Unit One

Unit One: Working with layers

Objective:

In this unit, we will select objects from multiple files, and combine them into one picture.  By  using the Photoshop  layers window, we will manipulate the placement and color of each layer as it is added to the picture.

 

Files and applications:

Download and unzip all the files in fruit folder.

Open Adobe Photoshop CS. 

Select Browse from the File menu.

Open background.psd file in the fruit folder.

Open apple.psd

 

Selecting the apples:

Photoshop offers selection tools under three categories (note screen shot):

A.     Marquee tools (square, round, single row)

B.     Lasso tools (regular, magnetic, polygon)

C.     Magic wand

 

In this unit, we will focus on the magic wand selection tool.

The magic wand selects areas that are similar in color.

Select the magic wand from the tool bar.

When the magic wand is selected, the default tolerance level is 32.

This means that the magic wand will select anything contiguous to the color that you select within a 32 pixel range.

 

Click on the yellow apple.  Notice that only part of the apple is selected.

 

 

 

 


 

Now raise the tolerance level to 60 (top of window).  Click on the yellow apple again.  Notice that more of the area is selected.

 

Use the SHIFT key to select multiple areas. Select the entire apple.

 

Alternate selection method: Inverse selection

  • Use the magic wand to select the white background around the apples.
  • Select Inverse Selection option from the Select menu

The apples are now selected.

 

 

Alternate method (2):  Shrink wrap

  • Select all option from the Select menu
  • Using ALT key to subtract from the selection, click on background.  The selection will “shrink wrap” around the apples.

 

Moving the Apples

Use the move tool to drag selected apples from apple file to background file.

Rename the layer apples in the Layers window.

 

Adding grapes:

Open grapes.psd.  Use the magic wand to select the background and then inverse or shrink selection using ALT key.

Drag the grapes to the background file.  Rename the layer in the layer window grapes.

Open, select and move all the fruits in the fruit folder.  Rename each layer as it is added.

 

Adding the strawberries:

Open the strawberries file.  The strawberries are on a colorful background, so the magic wand will not work efficiently.  Use the magnetic lasso tool to select the strawberries.  The magnetic lasso tool will automatically cling to the edges of the image as you lasso around the image.   Carefully click around the strawberries.  To end selection, double click.

Change the color of the strawberries:

Make the strawberries redder by using the Hue and Saturation tool (Edit-adjustments-hue and saturation). Experiment with saturation and lightness levels until you get the desired color.

 

Use the move tool to move the strawberries to the background file.

 

Adding the wine bottle:

Open bottle file.  Select and move bottle using your preferred selection method.

 

To resize bottle:

Use Edit-free transform to resize the bottle.  Grab the edge of the square and pull in to shrink the bottle.  Press Enter to complete the transformation.

To change the transparency of the wine bottle, make sure that the bottle layer is selected in the Layers window.  In the layer options menu, select Multiply.  This will remove all the white from the bottle.

 

To rearrange the fruit:

Select each layer of fruit in the Layer window.  When the layer is selected, use the move tool to move the fruit around the image.  Remember:  Objects will not move unless they are selected in the Layers window.

 

 

To layer the fruit:

Drag the layers of fruit in the Layers window.  The higher the layer is in the window, the higher it will be in the image.  For example, to place the apples on top of the bananas, drag the apples layer higher than the banana layer in the Layer window.

 

Try to layer the  fruit so that the image looks somewhat like sample fruit selection.psd.  Notice that the strawberry layer is copied and appears twice.