to save and upload to a message board or forum, in your usual manner.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Wendi E M Scarth. (9th December 2009). 

 

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Paint Mist Using The Paint Brush Tool - Photoshop & Paint Shop Pro Mini Tutorial

22/10/2009 by admin.

First, open your choice of Start Image onto Paint Shop Pro 7, 8, 9, X, XI, X2 Photo (Ultimate’s) or Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4, (Extended’s) workspace.  Then activate the Paint Brush/Brush Tool; and choose a Hard Round Brush.  Now, set the Colour/Materials Palette’s, Foreground Swatch to Solid White.  Then (onto a New Transparent Layer), paint daubs of white paint over the area you would like your mist to be placed.

(For personal results, experiment with different Brush Tips, Opacities and Sizes).

Now, from the top menu, choose Adjust/Blur/Motion Blur - Filter/Blur/Motion Blur.  Then blur your white paint daubs by changing the Motions Blur’s Angle and Distance/Strength to suit your photograph’s Resolution and requirements.  (I am using a photograph that measures 3000 pixels X 2000 Pixels).  Working with Photoshop CS4, I set an Angle of 11 and a Distance of 678.  Now, activate the Gaussian Blur command, and again, select settings that are suitable for your photograph’s needs. I chose a Gaussian Blur Radius of 18.

Now, intensify your mist by right-clicking the Mist Layer and choosing Duplicate Layer from the subsequent drop-down list.  Then further blur your mist by applying a second Gaussian Blur.

Note
For personal results, experiment with different Blur Commands, Layer Opacities, and Layer Blending Modes.

(The Radial Blur command produces soft blurs).

Tip
Using the Eraser Tool and setting a Soft Round Brush, remove any area of mist so to reveal any foliage; for example, water plants that might be peeping out of the mist.

When you are completely happy with your mist, Flatten the Layers and save your work.

Best Wishes.

Wendi E M Scarth.  22 October 2009.

 

 

 

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Paint Away Colour (Colour-popping) - Photoshop & Paint Shop Pro Mini Tutorial

21/08/2009 by admin.

Painting away colour, AKA Colour Popping, is a popular technique that can produce interesting results: in this mini tutorial, I will demonstrate how to remove colour using Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop’s Paint Brush Tool.

To begin, open your choice of Start Image onto Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop’s workspace.

Important
Set Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop’s Foreground Swatch to Solid Black and set the Background Swatch to Solid White.

 

(Photoshop students, press your D Key).

Paint Shop Pro 7 Only
From the left-side Tools Toolbar, activate the Paint Brush Tool .

Then create a New Raster Layer - Layers then New Raster Layer.  Now, change the New Layer’s Blending Mode from Normal to Colour - as illustrated below.

And enter the following settings into Paint Shop Pro 7’s Tool Options Palette.

Paint Shop Pro 8, 9, X, XI, X2 Photo And Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4 (Extended)

From the left-side Tools Toolbar, activate the Paint-Brush Tool.

Then from the Tool Options Bar, select a small round (hard) brush; and enter the following Colour Blending Mode settings. (Blending Modes Paint Shop Pro - Blending Modes Photoshop).

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

Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4 (Extended)

Now, Paint Shop Pro 7, 8, 9, X, XI, X2, Photo and Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4 (Extended): if you apply your Paint Brush over the Start Image, you will notice the Brush is painting away your photograph’s colour.  This is because you have changed the Paint-Brush Tool’s Blending Mode from Normal to Colour.

Now you are familiar with this popular technique, you can have lots of fun colour-popping your favourite images.

The following examples show some of my colour-popping artwork.

Best Wishes.

Wendi E M Scarth.  (21st August 2009).

 

 

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