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 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.

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.

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.