Photoshop lesson 1

TRICKS COVERED: CUTTING AND PLACING IMAGES, LAYERS, BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST, TRANSFORM/SCALE/ROTATE, BERZIER POINTS.

In last night's lesson, my first of the course, the class's second, we learnt how to cut out images, of Celtic Warriors' players, and put them on a 'header'.

The lesson made a few points, which had confused me in my past, limited photoshop dabblings, much clearer.

I didn't realise that in cutting out images the path selection tool and pen tools could be used in tandem, I've just used the pen and converter tools together before.
Making a selection was also something I once found difficult but Jamie simplified this in my eyes.

On previous occasions I've tried to use the move tool to shift a 'cut' pic from one place to another...when it was just a simple matter of copy and paste!

I also learned how to use the elliptical marquee tool to cut out, in this case, the Celtic Warriors' logo. To correctly size the emblem we were shown how to use the "expand", "contract" "transform" and "scale" options.

Other elements touched on were layers, specifically how to link and duplicate them to create special text effects. The brightness and contrast control was used (along with Gaussian Blur) to make the images of one of the rugby players (Gareth Thomas) more dramatic.

Finally, the 'eye' option on the layers was closed so the header could be seen. I then tried (tried!) to replicate the squiggly lines on the backdrop into the foreground.

I was tired at this stage and found this tricky. I need to practice this aspect. I'd like to learn more about Berzier (?) points because mastering that skill would bring more flow and curve to potential designs.

Overall, I was very pleased to be back in the class. I felt much more confident than I did this time last year in my Dreamweaver days.

This blog's aim

I've begun a course in Adobe Photoshop CS at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, and I've set up this 'ere blog to aid and motivate my learning.

I don't expect this site to interest anyone, just me. It simply seemed a good idea to do this because I can display my work as it develops...and I really love blogging.

Hopefully, in the weeks ahead my photoshop fumblings will grow into something more solid.

I bought the software last summer and have played around with it so I'm not new to its complexities (as I was with Dreamweaver last year).

I think blogging and writing about what I learn will help me make swift progress. I want to mix my Dreamweaver and Photoshop skills as soon as I can.

Most of all, I really want to enjoy the lessons and the process of creation, there's no point otherwise.

No time to waste. Let's begin.