Eraser Tool (Photoshop) – Part 2

Eraser Tool and Three Modes

Eraser tool Pencil mode is similar to Brush mode eraser. Shortcuts and everything is same. The difference is Brush mode eraser has smooth edges. It fills with light color and less opacity in gaps between pixels of brush shape edges. Pencil mode eraser it sharp edges because it doesn’t fills any pixels at gaps of curved edge pixels. It deletes complete pixels under the eraser brush shape. If less part of pixels will not delete.

If we want to delete in straight line, with eraser tool click on one palace and click with Shift key on keyboard pressed on other place. Then starting and ending points we clicked will be joined and deletes in a straight line. We can do it continuously while deleting with eraser tool using Shift key on keyboard pressed. This process is same to all three Eraser modes.

Block Eraser mode is different from Brush and Pencil modes. In this mode eraser tool shape is in square shape. It deletes entire pixel under the brush tool like Pencil eraser mode. Block eraser shape cannot be changed. In Zoom in and Zoom out the size is same. We can’t increase or decrease Block eraser size on any size or any Zooming percent of the image. This mode is useful to erase exact pixels.

If Alt key on keyboard is pressed while erasing, the eraser tool will change into History brush tool. That means, if we want any deleted part of the image, press Alt key with same Eraser tool at that place. Erased will restore at that place. This option is common to all three Eraser tool modes.

To erase completely, use full opacity (100%) on top of the menu. In right click popup menu you can change Diameter, Hardness and Brush Shape. If less hardness is given, the edges of the eraser shape will be lighter and smooth. If full hardness (100%) is given in Eraser Brush Palette, then erase with complete opacity with eraser shape.

Note: I will explain about Brush Tool in future post.

Eraser Tool (Photoshop) – Part 1

Eraser Tool

Eraser Tool is used to erase any part of the selected layer on the image. Eraser tool is commonly used for removing backgrounds from images. Eraser tool is very important tool in Photoshop. The shortcut is ‘E’. We can change to Eraser tool by pressing ‘E’ on keyboard or click on Eraser tool on tool bar.

There are three types of Eraser tools. Those are Eraser Tool, Background Eraser Tool and Magic Eraser tool. The shortcut is common to these three tools. But, the type of erasing is different. First tool is normal Eraser Tool. In this tool there are three modes on top of menu. Those are Brush, Pencil and Block.

If Brush mode is selected, the eraser shape will be in brush shapes. We can use any bush shape to erase. For increasing and decreasing eraser brush shape size use ‘[‘key on keyboard for decrease and ‘]’ key on keyboard to increase eraser shape size. When ‘Caps Locks’ key is on, the eraser shape will appear in ‘+’ symbol and we can’t see the shape and size of the eraser. So, while erasing switch off Caps Lock key.

I will explain the remaining two Eraser modes in my next post.

Pen Tool (Photoshop) – Part 3

Using Pen Tool for removing Background:

1. Open (File -> Open or Ctrl+O on keyboard or Double click any ware on empty place of Photoshop) the image which you want to remove background.
2. Duplicate it by right clicking on title bar of the image or use Image menu-> Duplicate option.
3. Close the original image. Save the Duplicated image with desired name and keep it open to start work.
4. Double click or Alt+Double click on Background layer in layers palette to convert Background layer into normal layer. It is useful to make the image with transparent background.
5. Now select Pen tool on tool bar or press ‘P’ on keyboard to switch Pen tool.
6. With Pen tool click the starting point on right side of the object and start placing smooth and corner points around the object and cover the background area. Bring the path to the starting point and click on starting point to close the path.
7. To adjust any point with Pen tool, Ctrl+Click on path to select and visible anchor points of the path. If you click the path with Ctrl key on keyboard, the Pen tool converts into Direct Selection tool. So, we can adjust any anchor point (moving anchor points near to the edge of the object).
8. If you want any corner anchor point to convert into smooth anchor point or smooth point to corner point press Alt key on keyboard and click on anchor point.
9. After adjusting path nearer to objects border, press Ctrl+Enter to convert path into selection. If you want to inverse selection press Ctrl+I.
10. Now delete the selected background.
11. Create new layer behind object layer by Ctrl+Click on Create New layer button on bottom of the layers palette to check whether background deleted completely or not.
12. Fill color in newly created layer by pressing Alt+Backspace or Ctrl+Backspace key on keyboard. Now we can see some small background parts remaining. To clean the image use Eraser tool.

Pen Tool (Photoshop) – Part 2

Pen Tool – Pen Tool is to draw Paths by clicking and dragging on the image.
                            

                             Pen Tool                                                                         Path

Freeform Pen Tool – Freeform Pen Tool is to draw paths in freehand mode. No need to put points by clicking on image to draw paths. Just drag with this tool to draw paths. It’s like Lasso tool. Magnetic option on the top of the menu is selected and then the tool acts like Magnetic Lasso tool with paths instead of selection border.

Add Anchor Point Tool – To add Anchor points at the middle of the path. We can add anchor points anywhere on path. Just click on paths and don’t click on Anchor points.

Delete Anchor Point Tool – This tool is used to remove Anchor points on path. If we click on any Anchor point with this tool then that point will removed. We can remove entire path by clicking on all Anchor points.

Convert Point Tool – Converts smooth Anchor points to corner Anchor points without directional lines. It removes the directional lines or breaks the directional lines of Anchor point. By clicking and drawing on anchor point, a new directional line will create.

Direct Selection Tool – This tool is used to select Paths, Anchor Points and Directional lines. With this tool the path shape can be changed or modified. Shortcut is ‘A’ key on keyboard.

Path Selection Tool – This tool is useful for select and move paths without changing paths shape from one position to another location or image. Shortcut is ‘A’ key on keyboard.

Note: In my next Post (Pen Tool - Part 3) I will explain how to use pen tool and how many options use pen tool paths.

For questions please comment.

Pen Tool (Photoshop) - Part 1

PEN TOOL 

Pen Tool is one of the important tools in Photoshop and located in Toolbar. The shortcut of Pen tool is ‘P’ key on keyboard. Lines drawn by Pen tool are called Paths. Each path has Anchor points. Each Anchor point has Directional lines. A Path can have any number of Anchor points and the minimum points are two (starting point and ending point). Paths can be converted into selection by pressing Ctrl+Enter key on keyboard. Vector Mask also requires Pen tool paths. When Pen tool is selected there are two options on top of the menu and those are Shape Layer and Paths. If shape layer is selected while drawing paths with Pen tool, Paths will be drawn with paths and foreground color fill. If Paths option is selected then only paths will draw. To define custom shapes (creating new shapes), the shape must be in paths mode. If path is available on image then Define Custom Shape option in Edit menu will appear and we can change into shapes.

To draw Paths with Pen tool there are five types of Pen tools. Those are Pen Tool, Freeform Pen Tool, Add Anchor Point Tool, Delete Anchor Point Tool and Convert Point Tool. There are other two tools are there on tool bar called Path Selection Tool and Direct Selection Tool for controlling Pen tool paths.

Note: I will continue in my next post five types of Pen tool and how to draw paths with Pen tool.

If any questions please ask me by mail or comment.

Select Menu (Photoshop) – Part 3

Select Menu Options (Continued form previous post):

Grow – It is similar to Magic Wand Tool with Contiguous option selected. It grows the existing selection. It uses Magic Wand Tool Tolerance value to grow the selection. It selects the same color pixels inside existing selection with Magic Wand Tolerance. If two colors inside the selection, then the two color pixels will select with Magic Wand Tool tolerance.

Similar – This option works like Magic Wand Tool without Contiguous option selected. It works like Grow option but it selects disconnected areas of the image. It also uses Magic Wand Tool Tolerance value to select the pixels of the image.

Transform Selection – It works like Free Transform option in Edit menu. Free Transform transforms layer objects but Transform Selection transform for any selection. With this Transform Selection we can transform any selection on the image like Scale, Rotate, Skew, Distort, Perspective, Warp, Rotate 180, Rotate 90 CW, Rotate 90 CCW, Flip Horizontal and Flip Vertical.

Save Selection – Saves any number of selections one after one for further use. It stores in Photoshop memory. If the image is closed then saved selections will not available. To save any selection on image use this option and give same name for it. If we want other selection to be saved do the same process.

Save Selection Menu

 

Load Selection – Loads the saved selection. If there is any existing selection on the image while loading selection then the Load Selection popup menu shows saved selection names. Select which selection we want to load and select any of the four options (New Selection, Add to Selection, Subtract from Selection and Intersect with Selection). If there is no saved selection this option will not available.

Lad Selection Menu

Select Menu (Photoshop) – Part 3

Select Menu Options (Continued form previous post):

Feather – This selecting menu option is useful for giving feather (Soft edges) to already drawn selection. This feather option can be given to any selection on the image and then soft edges will apply to existing selection. If feather value is not given to any selection before drawing on the image and we want to give feather to that selection then this option is very useful. If more feather value is given in pixels, then more softness will apply to the selection. This result can be seen after apply some operations like filling color, coping image to other image or location, applying mask etc.

Note: Remaining options will continue on next post.

For questions please comment.


Modify – Modify has four options (Border, Smooth, Expand and Contract). This option is useful for selection like Magic Wand Tool selection. Border split the selection border into two selections and gives feather. Smooth is useful for rounding for sharp corners and sharp corners of the selection will convert in rounded corners with given radius. Expand is used to spread more pixels with given pixel value with same shape of selection. Contract is used to reduce the size of the selection with given value of pixels.

Select Menu (Photoshop) – Part 2

Select Menu Options (Continued from prvious post):

Select Menu Options

All Layers – Selects all layers in layers palette. But it don’t select Background layer. Shortcut is Alt+Ctrl+A on keyboard.

Deselect Layers – Deselects all layers. There will be no selected layer in the layers palette. At that time we can’t do anything on image. To do any work like using any tool, applying filters, other operations etc. Any one of the layer must be selected. To Merge, Group and Link select more than one layers.

Similar Layers – Selects same type of layers like Text layers, Shape Layers, Mask Layers, Fill Layers, Normal Layers, Groups etc. for example if Text layer is the current layer, then all text layers in layers palette will select. If Fill layer if the current layer selected, then all fill layers in layers palette will select.

Color Range – It selects selected color with Eyedropper tool on entire layer or in any selected part of the layer. Add to Sample option to add another color to the selection. Subtract from Sample option for removing any color form selected colors. A preview window will display selected colors in grayscale. In Selection Preview menu there are None, Grayscale, Black Matte, White Matte and Quick Mask options and these show previews directly on the image. Fuzziness option is to adjust the range of selected color. If the slider moves left side less colors selected and if the slider moves right side more colors will select. Invert option to inverts the selection. It leaves the selected area and selects remaining area. On Select menu option, any color is selected, then only that color will select on the image. If re is selected then all red color pixels will select.

Color Range Menu

Note : Remaining options of Select menu will continue on next post.

Select Menu (Photoshop) – Part 1

In Select Menu there are different types of selection options. All those options related to selection only. With that selection we can do many things like deleting backgrounds, deleting unwanted areas, giving strokes, color filling, applying filters, applying masks, making brushes, making shapes, converting into shapes, applying Adjustments options, copy, cut, paste into selection, transform selected parts etc.

Select Menu

The Select Menu options are:

All – It select entire current layer of the image. The shortcut is Ctrl+A on keyboard.

Deselect – It removes any selection on the image. Shortcut is Ctrl+D on keyboard.

Reselect – It reselects (select again) last time deselected selection on image. Shortcut is Shift+Ctrl+D on keyboard.

Inverse – It inverse selection, which means it leaves selected part and selects remaining part of the image. Shortcut is Shift+Ctrl+I on keyboard.

Note : Remaining options of Select menu will continue on next post.

Quick Mask Mode (Photoshop)

Quick Mask Mode is used to select any part of the image. It is also useful for protect any part of the image from editing. Filters, color changes, deleting etc. can be done on masked area. The shortcut of Quick Mask Mode is ‘Q’ on keyboard. Quick Mask Mode option available on toolbar below Foreground and Background colors button. By default Standard Mode is selected. Standard Mode and Quick Mask Mode buttons located side by side on bottom of the toolbar. Both modes haves the same shortcut.

Quick Mask Mode

Selecting a part of the image with Quick Mask Mode:

1. Open any image you want to select.

2. Click on Quick Mask Mode button or press ‘Q’ key on keyboard.

3. Press ‘D’ key on keyboard to set default foreground and background colors. By default foreground color is black and background color is white. Switch between Foreground and Background color by using ‘X’ key on keyboard or click on small toggle arrow with mouse.

4. After selecting Quick Mask Mode button, select Brush tool and with brush tool draw (paint with brush tool) where you want to select.

5. For painting use Black as Foreground Color and for removing painting on unwanted areas use White color as Foreground.

6. Double click on Quick Mask Mode button to get Quick Mask Options menu. In that menu select Masked Areas to change painted area into selected area. If Selected Areas option is selected the painted area will not select and the remaining area will select. By clicking on color you can change painting color and Opacity option for making painting color dark and light.

7. Now click on Standard Mode button or press ‘Q’ key on keyboard. Then the painted area will convert into selection.

Painted in Quick Mask Mode with Brush Tool

Selection after Quick Mask Mode painting

 

With this selection we can do anything like deleting or removing background for any image, fill color, apply color, apply layer mask etc.

For any questions please comment.

Magic Wand Tool (Photoshop)

Magic Wand Tool is a selection tool. It selects pixels based on color and tolerance. Tolerance is the main part of this tool. It selects based on given tolerance. When Magic Wand Tool is selected the Tolerance option will appear on top of menu. If more tolerance is given (enter the value in pixels between 0 to 255) large part of same color pixels with less difference will select. If less tolerance is given it selects less part of area with same color pixels will select.

Magic Wand Tool

Magic Wand tool selects same color of pixels until the edge (until other color pixel touches). The selection doesn’t enter into other color. If other color wants to be selected press Shift key on keyboard while clicking with Magic Wand tool. It adds one color of selection to other color selection. To subtract any selection, click on selection with pressing Alt key on keyboard.

Magic Wand Tool Selection and Tolerance

For smooth edges select Anti-aliased option on top menu. If Contiguous option on menu is selected, same color selects until the edge. If Contiguous is deselected, the same color without connection will select on entire image. That means if we click on red color, entire red color on the image without connection with each other will select.

Bitmap mode images and 32 bit per channel images are not useful for Magic Wand Tool.

Any doubts please comment.

Lasso Tool (Photoshop)

Lasso Tool is a selection tool useful for drawing freeform segments of selection borders. There are three types of Lasso tools. Click on the Lasso Tool button with mouse right button to access Lasso Tool or Polygonal Lasso Tool or Magnetic Lasso Tool. ‘L’ key on keyboard is the shortcut for Lasso tool. Use Shift+L key to change from one Lasso tool to another Lasso tool.

Three Lasso Tools

Lasso Tool is useful for drawing freehand selections on image. To draw a selection with this tool drag around the object or drag any particular area and bring it to starting point. Otherwise starting point and ending point will connects automatically.

Polygonal Lasso Tool is used to select in straight lines with points. To use this tool just click points around the object or any particular area and bring it to starting point. While drawing we can come back to the previous points by using Backspace key or Delete key on keyboard.

Magnetic Lasso Tool is used to select any object by dragging around any object nearer to its border. It attracts or snaps to the border edges of the object with selection points. It also requires the starting and ending points to be joined. Delete key or Backspace keys can be used to come back to the previous points.

Lasso Tool or Magnetic Lasso Tool can be changed to Polygonal Lasso Tool by pressing Alt key on keyboard. After leaving Alt key and clicking on the image the tool will change back to previous Lasso tool.

Marquee Tool (Photoshop)

Marquee Tool is used to select a part of the image or layer. There are four types of Marquee Tools; those are Rectangle Marquee Tool, Elliptical Marquee Tool, Single Row Marquee Tool and Single Column Marquee Tool. These four tools located in a single tool button at top of the Toolbar. Click on Marquee tool button in the tool box with holding left mouse button to select any of the four tools. In keyboard press “M” button to change any tool to Marquee tool. If Shift ‘M’ is pressed, the tool changes from Rectangle to Elliptical Marquee and vice versa.

4 Marquee Tools

Rectangle Marquee tool is used to select rectangle selections with different height and width. While drawing selection on image (without having any selection), hold down Shift key on keyboard to constrain the selection in a square shapes (equal width and height).

Elliptical Marquee tool is used to select elliptical or circle shapes. To get circular selection hold down Shift key on keyboard while drawing selection on image (there must be no selection on the image). If there is selection, circles can’t draw but selection will add to another selection.

Single Row Marquee tool is used to select horizontal row of pixels (entire width).

Single Column Marquee tool is used to select vertical column of pixels (entire height).

Marquee Tool Selections

If there is selection on image use these Keyboard keys while drawing selections:

To add selection to another selection use Shift key.

To subtract selection from an existing selection use Alt key.

To intersect selection with existing selection use Shift+Alt key while drawing.

If one selection is drawn, existing selection will deselect.

Click on image (outside selection) with any selection key or press Ctrl+D to deselect.

To move selection click on selection with any selection tool and move to desired location of the image.

Note: Any quetions about my post please conmment and I will answer immediately.

Move Tool (Photoshop)

The move tool is located at the top right of the Photoshop Toolbox. The Move tool is used to move a selection on an image of selected part of layer or entire selected layer by dragging it with mouse or by using keyboard arrows keys. Hold down Alt key on keyboard to copy the selection or layer object. If Alt key is not pressed while moving, the selected part will move but it cuts from original location. With this Move tool any Layer or selected part of the layer can be copied from one image to other opened image by dragging and dropping. Guides and Annotations can be moved with Move tool. After moving the Annotations, Move tool will change in to Annotation tool.

Move Tool Selected

After selecting the move tool, click and drag anywhere in the image. If an area is selected the selection will be moved, otherwise the whole layer will be moved. While moving the objects on the layer with Shift key pressed then the object will moves in straight lines (Horizontal, Vertical or Cross). If Snap options (In main menu View -> Snap to -> Guides, Grid, Layers, Slices and Document Bounds) are selected, then the objects in the layer will move with breaks at Guides, Grid, Layer edges or center points, Slices and Document Bounds (Four sided image edges). If there is no snap, the objects will move freely on the image without any brakes. Double click on Guides to open Preferences-> Guides, Grid and Slices Popup menu.

Preferences Popup Menu

Guide Line and Selected Part of the Image

If mouse right button is pressed with Move tool selected, then a popup menu will appear showing all the layer names under the move tool. From that popup menu any layer can be selected directly by clicking on layer name. Locked Background layer cannot be moved with Move tool. If Background Layer wants to be moved, then double click or Alt+Double click on it to convert from Background Layer to normal Layer. Paths on the Image also don’t move with Move tool. To move Paths, use Path Selection tool. Alternatively, use your arrow keys to move the selection or layer in small increments. Hold down the Shift key to move in larger increments.

You can activate the move tool when another tool is selected by holding down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (Mac OS). Shortcut for move tool is “V”. Press “V” button on keyboard to switch on Move tool from any other tool.

Note: If any doubts or questions please comment. I will respond immediately.