Adobe Photoshop is a powerful tool - if you can think of almost any way you'd like to manipulate a photo, chances are you can do it. If, for example, you've ever wanted to artificially age yourself (or someone else), it's quite simple. With a little photoshop online training, you'll be looking older in no time.
Picking the right photo
Although this process works with almost any photo, some are more easily manipulated than others. If you can, pick a picture that has been minimally edited and is relatively candid. These features will make it simpler to locate similar images for reference, which is the next step.
Finding photos for guidance
It will help to have photos of a person (or a few people) who look roughly similar to the original. A similar images search on Google works nicely. Use the photo(s) you select as a guide for where to focus your edits.
Start at the top
It's easiest to work your way down. For the hair, select the magnetic lasso tool, encircle some of the hair and apply gray and white highlights throughout.
Changing the face
Things get more complicated when you get to the facial features, and some online training might be necessary to get it right. Adjusting the saturation is an easy way to make skin appear more sallow. Using the thinnest brush, you can add wrinkles in key areas: under the eyes, around the mouth and on the chin.
Adding some sag
Sadly, gravity is unkind to our faces in real life, and Photoshop is no different. Using the liquify tool, grab some small areas of the face like the cheeks and jowls.
There's no end to the tinkering you can do. These steps and some online training are all you need to start speeding up the aging process.
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How to create a framed photo collage in Adobe Photoshop
Creating fun and funky framed photo collages can display prominent moments in your life or show a montage of events for a presentation at work. When you need to arrange a variety of images together in a unique and simple format, a collage is an ideal solution. It can be neat and tidy or a messy for a more carefree artistic flair – it is up to you.
If you are seeking to incorporate diverse effects into your work, consider investing in Adobe training to provide accessible instruction.
Here are the steps for creating a fun film strip frame image collage:
Begin by opening a new Photoshop document and selecting 1000 pixels for the width and 900 pixels for the height. This should provide you with the ideal width-to-height ratio needed for this project. Set the resolution to 300 pixels per inch and made sure the background is set to white. Once that is complete, select the rectangle tool to draw the film strip. Photoshop’s shape tools allow you to draw vector-based shapes that can easily be resized without damaging the pixel resolution.
Upon drawing a shape, Photoshop will set the foreground color to black. According to PhotoshopEssentials.com, if your foreground is preset to a different color, hit the D button on your keyboard to reset the foreground and background colors to their defaults. Then select the appropriate shape, in this case the rectangle, under the options bar at the top of the screen. Starting at the left hand of the editing window and draw your mouse down to the right hand bottom corner. Release once you have set the rectangle to the appropriate size.
Select the “subtract from shape area” option to remove part of the existing shape. With the rectangle tool, draw a second shape in the center of the existing rectangle. Using the rounded rectangle option in the tool bar and set the radius to 10 pixels and the draw the notches for the top and bottom of the film box. Copying the first notch and pasting it into the correct place will increase workflow efficiency and prompt greater size symmetry.
Once that is complete, select all the notches along a row and hold the shift key down with the path selection tool selected and choose the distribute horizontal centers control located in the options dialog box. Do the same thing for the bottom row for a nice and neat look when dragging the notched down.
Under the shape layer panel, choose the vector mask thumbnail to highlight and deselect any items. Then proceed to choose images from other documents and fit them into the appropriate film frames. Adding a drop shadow can further improve the polish of the image. However, it is not necessary for the aesthetic appeal of the design.
Other overlaying image effects can be used as well such as an antiquing, shadow or high-impact color contrast.
Consider investing in online training programs to provide additional support and learn steps used to create this project or others. It can help you take a simple image and make it into the graphic you want to place above your mantel at home or produce for work. The audio, visual and written formats are accessible for professionals who have experience using these programs. Whether you are looking to learn a new trick or just brush up on an old one such as film framed collages, instruction can help.
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Five tips for Adobe Photoshop CS6 Beta
Graphic designers and professional photographers are delving in to the capabilities of the preview for the latest installment of Adobe Photoshop. Released mid March, Adobe Photoshop CS6 Beta promises to offer even greater effects for those interested in amplifying his or her work. Consider investing in Adobe training before the official release of Adobe Photoshop CS6 to brush up on old skills and introduce some new ones.
Photographers are especially appreciative of the darker interface, which makes images stand out against the background. It also gives the entire program control panel a much sleeker and modern look compared to CS5.
Here are five tips and tricks to Adobe Photoshop CS6 Beta:
1. Revamped brushes. The common tool left a lackluster impression in previous incarnations. However, CS6 Beta brushes allow a user to change color dynamics per stroke instead of per tip, project the path of the paint and maximize the brush size to 5000px. Combined with refined brightness versus contrast slider for textures and increased control over size and hardness of opacity - the brush has received a significant facelift.
2. Content Aware Move. The Content Aware Move allows a person to place an object of any variety and more it to a different location in the same image or even create multiples within the image. Experts at PCMagazine recommend using the quick selection tool, choosing the expand option and accepting the default 5 pixels to get better results.
3. Additional layer options. Adobe’s InDesign program perfected the concept of “layers” and now Photoshop and joined in the fun. A user can now easily add a contextual menu item that deletes a layer instead of simply disabling it. This will result in less latent background effects, smaller files sizes and cleaner copy. Skip the hassles of selecting the wrong layer by now locking multiple layers together at once. Combined with the new show blending effects badge, layer tool tips and the ability to quickly determine opacity and blend mode - the entire process has become simpler and more user friendly than ever before.
4. New Camera Raw options. The reengineered Camera Raw options provide photographers the ability to self master the effects and lighting of the image. If the imported image is a raw camera file or JPG it will be especially important for brightening the image without destroying the details. The new slider allows a photographer to determine the brightness and contrast levels that best fits the need of the project. Combined with the ability to completely bypass Camera Raw, photographers have been given new control over their images.
5. Preset expansions. Due to the increased popularity of mobile device browsing, Adobe has added a new document preset for the iPhone, iPad, tablets, smartphones and Android devices, according to engadget.com. The new Add Contact Sheet II is an automated option for reorganizing the tool menu.
While it can take weeks to learn a majority of the new updates has provided users, Adobe training could help. For every new feature, there is instruction on how to use it and the best practices. The investment could make a graphic designer the Adobe Photoshop CS6 star quarterback of the office in no time.
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Top five common Adobe Photoshop mistakes
Even professionals can make a few mistakes along the way to greatness, and in Adobe Photoshop those errors can become weird, twisted and more than a bit humorous. Adobe training could provide a professional an additional reminder on how to avoid making some of the most common Photoshop mistakes.
Here are the top five mistakes commonly found in images created or edited by Adobe Photoshop:
1. The mini appendage. More than a bit freakish or funny, an excessive editing job to slim down a model or actress for a magazine cover can quickly become unnatural looking. While it is common practice in the publishing and fashion industries to edit people’s appearance, over editing is often one of the primary mistakes made by professionals.
2. Bad image merge. Combining two images together can amplify a message or even give an audience an impression of something occurring that may not be realistic. It is frequently used in the magazine publishing industry by tabloids. However, it has a number of other uses if done correctly. Leaving excess details in the image is unfortunately common when rushed graphic designers are unable to proof their work or have a third-party look it over for them.
3. Over use of the eraser tool. Similar to the mini appendage problem, using too much easier eraser tool can damage the image and make it look unrealistic. Over editing the dimensions of the object or person in the image can sometimes creep into the work of a graphic designer if they have been diligently changing a piece for a length of time. To combat this, consider taking a break from a piece and working on another, and invest in an online training program for guidance on best practices.
4. Leaving disembodied hands. Removing a person from an image takes time and work, but it is a frequent adjustment to many photos for a variety of reasons. However, many designers seem to forget a key component to the process – removing the individual’s hands. It often appears in images that incorporate multiple people touching each other in some manner. The designer is so focused on removing the unnecessary person from the graphic that they forget the hand.
5. Bad shadow. The dark and light shadow that crosses an image gives the audience a visual clue to time and makes a photograph look more realistic. However, a bad shadow can not only ruin the professionalism of an image, but make it unusable. Before adding or subtracting shadow, consider the light angle that would apply to the object in order to project such darkness. That and additional Adobe training could also provide the direction you need to create flawless graphics.
These five common Adobe Photoshop mistakes can damage the reputation of the designer and the client that used them. Craft a variety of methods of checks and balances to prevent such things from escaping the confines of your hard drive and entering your client’s hands.
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Top three common Adobe Photoshop terms
Adobe Photoshop is a valuable software program for both professional and personal users. As a result, you may wish to invest in online software courses to get the most out of it. After a few tutorials, you may be able to edit family photos or create professional documents with little to no hassle.
However, before you get started you may need to understand a few key terms to get the most out of your online training. Here are three common Adobe Photoshop words to know:
1. Resolution. Typically measured in one inch, it is the frequency of pixels in a given area of an image. For example, a resolution of 500 is 500 pixels per inch (PPI) either vertically or horizontally. Therefore, you will read resolution as width x height - or 500 x 500 - for a perfect square.
2. Auto levels. Under the image dialogue box, you have the option of selecting auto levels under the adjustments window. This setting automatically measures the highlights and shadows in an image to define white and black values, and adjust the colors of the entire document accordingly.
3. CMYK. A numerical representation of color measured in cyan, magenta, yellow and black combinations to create a hue spectrum.
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Are you over editing in Adobe Photoshop?
Businesses hire photographers to take images of services and products for promotional materials all the time, once that process is complete the photographs are handed off to an employee for final touches. Employees in awe of Adobe Photoshop's ability to alter images may find themselves over editing materials and reducing the natural element of the original image.
To reduce the likelihood of this occurring, a business may wish to invest in online training tutorials that not only includes directions on the program, but the increments best used for projects. Creating polished images or graphics is important for a business, but if the natural details of the piece is lost, consumers may loose their ability to connect to it.
Adobe after effects training can provide easy-to-follow instruction that an employee can both listen and watch to determine what steps they need to take for their own project. Keep projects effective and timely by investing in the proper materials to educate employees at all skill levels.
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Skip the fountain of youth: How to age a person in Adobe Photoshop
Western society may be obsessed with youth, however, if you are looking to speed up the time clock and age someone, there is a way. With online training and Adobe Photoshop, you can age a person naturally or create a haggard, more extreme look - it is up to you.
Begin by selecting a photo with a clear and defined face as the main focus of the image. If you are practicing on a celebrity photo, photoshoplady.com recommends using one that has not been taken under studio lights or has not been obviously retouched (such as most magazine cover shots). The more natural the starting image is, the more natural features you have to work with.
Have a few photos up of the elderly to use as a constant reference point to ensure you do not alter the aging process too extreme in one way or another. Begin by thinning out the hair of the subject, especially the eyebrows, using the clone stamp tool under the effects dialog box. Using the tool at 100 percent, slowly take away hair in an even distribution across the brow.
The liquify tool is the primary effect used to create the appearance of naturally sagging skin in areas such as the chin, corners of the mouth, cheeks and under the eyes. Adobe after effects training can provide direction on how this tool is best used. Remember not to drag the skin down too far or the person in the image will begin to look more like a creature from a horror film than the appearance of someone who has aged naturally.
Reduce the thickness of the lips, as people age the mouth turns in and recedes from view. Take a sample of the skin around the area of the mouth using the stamp tool, then super impose that skin over the top and bottom lip. The stamp tool will ensure the skin consistency and color is correct, which may not happen if you take a sample of skin from somewhere else on the face.
Then drag at the chin with the liquify tool and select the grab and push tool to repeatedly blend and drag and the skin under the chin. This will give a the person a slight double chin that creates a loose appearance, an unflattering but necessary quality of the aging process for most people.
After dragging at the skin, wrinkles become the next big feature to add. Like the amount of skin sagging, how many wrinkles, how deep they are and how much they branch off are all major qualities determined by how old you wish the person to look. Use the brush and highlight tool to begin with a wave effect under the filter dialog box. How many lines or deepness is up to you, however, most people will feature crows feet, under eye lines that extend to each corner of the eye and above the brow lines. Start simple and then darken them with the brush tool and widen them with the selection tool.
Using the shadow tool under the effects layering dialog box, create fine contrast between areas on the face. The skin under the eyes and around the mouth should appear darker than the skin on the forehead of sides of the cheeks. Upon review there may be touch ups, however, you should now see an aged version of the person in front of you.
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What is the Content-Aware Fill feature in Photoshop CS5
In a stroke of genius, Adobe introduced the Content-Aware Fill feature in Photoshop CS5. The new software effect makes image manipulation easier than ever for graphic designers creating editorial pages.
The Content-Aware fill effect allows a user to cut away a portion of an image and the software to automatically fill in the hole. According to PhotoshopEssentials.com, the Spot Healing Brush, which is not a new feature, is better choice to repair smaller areas than the new Content-Aware fill. However, for anything larger or more complex, even for multiple areas at once, a graphic designer can allow the program to fill in the space.
Adobe is constantly updating its software to include new user-friendly features such as Content Aware Fill. To better understand and implement them, a graphic designer may wish to invest in an online training program that gets consistently updated – just like the software!
Being aware of new updates and features and having user guidance when needed can help even a Photoshop professional speed up the learning curve so he or she can get back to work even faster.
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How to use the Photo Downloader to download files to Adobe Photoshop Essentials
If you can’t seem to find the best method of downloading materials for Adobe Photoshop Essentials, you may wish to invest in online training tutorials. A few easy instructions can grant you the necessary direction to download files with ease.
Begin by connecting your camera or card reader to the computer. The Windows AutoPlay dialog box should appear with a variety of downloading options. In the dialog box, select the organize and edit option using Adobe Elements Organizer 8 and hit ok.
If the Adobe Elements Organizer is not an option listed, select get photos. Elements Organizer will open and import the media files if it is not already open. If it is running, select file, get photos and video and indicate they are from a camera or card reader to open the Photo Downloader.
Select the location of the files, and under the import settings and designate a specific area for the images, create a sub-folder if necessary and rename photos to make finding easier. Then hit the import button. You should now be able to use any image imported without hassle in Adobe Photoshop Elements.
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How to create transparent text in Adobe Photoshop
Creating a transparent text effect over an image assists to inform a viewer, while not drawing attention from the overall graphic. It is common effect used in magazines, merchandise and movie advertising posters. New users may wish to invest in Adobe after effects training tutorials for further instruction to get the best result.
Begin by selecting an image, creating a text box and writing the message with preferred font, size and style settings. Make white the foreground color. Press control t (Windows) or command t (Mac) and use Adobe Photoshop’s Free Transform dialog window to maneuver the text to a preferred position. Then lower the opacity level of the text to approximately 50 percent. The lower the opacity, the more transparent the text will become. This is the simplest method of creating transparent text over an image.
However, there are more methods, such as fill effects to create transparency and further develop the text over the image for a more intricate and visually interesting graphic. Consider online training to develop additional text overlay skills.
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