WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:07.520 --> 00:00:11.530 Photoshop is a great tool for touching up photos and creating your own graphics—but 00:00:11.530 --> 00:00:15.970 if you've never used the program before, it can be a bit intimidating at first. 00:00:15.970 --> 00:00:16.980 Not to worry. 00:00:16.980 --> 00:00:21.039 In this video, I'm going to go over the basics, including what some of these tools and features 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:22.100 are for. 00:00:22.100 --> 00:00:25.340 I'll also give you tips for setting up your workspace. 00:00:25.340 --> 00:00:28.730 Let's start by opening an existing image file. 00:00:28.730 --> 00:00:35.120 Just go to File in the upper left corner... choose Open... then find and select the image 00:00:35.120 --> 00:00:36.329 you want. 00:00:36.329 --> 00:00:41.730 In this case, I'm going to use a JPEG that I already have saved to my computer. 00:00:41.730 --> 00:00:44.180 This is how most Photoshop projects begin. 00:00:44.180 --> 00:00:48.410 Generally, you're editing something you already have, not starting from scratch. 00:00:48.410 --> 00:00:54.350 But if you want, you can go to the File menu and choose New to create a blank file instead. 00:00:54.350 --> 00:00:59.149 As you can see, the image has opened in the center—this is called the document window. 00:00:59.149 --> 00:01:03.510 It tells you the filename right here, along with the current zoom level. 00:01:03.510 --> 00:01:08.420 In our example, you'll notice that we're currently viewing the image at about 25%, because the 00:01:08.420 --> 00:01:11.160 original photo is so large. 00:01:11.160 --> 00:01:17.399 To zoom in, you can press CTRL+ on your keyboard (or COMMAND+ if you're using a Mac). 00:01:17.399 --> 00:01:22.590 To zoom out, press CTRL- or COMMAND-. 00:01:22.590 --> 00:01:27.229 To the left is the tools panel, which is one of the most important features in Photoshop. 00:01:27.229 --> 00:01:31.209 This is where you'll select whatever tool you want to use to edit your image. 00:01:31.209 --> 00:01:32.761 For example, this one lets you add text. 00:01:32.761 --> 00:01:37.770 And if you click and hold the command, you can access more tools that are similar but 00:01:37.770 --> 00:01:39.490 slightly different. 00:01:39.490 --> 00:01:42.959 If a lot of these tools seem unfamiliar right now, that's OK. 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:47.899 You'll learn more about them as you get more experience with Photoshop. 00:01:47.899 --> 00:01:50.270 Let's take a look at the control panel next. 00:01:50.270 --> 00:01:54.770 That's the area above your file where you can change the settings for your current tool. 00:01:54.770 --> 00:01:59.909 The options are specific to whatever tool you have selected, so they'll always be different. 00:01:59.909 --> 00:02:01.939 Right now, we're using the Text tool. 00:02:01.939 --> 00:02:11.900 So we can change things like the font... font size... alignment... and color. 00:02:11.900 --> 00:02:18.840 If we select a different tool... you can see that the options change. 00:02:18.840 --> 00:02:22.950 On the right side of the document window, you'll find a few more panels—the most important 00:02:22.950 --> 00:02:24.970 one is the layers panel. 00:02:24.970 --> 00:02:29.420 Here you can see the different layers in your document, and turn them on or off. 00:02:29.420 --> 00:02:33.690 Right now, we only have one layer—the one that's called "Background" by default—but 00:02:33.690 --> 00:02:37.500 you could end up with quite a few depending on the project you're working on. 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:41.610 You'll get more experience with layers once you start working with images. 00:02:41.610 --> 00:02:46.260 Finally, there's the menu bar at the top of the screen—remember, we already used this 00:02:46.260 --> 00:02:48.400 to open our image file. 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:51.570 The menu bar is kind of a catch-all in Photoshop. 00:02:51.570 --> 00:02:56.680 It gives you access to common file tasks like save, undo, and copy & paste; but it also 00:02:56.680 --> 00:03:01.060 has commands for editing that aren't on the regular tools panel. 00:03:01.060 --> 00:03:06.270 Under Image, for example, you can adjust things like contrast, color, and size. 00:03:06.270 --> 00:03:10.720 If you go to the Filter menu, you can access advanced tools and effects, like blur and 00:03:10.720 --> 00:03:13.400 sharpen. 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:17.180 Now that you know your way around, I'd like to show you a few more tips. 00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:20.240 These might not seem important right now, but they'll come in handy throughout your 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:22.130 time with Photoshop. 00:03:22.130 --> 00:03:27.470 Let's start with ways to customize your workspace by showing, hiding, a nd moving panels. 00:03:27.470 --> 00:03:32.500 To show or hide any panel, just go to the Window menu... then you can click the panel 00:03:32.500 --> 00:03:34.140 you want. 00:03:34.140 --> 00:03:37.420 Panels that are currently visible will have a checkmark next to them. 00:03:37.420 --> 00:03:41.560 I think I'm going to turn on the History panel. 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:46.760 To move a panel, click, hold, and drag wherever you want it to go. 00:03:46.760 --> 00:03:50.830 As you can see, you can move panels anywhere in the Photoshop window. 00:03:50.830 --> 00:03:54.450 If you're just starting out, though, we recommend keeping most of the panels in their default 00:03:54.450 --> 00:03:56.270 position for now. 00:03:56.270 --> 00:04:02.690 If you ever need to reset your panels, go back to the Window menu... mouse over Workspace... 00:04:02.690 --> 00:04:05.700 then choose the option that says Reset Essentials. 00:04:05.700 --> 00:04:10.830 (Note that this process may be different depending on the version of Photoshop you're using. 00:04:10.830 --> 00:04:16.030 For instance, in Photoshop Elements, you'll just go to Window, then Reset Panels.) 00:04:16.030 --> 00:04:20.190 Finally, there's one change we recommend making behind the scenes. 00:04:20.190 --> 00:04:25.240 It has to do with the type of unit Photoshop uses to measure an image's dimensions. 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:32.310 To access the setting, go to Photoshop on the menu bar... mouse-over Preferences... 00:04:32.310 --> 00:04:34.240 and then choose Units & Rulers. 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:40.719 Now, if you're using Windows, this is going to be found in the Edit menu instead. 00:04:40.719 --> 00:04:44.909 By default, Photoshop measures dimensions in inches, which is great if you're editing 00:04:44.909 --> 00:04:46.560 images for print. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:52.850 However, if you're editing for the web, we suggest that you change this to pixels. 00:04:52.850 --> 00:04:56.949 Then click OK when you're done. 00:04:56.949 --> 00:04:58.800 And that should do it! 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:02.540 Now that you have everything set up, and you know how to get around the program, you can 00:05:02.540 --> 00:05:05.270 start using Photoshop to edit your first image.