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Contents
Inside Photoshop
  The Photoshop work area
Working with files
  Opening, saving, and creating new files
   File size
  Size and resolution
Working with images
  Selecting
  Copying and pasting
  Layering
  Manipulating and editing
Adding text
Saving
 
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Assignment
  Inside Photoshop
 
The Photoshop work area

The Photoshop work area is made up of files and palettes (click here for an image of the work area).
 

Files can be created in Photoshop or can be imported from outside sources (e.g., scanned images).

Palettes are convenient tools that help you monitor and modify your files. On the screen they look like miniature windows and are organized by function into five groups:

  • Tools
  • Layers - Channels - Paths
  • Navigator - Info - Options
  • Color - Swatches - Brushes
  • History - Actions
They can be accessed from the Window drag-down menu.
 

You should take time to become familiar with the palettes -- they are essential to using Photoshop effectively. For example, if you wanted to draw several different lines with the pen tool, you would probably want quick access to different pen sizes. The Brushes palette would allow you to do this (actually, it's impossible to select pen sizes without the Brushes palette!). If you were working with a file and didn't see the palette on your work area, you could make it visible by simply clicking on Window and then Show Brushes. The Brushes palette would appear on the screen; once on the screen it can be repositioned as needed.
 
Now is a good time to familiarize yourself with the Photoshop work area. Open a document, and check it's file size; then display all the palettes and get comfortable with them before moving on.