Photoshop tutorial- PS basics for newbies 2

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Photoshop tutorials
And here is next part of my journal Photoshop tutorials. :squee: Previous tutorial you can see here. I added even document settings, cuz I forgot to add this in previous tutorial ^^; I'll describe some Photoshop basics for all newbies who try to learn to use Photoshop. So in this article you'll find tutorials: Document settings, Changing view, Changing thumb size on layers, Using Smart Object and Blur, Using Pen Tool, Outer Glow and Transform. In this tutorial I used my painting VERSUS, just to show you few things (I just had to open something...again ;P).

If you wish to see images in full resolution then simply click on the images below (they are big as my screen 1920 x 1080 px... OK I cropped bar below ;P). I used Photoshop CS6 here, so some things may be different in lower PS versions. But most of things may be the same in all PS versions. I'll make even more tutorials like this, so stay tuned. And if you like it, then you can :+fav: fav this article. Thank you and enjoy. I hope it's helpful :hug:

Document settings
Basics-part2 by Valentina-Remenar
Here I'll show you which document settings I use when I start to draw a new painting. I usually draw paintings which are bigger than 7000 px (this is smallest size I use... 7000 px means the longer side). For portraits and such (just the face, with no special background) I use canvas size from 4000-5000 px (the longest side again). But for many characters and detailed scene I use 8000-11.000 px. But you can choose any size you prefer. I like to draw detailed drawings, so I use big canvasses. And I also have a good computer, so I can use many layers also... so, try to choose proper size for yourself and that computer can handle the file normally. Resolution I always have on 300 DPI (print resolution). If you want to use your drawing for website then 72 DPI, 150 DPI will be alright. And the last is Color Mode. I use RGB mode all the time, but if you want to make prints, then you can use CMYK color mode also. And I use 8 bit color... the bigger number is (16, 32...), then better image will look... but remember... PSD file size will increase also.

Changing view
Basics-part2-1 by Valentina-Remenar
Basics-part2-2 by Valentina-Remenar
If you want to draw and to have bigger view (without bar and tools which are in PS all around the screen), then simply click F key on your keyboard (click it few times). It'll change your view. There are many options, so when you want to change it to "Normal" view, simply click F more times (till you get the normal view). You'll be able to access to all tools and layers, even when you have full view. When you move with your mouse to the edge of the screen (top, left, right) then the tool bars will appear. (Second image shows full view setting).

Changing thumb size on layers
Basics-part2-4 by Valentina-Remenar
You can also change Thumb sizes on layer menu. On the image above you can see 4 different Thumb sizes. If you want to change Thumb size then click with right mouse button ON THUMB (not layer title), and you'll get options for changing thumbs.

Using Smart Object and Blur
Basics-part2-blur smart object by Valentina-Remenar
Here I'll show you how to use Smart Objects and placing effects on it (blur)... (this Smart Object option may be only in newer PS versions).  When you want to make one layer as a Smart Object, then click on layer (where is text) with right mouse button and select option "Convert to Smart Object" (Print screen didn't work for me here, so I couldn't show it ^^;). On layer will appear icon for Smart Objects. Smart Objects are really useful, because when you want to change size of your image, then it won't change your image resolution, or when you place your effect then they won't be placed on image itself. You'll be able to change effects and image will be normal.

Second image shows how I added blur on Smart object layer (for the blur option simply go to: Filter/ Blur/ Gaussian Blur... I used Gaussian blur here). On your layer will appear Smart Filter option. There you can edit your effect and use mask tool to erase spots where you don't want the effect.

Third image shows how I erased filter from the character's face... so only the background have Blur effect. When you want to erase Filter, then click on Smart Filter Mask Layer (white layer) and choose Eraser tool... and simply erase parts where you don't want the effect (black spot on Mask layer shows erased parts...which doesn't have effect).

Using Pen Tool, Outer Glow and Transform
Basics-part2-pen-steps by Valentina-Remenar
Basics-part2-pen5 by Valentina-Remenar
And Pen Tool. I used Pen tool to add effects on this image (which are visible in background), so now you'll see how I did them. First image (top left) shows how to make a line. Click on Pen tool (P key on your keyboard) and with left mouse button (or just press with tablet pen) select beginning of the line. Then you'll need the end of the line... for that CLICK AND HOLD the button (and move it at the same time, to make the curve). If you won't hold and move it at the same time, then you'll get straight line. If you want to edit the curve, or length of the line, then click CTRL button and click on ENDS of the line (where is square icon...or circle).

Second image (top right)... when you selected your line, then it's time to actually make it. Select BRUSH tool (B) and select the color which will your line have. And select brush size, Hardness, Opacity and Flow. I selected Opacity and Flow on 100% (so the line will have full color). And Brush size will tell how big your line will be (and if you select Hardness on 0%, then line will be soft).

Third image (left below)... select Pen tool again and click with right mouse button... select Stroke Path... When you enable Simulate Pressure, then your line will have nice size changes. If you don't enable that, then line will be big the same (from beginning till the end). And at tool option select BRUSH. Because you edited the brush for the line.

Fourth image (below right)... When you added color to your line, then click ENTER key to finish it. And here I used Transform tool (CTRL+T) and I changed line size. To edit each corner separately hold CTRL and move each corner like you want.

Big image... here I placed effects on the line. Click on FX button (at the bottom right) and choose Outer Glow. On the image you can see few settings which I selected. Click OK to apply changes. And on the right side, where are layers, you'll have Effect options.

The end
That's everything for now :dummy:... I hope you learned something new and if you liked this tutorial, then you can also :+fav: fav this article. Thank you :heart: More tutorials by us you can see under THIS folder :la:

If you have any questions, then feel free to comment under this article. We'll be glad to help you. :D



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Yeah... another free journal skin for you (note: only premium members can use journal skins). I did another collaboration with awesome weida34 (I did design and she did coding... again). Well, new skin is this which I use right now... MetalliC_V2 (you can click here to install it). Our other collaborations were Sketchbook and Nature



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stunningmesh's avatar

I sent this link to one of the Beginner in Photoshop. Hopefully she will learn a lot from this. Thanks for sharing with us.