Adobe Photoshop CS4 Top 100 Simplified Tips and Tricks

Description

Beyond-the-basic techniques show you how to take your Photoshop CS4 skills to the next level
* With more than 4 million users worldwide, Photoshop is the world-standard image-editing solution for print and the Web and the CS4 release promises exciting new creative possibilities for adventurous Photoshop users
* Packed with 100 cool and useful tips and tricks, this visual tutorial investigates the bells and whistles that come with the new CS4 release
* Features full-color screen shots, step-by-step instructions, and updated photo examples all aimed at elevating your Photoshop skills to new heights

CONTENTS:

1 Working with Layers, Selections, and Masks.

  #12 Name and Color-Code Layers to Organize the Layers Panel.

  #13 Duplicate and Change the Background Layer for More Options.

  #14 Adjust a Photo with an Adjustment Layer.

  #15 Blend Two Photos Together with a Layer Mask.

  #16 Add a Design with a Custom Shape Layer.

  #17 Accentuate a Sky with a Gradient Fill Layer.

  #18 Make a Selection with the Quick Selection Tool.

  #19 Use Refine Edge to Make All Selections Better.

  #20 Paint a Quick Mask to Make a Detailed Selection.

  #21 Add Layers as Smart Objects for Flexible Changes.

  #22 Apply Filters as Smart Filters for Dynamic Adjustments.

  2 Customizing Photoshop for Your Projects.

  #1 Select the Color Settings for Your Projects.

  #2 Set the Preferences for the Way You Work.

  #3 Move the Panels and Tools to Customize Your Workspace.

  #4 Personalize Your View of Bridge.

  #5 Add a Keyboard Shrtcut for a Favorite Filter.

  #6 Create a Custom Action to Increase Your Efficiency.

  #7 Design a Customized Brush with Your Settings.

  #8 Make a Special Gradient to Suit Your Design.

  #9 Calibrate and Profile Your Monitor for Better Editing.

  #10 Turn on the Full Power of Photoshop with a Pen Tablet.

  #11 Change Your Window Views.

  3 Straightening, Cropping, and Resizing.

  #23 Crop Your Images to Improve Composition with Photographers’ Rules.

  #24 Create a Level Horizon.

  #25 Expand the Canvas with a Reverse Crop.

  #26 Crop and Straighten in Camera Raw.

  #27 Straighten Crooked Scans Quickly.

  #28 Create Multiple Images from One Original.

  #29 Change Your Perspective with the Crop Tool.

  #30 Straighten Buildings with One Filter.

  #31 Create a Panorama from Multiple Photos.

  #32 Resize Your Image with Minimal Visible Loss.

  4 Retouching Photographs.

  #33 Remove Blemishes to Improve the Skin.

  #34 Reduce Wrinkles with a Soft Touch.

  #35 Remove Red Eye to Quickly Improve any Photo.

  #36 Change Eye Color Digitally.

  #37 Add a Gradient Layer to Lighten the Irises.

  #38 Brighten the Eyes by Lightening the Whites.

  #39 Add Depth to the Eyes to Emphasize Them.

  #40 Add a Catch Light to Make the Eyes Come Alive.

  #41 Sharpen Just the Eyes to Add Focus.

  #42 Whiten Teeth to Add a Youthful Look.

  #43 Add a Soft-Focus Effect to Make a Portrait Glow.

  5 Changing and Enhancing Colors and Tone.

  #44 Improve an Underexposed Photo in Two Steps.

  #45 Improve an Overexposed Photo in Three Steps.

  #46 Remove a Colorcast to Improve the Overall Color.

  #47 Colorize a Black-and-White Photograph.

  #48 Change a Color Photo into a Custom Grayscale Photo.

  #49 Add a Creative Touch with a Little Color.

  #50 Dodge and Burn with a Special Layer.

  #51 Increase Saturation Subtly Using a Vibrance Adjustment Layer.

  #52 Use Camera Raw to Visually Adjust Any Photo.

  #53 Recover Highlights with Camera Raw.

  #54 Improve a Sky with the Graduated Filter in Camera Raw.

  #55 Create a Split Tone for a Special Effect in Camera Raw.

  6 Making Magic with Digital Special Effects.

  #56 Apply a Photo Filter for Dynamic Adjustments.

  #57 Add a Quick Dark Vignette Effect to Direct the Focus on the Subject.

  #58 Add Action with a Simulated Motion Blur.

  #59 Blend Separate Photos for the Best Group Shot.

  #60 Merge Multiple Raw Photos to 32-Bit HDR.

  #61 Apply a Split-Neutral Density Filter Using Smart Objects.

  #62 Adjust Depth of Field with a Lens Blur Filter.

  #63 Use the Auto Blend Tool to Create Greater Depth of Field.

  #64 Create a Silhouette for a Custom Design.

  #65 Become a Digital Architect with the Vanishing Point Filter.

  #66 Erase Items in Perspective with the Vanishing Point Filter.

  #67 Add a Simulated Reflection to an Object with the Clone Stamp Tool.

  #68 Blend One Image into Another with a Displacement Map.

  7 Designing with Text Effects.

  #69 Paint Different Colors into a Text Title.

  #70 Add a Double-Neon Glow to Text for a Unique Design.

  #71 Create a Custom Watermark to Protect Your Images.

  #72 Fill a Shape with Text to Create Unique Effects.

  #73 Warp Type for a Fun Effect.

  #74 Add Perspective to Type and Keep It Sharp.

  #75 Make Your Text Follow Any Path.

  #76 Create an Photo-Filled Title.

  #77 Blend Text into a Photograph Creatively.

  #78 Create an Amazing Colored Shadow.

  #79 Weave Text and Graphics for Intriguing Designs.

  8 Creating Digital Artwork from Photographs.

  #80 Make Any Photo Appear Sketched on the Paper.

  #81 Add Your Own Signature to Any Artwork.

  #82 Create a Digital Pen-and-Ink Drawing.

  #83 Give a Photograph a Woodcut Look.

  #84 Convert any Photo to a High Contrast Stylized Image.

  #85 Turn a Photo into a Colored-Pencil Illustration.

  #86 Posterize a Photo for a Warhol-Style Image.

  #87 Change a Photograph into a Pen-and-Colored-Wash Drawing.

  #88 Compose a Photo Collage.

  #89 Turn a Photo into a Hand-Painted Oil Painting.

  #90 Paint a Digital Watercolor.

  9 Giving Your Images a Professional Presentation.

  #91 Frame a Photo with Photo Corners.

  #92 Make a Line Frame from within a Photo.

  #93 Apply a Filter to Give a Photo an Artistic Edge.

  #94 Create Your Own Custom Edge.

  #95 Create a Custom Slide Template.

  #96 Create a Custom Color Background.

  #97 Make a Photo Look like a Gallery Print.

  #98 Make a Contact Sheet of Your Photos.

  #99 Create a Slide Show Presentation.

  #100 Create a Web Photo Gallery.

  10 Plugging in to Photoshop CS4.

  #101 Embellish a Photo Effortlessly with Graphic Authority.

  #102 Enlarge Images with Maximum Quality with Alien Skin Blow Up.

  #103 Change Your Photos into Art with Alien Skin Snap Art.

  #104 Colorize a Black-and-White Photo with AKVIS Coloriage.

  #105 Make a Selection and Remove the Background with Vertus Fluid Mask.

  #106 Control Digital Noise with Nik Dfine.

  #107 Sharpen Photos with Finesse Using Nik Sharpener Pro.

  #108 Apply Photo Filters Digitally Using Nik Color Efex Pro.

  #109 Enhance Colors and Light Selectively with Nik Viveza.

  #110 Create a Dynamic Black-and-White Image with Nik Silver Efex Pro.

  #111 Transform an Image with an Action from Kubota Image Tools.

  #112 Explore Colors Visually with AutoFX Software.

  #113 Enhance Your Portraits with Imagenomic Portraiture.

  #114 Travel Beyond Bridge with Extensis Portfolio.