Photoshop CS4 For Dummies

Getting around in Photoshop CS4 means knowing, not only the basics, but how to troubleshoot problems, use selection and layer-merging tricks, and getting acquainted with the filter gallery and its colors.






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Troubleshooting in Photoshop CS4


When you run into a problem with Photoshop CS4, like the program won’t do what you want it to, or Photoshop simply won’t do anything, try these quick fixes to troubleshoot:


Tools don’t work




  1. Deselect. Unless you’re trying to work within an active selection, press Command+D (Mac) or Ctrl+D (Windows) to deselect. An active selection elsewhere may be restricting your work.




  2. Reset the tool. Right-click (Control+click for a trackpad) on the tool icon at the left end of the Options bar and select Reset Tool.




  3. Check the Layers and Channels palette. Make sure you have the correct layer active and that the layer (not a layer mask) is active. Check the Channels palette to make sure you have the color channels active.




Commands aren’t available


You move the cursor to the menu and click, only to discover that the command you want is grayed out! Your next stop should be the Image→Mode menu. Check to make sure that the image’s color mode and color depth are appropriate for the command you want to use. (Many of Photoshop’s filters, for example, can be used only with 8-bit/RGB images.)


Fixing Photoshop


When Photoshop just won’t work properly, try replacing the Preferences file by using this procedure:




  1. 1.Open Photoshop and save your custom goodies. Choose Edit→Preset Manager to save sets of styles, brushes, and other such bits and pieces you created. Use the Save Actions command in the Actions palette menu to save any sets of custom Actions.




  2. 2.Review your Preferences. Open Photoshop’s Preferences and go through each pane, noting your preferred settings so that you can restore your work environment later.




  3. Quit Photoshop. You can close the program like this:




    • On a Mac: Hold down Command+Shift+Option and restart Photoshop. When prompted, release the modifier keys and confirm, that yes, you do want to replace the Photoshop settings.




    • On a PC: Restart Photoshop; then immediately press and hold down Ctrl+Shift+Alt. When prompted, release the modifier keys and confirm, that yes, you do want to replace the Photoshop settings.








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Selection Tricks in Photoshop CS4


Say you want to work on a part, or selection, of an image instead of the whole photo. Photoshop CS4 has a large group of selection commands and tools. Here are a few tricks to add:























To:Do:
Make a selection of all pixels on a layerCommand+click/Ctrl+click the layer thumbnail.
Load a layer mask as a selectionCommand+click/Ctrl+click the mask thumbnail.
Load an alpha channel as a selectionCommand+click/Ctrl+click the channel thumbnail.
Load all pixels according to luminosityCommand+click/Ctrl+click the RGB channel thumbnail.




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Photoshop CS4 Layer-merging Tricks


Here are some tricks for working with layers in Photoshop CS4 if the Layers palette gets too crowded, or if you need to apply the same filter to multiple layers, streamline your Layers palette, or work with multiple layers as a single entity.



















To:Do:
Merge the active layer into the layer belowCommand+E/Ctrl+E
Merge all visible layers into the active layerCommand+Shift+E/Ctrl+Shift+E
Merge a copy of all visible layers into a new layerCommand+Shift+Option+E/Ctrl+Shift+Alt+E




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Photoshop CS4 Filter Gallery Colors


Most Photoshop CS4 creative filters use foreground color, background color, or both, and you should select these colors before you get into the Filter gallery. Use this list for important Photoshop filters and the colors they use:































































FilterColor(s)FilterColor(s)
ArtisticColored PencilBackgroundSketch→Graphic PenForeground + background
ArtisticNeon GlowForeground + backgroundSketch→Halftone PatternForeground + background
Brush StrokesAccented EdgesForeground + backgroundSketch→Note PaperForeground + background
DistortDiffuse GlowBackgroundSketch→PhotocopyForeground + background
RenderCloudsForeground + backgroundSketch→PlasterForeground + background
RenderFibersForeground + backgroundSketch→ReticulationForeground + background
SketchBas ReliefForeground + backgroundSketch→StampForeground + background
SketchChalk & CharcoalForeground + backgroundSketch→Torn EdgesForeground + background
SketchConte CrayonForeground + backgroundTexture-- >Stained GlassForeground




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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/photoshop-cs4-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html

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