Video Training Review: Photoshop CS4 One-On-One: The Fundamentals with Deke McClelland from Lynda.com - Page 2

Lesson 5, "Basic Color Correction," gets you into real Photoshop work. Up till now you have been learning how to get around in Photoshop and become efficent; now you will learn how to use it. This lesson is all about color correction and manipulation. You will learn things like how to make drab colors look better, working with adjustment layers, working with the histogram, how to use the Color Balance feature, how to use the Variations command, and how to refine your color range.

Lesson 6, "Image Size and Resolution," is all about pixels. You will gain an understanding about image size as well as of print size. You will work with the image size command, interpolation as well as the best way to downsize an image and better ways to make an image larger.

Lesson 7, "Cropping and Straightening," works at framing your image to get it into the proper layout. That is, framing it wide so as to give you enough room to work the image in post processing. You will also learn of perspective cropping to make angled shots look straight, how to straighten an image with the ruler tool, and even how to crop without cropping.

Lesson 8, "Making Selections," will show you one of the more important techniques in Photoshop, especially if you want to do photomontage work. That is, the use of selections to cut something out of a picture. Here you will learn to use the Magic Wand tool, Quick Selection tool, Marquee tool, Move tool and Lasso tool to make your selections. You will also learn how to use Refine Edge to preview a selection.

Lesson 9, "Painting, Retouch, and Heal," examines techniques for cleaning up an image. Here you will learn how to remove red-eye, clean teeth, remove plaque, heal blemishes, and patch spots. Now you will turn your attention to the brush tools. You will use the Color Replacement tool, Dodge tool, Sponge tool, Patch tool, Healing brush as well as the Clone Source to make your images picture perfect.

Lesson 10, "Layer Essentials," now looks at what layers are, how they work, and how they benefit you. You will see how to move a layer, change the stacking order, and combine layers into a clipping mask.

Article Author: T. Michael Testi

T. Michael Testi is a writer and a photographer out of Edmond Oklahoma. You can see his photographic and art work at T Michael Imaging.

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