Learning Basic Photoshop FIRST TIME Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Photoshop Workspace
• The Photoshop Workspace
• The Toolbox
• The Options Bar
• Palettes

The Photoshop  Workspace The Photoshop  workspace consists of four main components: the Menu , the Toolbox, the Options  Bar, and the Palettes.

The MenuThe Menu  contains controls for common functions such as opening and saving files, as well as specific functions, such as copying and pasting, calling up specific windows or Palettes, and controlling the Photoshop  workspace.  As you progress through each lesson, the Menu and Menu Items are detailed. The ToolboxThe Toolbox  contains a collection of tools for creating, selecting, and manipulating images.  Each tool is detailed as you progress through the manual. The Toolbox  functions by selecting a tool, and when appropriate, selecting a color or setting options for the tool.   For example, when the Move Tool  is selected, a set of particular options appear in the Options  Bar.  When the Airbrush Tool  is selected, options for the Airbrush Tool appear. The Move Tool The Move Tool Options The Airbrush Tool The Airbrush Tool Options appear in the Options Bar. With options and possibly a color selected (depending on the Tool), you use the Tool to manipulate image data.  Creating and using images is covered later.  The Options  BarThe Options  Bar, by default, runs just below the Menu  Bar.  Whenever a Tool is selected in the Toolbox , the Options Bar displays the available options for the currently selected Tool (note, see previous example). Select an option by {Clicking} on the option.  Some options are buttons; others include drop-down menus or input fields. {Clicking} the Brush option for the Airbrush Tool  presents the user with a drop-down menu from which a brush shape and size can be selected. Options  for the Crop Tool  include input fields for Width, Height, andResolution . The Options  have been input by the user. The options for each Tool are discussed later in the manual. PalettesPalettes contain additional controls for other features in Photoshop , such as the use of Layers , Colors, Styles , and other features that you will learn as you progress through the manual.  As you learn Photoshop, you’ll find that you can manipulate the content you create in many ways.  By default, there are four Palette sets, each containing a collection of multiple Palettes in each set.  There is one additional Palette set that can be accessed by way of the Window Menu . The default Palette Set To select a different Palette in the Palette set, {Click} thePalette Tab to activate it.  For example, by default the HistoryPalette  is displayed in the third Palette set; if you {Click} theActions  Tab, the Actions Palette is displayed. {Clicking} the Actions  Tab enables the Actions  Palette in this Palette set. The function of each Palette is explained as you progress through the book and use each of Photoshop ’s tools to create content.

Palettes come in Palette sets, where multiple Palettes are docked together.  To undock a Palette from a Palette set,{Click} the Palette Tab, hold, and drag the Palette away from the Palette set.  For example, you could drag the Stroke Palettefrom the first Palette set. Dragging the Actions  Palette by the Palette Tab out of the Palette causes the Actions Palette to become a Palette itself.

You can dock a Palette into a Palette set by dragging it into the Palette set.  For example, if you wish, you could make a single Palette set with each of the standardPalettes inside it. Each of the default Palettes is placed in a single Palette set. Currently, the Actions  Palette is selected.

To restore the default Palette layout, select Window/Reset Palette Locations.  The default layout of four Palette sets will be restored.

If you’d prefer to start each Photoshop  session with the various Palettes in their default positions then you’ll have to indicate this in the Preferences dialog box.  Select Edit/Preferences and remove the check from the Save Palette Locations checkbox.  With the box checked, Photoshop will start each new session with the Palettes in the position that they were in at the close of the last session.

We’ll take a closer look at the various options in the Preferences  dialog box later in the manual.  We’ll be using the default layout throughout this book. You can also resize various panels.  For example, the Swatches  Palette can be used at the default size, or, you can drag any of the corners or sides of the Palette window to increase or decrease the size. The Swatches  Palette at default size, and at a larger size.