®

The magazine for

Adobe® Photoshop®
inspiration and advice

Wet Media
brushes
Use this brush set to create a
watercolour effect on photos
Before photo
Using plug-ins
We investigate the best plug-ins to
expand your Photoshop skills 57
pages
of creative
tutorials

Tool tips

Color Picker
Learn how to use this tool to
select and control colour

Enhance sunsets
Enjoy dramatic sunset shots with
some gradient map magic

Understand
ISSUE 70
layer masks Get creative with selections using masks
 For me, one of the best things about
Photoshop is finding something
familiar and giving it a new twist. Take
our tutorial on page 30 as an example.
Merging colour with monochrome
certainly isn’t a new idea, but just
adding a hand holding a paintbrush changes the
feel and provides a wonderfully surreal twist to
proceedings. Best of all, it’s a technique that can be
applied to any image, and gives you lots of practise
with using layer masks.
Another tutorial that certainly deals with bending
reality is our look at CS5’s Puppet Warp tool. With this
you can manipulate objects and physically alter them.
It has to be seen to be believed and you can do just
that on page 54.
If you fancy flexing your artistic muscles, learn
how the Wet Media brushes can give you a realistic
watercolour effect on page 36. Again, it’s a technique
that can be applied to any image so hunt through
your photos and see which ones would benefit from a
watercolour makeover.
Of course, to get the most from Photoshop you have
to understand how the tools work and we have plenty
of tool guides to help you in this quest. We look at the
rulers on page 40, the Color Picker on page 50, scripts
on page 62 and have a great tutorial on boosting
sunsets on page 64. Whether you enjoy image editing,
manipulating photos or dabbling in digital art, this
issue has the information to get you on the right path.
Until next time, have fun!
 Turn to page 78 to get
an amazing deal!
US page 28

The creative minds who share

their skills with you

Your guide to the products, sites

and services that can help you

Professional Photoshop users

share their thoughts

Take a glimpse into what a fellow

reader gets up to in Photoshop

Enjoy inspiring images from your

fellow readers

Confused about plug-ins? Let

us reveal the best ones

Get started with this issue’s

tutorials and tool guides

Plug-ins can expand your creativity. We reveal the best ones

Turn here to save some moolah.
US citizens turn to page 28

Our experts tackle your

Photoshop and Elements queries

Services and products to help

boost your Photoshop work

Pop along here and find out what

gems await you on the disc

Examine the latest entries for our

regular readers’ challenge
This is the part of the Get quick fixes to your We test a wide variety of
magazine where we Photoshop and Photoshop products to see which ones
Want to test your Photoshop highlight the best resources Elements problems with our can best enhance your
mettle? Enter the challenge! for keen Photoshop users Advice centre Photoshop experience
 Whip up a creative storm with monochrome

Merge colour with Transform photos with the Wet Media brushes
monochrome for great effects

Use brushes and photos for celestial art

How CS5 can help you move objects

Make your own digital memory board

Instant improvements with this trick

Enjoy bespoke designs with ease

Design a magazine cover using type

Quickly turn a photo into a realistic stamp

Create watercolour effects

with this brush set
Keep everything in line with these

What you need to know about picking colour

Discover more about these automation tools

Snappy sites can be yours

Online tuition for digital fans

We have video tutorials, Take a peek at the best
brushes, fonts, textures entries to this month’s
and stock images for challenge and then take part
you to play with yourself on page 98 The most useful actions for quick effects
 ®

creatIve
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Web: www.imagine-publishing.co.uk
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Magazine team
Editor in Chief Jo Cole
[email protected]

Staff Writer Simon Skellon

Senior Designer Sarah Bellman
Sub Editor Hannah Phillips
www.duncanevans.co.uk www.timshelbourne.co.uk Head of Design Ross Andrews
Plug-ins are great, whether it’s for effects Photoshop is fantastic at replicating real paint Contributors
that are impossible to do in Photoshop or for effects, so we tasked Tim with creating a digital George Cairns, Dani Dixon, Duncan Evans, Matt Henry,
speeding things up. Duncan delves into plug- watercolour using the Wet Media brushes. See Susi Lawson, Zoe Mutter, Kirk Nelson, Simon Rudd and
Tim Shelbourne
ins to bring you the best ones on page 20. what technique he constructed on page 36.
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Zoe tackles a variety of tools this issue, and reports www.photoshopcreative.co.uk/user/kirk3d International
back on how they work and how you can get Glow effects are very popular amongst Photoshop Creative is available for licensing. Contact the
the best from them. Learn about the rulers and International department to discuss partnership opportunities.
Photoshop users and Kirk puts an interesting
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aeons, to collect photos and items in one a photo the results are disappointing. Matt
place. Susi shows how this can be created in shares a tricky way of using gradient maps to Founders
Photoshop in a jiffy – see page 58. boost your sunsets over on page 64. Managing Director Damian Butt
Finance Director Steven Boyd
Creative Director Mark Kendrick

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The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material lost or
damaged in the post. All text and layout is the copyright of Imagine Publishing
www.photoshopcreative.co.uk/user/Dani Taylor www.simonrudd.info Ltd. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without the
written permission of the publisher. All copyrights are recognised and used
More and more companies are offering you It’s great fun to personalise everyday objects. specifically for the purpose of criticism and review. Although the magazine
the chance to create your own magazine cover Simon shows how easy it is to create a stamp has endeavoured to ensure all information is correct at time of print, prices
and availability may change. This magazine is fully independent and not
but you can do it yourself with the Type tools. effect from a photo and some brushes. See affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein. Photoshop is
Dani shows how on page 72. how on page 76. either a registered trademark or trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated in
the United States and/or other countries and is used with express permission.

© Imagine Publishing Ltd 2011

ISSN 1747-7816
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 Share, comment and learn online

Communities with Photoshop

groups on
a difference nline communities have opened benefit from joining: “The
Flickr
We talk to members of
many avenues for Photoshop users group allows users to different Photoshop
to upload and share work and
ideas. Communities such as Flickr,
share their creations and
how they made them. It’s
groups to find out more
Photobucket and Picasa Web Album are just a great place to learn new about this site…
some of the options to connect and share with techniques, ask questions Flickr has a massive online network of
fellow artists from around the globe. But there’s and also interact with Daniel Milchev is the artists learning from one another and
more to these websites than simply providing an other users.” administrator of the Adobe gathering new ideas and techniques for
opportunity for showing off. The Photobucket Photoshop CS5 Users on Flickr taking into Photoshop. We catch up with
The Flickr community (www.flickr.com) community also gives two members from Flickr, Lisa Kimberly
has groups for artists with similar interests and artists the opportunity to upload and share artwork and Jennifer Hipp.
allows anyone to contribute to the Photoshop for free. However, there’s another attraction to
Jennifer Hipp
Photoshop Support
Group
www.flickr.com/people/
jenniferkaye
“Flickr is my main learning
source. I definitely
technique and query sections. There are more than this site that draws the attention, with themed
wouldn’t be as knowledgeable with
31,000 Flickr groups relating to Photoshop alone. competitions opening up on a regular basis. By
Photoshop if Flickr wasn’t around. I take
Administrator to the Adobe Photoshop CS5 Users submitting to online competitions, Photobucket
comfort in knowing my questions will be
group, Daniel Milchev, explains how members can members can win prizes or just take the pride of
answered within a day; plus connecting
first place among fellow artists.
and learning from so many talented
Open your own gallery at www.
photographers is a blessing.”
photobucket.com to join in.
Picasa Web Albums by
Lisa Kimberly
Google (http://picasa.google.
Adobe Photoshop CS5
com) is free to download and
Users
lets you create an album of
www.flickr.com/people/
images for sharing with friends
lisak24a
and family across the web.
“Being able to share my
Picasa also has one-click editing
work with other like-
tools and organises images
minded photographers and communicate
for a more personalised
with them is my main incentive for being a
approach to sharing.
part of various Flickr groups. Being exposed
If you’ve yet to start your
to other artists within a group and seeing
own Photoshop Creative
their imagery often inspires and motivates
gallery, head to www.
me to try new things – like shooting
Tosh. O in the Deep V by Daniel Milchev. See more of his work at www.flickr.com/photos/ photoshopcreative.co.uk to take
outdoors in the dark or using a prop.
photovenom a step into online communities.
To grow as an artist, I believe you must
connect with other artists.”
| SEND NEWS STORIES TO [email protected]
 Award-winning self-portrait by Catlin Harrison
Camera-less photography Head to Photoshopdaily.co.uk for
these free brushes, images and more!
An innovative process that has been dubbed
‘camera-less photography’ has recently
challenged the skills of artists across the globe.
Catlin Harrison’s method for creating self-portraits
is an image making process that doesn’t involve
a camera at any stage. Working with a scanner
and plenty of patience, her artwork Self-Image
(Green) won the Self-Portrait category of the Julia
Margaret Cameron Award.
“Old master paintings and the doll photos
of Hans Bellmer formed the idea for this series,”
Harrison tells Photoshop Creative. She also
explains her reasons for turning to a scanner from
traditional photography: “I can never get what I
want with the single viewpoint of a camera, this
method seems closer to painting – more freedom.”
Catlin’s winning image is on display at the Palais
de Glace, Buenos Aires, in August 2011. You can
also see more examples of this particular style
of art in the latest exhibition, Shadow Catchers:
Camera-less Photography, at the V&A Museum,
London (www.vam.ac.uk), from 13 October 2010 –
20 February Self-Image (Green) by Catlin Harrison. To see
2011. more of her work visit www.catlinharrison.com

Five great online art

communities

| DON’T FORGET TO ENTER OUR READERS’ CHALLENGE – SEE PAGE 98

 LANA SEWELL VITALIY AMENOV
Check out the ‘Pics of
the week’ gallery from
photoshopcreative.co.uk

We ask Bill Scott: “What’s

the best way to edit texture
in Photoshop?”
“The most
important thing to
remember when
applying textures
to a composition
Social network website
is not to overdo BetweenCreation
them. Subtleness brings artists together
is key when adding
texturing touches
The latest website we
to your work. It can be very easy to make
just can’t live without
HTTP://BETWEENCREATION.COM
textures appear too strong, ruining their
presence in the composition. To use BetweenCreation connects artists from to confirm your attendance at an event, and to
textures in Photoshop effectively, a good all over the globe in a social networking leave suggestions and kudos too.
mastery of transparency and the various frenzy. Whether you’ve just started to create The most interesting works of art are featured
ways to apply transparency to colours, artwork with Photoshop or have seen the on BetweenCreation’s home page and you can
layers, or brushes is needed. Always program through its many changing faces, go ahead and leave your own opinions on what
dedicate textures to their own layers so BetweenCreation welcomes all abilities. the site has highlighted as some of the best
that the opacity of each texture layer can Signing up is free and when you’ve made a work being uploaded. Check out artists’ profiles
be controlled independently to the rest of gallery, you’re free to connect with fellow artists. to learn more about the creative individuals and
the image as a final tuning step. One great Leave comments, follow your favourites and follow them to stay on top of their latest pursuits.
way to turn portions of a newly imported even upload an event that you’re planning or Learn, be inspired, or simply browse some of the
stock texture layer completely transparent that’s taking place in your area. Use the website best digital art on the web.
is to use the Color Range selection tool,
with various levels of Fuzziness, and delete
the selected pixels while leaving the rest
for the texture effect.” Pixart.it sets up camp in the UK

Pixartprinting gets even better

The online print shop Pixart.it a successful make-over of the
has teamed up with Precision Pixartprinting website in the latter
Printing to create Pixartprinting. half of 2010, the company has
co.uk, giving UK artists a more streamlined the ordering process
direct service than before. The and made uploading work much
collaboration improves a number easier. Visit www.pixartprinting.
of aspects for the company, such co.uk for prices on print services Gary Peeling (left), CEO of Precision
as a UK-based customer service and products, from fine art Printing, welcomes Pixartprinting into
Bill Scott is the founder of resource portal the UK with Matteo Rigamonti, the
Texturemate www.texturemate.com and speedier delivery times. After posters to calendars. company’s founder

| SEND NEWS STORIES TO [email protected]

 ALEX MALYON ORHAN KOÇ KRZYSZTOF OLAK

Add depth Alex

duplicated the final
image and erased Find out the latest tweets from some
texture to give it depth of the best creative individuals on
Twitter. Don’t forget to get Photoshop
Step 1 updates, tutorials and more by
This starts off as a scanned following us at @PshopCreative.
image from a sketch. I left
the felt tip lines as I felt design:related: http://twitter.com/
they worked. designrelated In March 2011, a Wim
Crouwel exhibition will open at the Design
Museum http://ow.ly/3ko1d.

Behance: http://twitter.com/Behance If
you have impeccable style and take your
laptop on-the-go, this should be at the top
Distorted materials “I really of your Wish List: http://cot.ag/hGeR5w.
like the distortion effect with
different materials and will try Step 2
to work more in this area” I tinkered around with Graphic Authority: http://twitter.com/
ink brushes and textured GAuthority By popular demand from our
came from: “The Puma piece
Digital artist Alex Malyon is in backgrounds, then added recent Roadshow: Learn a great masking
of work was really a sort of idea
the process of searching for a a boot shadow. technique. Check out our new video. #togs
I wanted to execute. I saw an http://ow.ly/3gVN6.
way into the design industry.
advert one day for Puma and the
Succumbing to the realisation
idea of being free and loose. I
that even an interview can be Photoshop: http://twitter.com/Photoshop
wanted to express the freedom of Are you Photoshop’s #1 Fan? Retweet our #1
hard to secure, he spends most of
movement in the escaping ink.” Fan Music Video: http://bit.ly/dF4x35 with
his time working freelance, with the hashtag #PSFAN for a chance to win a #1
Alex’s free-flowing and colourful
the goal of being employed for Fan T-shirt!
blends have plenty of impact
what he loves doing. Step 3
Alex’s Digital Sketchbook and style. See more of his work Nearly completed, I added Giles Angel: http://twitter.com/xpolar
at www.photoshopcreative. watercolour brushes and
image is called Puma Trainer, texture to the boot.
Currently helping retouch some of the
co.uk/user/alexmalyon.
and he explains where the idea
fashion instore & POS imagery for Marks
and Spencer.

PhotoZoom Pro 4 boosts your image dimensions

BenVista’s new PhotoZoom PhotoZoom Pro 4 uses

numerous methods for
resizing artwork
hen you’ve run out of pixels, the option to batch process artwork,
it’s time to look to plug-ins produce higher quality enlargements of
such as PhotoZoom Pro 4 by up to one million by one million pixels, 15 FEB 2011
BenVista. The company’s next as well as noise reduction and advanced
level enlargement plug-in uses S-Spline fine-tuning options. The plug-in works as
technology to enlarge low quality originals. a stand-alone program and works with
The plug-in increases the dimensions of 64-bit Photoshop too. The latest version
artwork while looking to keep hold of is compatible for both Windows and Mac
acceptable levels of definition and printable users at £149 and is available as a free trial
quality. New features in version 4 include download from www.benvista.com.

| DON’T FORGET TO ENTER OUR READERS’ CHALLENGE – SEE PAGE 98

 ‘love’, a campaign
This is from a set of four that make the word
Centr es. We ran aroun d shoot ing elements
for ABC Childcare each scene.
there and pieced toget her
at a TVC shoot and I sat
Photographer: Skeet Booth

What’s your latest composition about,

and who’s it for?

How have you learned to use

Photoshop software?

How do you find so much high-quality

stock imagery for new concepts?

Footlocker My client
came to me with a
hand drawing on a
piece of paper of a shoe
in a Humidity Crib, and
said, ‘make it look cool’.
What a perfect brief.
We lit this with fibre
optic lights and painted What’s the most important thing to
over long exposures.
Photographer: Jesse remember when editing in Photoshop?
Smith

| TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT JUSTIN’S WORK GO TO WWW.IONDESIGN.COM.AU

 Carrington This is comprised of about 200 layers. It was a massive task to try and fit everything in that the brief required, as well as
distorting a whole city to fit on a billboard

Left: Brisbane Busways

The headline for this ad
was ‘Read a book on the
bus and be miles away’,
and was used to promote
people to use the buses. We
had the suit and submarine
built, and shot it on an old
ship. Photographer: Erik
Williamson

Right: Netcom This

is for Netcom, a
telecommunications
company in Norway. The
headline is Dead Time,
which was used to promote
the use of smartphones. I
love the freedom of being
Writers Festival Almost every year the able to work remotely
Writers Festival comes along which I’m with clients overseas.
d the
happy to be involved in. I walked aroun Photographer: Sigve
s shoot ing eleme nts which then had to
street Aspelund
be cut to fit it into this print forma t

What advice can you share for fellow Pen tool I know it’s incredibly boring, but if you know about
artists looking to improve their skills? tangents then you will be creating paths in no time. Plus when all
the hard work of deep etching is done, all the fun begins.

Quick Selection tool Almost as good as the Pen tool, and a

whole lot quicker. I remember when I used to use the Pen tool for
trees. Those days are over thankfully.

Brush tool In CS5 with a tablet, otherwise it’s pretty useless. The
Which version of Photoshop do you best part of the job is the finishing bit and combining masks with
use, and what are your thoughts on it? different exposures and the Brush tool, you can work fast and
probably get carried away.

Curves and Color Balance Grading with these two at the end of a
job can help the same image you’ve been working on for the past
three days look so much better in an instant.

Ctrl/Cmd+Z (Undo) I have often tried to Command and Z my real

life. Disappointing when you realise you can’t.
Peter Ang is an expert in the field of photomanipulation and we couldn’t wait to ask him about
how he uses Photoshop in his work
ighting is Peter Ang’s
speciality and his work shows
an amazing control of the
direction and strength of
highlights and shade. Peter began as a
traditional pen and ink artist until he got
his hands on Photoshop and discovered
what could be done digitally.
Here he shares some of his favourite
work with us and discusses influential
artists, how he came to use Photoshop
and his favourite PS tools.

How did you get started?

At first I was a traditional artist using The Journey This would be one of my dream places to travel
pen and ink, but in 2003 got a job as an
illustrator for Korean children’s books and Are there any other techniques or What advice can you give to other
was trained to colour in Photoshop. From methods you’d like to learn? readers learning Photoshop?
that day I was addicted to the software. I’ve always wanted to get a job in the All I can say is don’t give up, I promise you
movie industry as a concept artist so that won’t regret it. Just keep on practising and
What are you influenced by? would be really great. I’d also like to learn watch video tutorials from artists or from
Most of the influences for my work are traditional painting so when I retire I can magazines like Photoshop Creative and
from traditional painters, but in the digital paint on a real canvas. Advanced Photoshop.
realm my idols are Ryan Church, Dylan
Cole, Ryan Kingslien and lots of other What’s your favourite Photoshop image
great digital artists. you’ve created and why?
One of my favourite pieces that I’ve done is
What Photoshop tools do you use most ‘Father and Son’, a mix of 3D and 2D, I was
and what for? really please with how it came out. I love
Well, the tools I use the most are the Brush the tone and mood of the scene as well
tool, adjustment layers and blend modes, as the story behind the image. The colours
as well as custom brushes because they are very warm and you feel like you could
make my work easier and faster. be inside the forest. X-Triton A busy urban scene in Urbusa City

D Artist This is one of my entries for Exposé 6 by Ballistic Publishing Father and Son Every time I look at this I think of children’s story books

CHECK OUT MORE OF PETER’S WORK HERE: WWW.PHOTOSHOPCREATIVE.CO.UK/USER/CGDIGI

 Above: Wondering
A portrait of a friend
Right: Cut Me into
Pieces The tragic story
of a dark fairy

The first step was to I then searched

draw a concept based on the theme. for some images I could add to the
After I gathered all the textures and images scene. I used the Pen tool for cropping out After I was done with cropping, I merged the
for my drawing, I placed and arranged them the pictures then Color Balance to blend images together always using layers so you can go back and
together. I used the Liquify, Transform and the objects together. I added shadows and forth if you encounter a problem. I used a soft brush to add some
Clone tools to achieve this kind of image. highlights to make it more believable. shadows with Multiply as the blend mode.

At this
point I’d finished
blending the images
into the scene When I’m done with
so I focused on the image, I merge
retouching the face, all the layers and
hair and costume. I use Color Balance
used custom brushes and Curves so that
with other dynamics everything will
in the Brushes palette. blend together.

| DON’T BE SHY, GET IN TOUCH AND REVEAL A BIT ABOUT YOUR WORKING PRACTICES
SEND US YOUR WORK [email protected]

See what fellow readers have been using Photoshop for and get inspired to submit your own work!
ometimes the best way of getting rules about ability or style – we just want to show graphic painting style, incorporating text and
inspiration for your work is to take a your images to the world and encourage others to design with a Photoshop twist. We also have the
good look at someone else’s. Well this is take their first Photoshop steps or try something high-end advertising style of Bartosz Piotrowski,
the perfect place to do it! There are no new. This issue we kick off with Jerald Tan-Gatue’s whose work seems made for glossy magazines.
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 Plug-ins have the file If you update
So here’s the usual way it extension .8bf and to install them manually Photoshop with each release there’s a case to
works with most plug-ins. You find something you need to copy and paste onto your hard drive. be made for having one directory into which all your
you like, download and run the installer and it will Place them in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe plug-ins go that is outside the Photoshop program
prompt for the compatible application to install it with. Photoshop CSx (64 Bit)\Plug-ins folder for 64-bit folder. Fortunately Photoshop can also read custom
Once this is done, all you have to do is run Photoshop Windows and C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe plug-in folders. Simply go to Edit>Preferences>Plug-
and the plug-in will be available under the Filter menu Photoshop CSx\Plug-ins for 32-bit versions. Mac users ins. Tick the Additional Plug-Ins Folder and navigate to
for you to open and enjoy. need to go to Applications>Photoshop>Plug-Ins. the location of your custom folder.
Make your photos stand out from the crowd with a collection of colour
and exposure enhancement plug-ins

Clearly this man is not to be trusted now with his thick jaw and
little piggy eyes, courtesy of Redfield

Transform a
picture into plain
portrait witha dazzling
Color Efex

The Toned Photos filter in the Retouching Suite allows a variety of old film Add some dramatic detail in your images with the small but effective range
processing styles to be created of tools from LucisArt
 Load the image.
You’ll notice that Color
Efex has a floating palette
of its own. Click on any of
the filters in it to launch the
interface. Don’t worry, you
can experiment with all
the filters before applying
them as a new layer.

Click
on the Portrait
tab on the left to see the
options. The one we want
is Glamour Glow so click on
that. The default options
immediately make the
image softer and more
colourful. Move the cursor
over areas of the image
and check the effect on the
Loupe, bottom right.

Click on
the pin icon under the
Loupe and click on the girl’s
face. This locks the Loupe
at that point so we can
check the effect. Increase
the Glow to about 55%, the
Saturation to 12% and the
Glow Temperature to 20%.
Check the face to make sure
it isn’t overdone.

The highlights on
the cardigan are starting
to disappear so click on
the down arrow next to
Shadows/Highlights. Set
Protect Highlights to 25% to
reduce it while keeping the
effect on the path. Click OK
to apply. You can also use
a little masking here if you
would like to.
 e with
This landscap perfect
bold shapes iseffect
for a painted

Want to get that just-painted look or create graphic design but don’t have any appreciable
painting and drawing skills? You need a plug-in or two

Turn text or objects into funky logos and graphic objects with
Artistic Effects from Lokas Software
Created with Snap Art 2. Yours for £500. The oil effect in particular is well done

The very low price of Sketcher from Little Ink Pot makes turning
your photos into pencil art a cinch

Launch the filter This type of image

from Filter>Akvis>ArtWork. is ideal for converting to a
Ensure that the style is set painting because it features
to Oil for this. Firstly, the simple shapes already rather
Simplicity parameter sets than lots of messy detail. To
how much detail is removed. give it more of a painterly feel
Paintings have less detail increase the Stroke Intensity
than photos, so increase it to 8 to make the individual
to 9. Also increase the Stroke strokes stand out more. Also,
Thickness to 15 to make the increase Relief to 30. This gives
brushstrokes broader. the paint strokes some depth.

Navigate with the Click

preview box checking that on the Canvas tab
important areas are going and put a tick in the box for
to look right. Have a scroll Use Canvas. The key to a cool
through the Presets list of effect here is to show some
stroke length and strengths. canvas without it dominating
Use the zoom function at the image. So, on the light
the top of the screen to see sphere, move the cursor to
the detail close up. If the the middle and right edge.
saturation of the converted Reduce the Reveal Texture
areas looks weak then slider to 10. Click on the large
increase it with the slider. tick to apply the effect.
You can take your artwork to another world with lighting, particle and special effects.
Here’s some of the best plug-ins to help you get there

Add a great looking photo frame or stylish edge, without having to go to the
effort of designing it yourself

Here’s the liquid crystal effect in the Dream Gel series from Auto FX. Create
squidgy looking logos!
 tical
Mys e this
e subtle lters giv
Th ting fi w life
Ligh ure a ne
pict

Launch the plug-in and go to the Lighting section.

Click on Light Beams. Double click to select Overlay Beams – Soft. Firstly
move the T bar that controls the light source and direction so it is above and
slightly angled from the left. Extend the central stem of the T downwards so that
light is cast into the mid-ground behind the girl.

You’ll notice
the light beams also go
over the subject so in
the Layer palette click
on Mask Layer. Then
select the Mask Brush.
Set the Opacity to 100%
and reduce the brush
size to 78. Increase the
feathering so there’s
a very soft edge and
paint over the subject to
reduce the effect.

Click on Select
Effect and choose Fairy
Dust. Click on the Draw
Path tool and, as one
continuous path, draw up
and down lines behind
and to the side of the
subject. Reduce the size
to 12, increase the items
to around 100, the Size
Variation to 42 and the
Softness to 100. Then
save the magic!
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 DON’T
FORGET TO
WATCH ALL

Great tutorials to improve your Photoshop skills and knowledge

VIDEO
TUTORIAL S
ON THE DISC!
Photoshop Creative Issue 70

Big Technique

You may use it every day but learn

what else lurks in the Color Picker

Tool guides…

The Rulers, Grids and Guides are

explained in full

It’s easy to miss these useful tools,

so find out what they do here Wet Media Star images – blend Puppet Warp – move Photo stamp – a fun
– watercolour effects photos and brushes and twist objects scrapbook project

French memo board Gradient maps – fix Photobook templates Type tool – make a
– display photos disappointing sunsets – get bespoke books personal mag cover

| TUTORIAL RESOURCE FILES CAN BE FOUND ON THE CD – SEE PAGE 99

Get creative with monochrome and learn how to use layer masks, the Brush tool, clipping
masks and selections to create a painting in progress
elective black and white effects have If you’re feeling adventurous, try out the other
always captured our imagination. It approach to this tutorial by using the original canvas
draws attention to the subject in your in our picture of the hand. Move the flowers onto this
image through the contrast, adds a image and blend the black and white version with
different twist to the overall composition and can the colour. See our version over the page and you can
turn a dull black and white into something really chose this one if you prefer the effect.
special. But why stop at just selecting colour? Here, Our two starting images are supplied on your disc,
we’ve taken a different approach by introducing but you can just as easily use any image to paint onto.
an actual paintbrush to ‘paint’ colour on our image. Simply re-position the hand wherever you want the
Using Photoshop’s pre-installed brush tips, it’s easy to paint to be applied. All that’s required is a couple of
experiment with different styles of painting. With the masks to cut out the hand and brush, a dab of paint,
help of layer and clipping masks, areas of paint can be and some subtle smudging… well, there’s a little bit
added or taken away quickly without worrying about more to it than this so follow these simple steps and
destroying the original image. learn exactly how it’s done.

Open the Using the Quick

starting image of the hand from Selection tool, form a selection over
your disc and zoom in to 50%. Pick the Quick the hand and wrist as well as the brush and Go to Select>Modify>Feather and enter
Selection tool and set its brush size to 50px bristles. For the background area between the 0.5px and hit OK. Go back into Select>Modify, and this time
in the Options bar, also make sure Auto- fingers, reduce the size of the tool to 10px and choose Contract. Enter 1px in the pop-up window and hit OK. Add a
Enhance is ticked. zoom in closer, then Alt-click on the area. layer mask in the Layers palette to apply the mask.

| PHOTOSHOP CS3 AND ABOVE

 Drag the Use the Quick
flowers layer onto the Create New Selection tool to make a selection
Open the image Layer button to duplicate. Double-click the around the flowers and the stem above where
Purple flower.jpg from your disc and locked layer (bottom of stack) to make it the hand is positioned. This doesn’t need to
drag the hand onto the image. Resize and editable. Go to Image>Adjustments> be exact. Add a new layer mask to the colour
move the hand using Edit>Free Transform Desaturate to remove this layer’s colour, flower layer (mid-stack) to show the black and
(Ctrl/Cmd+T) for a better composition. leaving the colour duplicate above. white underneath.

Select the Brush tool

and hit F5 to open
the Brushes palette.
Select the Flat Bristle
brush, found within
the Thick Heavy
Brushes, with a size
to match that of the
brush being held
(around 70px).

Click on Shape
Dynamics in the
Brushes palette.
Set the Size Jitter to
50% and Minimum
Diameter to 60%.
Set both the Angle
Jitter and Roundness
Jitter to 0%. Make
sure that Smoothing
is ticked too.
 Select the layer mask Press the X key Where colour
in the Layers palette and use the to alternate between the foreground meets black and white, use the Brush
Brush tool with white foreground and black and background colours, switching between tool in a vertical movement to accentuate the
background colours. Paint the blue back into adding and deleting the layer mask. Zoom into edges of the brush tip. Remember to resize
the sky, increasing the brush size to cover the the image and remove areas of paint to reveal the brush back to the size of the actual brush
large areas more easily. whole flowers in black and white. pictured when doing this.

Alt-click the layer mask’s When you’re finished

thumbnail to show which areas have painting, double-click on the hand
been masked and which are visible. Use the layer to open the Layer Style menu. Click
Brush tool set to black to paint over any white on Drop Shadow, and select Opacity 60%,
spots in the bottom half. Alt-click on the mask’s Distance 70px, Spread 15%, Size 40px and
thumbnail to revert back to normal mode. Angle to 110. Hit OK to apply the shadow.

The Drop Shadow Add a blank

doesn’t sit quite right under the brush layer in the Layers palette, which
tip. Ctrl/right-click on the Drop Shadow’s should be directly above the hand layer. Ctrl/
layer and select Create Layer from the list. Use right-click on the new layer and select Create
Top left: Rough Ink, Top right: Spatter, Bottom left: Chalk, Bottom right:
Edit>Free Transform to rotate the shadow so Clipping Mask. Anything added will only affect Flat Bristle
it’s sitting directly under the brush’s bristles. the hand on the layer below.
 Select the Smudge
tool and in the
Options bar, choose
the 19px Hard Round
tip. Set the Strength
to 50% and make
sure the Finger
Using the Eyedropper tool (I), pick a dark purple Painting option is
from the flowers. Use the Brush tool with a Hard Round tip and turned off. Zoom in
paint the colour onto the bristles. Do the same for a dark green from the 100% to the bristles
stems and a blue from the sky, adding them each to the bristles. with the paint.

Use the Smudge tool to

blend and blur the purple, green and Use the Clone Stamp
blue paint together on the bristles. Smudge tool, set to 50% Opacity with a size
up and down the bristles to bring through of 40px and Alt-click on the smudged paint
their direction, and work the paint around to on the bristles. Clone to the metal parts of the
look like real paint on a brush. paintbrush and the fingers of the hand.

At the moment,
the hand layer is
looking quite dark,
so add a Levels
adjustment layer
and Ctrl/right-click
to give it a clipping
mask. Brighten the
highlights by pulling
in the far right marker
underneath the
Levels histogram,
and you’re done!
 Start ima ge

Choose the Wet Media brush set to re-create the subtle art of watercolour painting
hotoshop has a huge Of course, it’s not just brushes that create guise of layer masks. When they are
selection of brushes which the magic of watercolour, but also the way applied to layer groups, these simple
are overlooked, which is a multitude of subtle washes interact with devices can reveal the underlying paper
a shame, because many each other and meld together. Fortunately surface in all it’s purity. This is one of those
lend themselves extremely well to what the brushes themselves lack, layer projects where less is without a doubt
particular styles of painting with very blending modes supply, so in this project much, much more!
little need for adjustment. we’ll combine both for a pretty convincing We’re giving you the basics here, but
One such group of brushes is the Wet painted effect. feel free to explore this remarkable set
Media set. This features brushes which Another feature of watercolour painting of brushes and carefully manipulate the
replicate everything from thick oil paint to is the practice of reserving areas of the opacity of your layers and the blending
diaphanous washes of watercolour, and it’s paper for highlights, and once again modes to vary your results and create
the latter we’re concentrating on here. Photoshop comes to the rescue in the the perfect Wet Media painting!

Create a new
canvas via File>New. Make this any
size – ours was 280mm high and 230mm Delete the reference Reduce the size of the brush
wide. Copy and paste reference images into layers. Choose Watercolor Fat Tip brush. Add and add in the shadows beneath the lily pads and
the canvas and reduce the opacity to use a new layer and set its blending mode to Linear Burn. the petals. Work over these areas repeatedly to build up the
as tracing images. Add a new layer above Choose a deep blue colour for foreground and set the intensity of the shadows, choosing even darker shades of the
the references and use the Watercolor Light brush Opacity to 65%. Use at a large size to paint in the same colour here and there. Don’t worry if you paint over the
Opacity brush at a small size to trace with blue. background colour, leaving white around the edges. flowers on this layer, we’ll be masking these soon.

PHOTOSHOP CS2 AND ABOVE |

 Add another layer, using the same blending Add a new layer. Choose the Drippy Water
mode. Increase the size of the brush and loosely add some brush. Alt-click to sample the darkest colour in the water. Set the
colour to the pads using a deep, grey green. It’s best to do this using the brush Opacity to just 16%. Now use this brush at a large size to add some
brush at low opacity, slowly building up the intensity of the colour and gentle, loose spots of colour here and there over the painting. When
tone. Again, don’t worry about covering the flowers here. you’re done, set the blending mode for this layer to Colour Dodge.

Duplicate this We need to

layer (Ctrl/Cmd-J). On the duplicated mask out the flowers, getting back to
layer go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Apply pure white paper. Click on the layer group and
a moderate amount of blur and click OK. go to layer>Layer Mask>Reveal All. Choose
Now click on the top layer in the stack and the Watercolor Heavy Loaded brush. Now
Ctrl/Cmd-click all the other layers (not the paint with black on to the layer mask within
Background). Go to Layer>Group Layers. We’ll the flowers themselves to mask them out and
add a layer mask to this group in the next step. reveal the bare paper.

Add a new layer

(within the group)
and set its blending
mode to Linear
Burn. Choose the Watercolor Fat Tip
Watercolor Heavy
Pigment brush.
Reduce the brush
Opacity to 30%. Now
add the deep green
shadows beneath
the flowers and the
very dark touches to Drippy Water Watercolor Heavy Loaded
the water.
 Add another
On another layer, setting the blending mode to
layer set to Hard Light, use the Drippy Multiply. Grab this layer and drop it above and
Water brush again at a large size to add darker outside of the group. Hold down the Ctrl/Cmd Reduce the layer Opacity to 50%.
green and blue splashes of colour over the key and click the layer mask attached to the Time to add some colour to the flowers. Using
central areas of the painting. Duplicate this group to generate a selection. On the new your sketch and the finished painting as a
layer and add a moderate amount of Gaussian layer go to Layer>Layer Mask>Hide Selection. guide, add pastel colours to the petals and add
Blur (Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur) to give a more This layer mask allows you to add colour to the in the bright yellow centre. Just worry about
diffused feel to these areas. flowers without any over-spill. the overall colour and tone for now.

Now for some By using this brush

detailing. Duplicate this layer again, with careful pressure control you
changing its blending mode to Linear Burn. can add some slightly darker accents to the
Click directly on the layer thumbnail and hit flower petals to give them an extra dimension.
the backspace key on your keyboard to clear Use colours at low saturation here for a subtle
it. Choose the Watercolor Textured Surface effect. Because of the layer blending mode
brush. Set the Size Control in the Brushes you can overlay many strokes of various
palette to Pen Pressure and set Opacity to 80%. colours for an authentic watercolour effect.

Using bolder, One of the most

darker, more saturated colours, you important things about watercolour
can add very fine shadow details to the centre is maintaining its translucency. Both the layer
of the flowers and some razor-sharp defining blending modes and the layer opacity help
strokes within the body of the flower. To add here, so finally it’s a good idea to spend a
details to the lily pads, first right-click the layer while carefully adjusting the opacity of each
mask and delete it. individual layer in the stack.
 Using a combination of the Rulers, Grids and Guides
tools can help you achieve design harmony in a layout
with all elements evenly spaced and lined up.

Make the rulers visible by

choosing View>Rulers.
Select the unit of
measurement you
would prefer to use by
double-clicking the ruler.
Now choose a unit type
from the Preferences
window that appears.

Position the mouse over

Achieving accurate layouts is effortless with a little help from the top or left ruler. If you
wish to add horizontal
Photoshop’s Rulers, Grids and Guides guides click and drag
aying out items on a page the grid more clearly and if the Rectangular the top ruler. To create
precisely isn’t always Marquee tool is chosen, the grid helps you vertical guides click and
drag the left ruler. As you
possible when judging choose precisely where to cut out.
drag, a line will appear
by eye. Whether it is text, When working on a document such as on the document.
photographs or graphics that you are an advertisement, DVD menu or photo
arranging, Photoshop’s Rulers, Grids and gallery-style layout, Rulers, Grids and
Guides features offer a greater level of Guides are indispensable. Guides makes
accuracy. Spacing objects evenly becomes up a customised grid that is specific to Choose the place in
easy with these tools, and making use of the document you are working on and is the image that you
Snap To and Lock Guides extends their particularly useful for the arrangement of wish to place the guide
capabilities even further. As well as the help such documents. These tools can also come and release the mouse
button. The blue guide
they offer with layout, these tools also come in handy when straightening photographs.
line will be dropped
in handy for cutting or making a selection For example, if you have taken a shot with a onto the page. Repeat to
in a certain area. Grids are particularly useful wonky horizon you can click on the ruler to create multiple guides to
if you want to cut a section out. Zooming drag out a guide and then rotate the image help align your items.
into the image first will enable you to see until it is straight.
 Rulers make Accurate layouts are easily achievable thanks to Guides can be hidden by choosing
it easy to accurately Photoshop’s Snap To feature. Choose View>Snap To>Guides and View>Show Guides. This can also be used to make them
measure the spaces the guides will perform in a similar way to magnets. This means that visible again. Removing guides can be done by clicking
between items on a as an object is moved close to the guide it will be attracted to it. and dragging them off the document. To get rid of all
page. For the most guides on a document choose View>Clear Guides.
precise readings it is
advisable to view the
image at 100%.

If you are happy with the placement Guides can be added by clicking the
of your guides and want to make sure they are not horizontal or vertical ruler and dragging to the place
moved by mistake choose View>Lock Guides to keep in the document you want the guide to appear. To
them in place. To make the guides moveable again reposition a guide choose the Move tool, click the
choose View>Lock Guides to uncheck this option. guide and drag it elsewhere on the page.
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Start ima ge
Learn how to use photos of the cosmos to create a stunning sparkling illustration
here are few things in this universe as http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html and
inspiring as the night sky. For centuries download the images for these days: November 18 and
humans have been filled with wonder 19, October 16, 26 and 27, and September 16 all of 2010.
and awe while staring up into the vast But if you see some that you prefer, use them instead.
expanse of creation. Technological achievements in You also need to do a bit of preparation work on
satellites and telescopes have increased that sense of the hummingbird. The photo on the CD isn’t exactly
wonder by allowing brilliant and dramatic peeks into the same as the one we used, but it’s still a little beauty
the cosmos that have inspired countless works of art. and will make a brilliant image. Before you begin the
In this tutorial we will endeavour to capture that process, open up the hummingbird image and select
sense of wonder by using some of the dramatic the Pen tool. Make sure it is set to Paths in the top
space scenes as textures for our illustrated work. We Options bar. Make a path around the hummingbird,
encourage you to check out NASA’s image of the day go to the Paths palette and click the right arrow to
found at www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/ get to the options. Select Save Path. Name the path
iotd.html where NASA displays a new astronomy- Hummingbird. Now open the options menu again and
based image that is high resolution, stunning, and select New Path, calling this one Flower. Create a path
absolutely free! To use the same images we use for this around the flower. Save the image, launch Photoshop
project go to the image of the day archive found here: and join us as we make a cosmic illustration.

Open the
hummingbird with the two paths in Use the selection as
place. Create two new layers and fill both with a layer mask on the Bird Base layer.
black. We’ve named the top one ‘Bird Base’, Make sure that the mask is the active element Drag and drop a starry photo onto the
and the other layer ‘Black BG’. Next, switch and run a 10px Gaussian Blur on it. You won’t canvas. We chose the hartleydouble_eder_big.jpg image
to the Paths panel and Ctrl/Cmd+click on see anything change on the canvas just yet, all from NASA’s website to begin with here. Transform the layer to get the
the Hummingbird path to create a selection that is there is a bird shaped black layer over a positioning as you like it then clip it to the Bird Base layer by going to
around that shape. black background. Layer>Create Clipping Mask.

| PHOTOSHOP CS AND ABOVE

By selecting based on the luminosity of your design, the
mask works seamlessly with the image. Begin by using the
Hummingbird path to isolate the bird over the black background.

Highlights
Ctrl/Cmd+click the
RGB channel to
create a selection
based on the
luminosity values.
Go to Select>Save
Selection and save
as the ‘Highlights’
channel. Drop in another
Add a layer mask to star image (we chose LMC_gleason.
the star layer and gently use a soft jpg), transform it into position and clip it to
Shadows black brush to paint out the area just below the base as well. Change the blending mode
Duplicate the the bird’s eye and slightly tone down the to Linear Dodge to allow the previous star
Highlights channel brightness. The advantage of stacking the layer to show through. Reduce the opacity to
and invert it star layers on top of a base is that you can use around 50% and use a layer mask to further
by pressing individual masks to fine tune the transparency. define layer visibility.
Ctrl/Cmd+I then
rename this
channel; we went
for ‘Shadows’.

Super highlights
Load the
Highlights
selection and
then hold Ctrl/
Cmd+Alt+Shift Continue
and click it to layer in star imagery and use the
again. Save this transform and masking techniques to define Make a copy of the
channel as ‘Super the shape. Be sure to experiment with different background layer and move it to
Highlights’. blending modes. Everything in the Lighten set the top of the stack. Set the blending mode
(Screen, Color Dodge, Linear Dodge, etc) will to Overlay, hide the entire layer with a mask
knock out the black space of the layer, allowing (Layer>Layer Mask>Hide All) and using a white
Super shadows the stars to add to the composition without brush on the mask, softly paint the eye and
Load the Shadows covering up previous layers. wing details back into the shape.
selection and click
so it intersects with
itself as above to
create what shall Make another copy
now be known of the background
as the ‘Super layer (we named it
Shadows’ channel. ‘Light Details’) and
place it on top of
the stack. Set the
Midtones blending mode to
Create a ‘Midtones’ Screen and load the
channel by Highlights selection
intersecting the (see the side panel
Highlights channel for further details)
with the Shadows. to use as a mask.
The selection This ensures that
may be less than only the highlights
50% visible. of the image are
being used.
 Select a
couple of nebulae images to use as
Continue to background layers and drop them in over the
make use of the luminosity masks black background. Choose images with colours
to define the dark and light areas of the bird. that will offset the colours in the hummingbird
Create a layer for these darker areas, load the (we used the cygnusNeb_geissinger1200.jpg Begin the flower shape in the same way the bird
Super Shadows selection and fill with black. image). Reduce the opacity significantly and was done. Add a black filled layer and name it ‘Flower Base’.
This will help add contrast to the shape that is use layer masks to control the visibility so only Make a selection round the outline and set as a layer mask. Run a 10 px
filled with light. the areas near the bird are apparent. Gaussian Blur on the mask to soften it a bit.

Drop in the spicules_nso_big.jpg image and Use the same techniques you used
clip it to the Flower Base shape. This fiery red image will serve in illustrating the hummingbird to illustrate the flower. Layer
as the basis of giving the flower it’s colour. At this point, you may wish to in the star images, transform as needed, adjust the blending mode and
duplicate both the flower layers to place additional flowers into the scene. use a layer mask, either hand painted or from a luminosity selection.

Create a
new document at
500px by 500px.
Add a layer and
create a small circle
in the centre filled Use the Warp transformation
with black. Now add (Edit>Transform>Warp) to taper the ends of the rectangle.
a second layer and Just grab the corner points and pull them in to the centre line. The
create a thin, tall, tangent handles should not need adjusting. After committing the
vertical rectangle. transformation, duplicate the rectangle and rotate it 90 degrees.
 Open the Brush
Flatten the image Panel and set the brush to your newly
and run a Gaussian Blur of 15 pixels defined custom shape. Set the tip size to 60
to create a star flare shape. Go to Edit>Define pixels and Spacing to 50%. Check the Shape
Brush Preset and name the brush. After Dynamics box and set the Size Jitter to 80%.
defining the brush, you can close the file and Check the Scattering box and set the scatter to
return to the main project file. both axis and 175%.

On a new layer, Create

sample a bright colour from the another layer on top of the stack.
original image and use your newly created Disengage the scattering from the brush
brush to paint in stars shooting off from the settings and increase the size to around
bird’s wings and tail. Adjust the paint colour 150-200 pixels. Selectively place these larger
and brush size as you go to maintain a good singular stars to create visual interest and a
variety of sparkles. balanced composition.

Add an Outer Glow

layer style to the big
stars. Set the colour
to a brilliant blue, the
Spread to 0, Size to 3
pixels and Range to
35%. This gives the
stars a nice blue glow
to finalise the project.
Quickly add a classy look to your images

ou can get up to
all sorts of creative
tasks in Photoshop,
but one of the most
satisfying is replicating traditional
film camera effects.
Duotone, or split-toning is a
traditional process whereby toning
chemicals are used to add a colour
sheen to black-and-white images.
The chemicals can be set to target
either shadows or highlights and
result in a classic look. Photoshop
has a dedicated Duotone
command, making it a breeze to try
the effect yourself.

Back to the Image menu

but this time go to Mode>Duotone.
To begin your duotone This will open up a special dialog. Select
odyssey, you need to prep your start Duotone from the Type: drop-down menu and
image. Open it in Photoshop and then go to then click the colour square for Ink 1 and pick Before you click OK, you will need to add
Image>Mode>Grayscale. If this ends up looking a hue from the picker. Repeat for Ink 2. You’ll a name to each of your ink colours. Each ink also has an
a little flat, take a trip to the Levels or Curves to be shown a colour library for Ink 2, but you adjustable curve. Click the square with the diagonal line in it to bring up
bring back some punch. can click the Picker button if you prefer that a curve. Now alter the tone of each of your colours using this method.

| PHOTOSHOP 7 AND ABOVE

 One of the main uses for the Color Picker is to select a
foreground or background shade. For most tasks, the
foreground colour will be used but if you are filling in erased
areas of an image the background colour will be chosen.

Bring
up the Color Picker by
clicking the Foreground
colour swatch. The
colour currently selected
will be surrounded in
the large colour window
Add a little colour to your life and choose by a circle.

from the millions of shades available with

Photoshop’s Color Picker If you want a
different colour range,
here are millions of different shades to choose from click the vertical bar near
in Photoshop and the Color Picker makes selecting the colour you want or
the perfect one a breeze. You can set the hue used slide the arrows. Select
for not only the foreground and background colour a new shade in the large
but other design elements such as text. As well as offering control square on the left and it
over the precise tint used, the Picker can make sure that the colours will appear in the top of
chosen are part of the web-safe palette or are chosen according the two boxes.
to specific colour systems.
Selecting using the Picker is simple. First you need to get in the
right colour spectrum by moving the vertical slider. The shade can
then be fine-tuned in the large colour box. Photoshop lends a hand To select a background
colour, click the
by displaying the current and new colour that has been chosen in the
background square
boxes for you to compare. Within the Color Picker there are a range of
in the bottom of the
different colour modes such as RGB, CMYK and Lab, and if you don’t toolbox. Repeat the
want to choose a colour by eye you can enter values into one of the previous step to choose
colour modes’ sets of boxes. For example, entering 22 in R, 58 in G a hue. Once you’re happy
and 215 in B in the RGB colour mode area creates a bright blue. with it, click OK.
 You
will find two coloured rectangular
boxes to the right of the vertical
colour slider. The bottom colour
represents the originally selected
colour and the top box shows the
new colour that it will be adjusted to.

A whopping
256 levels of saturation make up the
large colour square from left to right.
It also has 256 levels of lightness and
darkness from the top to the bottom.
A triangle
Clicking lower in the square with the
with an exclamation
Hue or Saturation button selection
mark appears if a
adds more black to a shade.
colour is non-printable
within the CMYK colour
When the box space and Photoshop
beside Only Web Colours is checked, displays the closest
the Color Picker will be restricted to colour within CMYK’s
only displaying shades that are within range. A small cube
the Web-safe palette which is made pops up if a colour is
up of 216 different colours. not Web-safe. Clicking
the colour swatch that
appears below the
alert will change it to
To change the colour in the main the closest match.
colour window, use the colour slider. Located to
the right of the large colour square, the rainbow-
coloured slider also offers 256 different hues.
Clicking on an area of the slider or dragging its
arrows changes the colour in the large square.
 Whether you are
displaying images on
a website or printing
them out, matching
colour elements
from an image to the
background brings
some harmony to
a layout. For a web To make
page design, for As we will space for the new colours you are
example, this can be be working with both the Color going to add to the swatch it must first be
achieved by creating Picker and colour swatches, we need to make cleared of the default shades that are already
colour swatches. the Swatches window visible by choosing there. Remove a colour by holding down the
Open an image from Window>Swatches. It will pop up with all the Alt key whilst clicking on it. As each colour is
your layout. default colours already loaded into it. removed, a scissor icon will be seen.

Repeat the previous

step of Alt-clicking on each colour
until all the colour swatches are clear. Don’t
worry; they will not have gone forever Now the Swatches palette is clear
because they are the Photoshop default ones. you can start selecting colours from the The Color Picker window will appear. Now
To reload the default swatches click on the image to make up new swatches. Click on move the cursor to a point in the image where you want to
arrow icon in the top right of the Swatches the Foreground colour box in the bottom of select the colour from. In this case we are choosing a green from the
window and choose Reset Swatches. the toolbox. grass as it is prominent in the photo.
 Click OK in
the Color Picker box once you are With the paint
happy with the shade you have chosen from Move the cursor bucket icon visible, click in the
the image. The Color Picker window will over to the Swatches window and Swatches window to bring up a Color Swatch
then close and you will see that the shade position it over the space where the previous Name window. This is where you name the
you selected is the foreground colour in the swatches were. You will see the cursor new colour you have chosen. In this case we
bottom of the toolbox. change to a paint bucket icon. will call it ‘grass green’.

Click OK and Choose Save Swatches from the drop-down

the new colour swatch will appear Once you are menu that appears. Enter a name for your colour swatches
in your Swatches window. Now repeat these happy with the selection of shades in the box that appears and click Save. We called our swatches ‘park’.
steps with other colours from the image or by you have picked, save your colour swatch by To reload this colour swatch again, click on the arrow in the top
selecting colours from other images that may clicking on the arrow icon that appears in the right, choose Load Swatches from the drop-down menu and locate
appear on a web page layout, for example. top right of the Swatches window. the saved swatch file.
Start ima ge

Bend and re-shape subjects into any position using Puppet Warp in CS5
hotoshop CS5 has a collection of completely new the approach we’ve taken with our image and you’ll not only learn
features since its previous version and, if you’re how to warp this person but also what to do with the background
fortunate enough to own this latest incarnation, the after the pose has been changed. Making use of tools like the
Puppet Warp tool is at your creative disposal. Clone Stamp and Spot Healing Brush will help smarten up the
This tool lets you reposition a subject using yellow pins which background once the effect has been applied, but the most
also act as anchor points to hold parts in place. Use the tool to impressive part is the Content-Aware Fill on the background. This
move a hand that’s pointing in the wrong direction or to tilt is also new to CS5 and re-creates the background using familiar
someone’s head; subtle changes that can make all the difference parts of the image instead of leaving a white canvas behind.
to an image’s composition. Small changes require less retouching This tutorial’s image can be downloaded from www.sxc.hu,
once you’ve made them but, if you’re feeling adventurous, the using reference number 1100439, and is courtesy of czekka (www.
tool can be used to change the subject’s pose altogether. This is sxc.hu/profile/czekka).

| PHOTOSHOP CS5
 Open the tutorial’s
image, select the
Quick Selection tool
and in the Options
bar make sure Auto-
Enhance is ticked.
Zoom your image
to 100% and make
a selection around
the woman, varying Edit the selection using the Refine Edge
the size of the tool for command in the Options bar. Open the menu, increase
small areas. Feather to 0.5px and use Shift to expand or contract the selection.

When your Keep the selection

selection is complete, Ctrl/Cmd-click active and go to Layer>New>Layer
over the area and choose Save Selection via Copy (Ctrl/Cmd+J). This will place our
from the list of options. In the pop-up box, subject onto a new layer. Open the Channels Go to Select>Modify>Expand, enter a
give the selection a name and hit OK. The palette, hold Ctrl/Cmd and click on the value of 10px and click OK. This will make the selection area
selection is now saved in the Channels palette thumbnail of the channel just made to expand. Click on the background layer in the Layers palette. Go to
(Window>Channels). re-activate the selection. Edit>Fill and in the pop-up window select Content-Aware and hit OK.

Select the layer with the woman and go to

Hit Ctrl/Cmd+D to remove the selection. Edit>Puppet Warp. A mesh will appear over the woman but
Hide the layer with the woman’s cut-out to reveal the newly this can be turned off in the Options bar. Click on the palms, shoulders,
constructed background. The background will need retouching but elbows and other major areas including the chest, hips and head to fix
leave this until later after Puppet Warping. their positions with yellow pins.
 Hold Alt and
hover over the pin on
the raised knee. This
activates a rotation
wheel which you can
turn anti-clockwise
to shape the leg so it
looks more natural,
Once all the pins have been placed on the straightening the
subject, grab the woman’s right knee and drag it up. Grab the shin. Push the pin
foot and drag that up too. Try to keep the leg in proportion with the rest on the right hip to
of the body, but don’t worry if it’s slightly out of shape. show movement.

Drag
the pins on the
model’s right elbow
and hand down to
her right hip. Click on
her forearm to add
a pin and use this to
straighten out the
lower part of her arm.
To achieve a pointed When you’re happy with the position
elbow, add another of the model, click OK in the Options bar. The Puppet Warp is
pin above the elbow now applied to your image and areas of retouching become visible,
and move it down. especially where you’ve repositioned the legs.

Drag the
background layer onto the Create Select the Clone
New Layer button to duplicate. Select the Spot Stamp tool and set its Diameter to
Healing Brush tool and set it to Content-Aware 50px and its Hardness to 0%. Patch up the
in the Options bar. Use the tool by clicking on mountains in the background, the surface
areas of the rock which are deformed. A little of the rocks and her hands, making sure no
goes a long way. cloning marks are visible.
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Use Photoshop to create a light-weight, French memo board for your dorm or apartment
without a trip to the craft store
he French memo (or This tutorial will reveal how to create Rectangular tool, Gradients, Rulers and
memory) board is all the a corkboard backing using textures Rotate will all help you. The buttons are
rage and a great gift for a and drop shadows. Putting the fabric great fun to make using Custom Shapes
college student who is not component together is simple using the and layer blend modes. Then the best
allowed to put nails in the wall. If you Selection tool, the Paint Bucket, Custom part; adding your memories with a simple
have been thinking of creating one but Shapes for designs and finishing with drag and drop, and using some shadows
don’t want the expense of buying all the the Eraser. You probably think evoking to make them look three-dimensional.
materials from the craft shop, this is a great the look of the ribbons is tricky, but not This Roman vacation will be enjoyed for
alternative and just as much fun to make. with Photoshop’s range of tools. The a long time on the student’s wall!

Click on the
colour box at the bottom of your
toolbar located on the left side. Choose a
beige corkboard colour. Now choose the
Bucket tool and click on the white to ‘pour’ this
new colour on.

First we
need a backing board on which to
mount our fabric-effect photo display. Create Make a duplicate
the first layer by going to File>New. This will layer. Double-click on this new layer
open a dialog box in which you can name and name it ‘corkboard’. Now go to Filter>
your layer and type in the dimensions and Texture>Texturizer to open this Filter’s dialog
resolution you want the final image to be. I box. Choose Craquelure and adjust the sliders
chose a 9” x 12” size. to achieve the best texture.

PHOTOSHOP CS2 AND ABOVE |

Remembering simple tips such as sizing your custom shapes and
softening your shadows will go a long way to making your board
look fantastically convincing.

Custom shapes
The trick to making
believable textile
design is to vary
the size and
shapes, but still do
this in a uniform
and harmonious
way by repeating
the pattern.
To add a nice
Eraser magic design to your fabric, click on your
Sometimes the Go to Layer>New coloured box and choose a slightly darker or
Eraser can solve Layer and name it ‘fabric’. Now, using lighter shade than your fabric. Now choose
seemingly difficult the Rectangular Marquee tool, create a box the Custom Shape tool, click the Shape Layers
problems, such for the fabric area leaving a border. Select any icon in the top toolbar and drag the shape to
as this ribbon colour you like and fill the box with it. adjust the size.
overflow. An
opaque brush and
a steady hand is all
that is needed.

Button holes
Create holes in
your buttons with
the Brush or Eraser
tool. Use a small
brush and poke a
hole by dabbing
with your stylus or
clicking once with Keep adding
the mouse. Custom Shapes until your entire Now to make the
fabric box is filled. Be sure to vary the size and fabric look credible go to Filter>
Ribbon bending shape to create an interesting and convincing Texture>Texturizer and choose either Burlap
To make the textile design. Select these layers (including or Canvas and adjust the sliders to the settings
ribbons bend at fabric) and go to Layer>Merge Layers. above (or ones of your own preference).
the edges, grab
the Burn tool
and go along
the ribbon edge.
This will create a
shadow and give
the curved illusion. To make
the fabric square look
as though it has been
Composition and handmade, use the
shadows Use soft Eraser tool to round
shadows under off the corners.
your images and Select Drop Shadow
ribbons for realism. in the Layer Style
Also, arrange menu at the bottom
images in a pleasing of the Layers palette,
composition and select the Burn tool
stick to a theme. and make the edges
of the fabric darker.
 Create a new Click on Ensure that the Show Transform
layer called ‘ribbons’. Choose your the Foreground box and choose two Controls box is checked at the top. Now using
Rectangular Marquee tool to create three swatches in slightly different shades. I chose your Move tool, move your mouse or stylus
vertical columns, using the ruler to measure lilac and purple. Now use the Gradient tool to to the corner of your ribbon and rotate to the
and space apart as shown. Hold down your fill the ribbons with this colour by clicking on right until they are diagonal. Make a duplicate
Shift key to make copies. the top of the column and dragging down. layer and rotate to the left.

As
we did before with the flower details,
choose a fun Custom Shape to place where
Adjust the ribbons until each ribbon crosses. Double-click the layer
you get diamond shapes. Merge the and select Drop Shadow, Bevel and Emboss,
two ribbon layers and clean up the overflow Contour and Pattern Overlay. Play with the
using the Eraser on the edges. Use an opaque options until you like the effect and merge the
brush at 100% and add a soft drop shadow. ribbon and button layers.

Open your Now that you have all your images on

images one at a time and use the the memo board, arrange them in a pleasing
Move tool to drag and drop them onto your way and change sizes using the Transform and
memo board. Do this until you have as many Move tools. Add a drop shadow to each and
as you want and then drag your ribbon layer to you are ready to hang and enjoy your memory
the top to overlap. board or give to a friend. What a great gift!
 Let’s use a script for real and see how it works. I
downloaded a script from www.morris-photographics.
com called ‘black and white variations’.

The script was

downloaded and copied
to the Scripts folder. It
had to be unblocked as
described in the tip box.
Start Photoshop, load
the source image and
go to File>Scripts>BW
Variations.

Discover the power of Photoshop scripts, without having to This script creates black
learn a new language to use them and white effects and
here’s where you can
cripts work a lot like actions don’t have to be a code head to use scripts try different ones. Tick
in that they automatically because there are some supplied with them all. Select a target
apply a set of effects to your Photoshop itself and there are lots of third location for the images
when saved and tick
image. Written in code, they’re party ones, many for free. What you need to
Reload Variations so you
either in VB Script for Windows, AppleScript do is learn how to install them, how to run a can directly compare.
for Mac users or JavaScript, which works for script, understanding the Events Manager
both systems. They can perform processes and using them automatically.
based on conditional logic, meaning they Scripts first appeared with Photoshop 7
react intuitively to each image. If a script as an optional plug-in and were supplied Now there are 20
reads a file that’s web sized, for example, it directly in Photoshop CS. Since then they’ve variations to check over.
might apply a different set of sharpening been fully integrated so all versions of Drag to one side the
parameters than it would to an image it Photoshop CS can use scripts. The supplied ones you like, close the
ones you don’t, and you
identifies as high-res; the scripts apply logic scripts and any that you have installed
can compare a couple
and make changes accordingly. But who yourself are contained under File>Scripts, to see which give the
wants to have to learn JavaScript to take which is also the location of the Scripts best outright result or
advantage of this great feature? I can’t see Event Manager and the script-based Image platform for further work.
many hands up at the back. Don’t worry, you Processor. So let’s get scripting!
 The Processed files can be saved in the same location. The Image Processor is
Image Processor is Sub-folders are also supported for both import and export. Don’t good for batch resizing as well. In the
a one-stop shop for worry about overwriting files though. Each of the file formats is third section there are also options for
using a script engine created in its own named directory so the originals are preserved. converting the current colour profile
to perform a number to sRGB and then resizing for web use.
of actions. Go to
File>Scripts>Image
Processor to load
it. The first section
allows you to
perform the script
on either a bunch of
images already open,
or ones in a folder
you select.

If the process is going There’s a selection of actions that you can run
to add layers to the image, it’s a good idea to on the files as well. The one selected here is a sepia toning
use a file format that supports it, otherwise the layer. The reason for using the Image Processor here is that
results will be flattened. You can save as JPEG, there are four images and this will give each a sepia toning.
PSD or TIFF, the latter two supporting layers. You can then look at them all and decide which one is best.
Start ima ge

Blend reds, oranges and yellows with a Gradient Map adjustment layer to give a sunset
scene the colour it deserves
he Gradient Map adjustment command hardly ever The good news is that adding the colour after the fact is easy
seems to get taken out of its box for Photoshop with gradient maps. A gradient map allows us to assign particular
tutorials, but we’ve got the perfect use for it here; colours to particular parts of the tonal range for a more realistic
adding realistic sunset colouring to an otherwise finish. In this case, we’re adding reds to the shadows and yellows
washed out sunset scene. It’s the deep reds, oranges and yellows to the highlights. The gradient map will automatically blend from
that make a sunset so evocative, but often the scene that you one colour to the other as you move across the tonal range, leaving
remember isn’t the one that makes it onto your screen. It may be us a lovely orange for the midtones. The result looks much more
that you’ve neutralised the colour with in-camera white balance like a genuine sunset than a single colour wash of any one of those
(likely if it’s left on the Auto setting) or simply that you didn’t capture colours, and we can use the Gradient tool to focus this colour more
the scene at the moment when the colour was most resplendent. on the sky than the foreground for a truly authentic sunset effect.

| PHOTOSHOP CS AND ABOVE

 We’ve
got an image taken at
sunset, but our white
balance settings
have neutralised
much of the orange
cast making it look
washed out. It’s this
orange colour that
really gives a sunset
such an evocative Start by clicking the Adjustment
feel, so we’re going to Layer button at the bottom of the Layers palette and select
use a gradient map to Gradient Map. Your image will look dramatically different but don’t
restore it. worry, this is the default settings which we’ll adjust in the next step.

Click the
colour ramp drop-down menu Pick a red
(the little gradient bar) to access the Gradient tone and click OK. The image will Photoshop blends the colour nicely for us,
Editor. You’ll see another colour ramp middle- appear to take on a red tone. Now click the giving an orange shade in the midtones between the reds
bottom of the dialog. We’ll use this to add square at the bottom right of the colour ramp. and the yellows. Click OK in the Gradient Editor to complete. The
sunset colours. Double-click the square at the This time, pick a bright yellow on the Color strength of the colour wash is obviously too strong, so the next step is
bottom left of the ramp. Picker to represent the light tones. to make it look more real.

We can do this fairly easily by If we want to reduce the strength of

changing the Gradient Overlay layer blending mode from the colour change, we can do so simply by dropping the layer
Normal to Overlay in the Layers palette. This blending mode combines opacity of the Gradient Layer. In this case, a setting of 70% produces a
the two layers and increases contrast in the process for a nice effect. finish that looks a little more realistic.
 The problem we have now is that the
foreground pebbles and beach huts contain as much of the Select the Gradient tool and click the colour
orange colour as the sky, which isn’t a realistic finish. The foreground ramp drop-down menu in the Tool Options Bar above to
would contain some of the orange cast, but a reduced amount. We can select the Gradient Editor again. This time click the first swatch top left for
use the Gradient tool (G) to knock it back smoothly. Foreground to Background and click OK.

Press D to reset the colour palette to white If you want more orange in the
and black. With the Gradient tool active, draw a line from the foreground, you can repeat the process but with a midtone
top of one of the beach huts far right to the base of the picture. Watch grey as the background colour rather than black. Click the Color swatch
the orange effect fade out gradually from the beach hut downwards. and choose a grey from the Color Picker.

Start
with Highlights and
set Amount to 30%,
Tonal Width to 50%
and Radius to 200
pixels. You can leave
Shadows at 0% if you
want to maintain the
We’re going to try and balance the highlights silhouette feel, or use
and shadows more. With the top layer still selected, use Ctrl/ settings of 5%, 50%
Cmd+Alt+Shift+E to create a merged duplicate layer on top of the stack. and 200 pixels to
Go to Image>Adjustments>Shadows/Highlights. throw in a little detail.
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Don’t be limited by what the online photobook suppliers have to offer – create your own
templates for a more stylish and personal effect
hether you are printing when printed, they need to be formatted shape as required, ensuring the resolution
sheets of a book yourself for the correct physical size and print DPI, so is always 300 DPI under Image>Image Size.
or making them to upload this needs to be taken into consideration. Put a tick in the Resample Image box, and
to a photobook supplier, We are going to work on the basis of you shouldn’t have any problems with
there’s no doubt that creating your own creating templates for an A4 photobook. losing quality through resizing. For the last
templates can give you more personal This means that you have two A4 pages template we will create there are shapes
and stylish results. Plus, the templates can next to each other. It’s important to make included to go around the edges of the cut
be reused however and whenever you sure that the size you use from an online out areas. You can create different effects
wish. Create different sets of templates for service matches the size and resolution of with different shapes and use layer options
everything from weddings to birthdays, the Photoshop document that you create. to add shadows and bevels to give your
special family gifts or the arrival of a new If you want to use an existing template for templates a slick, professional finish; follow
baby. In order for the pages to look good different sizes, simply change the overall these simple steps to find out how.

An A4 vertical Go to View and put a tick Select the Rectangular Marquee tool
sheet is 210mm x 297mm, which next to Rulers. Then go to View>New Guide and set the Style to Fixed Size. Enter Width as 40cm,
means that two pages together are 420mm and select Vertical. Setting the position as 21cm will Height as 27.7cm and click on the top left corner of the guides
x 297mm. Go to File>New and enter these place a vertical guide in the middle and that’s where where they intersect. The selection will align itself with these
values in the width and height. Enter the the crease will be in the actual book. Now add further lines. Go to Select>Inverse, Edit>Copy and Edit>Paste. You
Resolution as 300 pixels/inch and change the vertical guides at 1cm and 41cm and then horizontal now have a new layer for the border. Click the eye icon for your
Background Contents to White. ones at 1cm and 28.7cm for the page edges. Background layer.

PHOTOSHOP CS AND ABOVE |

For large picture panels, you can either find a different picture or
resize the ones you have. You can get away with more resizing for
portraits than for sharpness-critical images like landscapes.

Lock aspect
ratio Select the
image and go to
Edit>Transform
>Scale. Click on the
link icon between
the width and
height to lock the
aspect ratio. Make a new layer,
Select the Rectangular Marquee Save the template.
tool again and enter the Style as Fixed Ratio. When you come to drop a picture
Drag and size Set the Width to 15cm and the Height to 2cm. in, place it between the border layer and the
Drag the bottom Select from the mid point at the top and drag background. If the photo resolution is greater
right control carat it out until it snaps to the other guide. Set the than 4725 x 3276, it will drop behind the border
downwards until foreground colour to white with the Paint and you can move it around for the best fit. If it is
the picture fills the Bucket and choose an Opacity of 50-60%. smaller then you will need to scale it up.
frame. Don’t worry
if some has gone
off the bottom of
the screen.

Put in position
Click on the
tick and then
choose the
Move tool. Select
the photo layer
and reposition
the image to The caption background Let’s use the saved
avoid cropping has its own layer, so if it works better template as a starting point and
important parts. somewhere else just move it. Click on the Text make another with more picture slots. Create
tool and choose your font then click on the a new layer and then click on the Rectangular
image and enter the text. If the caption box is Marquee tool. Set the Style to Fixed Size, width
too dense, remember it’s on a different layer so to 2cm and height to 29.7cm. Click on the
Sharpen result
you can just reduce the opacity. 20cm mark at the top of the page to select.
If you have to
resize the image
significantly it will
become softer. Go
to Filter>Sharpen
>Smart Sharpen to
adjust the picture Use the Paint
accordingly. Bucket tool at 100%
Opacity to fill out
If the cap doesn’t the central column.
fit You need a Create another new
large image for this layer called ‘picture
spread. If the one holders’. Select
selected doesn’t the Rectangular
work, change it Marquee tool and
for something create a bar 21cm
else. Remember wide and 1cm high.
to mind the centre Click in the middle at
page crease. around 13.3cm down
and fill it again.
 Select your picture Save this second For the final
holders layer and select the Chalk template for future use. Now drop in template design go back to a saved
brush with a size of 70 and Opacity at around pictures underneath all of the border layers. template and delete every layer except the
73%. Brush white around the square edge of Rescale any if they are too big for the slots but centre crease and border layers. Create a
the picture areas. For the big box on the left, match the orientation so portraits go in the new transparent layer called ‘cut outs’. Select
increase the brush size to 125. Move the caption main box to the left and landscapes to the the entire right side of the spread with the
box to the bottom left. right and add text as before. Rectangular Marquee tool and fill with white.

Choose the
Elliptical Marquee tool and set Feather Go to Edit>Cut to create
to 20px, Style to Fixed Size, Width to 19cm and the hole. Repeat the process for
Height to 13.35cm. Click and hold on the right another ellipse below it, marked to the bottom
side of the page and your selection will appear. and right guides. Now select the Rounded
Move the selection so that the top and right Rectangle tool. Load the Dotted Strokes from
side touch the guides, then release. Style selection and use Black 3pt No Fill.

Create a
In the Rounded transparent layer called ‘picture
Rectangle options, fix the Width to layer’ at the bottom of the stack. Add a layer
19cm by 27.7cm Height, and click on the top mask and mark the left page. Gradient Fill
left corner where the guides intersect to drop the selection to add a White-Black gradient,
it on. Select an Ellipse with Width 19cm, Height starting at 15cm and releasing at 28cm. Paste
to 13.35cm and position it against the top and in your main picture, merge it with this layer
right guides. Add a third for the last hole. and click Preserve to keep the mask.
Impress friends and family with professional-looking magazine covers for those special occasions!
ere at Photoshop Creative Towers Making sure everything lines up perfectly is the colours magazine and newspaper publishers use
we use Adobe InDesign to lay out second essential part of magazine design. Perfect – you want to make sure your final project is as
our wonderful covers but Photoshop alignment means the viewer’s eye isn’t distracted professional as can be!
can be just as easy to use and hosts by design flaws. The images used for this project are provided
many of the same vital tools. In this tutorial we will run through how to on this issue’s disc but after trying it out once
The key element when designing a magazine produce a great cover that can be used as a switch them for your own images. Do the same
cover is getting the text correct. Selecting the greetings card, flyer or poster, sharing some of our with the fonts – if you do not have the exact ones
most appropriate fonts, the font size and font typographic insider knowledge. on your computer alternatives will work. When
spacing is very important. The wrong use of Before we start, though, do a bit of internet finished you will make someone’s birthday or
this can let down the most creative of covers. research for inspiration, gauge what fonts and anniversary an extra special occasion.

| PHOTOSHOP CS AND ABOVE

 In the top bar there
is a drop-down
menu filled with
your system fonts.
Try some out to see
what takes your
fancy. Test one by
highlighting the text
you have written and
Go to File>New, Make sure your rulers are clicking on a font
create a new document to whatever visible by pressing Cmd/Ctrl + R. First name. Here we
size suits you best. We are working to we need to pick a headline font, so select the have tried Arial Bold
Photoshop Creative size which is 23cm x 28cm Type tool from the side toolbar and in the top Italic, Franklin Gothic
(plus 5mm bleed) but you may want to work to bar increase the font size to 120pt. Write the Italic and Helvetica
A4 paper size to make printing easier. word news. Bold Oblique.

Increase this font’s size to 67 by highlighting

Franklin Gothic is our chosen font, and then typing the size into the space in the top bar. With
substitute for a similar one if you don’t have it. Select the Type the text still highlighted, double-click on the coloured swatch in the
tool, click your canvas and write Birthday. Our font looks too heavy and top bar and select white, change both bits of text to white. Switch to
squashed. Fix this by highlighting the text, hold down Alt and press the the Move tool and Shift-click both layers press Cmd/Ctrl + G to group,
right directional key on your keyboard to increase spacing. position it at the top of the canvas.

Repeat at the bottom

and right-hand side
of your canvas. Select
the Rectangle tool
and draw a white
shape, lining up
with your guides
stopping just under
the headline text.
In the side toolbar, double-click Shift-click the text
on the Foreground colour, pick a bright red, select the Paint group and white box,
Bucket tool and click onto the canvas. The background will turn red. go to the top tool bar
With rulers active (Cmd/Ctrl + R), drag your cursor from the left ruler and press the Align
line inwards, a guide will appear. Move it until it lines up with the 1cm left edges tool. Both
marker at the top of the page. will line up.
 Use the Type tool to add
a date, select the Move tool and align Select the Type
this text to the right with the white box. Align tool and write your main message. To
it also to the bottom of the headline text. Add increase the text size select the hand tool from There is an ugly gap between our 21
a new white box as above and align this in the the side bar, press Cmd/Ctrl + T to Transform. we need to fix, switch to the Type tool and click in-between
same way. Repeat the process and add your Hold down Shift and drag a corner point the letters. Hold down Alt and press the left directional key on your
chosen text to the new white box, we will add outwards, when happy hit OK and use the keyboard. The gap narrows. Use this technique to correct any gappy
an image shortly. Move tool to position. letters but also squashed letters by using the right directional key.

Open up your
main image and drag and drop it Click the main photo
onto your canvas. Transform it (Cmd/Ctrl + layer and go to the Layer Style button
T) and position it as above. Add more guides at the base of the Layers palette, select Stroke.
measuring in exact distances so your text and In this dialog box select a black colour and
image sit the same distance away from each a stroke of 1 point, hit OK. Drag and drop an
edge of the white box. Use the align tools in image in to sit in the top white box. Transform
the top bar for precise alignment. it, align text and image and add a stroke.

Select
the Rectangle Shape tool and draw With both items
a red rectangle. Write exclusive in white text still selected, Group and position
then Cmd/Ctrl + T to transform to fit inside on the canvas. Repeat this whole process for
the red shape. Centralise these two objects by the rest of the cover. Remember to keep an
Shift-clicking both then pressing Align Vertical eye on ugly spaces between words and keep
Centers and Horizontal Centers in the top bar. everything tight and lined up.
Transform your photos into swift digital doodles

nless you are blessed

with artistic talent,
chances are that the
thought of making
a digital drawing from scratch
doesn’t appeal.
But Photoshop has a few tricks
up its sleeve to make the task easier.
When it comes to making a digital
sketch, your new best friends will
be the High Pass filter and the
Threshold command. While these
two are fairly innocuous on their
own, when brought together they
seek out the outline of a photo and
then turn it into a sketch.

Your image will

Open up your turn a peculiar colour – do not panic! Click OK to exit the High Pass filter. Next stop is
photo in Photoshop. If your image is The High Pass filter is for you to seek out the the Image menu and then Adjustments>Threshold. This will
lacking contrast, use Levels or Curves to do some edges of your image. Use the Radius slider to turn your image to black and white and once again, there is a slider to
boosting. Now go to the Filter menu, down to adjust this – the higher you go the thicker the edit the effect. In our image, a setting of 58 worked well, and the higher
Other and pick High Pass. lines will be. Go for something like 3.0. the setting the more intense the effect. Click OK when you are happy.

| PHOTOSHOP 7 AND ABOVE

 Before
photo

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could make our own postage stamps? Well with Photoshop we can
hese days we can tweet, text and type to others With Photoshop we can create our own stamps with whatever
around the world instantly but in the days before design we want on them, in this tutorial we shall be creating our
email and text messages we had to rely on the own stamp with a silhouette of a head for the picture – although
mail to get our letters and opinions to others. Of you can choose whatever you wish. Pets make good subjects,
course a huge amount of things are still sent by ‘snail mail’ and as do holiday landmarks. We are also making our stamp square
postage stamps are sold by the million every day. We can send but you could make it rectangle if you want; its up to you as this
letters across the world for only a few pence and often the stamps technique will work with any shape. This tutorial will also look at
will have good designs on them. The first official pre-paid stamp the use of the Pen tool which will be used to trace around the
was the Penny Black and was introduced on the 1st of May 1840, edge of a face to produce a silhouette. Please don’t worry, the Pen
previously to this postage was paid by the recipient of the letter. tool is actually very easy to use.

| ALL VERSIONS OF PHOTOSHOP

 Create a new Strictly speaking
document 1024x768 pixels. If you We are going to draw we don’t always need a perfect
want to be able to print your stamp at a later out a white square. Press D on your square as stamps are often rectangle, but for
time, set your resolution to 300PPI, otherwise keyboard to reset the colour swatch to default this tutorial we are going to use a square. With
set it at 72. Next fill your background with a colours, then press X to swap the colours. This the Rectangle tool selected, hold down your
mid grey colour by setting your foreground makes the foreground colour white. Next Shift key and use your mouse to draw a square.
colour to #444040 and choose Edit>Fill> choose the Rectangle Tool from the toolbar set Holding the Shift key will make the square
Foreground Colour. to Shape Layers in the top Option bar. equal on all sides. Name this layer Stamp.

Select the
Next we want to Your Stamp layer Pen tool from the toolbar and right-
install the Stamp Brush file from the should have two things after click on your square, next choose Stroke Path
CD, you can do this by just double-clicking it – the first is a layer mask, the second is a from the menu. After you do this a menu will
the file, if this doesn’t work then please refer to vector mask. Click both the layer and the give you the option of choosing different tools
the side tip. Now we want to add a layer mask vector mask to select them. Choose the Brush to perform the stroke with. Choose Brush.
to our Stamp layer by going to Layer>Layer tool and make sure you have the Stamp Edges After the stroke is complete you should notice
Mask>Reveal All. brush selected. holes around the edge of the square.

Right-click on the Stamp layer and Now to trace around the head using
select Rasterize Layer. Draw another square inside the first one the Pen tool. First reset the swatch by pressing the D key on
use the colour #ABA000. Name this layer ‘Inside Stamp’. Next open your your keyboard, next select the Pen tool from the toolbar and make sure
photo (make sure it is in profile) and drag it onto the stamp document. you have Shape Layers selected in the Options bar. Zoom in and trace
Name this layer Face and move it so it’s within the new square. around the outside of the face until you have a nice silhouette.
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 to capture multiple versions of the subject
How can I go about shooting as the action unfolds. Set the camera to
lots of images of a fast moving Shutter Priority (S) mode so that you can
subject (like someone diving force it to shoot with a fast shutter speed
into water), and then merging several (like 1/320 sec). This helps reduce motion
shots into a single image that shows the blur on fast-moving objects like our horse.
subject’s movement? Try and shoot the action from side-on
Nathan Wright or you may find that the moving subject
will overlap itself as it travels across the
A composite image is a great way frame, making it tricky to separate the
to portray movement, especially various versions of the subject in the edited
after photographing sporty composite image.
subjects like a jumping horse. The trick We shot four images of a horse
to making a successful composite action jumping a fence. To mix shots like these
shot is to shoot a series of stills. To do this, together open them in Elements. Go
use a digital SLR that has a continuous to File>New>Photomerge Group Shot.
shooting (or burst) mode. This enables you Choose Open All. If the photos were
taken handheld, then Photomerge will
automatically align them. Drag the best
George reveals the delights to be shot into the Final box on the right. Then
found in Photoshop Elements select the Pencil tool and click on the
other images one by one in the Project
bin. Scribble over the horse in each source
Simon takes care of your Photoshop
queries, with good advice for all image and it will be automatically added to
the composite image in the Final window.
Click Done when you’re happy with the
finished result.

Get to the bottom of your image-

editing woes with expert help

We guide you to the best websites

for tutorials and instructions for using
Photoshop software

Post your questions to Photoshop

Creative Q&A, Imagine Publishing Ltd,
Richmond House, 33 Richmond Hill,
Bournemouth, Dorset BH2 6EZ. Evoke action by merging consecutive shots into a composite image

Alternatively, you can email us at

[email protected].
 If you need more inspiration for suitable subjects to use in an action sequence composite, check out Kaan Kiran’s
walkthrough at DIY Photography’s site. It gives insights into shooting source photos for this kind of creative kinetic project.
www.diyphotography.net/composing-an-action-sequence-shot

problem image (like our

swan shot) and zoom in
to 100% to see the fringes
more clearly. Open the
Layers palette and click I’ve taken a shot with the wrong colour balance
the Create New Fill or setting, so it’s very blue. Auto Color Correction
Adjustment Layer icon. warms it up a bit, but the skin tones still look a little
Choose a Hue/Saturation cold. Do you have any tips?
adjustment layer. Click Gareth Simpson
the Master drop-down
menu and choose Cyan. In the full version of Photoshop you can use the
Drag the Saturation slider Color Balance command to counteract a blue
Paint away unsightly colour fringes using to –100 and the cyan fringe will vanish. Set
adjustment layers colour cast by adding a little yellow. However, this
the drop-down menu to Magenta and command is lacking in Elements. Luckily there are other
reduce Saturation to –100. If you have any ways to tweak a colour until it loses its cast. Like Color
I notice in some walkthroughs other fringe colours you can target and Balance, the Color Variations command enables you to
that people use Photoshop’s desaturate those too. counteract cool blue tints by adding warmer colours.
Lens Correction filter to remove
chromatic aberration. The Elements
version of that filter doesn’t have these
tools. How do we remove colour fringes?
Chris Wyatt

Chromatic aberration refers to the

fringes of colour that cling to the
edge of high contrast objects.
Our white swan has noticeable cyan and
magenta fringes around its outline, for It’s likely there will be some magenta
example. These fringes tend to be worse or cyan in other parts of the shot that you Auto Color After opening a cold-looking shot go to
on images captured by a camera with a need to preserve. Click on the Hue/ Enhance>Auto Color Correction. This should warm
small sensor, although a camera with a Saturation adjustment layer’s white mask things up and banish most of the blues. However the shot may
larger megapixel rating and a professional and press Ctrl/Cmd+I to invert it. The white still look cold. We can fine-tune with Auto Adjustment.
L-series lens can still produce colour fringes. mask will turn black, protecting the colours Variations Go to
Although Elements lacks a dedicated in the image from being adjusted. You can Enhance>Adjust
chromatic aberration correction command, now paint a white brush on the black mask Color>Color Variations and
there is an effective workaround. Open a to selectively desaturate the colour fringes. tick Midtones. Reduce the
Amount slider for more
subtle adjustments. Click
the Increase Red thumbnail
to warm up the midtones.
Click Decrease Blue to take
away the chilly tint.
Fine-tune
Click the
Shadows button and
increase the Red with a
couple of clicks. Color
Variations let you target
specific tones. Remove
the green tint on the skin
Quickly remove stray colour fringes by tones with a click or two
desaturating them on Decrease Green.
 do this. The most precise cut out would be
I have a question. I have a photo made using the Pen tool to make a selection,
of a friend that I have removed but a lot of people find this hard to get used
I want to make a modern art style picture for a from the background using the to. Another tool that was introduced in CS3
friend to use on her website, I’ve played with the Lasso tool but I’m not sure how to put is the Quick Selection tool that uses a brush
filters but I’m not getting anywhere. Can you help? this on a new background. to paint around areas that you want to select.
Sean Marshall Rebecca Duncan This can yield very good results and is often
useful when picking up large items. Once we
You can create an abstract piece of modern art by One of the most fun things we can have our selection made it is a simple case of
using a couple of filters and adjustments. We have do with Photoshop is to transport Copy and Paste, but first make sure you are
chosen a picture from sxc.hu (search for image people to different places and on the correct layer of your source picture
1178459) which we will manipulate to create the effect. situations by moving them from one scene – this will probably be the Background layer.
to another. You have said that you used Then go to Edit>Copy (or Copy Merged if
the Lasso tool to remove your friend, but you want to copy from more than one layer).
there are a number of ways we can actually Finally go to your new document and select
Posterize Edit> Paste.
the image
Duplicate the
Background layer and I often need to zoom in and out
name it ‘Cutout’. Next, of pictures while working on
navigate your way to them, is there an easier way than
Image>Adjustments>
to keep selecting the Magnify tool?
Posterize, set the
number of Levels to 4. Bradley Burge

Photoshop’s Magnify tool is pretty

The Cutout cool and allows you to zoom in or
filter The We can use Photoshop to move people or
objects to different locations out of a picture by selecting the
Cutout filter will reduce
the picture to a series
of simple shapes. Go
to Filter>Artistic>
Cutout, set the
Number of Levels to
8, the Edge Simplicity
to 9 and Edge Fidelity
to 1.

Glowing
duplicate
the Background layer
and move it above
the Cutout layer. Go to
Filter>Stylize> Glowing
Edges. Set Edge Width
to 2, Edge Brightness
to 20 and Smoothness
to 5. Set the layer blend Clipping masks are useful when filling one layer with the
mode to Screen. contents of another
 Photoshop Lady contains links to the best Photoshop tutorials available from around the world, covering subjects
such as textures and patterns as well as 3D, abstract, drawing, text and photo effects.
www.photoshoplady.com

The Magnify tool can be accessed using keyboard shortcuts Using the Pen tool we can fake pressure sensitive lines

appropriate button in the Options bar. The We can also utilise keyboard shortcuts to tablet’s stylus to make thicker or thinner lines.
options available for the Magnify tool are assist us, holding Control/Command and This is very useful when drawing, retouching,
straightforward. The first are Zoom In and Space will temporarily change the mouse painting etc, as it gives a realistic effect.
Zoom Out, these will increase or decrease the into the Zoom In tool, while holding Alt and If we wanted to make a tapered line across
magnification of the current picture. The next Space will change it to the Zoom Out tool. our canvas, we first start by selecting a Brush
option is Zoom All Windows which will keep from the Brush Library. Any brush can be
the same zoom level through multiple open used but it may be best to start off with a
images. The next option, Actual Pixels, will I have noticed line art often simple Hard Edged one set to around 20
increase the magnification to a ratio of 1:1 so tapers out, I assume you do this pixels. Next select the Pen tool and make
it is at a 100%. We then have Fit Screen which using a tablet. Is there any way of sure Paths are selected in the Options bar.
will change the magnification so it fits the repeating this effect with a mouse? Clicking in two separate locations will make
current window size. The Fill Screen option Jonathan McDonald a path, then right-click on the line and select
works similarly to the Fit Screen one but will Stroke. Choose the Brush tool from the list of
zoom the current window to fit the screen What you’re referring to is a options and tick Simulate Pressure. Finally click
size. Finally we have the Print Size option phenomenon called pressure OK to draw your line. Try this technique on a
that will zoom the current window to match sensitivity. This is where you drawing for the best results.
the print resolution. increase or decrease the pressure on your

Layer masks are used essentially to hide

selected areas of a chosen layer

Photoshop’s adjustment layers offer the capability of

non-destructive image editing
 a photo and collecting history states, you Artistic filters. Go to Filter>Filter Gallery
To turn a photo into a painting can be a can click on the small icon next to a state to open up all the possible effects. You
timely process and the Art History Brush to activate the tool. Using past details, can even stack up layers to achieve
tool gives you lots of control over the you can use the brushes to paint back a completely different looks.
final image. If time is against you, use history state and create a painting style and Artistic filters include Colored Pencil,
this tool to create a painterly version of texture, such as a watercolour effect. Cutout, Film Grain, Fresco, Neon Glow
your image fast. Make sure you’ve duplicated your and Paint Daubs to name a few. They are
Hidden beneath the History brush in original image and, with the Art History incredibly useful for applying an effect
the toolbar, the Art version works in just brush selected, go to Window>Brushes quickly to see what kind of style works best
the same way. If you’ve been working with (F5) and the Brushes palette will pop open. for your image.
Select a Spatter brush and adjust its Shape
Dynamics and Color Dynamics to vary the
amount of colour and texture you apply.
There are more adjustments in the Options
bar for adapting the tool, such as Opacity,
Style and Area, to vary the look and feel of
your digital painting.

You either love them or you hate them,

The Art History Brush is used for quickly painting but there’s no denying that a lot can be Each effect has its own selection of adjustment
an effect, using a history state as the source achieved with Photoshop’s collection of sliders to tweak the end result

Take a sequence
of images and use Photomerge Another Automate
to jigsaw your view together. Make sure function is Merge to HDR. This
you’ve allowed for overlap in your sequence requires two or more photos taken at different
Under File>Automate, Batch lets you take of photos for a seamless join. Choose from exposures to form a high-contrast and highly
many images and apply a command to edit each one. Firstly, Perspective, Cylindrical, Spherical, Collage, detailed version. This Automate function
create an action to use, whether that’s creating a border, a vignette Reposition or Auto methods of alignment. can also align images for better results, but
effect or for simply resizing, and set the commands in the Batch menu. Vignette geometric distorting can also be it’s worth using a tripod while shooting your
Choose your destination folder, hit OK and kick up your heels. reduced using Photomerge. images for blur-free HDR images.
 For a huge range of actions, PS Action Scripts offers postproduction and artistic effects among many more
for you to download and apply instantly to artwork.
www.psactionscripts.com

containing the controls and sliders. In

Photoshop CS4 and CS5, this window
comes in the form of its own palette. If you
ever have trouble making an adjustment
fit with your image, try applying a blend Who can be blamed for taking shortcuts, especially if they
mode. Experimenting with different already exist in Photoshop? Here’s how to put actions to the
blends will change the behaviour of the test, and what to expect from the range of presets. They offer
adjustment layer. For example, applying quick methods of undertaking otherwise tricky effects.
a Gradient Map adjustment with a black
and white gradient, and setting the blend Preset
The black and white effect is just one of the actions
mode to Color Burn allows you to boost
adjustment layers available In the Actions
the intensity of colour. The Photo Filter palette click the
adjustment is perfect for counteracting drop-down menu
Adjustments are used to enhance a colour cast and comes preset with and select Image
lighting, contrast and colour and can be common colour corrections. There’s no Effects. This opens
applied as either permanent changes or limit to the number of adjustment layers a range of effects
as non-destructive edits. The first option you can apply in one image, so it’s a matter that can be applied
is available from Image>Adjustments, of seeing what works best. A word of by hitting Play, such
however, the second and most effective warning, though, when you convert to as Aged Photo.
method is located via the Layers palette. CMYK colour profile, all adjustment layers
Create
Adjustment layers affect only the are no longer editable. actions
layers beneath in the layer stack and can If there’s an
be moved up and down to account for effect you find
different subjects. They are editable at any yourself applying
moment, so you’re safe in the knowledge repeatedly, create
that once an adjustment is made isn’t a folder in the
set in stone. The choice of adjustments Actions palette
range from Levels, Curves and Hue/ and hit the Record
Saturation to Color Balance and Photo Filter, button when you
next do it.
each one coming with its own mask. The
mask, used with the Brush and Eraser tools,
can show or hide parts of the adjustment. Control
For more control, use a selection method actions
and apply this to the mask. Next to each
When an adjustment layer has been Adjustment layers can be accessed through the command is a
selected, a pop-up window will open Layers palette next to the Layer Mask button ‘toggle’ option to
stop an Action. This
is good for artistic
actions, as you can
stop when you get
the effect you like.

Button
mode
The drop-down
menu has an
option to view each
Action in ‘button’
format. Button
mode is faster to
We’ve applied Auto Color to this image, which use, requiring you
reduced the overpowering blue cast to click once to play.
 Design a website the easy way with Web Designer 6

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his software is aimed at may be basic, but they are instinctive to

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offering an easy solution for dragging and dropping, with elements easily
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The interface is smart, simple and intuitive, Users can change the orientation, adjust
and ensures that users are at ease from the the settings and add/remove menu items.
Easy to set up off. Page creation holds little to fear, giving It literally takes minutes to create a fully-
and use users the option to work with a blank canvas fledged working website. Spend a little more
Everything can or choose from the extensive template time and explore the widgets on offer. Drag
be customised selection, each offering more than just a and drop in social networking elements Navigation bar This is Export and preview
single style. If the template includes a gallery, (eg Facebook and Twitter), include contact fully customisable with A website needs to
Huge range of the option to change be seen in action to
templates the orientation, modify appreciate its full
button spacing, scope. The Export and
automatically resize Preview options allow
button widths and users to try out the site
a gallery page is included, and likewise with forms, create an e-commerce environment
You might remove/add pages before sending it live
outgrow the blog pages. Real thought has gone into the via PayPal and Amazon, and integrate
software as template process. Pages include common Google Maps and BBC News. Go photo
you get used elements such as navigation and colour and video crazy with widgets for YouTube,
to web design
schemes, but also offer individuality by Flickr, Picasa and more. It’s these easy-to-add
tailoring the design to suit individual needs, elements that take the standard templates
much like a professionally designed website. and present the opportunity to create a
Customisation of themes is a breeze. beautifully customised, operational site. Online tuition There Learn by example
Changing elements is simple and intuitive Beyond the template base, there is a host is a wealth of help Be sure to have a
squirelled away on the look at the example
This is the perfect – a feature promised by many competitors, of web-related elements; add keywords, Xara website, including website on the Xara
software for but rarely delivered. Editing text is about change page titles and enter FTP details. a sizable range of site, which doubles up
anyone who wants as easy as it gets – select and type in, or If you have always wanted a site to share or video tutorials on as a training guide to
an easy way to using the software and the software and site
create websites Copy and Paste new text then format via even sell your Photoshop work, Xara’s Web designing a site design in general
the toolbar. The image manipulation tools Designer 6 offers everything you need.
 Top quality learning included on our disc!

igital-Tutors is a haven for these are renewed each month. With both
anyone looking for video packages, you also have access to tutorial
tuition for Photoshop. start files, so you can follow everything that’s
Digital-Tutors
Covering all the software going on.
a digital artist could possibly need, the To give you a taste of the standard of
www.digitaltutors. site works on a subscription basis, with Digital-Tutors, we will be including chapters
Pick and choose The From the beginning
com different plans to cater for different needs. of a course on our disc over the next few home page of the The Create a Stylised
These start from $45 for a basic, monthly issues, creating a complete package. The Digital-Tutors site gives Pin Up tutorial that will
From $45 a month
subscription and work all the way up to the course is showing how to create a stylised you a good idea of be included on our
most expensive package, which is the $540 pin-up cover image using CS5, but the just how extensive the disc over the next few
range of tutorials are. issues covers a whole
Annual subscription (currently at $399). techniques are applicable to other versions. At the time of writing gamut of Photoshop
Flash Player 10 Once you have paid your subscription, So what will you learn over the course? there were over 14,000 skills, from essential
you have two options for how you absorb Various fundamental techniques are video tutorials waiting techniques such as
to be watched. using layer masks.
your learning. The first is to load up your covered, such as using and refining layer
browser and watch the videos online. masks, adding a new scene to a photo,
This gives you 24/7 access to the content creating background decoration, colour
and you have a variety of preferences to correcting portraits and adding light to a
play with to ensure you get the ultimate scene. Everything covered can be applied to
learning experience. The other option is your own images. Progression The The final image
to take advantage of Digital-Tutor’s Vault Digital-Tutors is becoming one of the tutorial is split over 20 And here is the final
feature, which allows you to take your most respected companies when it comes parts, with each part image. The tutorial
learning to your desktop. With Vault, you to video tuition and it’s easy to see why. At dealing with a different is in CS5 but most of
tool or technique. This the techniques can
can swap credits to gain the ability to the time of writing, there were over 14,000 makes it easy for you to easily be carried over
download tutorials to enjoy wherever videos on the site, covering pretty much digest the information to other versions. Once
you are. One credit equals one video, and every piece of software you could imagine. and concentrate on you have finished the
High standard the one task without course, try your new-
of tuition you can clearly see how many credits are Production quality is excellent, the topics getting distracted by found skills on your
needed to download an entire course. Any are inspiring and the standard of tuition is anything else. own image.
Flexible
approach active subscription comes with credits, and excellent. What more could you ask for?
Good choice
of courses A wealth of choice Photoshop videos Photoshop
You can browse has its own area for its videos,
Option to through all of the with a main section that pulls
go offline
training plans using out the most popular courses
this side panel. It’s (each with a preview).
arranged according
You do have to software and
to pay the choice ranges Sign up If you are seduced by
from 3D packages the Digital-Tutors bug, you just
through to other need to click the Sign Up button
Adobe packages to pay your money and get
such as InDesign access to the learning.
and Illustrator.

Digital-Tutors Forum action Digital-Tutors

offers a great has a dedicated forum for
choice of videos, Photoshop users, which
one of which is on is accessed through the
our CD! Photoshop area.
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Fantastic ideas for manipulating photos, including this lovely lime lizard
«clikpic»
Websites made easy

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for only £35 p.a.
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 entr i es This month’s entries into the
Readers’ Challenge competition
winner!
e’ve showcased the very
best entries for our Readers’
Challenge where you
used a combination of the
supplied images and your own with
a healthy dose of Photoshop thrown
into the mix. Here are just some of the
fantastic results we had sent in, and
congratulations to our winner Ralph
Peel with his image PhotoBox.
Over the page we’ve featured some
of our other favourite entries. These
imaginative and interesting images
explore the discovery of water on
another planet, framing effects and
the concept of a ‘greener’ Earth. If
you feel inspired to take part in our
competition, turn the page and have
a look at the next lot of Challenge
images. Use them, abuse them, make
something beautiful and send it in!

WORTH £1,499
 Images are
also available
download fr to
photosh om
opcreative.
co.uk

Challenge yourself by entering this

issue’s competition
ave a technique that you’re dying to show off?
Here’s your chance to show fellow readers your
Photoshop skills in our latest Readers’ Challenge WORTH $375!
competition. Take the six images from this issue’s disc
and apply as much creativity to them as you wish. Use one or
more to create your masterpiece, and the images can even be
from previous competitions if none of these take your fancy.
The rule is to make an image using Photoshop, apply your
own style and make it into something special. It can be as simple
or as complex as you like, and there’s no deadline for submissions;
just send it over when you’re happy with it. Chosen entries are
printed in next issue’s Challenge exhibition, and the winner
receives this fantastic prize.
Along with your image, tell us how you made it using
Photoshop. We can’t wait to see your masterpieces!

| IF YOUR ENTRY IS UNDER 2MB, YOU CAN EMAIL IT TO US AT [email protected]. UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN’T RETURN CDS
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 Also this issue
Digital memo board
A useful project for presenting your
images and memories

Photobook templates
Create the photobook you have always
wanted by designing bespoke templates

Photoshop A-Z
A great new series that takes you
through all of Photoshop’s tools

Before layer masks

Understand
layer masks
Make precise selections with layer masks and
merge monochrome with colour for great effect