• Photoshop can edit wide variety of treatment from photo to any picture. But that complication makes us to hesitate to start to use it. However once to start to use, we realize its usefulness, When I have been using, I wrote memo of things that bothered me or idea to use it. This know-how page based upon those notes.
  • It is too complicated that sometimes forget to use it even after having understood to use it. This is kind of easy notebook for that time. The know-how handles things actually having used in my web. Then I think this can help everyone to use Photoshop.
(1) Screen Basic Layout Large work space in screen
(CS1) Displays the browser and facilitates retrieval of edited file 2005/07/23
Confirming the image that tries to be edited while making the list display done by the browser and working become efficient. The display by the browser can be used from Photoshop 7. The screen layout is currently used style.
  1. The folders are displayed in the upper-left on the screen by the tree form, and the image that wants to be edited is made easy to look for.
  2. The preview image is largely displayed under that, and the designated image is easily found from among the list display.
  3. In addition, the window where the property of the file can be confirmed is displayed under that. Because whether the file is images such as jpg and gif or files only for Photoshop like psd are not understood only from the small browser, it confirms by this property.
  4. The list display is shown in center of the screen by the browser and the list of the content is easily confirmed.
  5. The on/off can be done whether to display the file browser by the icon in the option bar in the upper part of the screen. 
(CS1) Layout of edit display is to reserve wide operation area to switch off the browser when working 2006/03/17
Next, the edit display of the image. The one to compose the screen of my experience. The browser is shut for the edit display that displays the image.
  1. "Option bar" on upper part of the screen can specify various parameter
  2. "Palette storage area" at the right of the upper part stores palettes such as "Action presetting" and "History" and improves both the saving of the repository and the convenience.
  3. "Toolbox" is put on the right which is most frequently used. This location is decided because it will not disturb when using the browser and is an easy-to-use position for editing.
  4. "Layer palette", which area is to be reserved as big as possible, is located in upper right. When the layers increase and lap, a list or "glance at once" is needed. Because neither the layer nor the palette are used at the same time, the palette is located up though the palette is expanded below when the action palette is used, and a part of the layer table is hidden. If Swatch is located up, it becomes difficult to see because the action palette hides the swatch under it when the action palette is expanded.
  5. Table "Swatch" of the color is arranged at the center of the right side. When the palette is expanded, "Swatch" is never hidden in case of this position.
  6. "Navigator", which confirms the position on a whole screen when expanding, is located in lower right. The histogram is used by changing with the navigator.
"Option bar" can specify various parameters 2005/07/25
"Option bar" to be able to set various parameters such as specification of thickness when line is written. This example is an option bar of "Clipping" execution time. Width and height, etc. are parameters, and the setting of the parameter changes by each action.
(CS1) "Palette storage area" stores various palettes 2005/07/26
Palettes which are frequently used but when always displaying, it takes up space therefore those palettes are stored in this storage. There are original expression in Photoshop, and "Palette" is the one. The palette is understood as window.
For instance, it is the action presetting. Lightens or darkens, and such synchronizing action is combined as presetting to be able to execute decided operation. It is convenient though always displaying needs place in the screen as a palette (= window). Besides this, the history and the character palette, etc. can be stored, and when using it, can execute a necessary item by the pull-down as shown in a right picture.
(CS1) List of palette storage area is action presetting, history and character in use frequency order 2005/08/04
They are "Action presetting", "History", and "Character. " to put in the palette storage area and to use frequently. It arranges from the left in order of the use frequency. Because the advantage of the palette storage area can set the size larger when the palette expands as it doesn't worry to take up the place. For example, the names of action presetting can be improved to have long name to present content and long history palette can be seen the list at once that can be trace back ahead by reserving long list.
(CS3) "Toolbox," most frequently used 2005/07/27
Toolbox is a most often used window. The language "Toolbox" of the image that the carpenter's tool and "palette" is not used when the picture is drawn. This carpenter's tool often certainly used. This toolbox is laid down but actually is put vertically because it takes up space. Browser's vertical scroll-bar is put this sensitive location for preventing being hidden when the browser is displayed.
(CS3) Adobe Bridge made linkage stronger with Photoshop or Illustrator 2007/12/04
At first, Bridge as browser is started. Before the Bridge, Photoshop browser used to be heavy, but Photoshop CS3 provided light and usable browser.
  1. Set three screen windows, left line gives tree style folders, and decide the folder to open.
  2. Thumbnail pictures are shown in the center line. Detail display, which shows shot image data, can be selected but those data are shown in the right line, then thumbnail style is selected in the center line.
  3. Thumbnail size can be changed freely by sliding the bottom right switch.
  4. Preview tab is shown in the upper right line to determine if the image is to be edited by Photoshop.
  5. Meta data in the lower right line display shooting date and time, size of picture, shutter speed, aperture, etc.
  6. Double clinking the thumbnail picture can start Photoshop and the picture to be edited is shown.
(CS3) Photoshop CS3's screen layout is stayed as default setting because of easy operation 2007/12/05
In the next stage, Photoshop opens and it shows the picture editing screen. CS3 becomes easy to use such that tool palette changed to slim one line, palette storage became icon style, etc., then default layout style is basically used.
  1. The option bar in the upper screen to set various parameters.
  2. Tool palette in the left is the most frequently used. CS3 is one line from two lines before.
  3. Palette area in the right stores from upper, navigator to check the location on expansion, swatch of color table, histogram of contrasting and layer palette to to used frequently.
  4. CS3 can store palettes in the icons to offer bigger operational screen.
  5. Layout style can be saved as work space with proper naming.
(CS3) Tool palette is the most frequently used 2007/12/06
ツールパレットは最も使用頻度の高いパレット。Tool palette is the most frequently used window. Right image is in horizontal but actually it is located vertically. After CS3, it became one line and more usable. When double clicking the double triangles on top of the palette, it can be changed into two lines as before. But one line is smaller area and easier to use, then one line is recommendable.
(CS3)Palette storage icon can store in small, and enlarge bigger when to use 2007/12/07
CS3 can store palettes in the icons. Palette opens by double clicking the icon when using. When stop to use on finishing, clicking the double triangle of right direction can close the palette.
To open the whole palettes simultaneously, the double triangle of left direction is clicked.
To store the palette into the storage area, to display the palette by clicking "window" then "action", to click the right direction triangle of upper right then to fined "Move to the palette storage area", to click this and to be inserted the last place of the storage area, that is, right end. Right and left place in the storage area can be selected by the right click.
Default setting shows history, action, tool preset, bush, copy source, character, paragraph, layer comp. And it is better to be as it is.
"Navigator" is convenient to know the position when the screen expands 2005/07/28
When correcting small parts, the screen is expanded fast. Then, a present expansion screen might not understand where the position is as a whole. "Navigator" palette is convenient at this time to confirm. A red square is displayed in the entire image and this is the current displayed size of the image. A red frame moves when the mouse pointer is taken on a red frame and it drags. When largely expanding, it is useful when the position is decided by the navigator. The scale of enlargement and the reduction ratio change freely if this is dragged right and left though there is a triangular sign under the navigator palette.
Convenient "Histogram" palette when brightness is adjusted 2005/07/29
"Histogram" navigator palette is in a box same as navigator palette and useful when the brightness of the image is adjusted. When brightness is adjusted, "Histogram" is necessary though it works while confirming the position by "Navigator palette" when partially correcting it while doing the scaling. It switches from "Navigation" at this time.
"Histogram" is the distribution diagram of brightness and going to the left side by dark when going to the right axe bright.
A very effective tool to see, while drawing the image, how it is distributed from a dark point to bright.
"Swatch" as color table 2005/07/30
Color change is also frequently working action. Swatch is displayed usually because of frequency though there are Swatch and a style in the color palette.
It is convenient to put not only the color that is beforehand but also the color set for myself. For instance, because an extremely light color is used for the background etc. These colors are separately defined, given a name for myself, and put in the palette.
"Layer palette" displays layers and large area is desirable 2005/07/31
The concept of the layer to draw the picture repeatedly in "Layer palette" that displays the layer is a wonderful invention. Though it is not necessary have layers to adjust only brightness, but for the case of the world map in the top page, layer palette is useful and necessary to have bigger palette area to look layers at once.
(CS3)Dual monitors bring ultimate efficiency for processing 2007/12/08
2台のモニターで究極の作業画面を作るPhotoshop can work very efficiently by using two monitors. The left half of the right image is a screen for the image work, and a right half is a screen for the operation. The work efficiency went up greatly using two monitors by allotting the role respectively. Left monitors is 20 inches (1600x1200), and the right is 22 inches wide monitor (1680x1050). Up to now, 20 inches has been used. When the personal computer was newly bought this time, 22-inch wide is attached together. The new PC was scheduled to be composed only of the new 22-inch wide monitor at first for processing the image, but it was not suitable for that objective . The current 20 inches is for the image processing screen, and 22-inch wide monitor is for the operational screen because performance is not important for the purpose. Therefore, it changed the composition of the new monitor as a monitor for the operation screen. The operation of the window opening and closing became unnecessary because every window opens always, the operational windows will not hide a part of the images under processing when the work screen was able to be used widely by using the monitor of work for the operation properly, and either the windows for the operation are always opened, and it helps to perform efficiently.
(CS3) Operational screen for the dual monitors opens every palettes 2007/12/09
2台のモニターで究極の作業画面を作る
  1. Layout of left screen for processing work, right for operating windows, comes from right palettes at the original one screen. It is just same as the right palette line becomes right screen resulting as an independent screen. Every window opens existing as palettes.
  2. Therefore, frequently used tool palette is located on the leftist part of the right screen. And higher frequency palettes are placed left side and the righter it goes, less frequently it will be used.
  3. Relating palettes are located closely each other such as character and paragraph, or, swatch and color.
  4. Layer and history can be seen at once when they can be displayed longer.
  5. This palettes location will be saved by "saving of work space" in order to return back from the sudden change.
Dual monitor support arm brings wider space 2007/12/12
2台のモニターで究極の作業画面を作るWhen two monitors are set aside, support columns are considerably becomes obstructive at the same time as supporting two screens. Support arm for dual monitors was found to buy. Right..photograph shows center pillar and two arms. The pillar is fixed on the back of the desk. Two arms go out of the pillar right and left, and they fix the screens with four machine screws behind the liquid crystal. Location of the screws is fixed as same position with every manufacturer, and four screws to install appear at these four fixed positions when stay in back of the liquid crystal back is removed. It can be widely used on the desk actually. There is a space, then keyboard, mouse and others can be used comfortably right under the monitor, and it is a convenient goods to improve the space use efficiency.
(2) Drawing Variety of function to draw figures or characters
2-1. Draw figures (Square/circle/triangle Pen tool)
Draw lines of square or circle and so on 2002/08/08
On pictures of top page, frame blue line is drawn. Those lines were made form at first. By using square choice tool or elliptical tool, [edit -> draw borderline] is selected. It can be chosen that is line width, color, line location of inside, outside or center. Line width is assigned by pixel and color is set by drawing color in the pallet. Circles in the top page map were drawn by this way.
Like a frame of a picture, when a whole picture is selected, by using [selection area -> whole selection] whole picture is chosen without using square tool.
Draw arrow 2004/02/16
line toolSelect [line tool] in the tool box. Upper icon line changes for the line tool. Click the triangle mark next to square, ellipse or line icon in the upper icon line.
Window pops up for the arrow and click [end point]. This adds an arrow in the direction of drag. One of the things is [start point] that makes the arrow with the drag starting point.
Width, length and dimple ratio will be set by %. Arrow width and length are ratio to the line width. Dimple ration is the one how arrow root has cut into the line. This sample shows 4 dots line width, arrow width 300%, length, 500% and dimple ratio, 20%.
Draw a path by Pen-tool 2005/10/19
Pen tool in the toolbox is basic to draw a free figures or lines. Shape of "Pen tool" is like a fountain pen.
Pen tool can make path and bring free figure. 2005/10/20
The line and the figure are freely drawn by "Pen tool". A red line to be connected with four points by "Pen tool", to make "Path", and red line is drawn by "The borderline of right-clicking --> Draw boundary line" under "Pen tool". The point that should be noted at this time is drawn on the condition of "Pencil tool" being not able to do the specification of the thickness etc. of the line directly. Therefore, it is necessary to specify the thickness and the color etc. of the line beforehand by "Pencil tool".
Switch tool of the anchor point can yield round boundary 2005/10/21
"Path" is a convenient concept. The origin uses the same path for the red and blue lines. After a red line is drawn by "The borderline of path", the red line is moved to passing and the position that doesn't come in succession by "Movement tool". Even the real image of red line moves, path remains because it only shows the route.
Next, in order to give roundness to point 1 and 2, "Switch tool of the anchor point" that exists in the same box as "Pen tool" of the toolbox is selected. When "Switch tool of the anchor point" is moved on the point 1 and 2, and it is dragged to right and left or up and down and then point a and 2 grows to be rounded.
Draw smooth figure by pen tool 2004/02/12
  1. pen toolLine or smooth curve will be drawn by the pen too which icon shows like a pen tip of a fountain-pen.
  2. Choose the pen tool in the tool box. Click the drawing start point as the point 1 for the first anchor point, and continue to click until 7, finally return to 1 and finish the pass.
  3. To finish the drawing with open pass which does not close the figure, click a place departed from the pass with pressing Ctrl button. For example, click 1 after 7 close the figure, and click the departed place from the pass with pressing Ctrl and it connects 7 and 1 automatically and the figure will close.
  4. Edit the place which will be changed into curve. This sample figure changes to add curved point into the point 4. Mouse pointer is changed from the pen tool to the anchor point change tool in the tool box. Point 4 will be clicked and dragged into the direction for the curve. Sample arrow shows the direction. This direction drag makes smooth curve and opposite direction does s-shaped curve.
Draw smooth figure by pen tool -2 2004/02/13
  1. By the pen tool, all the points are decided on drawing, draw a curve that is expected already.
  2. Select the pen tool. Point 1 is selected as the first anchor point.
  3. Second point is clicked and dragged from the point. Dragging ahead makes swollen smooth curve. Longer drag length, that is to say, the arrow is dragged long, makes longer curved edge. Click and drag should be done simultaneously, that is the point. Without drag, points will be connected with a line and not a curved line.
  4. Same action continues to add some points and finally return back to point 1 or [Ctrl + another place click] after point 2 can connect 2 and 1.
Rectangular tool can make rectangle 2005/10/22
The rectangle can be made by "Rectangular selection tool" in the toolbox or "Rectangular tool" in the same box as "Line tool", without connecting four points by the path.
"Rectangular option" appears when the triangle on a right edge of the option bar is clicked after "Rectangular tool" is selected.
"No restriction" makes the rectangle.
"Square" is a square.
"Fixation" specifies the number of pixels on longitudinal and horizontal.
"Slenderness ratio" can be specified.
Round corner rectangular tool makes corner round 2005/10/23
The corner can be rounded by "Round corner rectangular tool" though the same square. The amount that the corner rounds can be specified by the number of pixels for a radius of the corner.
Oval tool can make oval 2005/10/24
The oval also can be made by "Oval tool".
The option is set by "Oval tool option" of the option bar.
"No restriction" is an oval option that major and minor axis are decided by the drug.
"Real circle" is circle.
An oval major and minor axis are specified by "Fixation".
An oval size can be dragged by specifying "Slenderness ratio".
Polygonal tool can make arbitrary polygon 2005/10/25
The path of arbitrary polygon can be made by "Polygonal tool".
A polygonal number can be specified by putting the figure in "Number of sides". The pentagon can be dragged because it is in this example as "5".
The corner can be taken in a polygonal option by one to specify "Radius" and "The corner is smooth".
Moreover, star figure can also be obtained.
2-2. Paint out (Gradation, painting all)
Paint out tool can paint all the area with same color at once 2004/03/12
  1. Blue sky in windows make it red
    3rd from upper of right row.Paint out tool in the tool box can paint the anticipated area at once.
  2. Right sample shows blue sky in the windows. Filling tool can change the blue sky into red.
  3. Red color is set in the drawing color of the tool box. An icon of paint-can-like will be chosen. Blue point in the window will be clicked once and it can change the window color from blue to red.
  4. Tolerance in the upper option bar defines the proximity degree of the pixel which will be fulfilled by the same color red. The value is designated between 0 to 255. Default setting is 32. Small the value, only closer color will be painted. Lager the number paints wide area.
  5. Un-transparent degree is set in the option bar between 1 and 100%. And the default value is 100%.
Fill up by gradation 2004/03/13
  1. 3rd from upper of right row.By using gradation, color will be changed gradually and it makes a snazzy atmosphere. Top page of the YUME or dreams Gallery adopts gradation light yellow background and that was made by this method.
  2. This sample shows red and blue gradation on the original picture.
  3. Gradation area is set by the square choice tool in the tool box. Gradation tool is clicked in the same tool box. Gradation drawing starts with the drag start point and gradation paint ends at the drag end point. Left upper green sample shows gradation drag area from point 1 to point 2. Until drag start point 1, drawing color is used to fulfill to paint. Under green square was dragged from point 3 to point 4, and all the figure was painted by gradation from left to right.
  4. Red part and blue part were painted by gradation and gradation starts from center to the each corner. Like these gradation, un-transparency degree in the option bar can paint with transparency image. Blue and red were set as un-transparency degree to 40%. Default setting of the un-transparency degree is 100%.
  5. Gradation paint way can be chosen. Default setting is [drawing color -> background color]. Other settings are circular gradation or star like gradation and others in the option bar.
2-3. Make shadow (Layer effect, Drop shadow)
Canvas size change to add shade to a photo 2003/08/29
Click arrown into upper left and expand canvas into bottom right.Default is in center and expand canvas into whole around area.In [Layer -> new], [from background to layer] will be chosen. To change background photo into layer makes it be edited.
Then canvas size will be changed by adding shade width. Width and height will be changed by [image -> canvas size] by changing from mm to pixel. Top page photos are enlarged 5 pixel. Reference position is set center in the default setting and then change it from center to put the arrow to the left upper block. Actual shade can be put on under right oppositely.
Shade can add three dimensional atmosphere 2003/08/30
  1. Original shade 75% shade 100%
    In order to add shade, layer of the photo will be double-clicked and the layer style dialogue pops up.
  2. In the layer style dialogue, when click [drop shadow], dialogue of drop shadow appears.
  3. Following setting will be done.
  4. (1) Shade color is used default black. (2) Un-transparency degree is set as 75%. (3) Angle is 135 degree. (Degree shows an angle into which light comes, right horizontal is 0 degree, upper light is 90 degree, left horizontal is 180 degree and just under is -90 degree. This sample was set as 180-45=135 degree. Light from left upper 45 degree makes shade right under 45 degree location. (4) Distance (D) is 5px. (5) Spread (R) is 0%. (6) Size (S) is 5px.
  5. Photos are from left to right, original photo, shade un-transparency degree 75% and 100% respectively. This kind of shade is recommendable of 75% un-transparency degree.
To make background transparent, background should be converted into layer 2005/04/05
Sometimes, the shadow on the background is made on the transparency background using gif style. The layer of the photograph must be colored even if the shadow is made by double click and "shadow" command. Because the property of the layer remains as "Background," then this background layer must be colored. Therefore, "Background" should be converted into the layer, if the background can be treated as transparency using gif format. In order to convert it, "Background" layer is clicked, and it converts by "Layer --> New --> From background to layer." Because the layer with the property of "Background" is lost when doing so, the shadow can be put on the background of the transparency.
Each country is added shade in the world map and it seems to be more three dimensional 2003/09/03
Layer style is very convenient for this kind of world map because each country can be added shade depending upon the shape of the country map. Same as putting a shade to a photo, shade can be added into each layer. Adding shade to each layer will be done just same as to make it for a photo. Map without shade is monotonous but solidarity appearance comes up with shade and the map became lively.
One thing to notice is the light direction. Even there are many layers but light direction is set only one angle. If light direction will be set in a layer, all the other layers are set in the same direction. This sample makes 170 light and game it a shade. Right under light (-45 degree) was trailed but China and India seemed to be put on Russia. That was not natural.
Simple area like Africa or south America will be set the distance (D) as 3px, size (S) as 3px and like China or India, complicated shape and be anticipated to affect to other country shape, those countries were set degree (D) as 2px, size (S) as 2px to make shade smaller.
Repair brush tool and patch tool are convenientPhotoshop 7.0 2002/10/17
Upper most of left row.Repair brush can consequently restore by dragging. Patch tool can change an area at one time. Face with wrinkles can be easily changed into smooth face. Dirty spot in a picture can be restored just at one time. Shade and shadow or texture information are calculated by the copied part and automatically restores a picture. Then even after sampling different color tone point, original part will be restored naturally and the area will be matched with surrounded atmosphere. Completed picture looks very natural and it is convenient tool.
History brush 2004/02/24
Original picture monotonous partly restored
2nd from upper of right row.By the history brush, original picture will be reused when it is assigned before as a reference picture. This left original picture is assigned as a base picture in the history pallet. Center picture was changed into monotonous by [image -> color tone compensation -> channel mixer -> monochrome.] As in the right picture, by using history brush and paint, only painted parts are restored from the picture which is already assigned.
Art history brush uses artistic filters when restoring. But those filters make the original photo into unexpected chaos and the person has artistic sense, it may be used but normal person is difficult to use or useless.
Delete fringe pixel from selected area 2004/02/17
When move or paste will be done with an area of unti-alias, it may happen that pixel around the border will be included in the selected area and it makes fringe around the border. [Mat command] can delete fringe around the border.
After move or paste, fringe is substituted with colors close to the border by [layer -> matting -> fringe deletion]. For example, if yellow figure is selected with blue back, blue fringe will be moved with the figure. By the action of fringe deletion, blue color is substituted by the yellow. Substituted width is assigned by pixel unit. One or two pixel is enough. Black mat deletion or White mat deletion is used for black and white background then we do not have a chance usually.
2-4. Character decoration (Layer effect, Drop shadow, Warp text)
To fringe characters, border line is used 2003/04/12
Light green characters of Hokkaido with light blue background are sometimes difficult to read, then border line is used to fringe the characters.
  1. Write letters by the character tool. Double click that character layer or right click of the layer and choose layer effect.
  2. Check border line. Click the area next to the characters of border line and border line dialogue pops up.
  3. Click color item and colors are chosen by selecting from color sample.
  4. Location at this time is set as default outside. Size can define line width, default is 3px.
Set effects to character such as shade 2003/08/14
Once character layer is made with shade for example, from 2nd time, that layer is copied to revise. It is convenient. First to make character layer is to click "T" icon in the tool box. That character tool is used to write characters. Then double click the layer [Layer style] window pops up and set in this window.
  1. Main Hall Map : Adding shade by drop shadow. Shadow color is black and un-transparency degree is 75%. Shade angle is defined at the opposite direction which clock stylus shows. This sample is 11 o'clock direction. Furthermore bevel and emboss are chosen to increase the three dimensional image. Silhouette is clicked and made it shading with the border line. Character color is yellow and border color is red.
  2. Main street : Black [Bevel and emboss] + Silhouette. Light blue border line is set as above No.1. Character color is blue.
  3. 1st avenue : Black [drop shadow] + black [bevel and emboss] + light brown [border line]. Character color is red.
  4. 4th avenue : Black [bevel and emboss] + deep green [border line]. Character color is green. In addition to this, [flame] is checked to yellow light shines softly green characters from inside.
Shade direction for the character is just "one direction" for every layer 2004/02/11
When putting characters into a photo, drop shadow will be added for sometime and there may happen to be desired for different layers as different effect. Character size can be changed in the same layer but shade direction must be set in only one direction even in the same kind of layer as well as different type of layers if they are layers of one Photoshop file.
Deformation of characters by using Warp Text 2004/08/07
Characters are deformed by the following styles and their quantity. Default is 50%.
Original Arc +50% Lower chord +50% Lower chord -50% Upper chord +50% Upper chord -25%
Arch +50% Irregularity +25% shell (Lower direction) +50% shell (Upper direction) +50% Flag +50% Wave +50%
Fish +50% Ascendent +50% Fish-eye lens Blow out +50% Narrow down+50% Torsion +50%
Curve method is fixed to "arc" and horizontal distortion and vertical is added
Vertical distortion is not fit with the style. Only horizontal is enough.
Arc distortion horizontal distortion +50% horizontal distortion -50% vertical distortion +15% vertical distortion -40%
Input characters are deformed like arc or wave and it is called " Warp Text "
Character layer is made by character tool. Editing of warp text can be made later. When selecting character layer and character tool, a button on tool option bar of upper window pops up and it is shown as "Warp text making." Or [ Layer --> Text --> Warp text]
This tool can set three elements of curve, horizontal deformation and vertical deformation. On pushing "warp text making" button, "warp text dialogue" is shown and input these three elements.
Applying character layer pallet with warp text 2004/08/08
Warp text can be set as layer pallet like character layer.
Right title is used flag style curve deformation and by using this layer pallet, drop shadow, boundary line or gradation and etc. can be applied.
(3) Color adjustment Darkness to daytime, drastic adjustment
3-1.Revive from darkness and brightness (Shadow and highlight, Automatic level adjustment)
"Shadow and Highlight" can automatically compensate exposure, new Photoshop CS feature 2004/04/10
Original Brightness Shadow highlight
Left photo was taken by automatic setting. But accidentally, it was under exposure. In the past, "Brightness and contrast" was used like a center photo and compensated by hand. Center photo was change by "Brightness and contrast" before I knew this new function. Right photo was taken by "Image -> color tone compensation -> shadow and highlight" automatically. Automatic is better than hand compensation. This is new CS function and valuable.
Automatic level adjustment of dark photo 2002/04/12
オリジナル画像は暗い。 トーンカーブで明るくする。 自動レベル調整でバランスをとる。
Dark original Brightened automatic adjustment
Clouded sky or in a dark room without flash, photos sometimes became dark because of lacking amount of light. By using [Brightness and contrast adjustment] or [tone curve], photos can be brightened but photos themselves became whitish. At that time, [image -> color tone adjustment -> automatic level adjustment] can balance the picture tone. Sample photos from left to right, left : original center : brighter treatment by tone curve right : automatic level adjustment.
-->Shadow and Highlight of Photoshop CS replaced this procedure. It is much better.
Photoshop CS ; One push modification by Shadow and Highlight 2004/05/23
自動レベル調整でバランスをとる。 シャドウ・ハイライトで一発修正。
automatic adjustment Shadow & highlight
Photoshop CS's main feature is this Shadow and Highlight.

Shadow and Highlight made Chiang Kaishek brighter and can be identified. This is main feature of Photoshop CS. This best photo in the four was made by just one push of Shadow and Highlight.
Automatic color adjustment is added in Photoshop 7.0 2002/10/20
Automatic level adjust was already in the Photoshop and this automatic color adjustment was added in 7.0, which changes color tone.
3-2. Color change (Color area assignation, paint out)
Color assignation can change assigned color all at once 2003/01/20
Color area assignation change the color
Sometimes it may happen to change the color all at once. In the map of the top page, one country's color wanted to be changed is the case. [Color area assignation] can change a color all at once.
This sample shows by using [chosen area -> color area assignation] assigns and change the color by [edit -> paint fully]
Color area is assigned by [color assignation] 2003/01/21
Dialogue is shown by [chosen area -> color area assignation]. Each items are set as follows.
(1)Selection -> assigned color area (2)tolerance -> move slide, or, input value of 0-200 (3)[Display picture] is chosen from [selected area] or [display picture] (4)[Black mat] is chosen as the pre-view selected area. (5)Pointer is clicked on the picture or pre-view area to assign that color.
Another choice is from color system. Selection can be done from red series, yellow, green, cyan, blue, magenta. After the color assignation, tolerance slide can decide color tone area. The bigger the value becomes, the wider the color area will be assigned. When selected area is chosen, color is picked from the picture directly but pre-view is not shown. Pre-view is easier to see for the black mat which displays assigned color on the black back.
After color assignation, fully painted by color fulfill or like that 2003/01/22
Color can be changed all at once by using [edit -> fulfill panting] after assignation of the color to be changed.
Paint out tool can paint all the area with same color at once 2004/03/12
  1. Blue sky in windows make it red
    3rd from upper of right row.Paint out tool in the tool box can paint the anticipated area at once.
  2. Right sample shows blue sky in the windows. Filling tool can change the blue sky into red.
  3. Red color is set in the drawing color of the tool box. An icon of paint-can-like will be chosen. Blue point in the window will be clicked once and it can change the window color from blue to red.
  4. Tolerance in the upper option bar defines the proximity degree of the pixel which will be fulfilled by the same color red. The value is designated between 0 to 255. Default setting is 32. Small the value, only closer color will be painted. Lager the number paints wide area.
  5. Un-transparent degree is set in the option bar between 1 and 100%. And the default value is 100%.
3-3. Color adjustment (Tone curve, Brightness & contrast, color saturation, gray scale)
Touching up blue suffering by tone curve 2003/10/14
blue inclination yellow is added
To offset blue inclination, yellow color is added and easy modification is to use tone curve. By [image -> color tone adjustment -> tone curve], channel (C) changes to blue. And to hold the center of the curve and to move downward, complementary color of blue, that is yellow, will be increased and blue inclination will be adjusted.
By [image -> color tone adjustment -> color balance], same adjustment is possible to pull the knob to yellow direction.
This photo was taken at almost sunset time before having dinner. Brightness was not sufficient and right photo seems to be brightened but actually it was just added yellow by tone curve.
Brightness and contrast adjustment 2003/10/15
Original +15/+15 +20/+15 +30/+20 more than that
hen adjusting dark photo, only by brightness adjustment, picture will become monotonous then it can be balanced together with contrast. Adjustment is made by [image -> color tone adjustment -> brightness and contrast]. [Tone curve] can be used but by using brightness and contrast constantly and many times, numerical feeling can be gotten through experiences. Then brightness and contrast is my favorite than tone curve nowadays.
Rightest photo seems to be not natural. I adopted this photo as +20/+15.
Color saturation change can make photos brilliant 2003/03/20
オリジナル画像 10%彩度アップしました。 20%彩度アップしました。 25%彩度アップしました。 30%彩度アップしました。 35%彩度アップしました。
Original +10% +20% +25% +30% +35%
Left photo is the original and according to righter place, color saturation goes up relatively 10,20,25,30,35%. Red series color can easily increase effect of color saturation improvement. Comparing original photo with 35%, 35% becomes definitely brilliant as if it is different picture. This sample's best point is probably 25 to 30%. Adjustment is made by [image -> color tone adjustment -> hue and color saturation]
Delete fringe pixel from selected area 2004/02/17
When move or paste will be done with an area of unti-alias, it may happen that pixel around the border will be included in the selected area and it makes fringe around the border. [Mat command] can delete fringe around the border.
After move or paste, fringe is substituted with colors close to the border by [layer -> matting -> fringe deletion]. For example, if yellow figure is selected with blue back, blue fringe will be moved with the figure. By the action of fringe deletion, blue color is substituted by the yellow. Substituted width is assigned by pixel unit. One or two pixel is enough. Black mat deletion or White mat deletion is used for black and white background then we do not have a chance usually.
Gray scale of black and white 2004/02/23
It is easy to change to monotone by [image -> mode -> gray scale]. However it should be noted that all layers will be changed into monochrome.
Or by [image -> color tone adjustment -> channel mixer], when click the layer by monochrome, only that layer can be changed into black and white. By copying as [layer duplication] original picture remains.
Confirming brightness distribution by "histogram" 2005/08/02
Histogram display Left move on darkening Right for brightening Adjust by contrast
Brightness can be confirmed by putting the histogram. There is "Histogram" in the navigator palette, it switches to display it. When the histogram is seen, the distribution of brightness is understood though it adjusts by "Brightness and contrast". It moves as distribution inclines to the left when darkening, the distribution shape is becoming small though an extreme example is shown as a sample. The distribution moves to the right when similarly lightening and it also lowers. Finally, the distribution of light and shade is adjusted by using the contrast too.
3-4. Common sense of color (3 fundamental colors of light and paint)
Three fundamental colors of light and relation with complementary colors 2003/03/25
  1. R(red), G(Green) and B(Blue) are three fundamental colors of light. Elementary color filter of digital camera uses those three colors.
  2. On the other hand, by using adjacent colors, three colors are made such as, Yellow=red+green, cyan=greenblue, magenta=bluered.
  3. Cyan includes blue and green then adding red into cyan makes white.
  4. Relationship between red andcyan, green and magenta, blue and yellow is called "relationship with complementary color." Those complementary colors have white between them. Light case is called as complementary color of white.
  5. Complementary color filter of digital camera uses yellow,cyan, magenta, and usually green is added and uses 4 colors.
  6. Different from painting, light three fundamental colors become white when they are blended. Black is a condition of no light.
Light calculation is additive color process 2003/03/28
When adding hexadecimal color expression is added, then new color comes up. It is called additive color process.
For example,
Yellow=redgreen is defined by hexadecimal as FFFF00=FF0000+00FF00
Cyan=greenblue is in same process of 00FFFF=00FF000000FF
Magenta=bluered is in a process of FF00FF=0000FFFF0000
If complementary colors are added into those colors, it becomes white=FFFFFF is obvious.
Three fundamental colors of paint and relationship with complementary colors 2003/03/29
  1. From ink cartridge of a printer, we understand that three fundamental colors of paint are yellow, cyan and magenta. Same as light fundamental colors, black is wedged between two complementary colors.
  2. Light is calculated by adding process but paint color is decided by absorption of light then in the case of paint, it is called subtractive color process.
  3. For example, yellow paint absorbs blue light and then from white=red+green+blue, blue is deleted and it becomes red+green, that is to say, that paint reflect yellow light and we can see it.
  4. Cyan paint absorbs red light and magenta absorbs green light.
  5. By blending magenta and yellow of paint, from the light of white=red+green+blue, magenta absorbs green light and yellow absorbs blue light and only red light remains then finally we see it as red.
  6. That is magenta+yellow = red+green+blue-green-blue = red. This is subtractive process.
Color will be inserted into color sample pallet 2004/02/10
New color will be made by [setting drawing color] in the tool box. When mouse is put on a vacant place in the color sample pallet, then pencil changes into bucket and display that [by click new color sample making] then new name will be input. Original color and names are useful to edit photos because colors are limited to the editor.
To delete colors from the color sample pallet, that color sample is drag-and-dropped to the garbage can just below.
White characters can not be printed on black paper 2006/08/29
A friend of mine asked me that white characters can be printed on the black printing paper. He tried to print in that way but printing ink reduces dramatically. Then he bought printing purpose paper and tried to print white characters on the black paper. But it could not. He asked me why. It can not be done in principle. Ink becomes black as mixing cyan, magenta and yellow. White color is used the background color of the white paper. Then white characters can not be printed on the black paper.
One of the way to print is to print black on the surrounding area of the characters at minimum area. After printing, cut the characters and past the paper by glue on the black paper. It may cut ink usage.
On the contrary, three fundamental colors create white by red, green and blue and therefore black is result of doing nothing or no emitting any light. We can understand that condition when PC is on the switch-off condition.
(4) Filtering From sharpness to blurring, variety of filters
Filter can be activated only with jpg -> Possible below 2002/8/7
There is a function of filtering Photoshop. Many different functions are in the filer. But this filter can only activate with jpg picture. Such pictures as bmp, gif, psd can not be activated with filter.
gif picture can be edited 2002/08/07
Gif picture also can be edited by [image -> mode -> index color -> RGB color]
Without this conversion, edit can not be done.
4-1. Blurring improvement (Un-sharp mask, Blurred photo rescue)
Blurred photo can be improved by sharpness filter 2002/04/19
車の中から撮ったピンぼけ写真。 シャープを掛けると解消される。
Original Un-sharp mask
Out-of-focus photos are improved by the sharpness filter. Too much sharpness makes it a picture with noise. [Un-sharp mask filter] can provide amount of improvement or sharpness. [Filter -> sharp -> un-sharp mask]
[Amount] slider decides increasing amount. It is set by looking at the improving picture the value will be set between 50 and 150 % from experience. [Radius] slider can decide the improved area around edge or how wide it is. It is recommended between 1 and 3. Acceptable value is 2. When [radius] is set small, only edge can be sharped. When bigger, bigger area pixel can be improved. [Threshold level] is set as the target edge pixel if the difference between around area will exceed the value. To avoid noise into complexion or skin color, value will be set between 2 and 20. Default value is "0" and it makes every pixel sharp within the picture.
Sharpness treatment must be done finally 2010/03/02
Sharpness treatment must be done finally, after every retouch has to be done. It is rigid rule within professional fields. On the contrary, if a photo, which was done of sharpness treatment, is treated with another retouch, then sharpness effectiveness will be reduced or defect of the sharpness will be emphasized.
Even quite blurred photo can be sharpened by Blurred Photo Rescue of Japanese software 2004/06/22
Original Sharpness filter Rescued
If the photo is a little out of focus, then it can be retouched by sharpness filter. But blurred photo or hand shake photo is difficult to be improved. I found a very unique software to modify a blurred or hand shaken photo dramatically. It is called "Blurred Photo Rescue." It is Japanese share-ware of about 30 dollar. Left photo was taken from a car inside and it is blurred condition. Center photo is modified by sharpness filter of Photoshop. But it occurred big noise. Right photo was modified by the Blurred Photo Rescue. It could be improved dramatically. Basic stance is to avoid hand shake condition. But sometimes it occurs there is no other opportunity to use the photo and it is blurred. At that time it can improve. Especially flowers can show the effectiveness.
How to use Blurred Photo Rescue 2004/08/23
1. Open photo file. [file(O) --> open(O)]
2. Focussing. Blur width is set by [Image(I) --> Fit focus filter(F) --> Blur width(pixel)]
3. [Execution --> Decision]
4. Save result. [Save with file name --> Execution --> save --> OK]
Comparison between Photoshop's un-sharpness-mask and Blurred Photo Rescue 2004/09/28
Original picture Unsharpness 100 Unsharpness 200 Unsharpness 250
Fit focus Adjusted area Focus aid Balanced
It can adjust big blur but small change can also give a different nice looking. Photoshop's unsharpness mask produces noise when it changed with big quantity. It has limitation for fitting focus rescue.
On the other hand, Blurred Photo Rescue has tremendous effect for this matter.
Fit focus filter was added in the version 2 edition. It can improve even in the default condition.
In the same fit focus filter, there is different role and it can adjust the designated area.
Current focus aid filter is a little bit complicated to set but when filter condition is appropriately adjusted, it works even for the big blurred photo.
Try to use fit focus filter in the Blurred Photo Rescue 2004/09/29
Ori
gin
al
Fil
ter
ed













Fit focus filter, added from version 2, is easy to operate and useful function.
4-2. Cut noise (Neatimage)
NeatImage can eliminate noise from digital picture 2004/07/09
スキャナーで読み込んだだけの元画像です。 NeatImageでノイズを取り除きました。
Scanned original NeatImage
There is date of '93 9 28 in the photo and it shows that the left analog photo was scanned by a film scanner. Analog photo was terrible and a development shop may have retouched very much. Then we had relatively good films and photos from the development shops.
Left photo is the original scanned picture and when looking at the sky , tremendous noise can be seen.
I found a very useful software called NeatImage. It is a share ware. Right photo was processed by the NeatImage and noise was removed. Especially when looking at the sky, the difference is clear. It is quite useful software. NeatImage demo version can be downloaded as free ware and there are some restrictions compared with production version but it is valuable to try and I recommend it.
How to use NeatImage 2004/08/24
1. Click [Open Input Image]
2. Set noise analyzing area. Click [Device Noise Profile] --> Define the area by mouse drag.
3. Noise is roughly analyzed by [Rough Noise Analyzer] to click blue pencil.
4. Whole picture is analyzed by [Auto fine-tune]
5. Finish noise analysis by [Auto complete]
6. Execute noise elimination by clicking [Output image --> Apply]
7. Save result. [Save output image --> input file name --> Apply]
4-3. Blurring (Gauss)
Make the background blurred by [filter -> blurring (Gauss)] 2003/06/26
Original Blurred background
To get a picture with blurred background, Gauss is used such as [filter -> blurring (Gauss)]
Gauss can set amount of blurring.
A little blurring and avoiding noise can be gotten by the amount of blurring as radius 0.5 to 1.5 pixel.
Full blurring such as flower background is set the radius between 3 and 6. If the value will exceed 8 pixel, it becomes true blurring and it makes difficult to understand the shape.
4-4. Extract figure of complicated boundary (extract)
Extract figure from background 2004/02/20
  1. 元画像This is the way to delete background and only necessary figure will be left. Even detailing and complicated figure can be easily cut out from the background. When the shape has simple boundary, background eraser too is better or easier.
  2. A pallet will be chosen from the layer pallet, in which extracting figure is included.
  3. Extracting operation window will be opened by [filter -> extract]. the size of the figure will be enlarged by [Ctrl+"+"] and shorten by [Ctrl+"−"]. Hand mark or [palm tool] can move the figure by gripping. This window is different from the normal window and do not have a scroll bar to move in the window.
  4. 境界線マーカーを付けるBoundary line of the extracted figure is defined by [boundary marker tool] and green marker is dragged to be lapped a little on both the figure and background. To get clear boundary line, [smart boundary marker] is used. Detail and complicated boundary such as hair or branch is treated by bigger size brush. Deleting highlight uses [eraser tool] and erases green marker. When the figure is clear, green marker will enclose all the figure like a right figure. It is not necessary to put a marker on the area which contacts to the picture frame. If the figure inside is not clear, whole figure is marked highlight. Right picture's green marker is shown larger to express atmosphere. But actual marker is set as a default, depending upon the picture size and then it can be processed in detail.
  5. ペイント缶で図形の内部を塗りつぶす。Inside the figure is defined. When the figure inside is clear, [filling tool] of paint-can mark can define by clicking the figure inside and changes the figure inside blue.
  6. By pushing pre-view, it is checked that the background became deleted and transparency, and only the figure is extracted. Because the figure boundary pixel loses color information, then new figure can be extracted without fringe. Fringe makes us bothersome because of the clear boundary with blurred boundary. View menu option can change original picture and extracted picture interchangeably.
  7. 抽出結果。Editing can be possible at pre-view condition. Unnecessary background can be deleted by [clean-up tool]. In order to show the deleted background again, drag by [clean-up tool] with Alt. To edit boundary line is [boundary line correction tool]. It makes boundary line sharp. If the figure could not find clear boundary, boundary line correction tool can make the figure clear or make the background transparency. Second picture with yellow background below is a sample which was corrected by [clean-up tool]and [boundary line correction tool]. It can be done easily.
  8. Click [OK] and apply extraction. Outside the extracted figure will be deleted all. Sample pictures background were painted yellow in order to be shown clearly.
  9. 境界線をクリーンアップツールと境界線修正ツールで修正したもの。一回だけの抽出結果。元画像。These sample photos were made by our house dog Harry. Left picture with yellow background is a sample one time extraction and it shows a picture of detail and complicated boundary line without correction. Right picture is corrected by [clean-up tool] and [boundary correction tool]. By using those correction, boundary line can be more clearly extracted. This kind of complicated boundary can be treated in a short time.
4-5. Lighting (Light effect)
Samples of [filter -> light effect] 2004/03/14
Original pm 2:00 light 3 spots 3 down 5 up RGB light cross
cross down soft spot flush parallels light whole direction soft whole direction blue inclusion light
Different kind of light effect sample are edited by [filter -> draw -> light effect]
flood light direct light soft backlight
(5) Editing Transform freely
5-1. Size change (Clipping, picture resolution, scale)
Frame size is freely arranged by the clipping tool 2004/02/14
original photo Opetated by the clipping tool Unnecessary background disappears.
original photo has
unnecessary background.
Operated by the
clipping tool.
Unnecessary background
disappears.
Bottom of left row,In this original photo, some people who were not intended are in the upper right corner. When the frame is cut to the size of only required portions, the clipping tool of the toolbox is used. It is possible to set it to a free size.
1.The clipping tool of the toolbox is selected.
2.The mouse is dragged from the upper left to the lower right near the part that wants to trim. Because the size can be changed later, first clipping can be dragged freely.
3.The outside of the clipped area is displayed dark. Eight points are shown on the edge of the clipped area that change the size of the frame, the position is dragged to clip and it is accurately decided. The clipping frame can be freely moved by fixing the size of the trimmed frame when the inside part of the clipped area is dragged.
4.It double-clicks in the clipped frame or when "Enter" is pushed, the clipping is completed.
5.Because the size of the frame can be freely set, this method is easier though similar work can be done with cutting and the paste.
6.For the default setting, there are no figures in the clipping tool in "Width", "Height" and "Resolution" of the option bar in the upper part of the screen. It is clipped to the drugged size in this condition. Please make it to the blank by "Clear" if there is a figure.
After clipped size is set same as the original image by the clipping tool 2004/02/15
To maintain the same slenderness ratio as the original photo even after the clipping, "Background" of the option bar is clicked. The numerical value of the original image enters automatically for "Width", "Height" and "Resolution." "Width" and "Height" are only unit of lengths such as cm. It is not possible to specify by pixel. Photoshop started from the printing usage, then it is used to print the photo of Xcm x Ycm with Z pixel/inch resolution. It is said that usage of pixel is after the digital camera age. When using the background, it is only same slenderness ratio as the original image that can be dragged, and the final fixed size becomes same pixel of the original image.
Picture is clipped as specified size of pixel 2005/04/16
Move copied picture in the specified window
Like the place specified first is not clipped but everything is newly copied, the window is moved, and the technique for doing like clipping to the specified pixel.
  1. The picture that wants to clip is specified and all ranges are specified by "Ctrl+A" or "All selection range --> is selected". All images is copied by "Ctrl+C" or "Edit --> copy".
  2. A new image is made from "New file -->". Width and the height at that time are specified in each pixel for a size that tried to be clipped beforehand. The former image copied by "Ctrl+V" or "Edit --> paste" ahead is put.
  3. New image is executed as specified size of picture was clipped because only the size of new window is copied.
Shrink picture size 2004/07/19
Original(2272x1704) Photoshop reduction(1022x767) Reduce Soft(1022x767)
Scale down picture size is specified by [image --> picture resolution]
Click the right pictures and link to original scale of 2272x1704 and scale down size of both Photoshop and Shrink software with same 45%. Comparing file size with same save reduction condition of 80% (low reduction rate,) file size of Photoshop is 537KB, and Shrink soft becomes 232KB. Picture quality of Shrink software is a little clearer than Photoshop. But if the file seize is not focused, then Photoshop is acceptable. Three photos above are size of 204x153. They were scale down from original picture of 2272x1704.
By using Photoshop image analysis, all layers can be converted into the same reduction rate 2005/08/12
When the reduction of this Photoshop is used, not only the image but also all layers are reduced.
For instance, a original image is a size of 400x748 pixel in the map of Taiwan.
To make it plainly, this image is reduced the size into 1/2. The size of the canvas becomes half, of course, 200x374.
The character layer named Taiwan is being written in this map by 48 points. When this is made half a size, the same character is converted into the layer of 24 points.
The character of the city in Taipei etc. is being similarly written by 14 points.
This is converted into half the character layer of seven points.
The size of the image is adjusted to 1/3, and the number of points of characters is converted halfway with 32.16 points etc. though this example was plainly done by 1/2.
Only in case of the image reduction, there is no problem to use image size reduction software properly in this case, but only Photoshop can be done because all layers are proportionally reduced when reducing by the image analysis of Photoshop.
Shrink picture size - comparison of file size by compression rate 2004/07/20
Orig(1548KB) Low(538KB) Middle(343KB) High(240KB) Maximum(192KB) Reduce(232KB)
Original 2272x1704 picture was scale down by 45 % and became 1022x767. File sizes were compared by compression ratio.
Central four pictures were reduced by Photoshop. Looking at scale down pictures, differences are small between low compression rate and high. Photoshop CS may improved the compression algorithm. When comparing Reduce soft of 232KB with high compression, there is not so much difference between them. Both Photoshop and Reduce soft can be used according to occasion.
Correct the inclination by the measure tool 2005/08/18
  1. The measure tool is selected from the toolbox. It is in the same place as the syringe tool. Because the restoration brush tool looks alike to shape, avoid a mistake.
  2. It draws a straight line to the place in which it wants to correct the tilt.
  3. "Rotation --> angle input of image --> canvas" is selected.
  4. The angle is automatically input. 20.14 degree in this example.
  5. The inclination of the canvas is automatically corrected when executing it. It is what Photoshop set that yellow surroundings has blackened. Next time specifies the measure tool again at execution because it replaces the syringe tool after execution.
5-2. Disappear unnecessary part (Restore brush, patch tool)
Black points disappeared by restore brush without trace 2004/09/27
Original picture Remove black points Transuade green color
Left upper most is restore brush.Restore brush is most frequently used tool in the Photoshop. Restore brush is selected from the tool box and [Alt + mouse] can select the area which can be referred to restore. After that, only dragging can restore. That is all. This sample shows eliminating black points on the concrete wall. One big notice is transuade of different color for this case green color of the bench. Green color may transuade like in the right photo. To prevent this, restoring area should be designated by such a rectangular tool and when restore brush is used in this designated area, no transuade will cause.
Patch tool can easily erase big clear obstacle 2005/08/07
Upper left is the patch tool in the tool box. It is in the same place as restore brush then if restore brush is displaced, change it to the patch tool.There is another tool indispensable for the restoration. It is the patch tool in the toolbox. If the restoration brush is displayed, it replaces to the patch tool because it is in the same place as the restoration brush. The usage is easy. The patch tool is selected in the toolbox. The part that wants to be erased like red circle is enclosed. Not accurate shape is enough. Drug it to the target place where no black spot is. Information of before-arrow transmitted to arrow-ahead. Blue mark shows opposite way. Black spot information is copied to the place of used-to-be nothing.
5-3. Blue sky on cloudy day / Brightening of darkness (Cloud filter, Shadow and highlight)
Create blue sky on a cloudy day - 1 2002/05/10
曇りの日の画像は暗い。 曇りを晴れの空に変身。
Cloudy day Bright sky
Digital camera on a cloudy day is worst. Automatic style can not be changed. This is a chance for the Photoshop.
(1) Layer -> new -> from background to layer -> OK (layer 0 became)
(2) Layer -> duplication of layer -> OK (copy of layer 0 can be done)
(3) Copy cloud picture on layer 0 from other picture.
(4) To cut off the area above the roof on copy of layer 0, deletion area will be assigned by automatic choice tool.
(5) If the automatic choice tool may not work well, polygon choice tool can delete roughly and eraser tool deletes in detail. By deleting upper part of layer 0 copy, lower cloud is coming up.
(6) Layer -> connection with under layer(Ctrl+E) and save the duplication.
Create blue sky on a cloudy day -2 using cloud filter 2002/05/11
こんな真っ暗な画像でも、 青空に変身できる。
Dark original be revived by filtering
There is another way to use cloud filter to make sky.
(1) Layer -> new -> from background to layer -> OK (layer 0 will be created)
(2) Layer -> new -> layer -> OK (layer 1 becomes)
(3) Drawing color and background color is set blue sky and cloud respectively. blue sample (R:168, G:199, B:246) and cloud (R:232, G:239, B:255)
(4) filter -> draw -> cloud pattern 1 makes layer 1 to cloud.
(5) Change layer 0 and layer 1 to make cloud under.
(6) To cut upper part of layer 0, automatic choice too will define cut area.
(7) If automatic choice tool does not work well, polygon choice tool can delete roughly and eraser tool deletes in detail. By deleting upper part of layer 0 copy, lower cloud is coming up.
(8) Layer -> connection with under layer(Ctrl+E) and save the duplication.
Different layer can set cloud brightness and statue brightness separately.
This almost black picture can be revived like this.
Photoshop CS's main feature "Shadow and Highlight" can easily compensate exposure 2004/05/24
どうしようもなく真っ黒な原画 シャドウ・ハイライトの一発キーの修正でここまでくる。 トーンカーブで明るくすれば甦る
Dark original Shadow & highlight Tone curve
Disastrous dark picture, even this kind of photo can be revived by Photoshop CS new feature of Shadow and Highlight easily. Two steps were treated but they are not complicated treatment.
 (1)Left : Disastrous dark original picture
 (2)Middle : Image -> color tone compensation -> shadow and highlight
 (3)Right : Image -> color tone compensation -> tone curve
They are all easy one button treatment. This is truly useful.
5-4. Cut out (Quick mask mode, Selection area, background eraser)
Cut out a figure 2004/03/11
Editing such as blurring is sometimes necessary to cut out a figure and there are some ways.
  1. Easiest way is to use automation choice tool in the tool box. It is easy when a figure is simple. Automatic choice tool is put on red part and click it then red figure is selected. By using [choice area -> reverse choice area], outside red figure is chosen and delete around red figure by delete key.
  2. Then, if you have patience, by using polygon choice too or magnet tool in tool box, follow the figure. By this, choice area is decided and same as No. 1, by [reverse choice area], erase outside. This way can input our intention, then the figure, that we imagined, can be chosen.
  3. When boundary line is simple, background eraser can ease and with keeping figure edge, only background is deleted. This can prevent fringe, which is created by color wraparound around the figure, and the figure is chosen clearly.
  4. A little bit bothersome, but when boundary line is complicated, [extract figure from background] can easily delete the complicated figure by easy operation.
Background eraser tool 2004/02/19
3rd from upper of left row.Center of brush distinguishes color and erase the color inside the area of the brush. Figure edge can be kept and only background can be deleted. This sample is constructed by two layers. Lower layer is painted blue. Top layer has red figure with yellow background. By using background eraser, erase the area close to red figure and within circle area of the eraser, brush detects yellow color in center of the circle. It erase the color close to yellow in the eraser circle. Red figure is not erased because it is not a yellow matter. By erasing this, red figure pops up clearly with blue back.
Magic eraser tool 2004/02/18
3rd from upper of left row.Choose [magic eraser tool] in the tool box. Without rubbing like a rubber eraser, this can delete automatically every nearest pixel by one click within the area. By this sample, not using background eraser, but using magic eraser yellow part is deleted automatically and yellow background changes blue back. Default [adjacency] delete next pixel to the click pixel. Without this selection, every nearest color will be deleted from the picture all at once. [Whole layer] deletes from all layers. Upper option bar's tolerance means degree of closeness of the color. Value is set from 0 to 255. Default setting is 32. Lower tolerance value deletes only close colors to the clicked one. On the contrary, large value deletes wide range of the color pixel.
Clearly display the figure edge. figure fringe can be fit with surround color 2002/10/23
Unti-alias and move or paste command of selected area sometimes happens to become boundary fringe which pixels are included within selected area. [Mat command] can eliminate surrounding fringe.
After move or paste, By using [layer -> matting -> fringe elimination], fringe colors are substituted by near colors. For example, Blue back and yellow figure can be selected and move is selected then blue fringe will be moved together. By using fringe elimination, blue can be substituted by yellow. Substituting width is assigned as pixel unit. 1 or 2 pixel is enough. Black mat elimination or white mat elimination is for monotonous background then normally they are not used.
Quick mask mode can easily edit the selection area 2005/08/11
It is easy to Normal edit mode.Quick mask mode.The left above icon is a usual image edit mode and the right above is in the quick face mask mode.edit the range of the selection later by a quick face mask mode. The selected area is roughly decided first with the automatic choice tool etc. Next, a quick mask of the toolbox is chosen. It is painted outside the selection red. The area of the selection paints and edits with white and black. It is painted in red because outside the selection range there when the black is painted. If the range of the selection is increased, white is painted. The range of the selection appears in the dotted line when returning it to the drawing edit mode. After that, such as color change is edited. An easy edit becomes possible because it can do even if the range of the selection is not definitely decided from the beginning.
Save and read the selected area 2003/06/03
Selection area is decided by polygon selection tool etc. After long time and set of complicated shape, that area will be colored differently or edited differently, sometime this kind of arrangement will be done for the same area. [selection area -> save selected area] can save and [selection area -> read selection area] can read the area again and different edition can be done for the area.
Selected area or layer movement is useful to use [+Ctrl] 2003/06/04
Layer movement is done by clicking movement tool in the tool box. But sometimes it happens that after usage of selection tool, [copy -> paste] could make new layer and that is going to be moved. At that time without going back to movement tool and click, even in the condition of rectangular tool or polygon selection tool, it makes to move layer by dragging simultaneously mouse and Ctrl key. After determination of selected area, mouse + Ctrl can move that area but it should be noted that the original figure of the area will be removed.
Addition and deletion of selected area 2003/05/31
By polygon selection tool etc., selection area is decided then editing, such as color tone adjustment, will begin. Usually [new selection] will be selected to decide this selection area and it begins true new area. [Add with selected area] or [remove from the current selected area] icon in the left side of the option bar can add or remove the selected area. Addition or removal can freely be chosen on editing.
While selection area editing, one point back to re-edit 2003/06/02
When polygon selection tool is used to define selected area, on editing, sometimes it may happen that this is not a point that I wanted to mark and to go back to the point before. If one point back is expected, Back Space or Delete key is used. To try to start from the beginning uses Esc key.
5-5. Blur background (Layer, Selection area, Blurring filter)
Blur background [filter -> blurring (Gauss)] 2003/06/26
Original clear photo blurred background
Like this photo, in order to blur background, blur filter is used as [filter -> blurring (Gauss)]
Gauss can set blurring degree.
A little blur is set as radius 0.5 -1.5 pixel to prevent noise.
Like flower background, true blurring is set in radius 3 - 6 pixel. More than 8 pixel changes the figure that can not be identified original shape.
There are three ways of blurring. And we can select it for the target shape which should be kept. No. 1's eraser rubber way seems to be easiest but if it has line part, it is too much bother because it should be erased one by one. No. 2 becomes difficult to treat boundary line of the shape.
Lately I use No. 3 -> No.1 -> No.2 in order.
Background blurring - part 1. using layer and eraser 2003/06/27
  1. In order to blur photo background, layer is used.By [layer -> duplicate layer], two duplication will be made.
  2. One of the duplication is used and blurred by [filter -> blurring (Gauss)]
  3. The other duplication is used for sharpening by [filter -> sharp (un-sharpness)] to make the picture clear.
  4. Layer order is from upper to down, blurring for background, then focused picture for the target and finally original picture.
  5. In the upper most background layer, only area, that will be focused and targeted, should be erased by rubber eraser. And then lower focused picture will come up from under layer.
  6. This makes only background blurred photo. Digital camera has deep depth of field then it is difficult to take a photo with only background blurring and this method can be useful.
Background blurring - part 2. assigning selected area and blurring within and without the area 2003/06/28
  1. Second method is to assign area and to blur within/without the area. It can be done by only one picture or one layer.
  2. Selected area is assigned by lasso tool, polygon selection tool or magnet selection tool.
  3. Usually inside the assigned area will be focussed and then to sharpen the focus by [filter -> sharp (un-sharpness)]
  4. Target area will be set outside the area by [selection area -> reverse the selected area]
  5. One thing to notice is blurring amount. Because this method can be activated over the border, then too much blurring makes to feel the border blurred. If border line is simple shape and selection area can be easily set, then this method is fine.
Background blurring - part 3. using both selected area and layer 2003/06/29
  1. Compromise plan between part 1 and part 2.
  2. Two duplication can be done by [layer -> layer duplication]
  3. Target area is assigned by lasso tool, polygon selection tool or magnet selection tool.
  4. Because selected area will be used by both background and target shape, then the selected area will be stored by [selection area -> save the selected area].
  5. By designating the area of the target figure, that whole layer will be sharpened by [filter -> sharp (un-sharpness)]
  6. Then by assigning the blurring target layer as background, that layer is put on the top. If it is not on the top position, it can not be seen the changing scene in real time.
  7. Background layer will be blurred by [filter -> blurring (Gauss)] for the necessary amount.
  8. Saved target will be assigned again by [selected area -> read the selected area]. By this condition, top layer is blurred image and then inside the selected area will be cut by delete key.
  9. Another case is reverse way. Top layer is set as focused picture and background layer will be set under it. By reading [selected area -> read the selected area], outside the target figure will be assigned by [selected area -> reverse selected area] and that outside area will be cut by delete key.
Blurring edge of the selected area 2003/06/05
no blur Blurred by 3 px Blurred by 5 px Blurred by 10 px
When a part of layer is going to be moved by copy and paste from other part, if edge becomes sharp, sometimes it causes uncomfortable feeling. At that time, edge is blurred on copying.
1. Before selecting area by polygon selection tool etc., in the upper option bar, value will be inserted in [blur : 0 px]. Then the selected area is assigned by selection tool and so on. When copying by the condition, if the value will be 12 px, 12 pixel will be blurred.
2. When the selected area is assigned by using already saved selected area, blurred pixel is input by [selection area -> blurring selected area]. After that action, by copy and paste, edge blurring will be proceeded.
Blurred by 15 px
5-6. Distortion (Enlargement/shrink, Rotating, Distortion)
Deformation of perspective can correct difference of perspective 2002/12/04
遠近法で下をすぼめる。オリジナル画像は下から撮ったので末広がり。Deformation can apply to each layer individually. Thai is one of useful points. After appointing editing layer, one point perspective method can be applied by [edit -> deformation -> perspective method] Drag corners will pop up and then correction will be done by using perspective method of up/down and right/left. Left original stained glass was looked upward and then width of upper and lower end of the window are same length but the photo seems to be extreme trapezoid. Right photo was corrected by perspective method and lower window was reduced. Background yellow was used for easily understood.

If this kind of deformation command is applied not vector image such as pass but to bit map image, each action loses image sharpness, then determination is recommended lastly after some kinds of deformation process.
Deformation of enlargement and shrink 2002/12/05
元は上下が細長くなっている。縮小で上下の寸法を合わせる。Perspective method shrinks lower part of the window then the window seems to be longer in longitudinal. In order to correct this ratio, [enlarge and shrink] is used. After appointing the layer, which is going to be corrected, by using [edit -> deformation -> enlarge and shrink] a handle will pop up. With a handle gripping and moving figure can correct the longitudinal and width ratio.

By longitudinal direction or widthwise, or simultaneously with both longitudinal and wide, enlarge or shrink can be done. When longitudinal and wide direction are simultaneously processed, if the corner handle and shift key will be used simultaneously, then aspect ration can be maintained and be dragged.
Deformation of rotating 2002/12/06
必要なところだけ切り取り元画像にした。レイヤーを指定して回転させる。Yellow background layer will not be rotated and specific layer only is rotated. After assigning a layer, which is going to be corrected, [edit -> deformation -> rotating]. Four corners will pop up rotating handles and the figure will be rotated by the handles. When rotating, by pushing shift key at the same time, rotating angle is fixed by 15 degree unit.

Center of rotation is set in a center of the layer as a default but the center can be moved. Anchoring point is decided by clicking one of nine places which is in the left side of the option bar and pops up window-like mark. Anchoring point can be set by inputting horizontal and vertical distance from option bar. Or any rotating angle can be directly input from [set of rotation] in the option bar.
Deformation of distortion 2002/12/07
ゆがみの前の元画像。「ゆがみ」で変形させる。When proportionally deformation will be desired, [distortion] is used. Right sample displays that a handle on every corner moving, followed upon one side, can make distortion. Distortion can deform only following one side then if deformation will be done freely, [free deform] is used. Distortion is activated by [edit -> deformation -> distortion] after assigning correction layer.

To decide deformation, push enter key or push [determine deformation] in the option bar right side.
To cancel deformation, push Esc key or push [cancel deformation] in the option bar right side.
Deformation of free deform 2002/12/08
自由に変形させる前の元画像。自由に変形で角を好きな場所に持っていける。Distortion can only be done along a side but [free deform] provides very little limitation and move a handle to anywhere and brings free deformation. After assigning the correction layer, a handle will be moved by [edit -> deformation -> free deform].

To repeat this deformation action, [edit -> deformation -> re-execute]

Before determining action, plural successive commands can be done. For example, repetition of [perspective -> enlarge and shrink] can be repeated and finally determination action will be done.
Deformation can be applied to cut or copy of any figure 2002/12/09
部分指定、コピー、変形はAltキーを同時に押す。部分指定して切り抜き、変形が出来る。By using rectangular selection tool or polygon selection tool, after selecting a figure and use deformation command. Only selected part can be deformed. After selecting an area by selection tool, use deformation commands such as [edit -> deformation -> rotation]

If assigned area will be left as it used to be, final key such as rotation is pushed with Alt key at the same time. Simultaneous pushing is important. Only Alt key does not deform and without Alt key, it makes cut and rotation.
Deformation can reverse horizontally or vertically 2002/12/10
上下方向に反転させる。左右反転させる。この元画像を、Center picture was reversibly deformed with left and right horizontal direction like mirror image. It is like being folded by the center line of right or left perpendicular line.

Right photo is reverse of upside-down. It is like being folded by horizontal line of top or bottom.

It is done by [edit -> deformation -> reverse horizontally] or [edit -> deformation -> reverse vertically]
5-7. Panorama picture (Photo merge)
Automatic synthesize of panorama photo by Photomerge 2004/08/09
This wide panorama can be done automatically. Wide range causes deformation. Roof inclination shows.
Photoshop CS's new function is automatic panorama synthesize .
Photomerge is started by [file -> automatic processing -> Photomerge]. Source files are read by the Photomerge dialogue box. Click "reference" and read files by the order of panoramic synthesize from left to right one by one. After reading, Photomerge dialogue box will be opened. If automatic synthesize could not be processed then by picking the photos with palm tool, location will be roughly set. Click "rules of perspective" in the setting and "perspective correction" and "sophisticated synthesize" in the composition setting. Perspective correction enlarge or rotate left and right photo automatically. This is all about the setting. When pushing OK button, upper three photos automatically synthesized into the panoramic photo. Because it differs from normal panorama soft and enlarge ends of the panoramic photo then it becomes natural.
(After it has been synthesized, a left panorama image was corrected by the color balance and brightness.)
Photomerge can provide "natural" panoramic photos 2004/08/10
Endeavor with rotate and enlarge/shrink Only facade is big by connection part deformation.
Left and right edges are enlarge Panorama can be done by just clipping
Difference can be seen clearly by comparison with the panoramic photos made by previous Photoshop.
Normal panorama synthesize software treat connection parts blurry only. Comparing with them, even before Photoshop 7.0, by using rotation and enlarge/shrink it makes the connection part so natural that it is difficult to find the connected part. But even only this connection is hard job. The result has big front face and unnatural.
一方Photoshop CSで追加になったBy using Photomerge, right and left synthesized photo is naturally enlarged. Left under photo was a result of Photomerge with three pictures automatically. Background is colored yellow to know the deformation. Just cutting out the photo makes natural panoramic photo.
CS3's Photomerge is innovative breakthrough 2007/12/10
Operational method and findings are same as before, but it turned into different software and became best one, maybe because of algorithm change. This travel of Las Vegas and Grand Canyon took and treated 62 panoramic pictures by the photomerge and only two images could not be processed. That two pictures included sky with clouds in many part and thin clear bar-like objectives such as bridge were located horizontally. It seems to be easy to synthesize from our eyes because clear objective continues. Clouds are not constant then that part may not be calculated. 60/62 could be done automatically and more complicated the lap part, easier to treat automatically. As for connected part, CS1 shows diagonal line showing forcibly connected result, but CS3's connected line could not be found even it would be enlarged. And when merging pictures of not lined up vertically, it connects only fitting part, then connecting part becomes step or uneven shape but connected part fits perfectly. And good panorama can be obtained by extracting the only fitted part. CS3 includes this type of backside revolution. It worth to buy the version up just by the Photomerge.
Some points of photographing for panoramic pictures 2004/08/11
  1. Overlap pictures. For panoramic processing, 15 - 40 % overlap is necessary. Less overlap can not be processed.
  2. Focal distance should be kept constantly. No use of zooming.
  3. Camera should be kept horizontally. Small lean can be adjusted by Photomerge but beyond that may cause error on automatic synthesizing. Tripod is recommended.
  4. Photos from same point. In order to have same eye point, same position should be kept. Walking and photographing may cause continuity of pictures. Tripod usage is best.
  5. Distorted lens should not be used such as fish-eye lens.
  6. Exposure should be kept constant. Avoid flash use and not use in a series of panorama photos. Photomerge can compensate exposure difference based on different pictures but big difference can not be processed.
Panorama picture by using [deformation] 2003/04/09
Panorama picture is usually made by a panorama software. As to use panorama raw materials, photos should be taken carefully in order to lap both ends of a picture. But using [deformation] of Photoshop, [rotation] and [enlarge and reduction] can combine into one panorama photo.
Photoshop CS Best : Panorama Photomerge and Shadow & Highlight 2004/08/12
Manual
tear-provoking
efforts to
combine and fit
two photos
Strange right-way up Combination found by tile Shorter and fish-eye lens
Photoshop CS
Software
evolution

Full Automatic
action by
Photomerge and
Shadow &
Highlight
Flat and natural Revived shade area into lighter Natural aspect ratio
Combining Panorama synthesizer Photomerge and Shadow & Highlight can make best natural panorama photo automatically far better than manual tear-provoking efforts.
Had a hard time to connect and fit combination edge. Tried many times. Also shortly shrunk aspect ratio. Another thing, when left photo is set flat then the other photo becomes right up slope. Photomerge can resolve both.
When shadow part is tried to be brighter, light part becomes too bright. This is solved by Shadow & Highlight. Light part is as it is and shadow area becomes clear. Both Photomerge and Shadow & Highlight are best piece in Photoshop CS.
5-8. Layer use (Copy, Rasterize, Link)
Layer usage 2003/04/08
This photo is a typical deformation. Europe and Asia are expressed several times bigger than actual size. On the contrary, Africa and America are small. It is a result that area, which is interesting, or going to expressed in detail, are emphasized. Layer expression is convenient to make this kind of figure. Sometimes it may happen to change a country later. When countries are defined by layer, each country can be easily changed. And also country name can be added freely by layer. Country name can be moved and place it adequate location.
Layer copy 2003/01/17
Map on top page is made in both Japanese and English. Layer structure is used by area. This map is revised step by step. On changing the map, area correction done by Japanese layer will be used in English version. In order to achieve this, Japanese and English versions are opened simultaneously. Japanese version is corrected at first and assign move tool in the tool box. By drag and drop Japanese version into English version, it can be copied automatically.
Imaging layer characters -> rasterize 2004/03/22
Character layer is expressed as vector style not to have character un-smooth boundary. It is like a true font in Windows. This page's title has two parts of Photoshop and How to use it! and they consist of two layers. Each layer style is different such as red or blue boundary line. To make shadow, duplicated layer is changed to tint color. Tried to change new layer but character layer has vector then deformation styles are limited. And layer to deform is right clicked to choose [rasterize layer]. Rasterize removes vector information from character layer and makes it just a picture. By rasterizing, every deformation can be done such as [edit -> deformation -> free deform]. Shade of this title is reversed upside-down and drag to under right direction.
Layer link 2004/03/23
Right samples are made in Japanese and contents are same as English. That is to say blue characters mean How to use it. Such layers as character have vector information and in order to remove the vector information and to make it just a picture, those layers are rasterized. By this change, [layer -> combination with layer below] or [Ctrl+E] key make one combined layer and deformation can be done integrated.
When layers with different layer effect are combined, layer effect will be changed also and boundary color changes. Right sample has two layers of Photoshop and How to use it (in Japanese). After rasterizing two layers respectively, [combination with layer below] were done and this changed the color of Photoshop added blue boundary line same as How to use it.
When combination will be done with keeping layer effect respectively, [layer link] is used.
By linking, Base layer is selected in layer pallet. Chosen layer is shown as stylus symbol. And a layer to be linked is chosen and just left part of the layer will be clicked. That place shows link icon of chain symbol. Link action finished then by [edit -> deformation] can change to any shape. To release the link, in the layer pallet, the link icon will be clicked.
But this link style limits deformation condition. Same as character layer with vector information, [enlarge and shrink, rotation, distortion] can be activated but [free deform, perspective] can not be used.
Layer link can move all together, copy, paste, alignment, combination or deformation. It is really useful.
5-9. Great revive (Neatimage, Shadow and highlight, Photo blur rescue)
(1)NeatImage eliminates noise (2)Brighten by shadow & highlight (3)Blurred photo rescue 2004/07/10
スキャナーで読み込んだ元画像です。 NeatImageでノイズを消すスッキリします。
Scanned original NeatImage
PhotoShopで切り出して、新しい画像にします。 シャドウ・ハイライトで暗い部分を明るくします。
Cut by Photoshop Shadow & highlight
ピンぼけレスキューでクッキリします。 アンシャープマスクはクッキリしますがノイズも増します。
Rescued Un-sharpness mask
(1)NeatImage can eliminate noise from the scanned pictures.
Analog photo usually has tremendous noise and therefore it causes
shaggy feeling.
NeatImage is easy to operate. It has automatic operation then
I suggest to use this automatic operation.
I used it for some photos and all photos could be filtered by
automatic operation.

(2)Next step is Photoshop.
Left picture was made by cut and paste for the new file from the scanned
picture. By applying shadow and highlight, it can be retouched
automatically by just one click. Right picture was applied to shadow and highlight and green color of wood changed from black to green.

(3)Sharpening picture by Blurred photo rescue.
Blurred photo rescue is a Japanese language software but very useful.
When picture is going to be sharpened, it becomes clear but on the
contrary, noise level increases.
Left photo was retouched by the software and it became clear without
increasing noise.
Right photo was applied by un-sharp mask of the Photoshop.
Amount (A) was set as a large number of 245 but the photo of Blurred
photo rescue
is much better and clear.
(6) Others Work automation, Action preset
Own pattern making is possible by pattern maker in Photoshop 7.0 2002/10/18
One of new functions in 7.0 is pattern maker. A part of a picture is chosen by rectangular tool etc., and by [filter -> pattern maker], seamless pattern without feeling of boundary can be made based upon the figure data. Leaf, flower or everything can be used for the pattern which can be used as background picture. This pattern is made randomly based upon cut figure and then until completing the favorite pattern, it can be repeated until 20 times. Right pattern was made by one of dress shirts and by lining up the pattern, it seems natural to be a background pattern. Original picture is changed then it is better to make duplicated picture.
Customize of work space in Photoshop 7.0 2002/10/19
Color, history, layer or character pallet can be located and stored as customized work space. Name it and use later according to scene.
Tool pre-set can save original tool set in Photoshop 7.0 2002/10/21
Every tool can be customized and registered with different name to be used in a different scene. For example, different character font can be used at different scene or brush set is restored for ourselves. These pre-set can be called again from tool pre-set stored in a same pallet as history pallet.
PC memory size increase from 512MB to 2GB improves Photoshop operation speed dramatically 2006/06/08
Chance to edit digital photos by the Photoshop increases very much. After the memory size was increased, editing speed was improved dramatically and could feel the improvement because the disc access was hardly done even when 10 or more pictures of five million pixels or 2560x1920 at each scene were edited. The increase of the memory size is very effective for the improvement of operation speed of the Photoshop.
6-1. Save image file as Web usage (Save for Web)
Save file for optimizing with Web (gif) 2005/10/03
The image can be saved with giv format to optimize for Web.
The Web-save window appears by "file --> Save for Web." The commands are on upper part and the the color table is lower. When the default setting is intended, following commands are chosen such as "Specific", "Error diffusion method", "Dither =100%", "Transparent area is clicked", "Error diffusion method transparent dither", "Application =100%", "Deterioration = 0", "Mat --> blank" and "Interlace --> not selected." It returns back to the default setting when something wrong is assumed because it always maintains the setting change.
Reduction algorithm of number of colors from tens of thousands of colors to 256 colors for gif 2005/10/04
GIF is selected. Tens of thousands of colors of jpg are reduced into 256 for gif.
"Specific" is chosen for number of color reduction algorithm. "Specific" gives priority to "Web colors and close to human eyes".

Others
Perception: color is selected as close as to human eye perception feeling.
Allocation: Colors, which are frequently used, used are mainly specified.
Limitation (Web): Setting from 216 colors of Web use.
Custom: Specified beforehand.
Windows:256 windows standard colors are specified. However, it should be recognized as the color number decreases.
"Dither" reduces number of color and makes smooth expression from burr 2005/10/05
The gradation part especially becomes the burr like the image as in the left end picture because it decreases from tens of thousands of colors to just 256 colors. To reduce this burr, "Dither" method is adopted. Colors are diffused, and it pretends to smooth color change by few color numbers. The random dither is chosen, and the ratio of dither is adjusted to 100% usually.
No "dither"with color burr Random dither, dither=100% Kind of dither=Noise Kind of dither=Pattern
"Deterioration" makes file size small and rough image quality 2005/10/06
D=0% 15,566 bytes D=10% 11,606 bytes D=50% 7,034 bytes D=100% 5,710 bytes
"Deterioration" shows the poor degree of the image quality. The size of file is proportional to the image quality. The file size shrinks 1/3 from 15 k of "Deterioration =100%" to 5 k of "D=0%". Because image gets rough, it usually sets to "Deterioration =0%".
"Transparent area" makes background clear 2005/10/07
When "Transparent areas" is clicked, the background becomes transparent. It is used when the background of the character is made transparent. There is a dither method also in this technique. The dither expresses the boundary condition of transparent areas and color part. It chooses from "no transparent dither", "Random transparent dither", "Noise transparent dither" and "Pattern transparent dither". It makes to "Random transparent dither" and "Rate= 100%" when there is a transparent area.
"Mat" can exclude the fringe of transparent part 2005/10/08
When the image is put on a transparent background, it is likely to have surroundings around the image. It is "Mat" to exclude the fringe. "White mat" excludes white fringe and the black one is cut off by "Black mat." Additionally, the excluded color can be specified too.
"Interlace" shows an image from rough picture to exquisite gradually 2005/10/09
Interlace is a technique of the days of low transmission rate in the early Internet age. It comes out first a rough image, and gradually becomes exquisite. It is a technique not to feel the slow file reading speed. Interlace is hardly used today because transmission rate becomes faster and reading and showing style is for the image to be displayed from upper part to down gradually.
"Web snap" is the ratio of Web colors 2005/10/10
The Web snap expresses the ratio of the Web use colors. 100 % means every color is Web color. However, the used color is limited and sometimes the color number decreases extremely according to circumstances. It makes to "0%" for the photograph.
6-2. Procedure automation by action preset (Action pallet)
Action pre-set can activate successively in Photoshop 7.0
Action pre-set is like macro in Excel and can be done successively. It is a very useful command.
The action palette that is the table of action presetting is put in the palette storage area in the upper part of the screen to take up the space now. When a title of an action presetting is named after representing all the action sequences such as "Shadow & highlight +30 --> Unsharpmask 100 --> chroma +20," then all the action sequences can be understood at once.
Even such a long name can be stored in the storage area without worrying taking up space. 2005/08/03
Making action pallet 2002/11/04
Action pallet comes up in a same pallet as history by [window -> action]
Selection of action 2002/11/05
Click action name. To chose plural action, click action name with Shift key simultaneously.
Proceed the chosen action 2002/11/06
Click the triangle style icon [playback selected item] in lower part of the action pallet or choose [replay] command from the menu of triangle symbol in right upper part.
New action making 2002/11/07
By clicking [new action making] in the lower part of action pallet. Then [input action name -> allocate shortcut key for the action -> allocation of color on displaying button mode]
Click [record] button changes record start button into red color.
Choose commands and proceed recording operation.
To stop the record, [replay/stop recording] button will be clicked or choose [recording stop] button in action pallet menu or push Esc key. To restart same action record, [re-recording] is selected from the triangle symbol of action pallet menu.
Change action name 2002/11/08
Double click on action name can change name.
Make a new set for action presetting 2005/08/06
Action presetting is set by default of 14 items. Up to now, I have not used them yet, although some of those commands treat complex actions. What made for myself comes fitting still for me. A special folder is made clicking "A new set is made" under the action palette at this time. Action presetting made for myself are put in this folder.
A little complicated operation but it makes further useful operation.
Exclusion of command 2002/11/12
For developing the list name in action command, right triangle symbol of the action will be clicked.
Commands, which should be excluded, are checked the L-like symbol just left of the command. One more check can insert the command again. By this proceeding, not-used action can be selected and it makes more useful.
Command parameter is changed by modal control 2005/08/10
Because the action stops temporarily when the modal control is used, the input value can be specified by the dialog box. It is shown in a black square in the third line from the top in this example. Because it stops temporarily when becoming the action of "Unsharp mask" if a black square is checked and "Dialog box of Unsharp mask" appears, it keeps setting the parameter, OK being pushed, and the action being executed. The action to which the modal control is set is displayed by a red square icon. A convenient command such as being going to change only sharpness.
Record addition commands 2002/11/13
When selecting action name, new command can be inserted into the last part of the action. Or when selecting command name, new command is inserted just after the command.
Click record start button. Additional commands will be recorded.
To stop the record, click [replay/record stop] button.
Rearrangement of actions or commands 2002/11/14
In the action pallet, re-allocated action or commands will be drag-and-dropped to new place.
Replay only one command 2002/11/15
Select a replay command.
In action pallet, with pushing Ctrl key, click [replay selected item] button. Or with pushing Ctrl key, replaying command will be double clicked.
Parameter change of action presetting 2005/08/05
The reproducing command is selected. A simple action such that "The line of one pixel is drawn internally in the borderline" is selected for example. It is three pixels or to draw five pixels though the width of this line is one pixel. In order to change parameters such as one pixel line, and, in this case, it expands to the commands line with the place where "Width: 1" is seen. Because the window of the parameter comes out when double-clicking it on the position of the command, that is, "Width: 1" etc. , it changes to "Width: 3" etc.
Important thing for this time is parameter itself. Because the content of this parameter has changed, title name should be changed in the title of the name of the action, or the parameter should be returned back after use. Otherwise, it becomes the disagreement between the title and the content.
Actual commands under action pre-set current usage 2005/04/29
These are commands that were made and used at actual usage. Sequences of frequent actions are limited, then it is convenient to make kinds of the variation at the same time. It is more comprehensible to make the content expressible by a short name about the action presetting name. Because digital camera Lumix of Panasonic comes near to a red direction like in the scenery of the evening, presetting that corrects red suffering is made. If it knows the tendency of the digital camera, it is possible to correct with one button.
Name of action pre-set Actions Comments
Shadow +30 Sharp100 Color saturation 20 <-- Choose from 30%,50%,70% depending on shadow
Shadow:30%, Highlight:0% 30% clearer of shadow. Make 50% and 70% under same condition
Unsharp mask:100% radius:1pixel threshold:0 Typical sharpness for screen use
hue:0 color saturation:20 brightness:0 For brilliance, to do color saturation 20%
Shadow +50 Red +15 Contrast +15 <-- Action preset for the Lumix digital camera
Shadow:50%, Highlight:0% 50% increase of the dark shadow
Color balance Middle color level: -15 0 0 To correct red suffering of Lumix camera to incline cyan +15
Brightness and contrast Contrast:15 Get contrast +15%
Yellow +15 <-- Make +20,+30,+40%. Purpose is to correct blue suffering
Color balance Middle color level: 0 0 -15 Cyan & red, magenta & green, yellow & blue
0 0 -15 corrects blue suffering to incline yellow +15
Yellow +30 and stop <-- Color balance parameter will be changed by mode control
Color balance Middle color level: 0 0 +30 Default is 0 0 -30, and changes there
Red -20 <-- To correct red suffering of Lumix camera inclining cyan 15
Color balance Middle color level:-20 0 0 make 15% also
Saturation +20 <-- Each action is combined
Hue, saturation, brightness: 0 +20 0 To increase hue +15 to increase brilliantness
Contrast +15 <-- Stronger contrast
Brightness and contrast Contrast:15 To make clear, contrast becomes 15% plus
Border line inside 1pix <-- To prepare different thickness of line
Draw border line 1pix, inside, transparency 100% To change thickness to click triangle
Shadow +30% ,-- Specified to shadow and make 30% and 50% too
Shadow +30%, highlight 0% Combination with unsharp mask
Shadow +70% and stop <-- Stop shadow at 70% and to change both
Shadow +70%, highlight 0%  shadow and highlight parameters
Unsharp mask 100% radius 1px threshold 9 <-- Also make 150 and 200%
Unsharp mask 100% radius 1pix threshold 9  Use it combined with saturation or shadow
Unsharp mask 270% and stop, radius 1px threshold 9 <-- Unsharp mask 270% and stop to change parameter
Unsharp mask 270% radius 1pix threshold 9 Useful for large parameters such as 300% or 400%
Tone curve and stop <-- Tone curve is used frequently
Tone curve parameters will set every time Whole color is adjusted by RGB, each color is also edited by red, blue, green or RGB
90 degree rotation to the right <-- same as "Image - campus rotation 90 deg (clockwise)"
Hue, saturation, brightness: 0 +20 0 To use vertical long photo being rotated 90 degree
Paint all <-- Edit - paint all
Drawing color, normal synthesis, un-transparency 100%  
Shadow stop - Brightness & contrast stop <-- Stop shadow at 50%, change parameters of both shadow and highlight
Shadow +50%, brightness 12%, contrast 14% then change brightness and contrast parameters
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