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Introduction to Photoshop

By Ades Tynyshev
2005-06-15

Tools and Options Panel

Open your Photoshop. If you don't see Tools Toolbar already then go to Window > Tools

Below is the screenshot of the Tools. If the tool has a small trianlge at the bottom corner it means it has more than one options. To see these options just click and hold on the tool for few seconds, and you will see the options on the popup window as shown below.

Let's go through one tool from each group and their functions. Letter inside the brackets will select the particular tool when you press.

Move Tool (V): Is used to select and move images (objects) on any active layer.
Rectangular Marquee Tool (M): It is used for making selection on the image (objects) on any active layer.
Magic Wand Tool (W): Used for making selection (similar colors at once for example)
Polygonal Lasso Tool (L): Used for making free selection as you go
Slice Select Tool (K): Used for selecting slices
Crop Tool (C): Used for cropping images
Patch Tool (J): Used for correcting images
Brush Tool (B): Used for drawing freehand
History Brush Tool (Y): Used for restoring specified history state
Clone Stamp Tool (S): Used for selecting a source and copying (drawing) it in another place
Gradient Tool (G): Used for making gradient effect on images
Eraser Tool (E): You are right, this tool is used for erasing ;)
Dodge Tool (O): Used for making images lighter (And Burn tool makes the opposite - darker)
Horizontal Type Tool (T): Yes used for inserting text to image
Path Selection Tool (A): Used for selecting the active path
Custom Shape Tool (U): Used to insert pre-specified (ready) shapes to image
Pen Tool (P): Used for creating vector shapes
Eyedropper Tool (I): Used for selecting color
Notes Tool (N): Used for inserting notes on the image
Zoom Tool (Z): Yes used for zooming in or out
Hand Tool (H): Used for dragging image when you are in the zoom in state

Options Panel

As you see below from the screenshot, Options Panel is highlighted with red. Whenever you switch from one tool to another Options Panel will be changed accordingly. Currently Brush Tool is selected, and in the Options Panel all the properties of the Brush Tool is displayed, such as: Brush Size (Type), Mode, Opacity and Flow.

Just remember to look up to the Options Panel when you choose a particular tool, because sometimes if something is selected or unselected in the Options Panel, you might not use the particular tool properly.





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