How to Create a Pulsing Light Animated GIF

Flashing Light Effect - Full Perms Scripts plus Animated Texture

This nifty PhotoShop Tutorial will show you how to create a pulsing, glowing light in an animated GIF file for use on the web or in any html file. Good for banner ads, email accents or website decor. We will be also using the ImageReady feature built into PhotoShop to create the animation.This tutorial is for intermediate to advanced users who have a understanding of basic PhotoShop tools and techniques. For PhotoShop 6.0 and above.
We start by opening a new file, in this case 3 inches wide by 3 inches high, at 72 dpi., with a black background area.
On a new layer use the filled area tool to create a circle with red fill, in the center of the area.

Now let's give it some dimension. Select 'Layer Styles' from the menu bar at top, then 'Bevel and Emboss'. For most of the settings you will be using the defaults, so don't be too put-off by the following list:

Set the parameters thus: In Structure; Style: Inner Bevel, Technique: Smooth, Depth: 100%, Direction: Up, Size: 50 px, Soften: 0.

In Shading; Angle: O, Use Global Light, Gloss Contour: (Default), Highlight Mode: Normal, Opacity: 100%, Shadow Mode: Multiply, Opacity: 100%

We will make two more layers with this same image. Right click on layer one in the layers palette. Select 'Duplicate Layer'.
A new, identical layer is created. Repeat the process for one more layer.

Next, the layers will be individually adjusted to dark, medium and light versions, which will be the primary sequences of the animation.



Select layer 1. Click on your circular image to select it. From the top menu bar choose 'Adjustments' then, 'Brightness and Contrast'. Set the Contrast to 100 and the brightness to -50. This is the darkest pulse-phase of your light- it looks like it's fading out.

Select layer 2. Click on your circular image to select it. From the top menu bar choose 'Adjustments' then, 'Brightness and
Contrast'. Set the Contrast to 100 and the brightness to -50. This is the medium phase, to look like it's beginning to glow

Select layer 3. Click on your circular image to select it. From the top menu bar choose 'Adjustments' then, 'Brightness and
Contrast'. Set the Contrast to 100 and the brightness to 100. This is the brightest pulse phase of your light, like it is on full.

Now we will move to ImageReady. The icon is at the bottom of the toolbar. Clicking on the icon will open up a separate window. Make sure you have the Layer palette visible. You will be switching the visibility of the layers on and off to change the appearance of the animation frames. Also ensure that you have the animation palette visible.

The first frame of the animation is displayed. Click the 'Duplicate Frame' icon at the bottom of th animation strip three times. For each of the four frames you just created, you will display a different layer from the Layer Palette above. Clicking on the small 'eye' icon on the left of the layer title will cause that layer to turn invisible.

So, with the first frame selected, you will clear, or "wink out" the top two layers, leaving the 'dark' layer at bottom visible. Select the second frame, and clear only the top layer, leaving the 'medium' layer visible. The third frame needs to have the top, or 'bright' layer visible.The fourth frame returns to the dark phase by clearing the top three layers again.

Just a few more steps to go! Set the frame time to 0.1 seconds on each of the 3 frames. Then select the first two frames, by clicking on frame 1 and press/hold the 'Shift' key and click frame 2. Then click on the small tweening icon at the animation strip bottom. (If you don't know which icon it is, just hover over a few until you see the identifying text appear.) When the pop-up dialoge box appears, enter 10 tween frames. They will appear in the animation strip below.

Next you will select frame 12 and frame 13 which are the original medium phase and bright phase (they've been moved over by the tween frames). Click the tweening icon again and enter 10 for the number of frames again.

For the Last step you will select frame 23 and frame 24 which are the original bright phase and the last, dark phase frames (they've also been moved over by the tween frames). Click the tweening icon again and enter 10 for the number of frames once more.

Your animated gif is almost ready! Go to File, then Save Optimized As. Make sure you select GIF as the type. Name and save your file, and it's ready to use!

Make New Photos Look Old -- Fast Photoshop Tutorial

Make New Photos Look Old -- Fast Photoshop Tutorial
In a Few Simple Steps You Can Make an Old Photo, Using a Couple Layers in Photoshop




In this tutorial I will show you a fairly basic technique that will help you make new digital photos look like old photos by using layers and filters. There are several steps to creating this old photo effect. During this tutorial we will make the image sepia tone, fade the edges of the photo, create a film grain, and as a finishing touch add artificial scratches to the photo.
First Selecting the Photo to make an Old Photo

One of the most important things in creating an old photo is to think about the content of the photo you are looking to adjust. Unless the purpose is to put new objects into an old photo, you need to make sure that the content of the photo will not contradict the effects. No amount of photoshoping abilities will make a credible photo of you with your iPod and 40inch TV look like it was taken in the 1900's. That being said you want to avoid clothing that looks modern or has lots of logos, technology, modern cars and buildings.

Preparing the Photo

Now that you have selected your photo import it into Photoshop and place it on the background layer. If the image is in color you now want to make it black and white. An easy way to convert the image to black and white is to go into the menu "Image" and select "Hue/Saturation" under "Adjustments". When the "Hue/Saturation" menu pops up move the saturation slider all the way down to -100, this will remove all of the color from the photo.

The only other altering we will do to the actual photo is adding a slight blur. You will only need to add a blur if the photo is particularly crisp. To do this go into filters and select "Gaussian Blur" under the "Blur" menu. Set the radius to 1 Pixel, 2 pixels at most if the picture is extremely sharp.

Sepia Tone

Next, to create sepia tone, create a new layer. The sepia tone will create the yellow/orange hue that many old photos have. Name this layer "sepia" take the paint bucket and fill the screen with an orange color. I used #ff9933. Set this layer on top of the photo layer and set it with an opacity of 50% and set the layer blending style as "Overlay". The benefit of doing this versus using a filter on the image itself is that you maintain the integrity of the original image and if you want to create more old time photos you can simply remove the background and put in a new image without having to repeat the steps.

Faded Old Photo Edges

In order to create the darkened edges that occur on old photos, make a new layer and name it edges. Using a 100% opacity take a gradient fill from white to black, and use a radial gradient. Make the middle of the screen white and the edges black. At this point you will not be able to see the picture that is ok, change the settings on this layer blending options from normal to multiply. The image is beginning to look like an old photo now.

Creating Film Grain in Photoshop

Next and one of the most important steps is adding a film grain. To create this on the layer with the gradient go filter and select under the "Texture" menu "Grain". Set the grain type to "Vertical" and the intensity to 8 and contrast to 5.

Scratches

As a finishing touch what looks good is to add some random scratches that the photo itself would have gathered over time. To add scratches in Photoshop create a new layer and name it scratches. Take a pen with a one to three pixel size and set it with 100% opacity on white. Now draw some scribbles on to the photo as randomly as possible. Make some of them long some short coming from different directions. Finally set the layer to 40% opacity, depending on the photo if this seems too bold you can always lower the opacity.

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Brighten Dark Photos

Photoshop is great for editing photos, whether they're for print or for the web. The reason why I love Photoshop so much is because there are numerous ways to go about doing the same thing in the program. Additionally, Photoshop can be easy if you know the right steps to take, which I why tutorials can be helpful.
One great thing about Photoshop is that it can fix the mistakes that cameras make. While shooting a photo, just about everything can go wrong. You can move or the subject can move and you'll have a blurry photo. There could be too much or too little light. Just about anything can happen and mess up your photo.

In this tutorial, I am going to show you how to brighten a photo that came out too dark. This is a great technique to know how to do just in case you ever find yourself with dark photos. Now this won't fix photos that are completely black, but it can help when your subject is standing in the shade or there just wasn't enough light coming into your camera.

So let's begin.

Step 1) Open your photo you're going to use in whatever version of Photoshop you have. If you don't have a photo on your computer already, you can visit free stock photo websites such as sxc.hu or morguefile.com. (Just make sure if you post your photo on the web, you credit properly.)

Step 2) Flatten the image in case it's not already flattened and then duplicate the layer Layer > Duplicate Layer.

Step 3) Next we're going to blur the photo using the Gaussian Blur filter. To get to this step, you go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

Step 4) Once the Gaussian Blur filter is up, make sure you have the Preview box checked. Also make sure the radius is set to 1.1 pixels. Click OK.

Step 5) Now duplicate the top layer again.

Step 6) Next, apply the Diffuse Glow Filter by going to Filter > Distort > Diffuse Glow. Before you click OK, make sure the values are as follows: Graininess: 4. Glow Amount: 4. Clear Amount: 8.

Step 7) Now change the Blend Mode of the two top layers to Screen using the Layers Channel. Just simply click the drop down menu and select Screen.

Then you're finished with brightening the dark portions of the picture. But now we're going to work on making the light portions even with the dark portions.

Step 8) Select the top layer and while you're selecting the second layer, also click CTRL on your keyboard.

Step 9) Group the two selected top layers by going to Layer > Group Layers.

Step 10) Next we're going to add a layer mask to this group by clicking the box with the circle in it on the bottom of the Layer Chanel box. Make sure the gray color is selected in the flipping color box.

Step 11) Finally, paint over the bright area with a medium sized brush.

Then you're finished and you have a much brighter, more even photo on your hands, perfect for printing or posting on the web. All thanks to Photoshop!

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Create Rounded Borders

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Create Rounded Borders

Learn how to use the CSS3 border-radius property to create curved or rounded corners for your boxes.

One thing you can do in Photoshop is add borders. Borders are a great way to make any picture look sharp and professional. There are numerous ways to add borders to pictures, with some techniques being easier than others.
In this tutorial, I will show you how to add rounded borders to pictures. Rounded borders look great on photos, especially after you apply a vintage effect to them. However, you can add a rounded border to virtually any photo, which is what this tutorial will show you how to do.

Before you start the actual tutorial part, make sure you have a photo to work with. For the sake of this tutorial, you can use any picture you want to add a border to. You can use a photo of a landscape, a portrait, anything. If you don't have a picture of your own, visit sxc.hu or morguefile.com to find a picture. Just simply go to the website and search for a type of photo you want to use.

So let's begin!

Step 1) Open up your picture in Photoshop by going to File > Open. If you're copying and pasting off the web, go to File > New. The canvas size will automatically adjust to the size of the picture on your clipboard. After the canvas is open, go to Edit > Paste.

Step 2) Select the Rounded Rectangle Tool from the free-floating vertical menu bar on the left hand side of the screen. It's grouped with a few other tools, so if you don't see it right away, hold the mouse down over some of the tools until you find it.

Step 3) After you choose the Rounded Rectangle Tool, select the Radius at the top of the screen as 30.

Step 4) Using your mouse, click down in one corner of the picture and drag it to the opposite corner, leaving some space between the line and the egde of the photo. The size between the line and the edge of the photo depends on how big you want the border to be as this will be your actual border.

Step 5) After you lift up your mouse, a black rounded rectangle will appear. Next, invert the shape. Do this by going to the Path Selection Tool on the vertical menu bar.

Step 6) Click the rectangle to select it.

Step 7) At the top of the screen, click the Subtract from Shape Area. It looks like one square behind the other.

Step 8) At this point you've created the border. You can change the color by selecting the Paint Bucket Tool and selecting any color you like. Agree to rasterize and click outside on the border.

Then you're done! And you've created a professional rounded border.

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Create Metallic Text

There are so many different things you can do in Photoshop, including adding text. There are also many different things you can add to text, you can make it matte, shiny, and add numerous different textures and backgrounds to it. Text is a great way to enhance any photo.
In this tutorial, I will show you how to give text a metallic look. I think it's a really cool, sharp look, and I also think it's a great style to add to your photos. I'll be using Photoshop CS2 in this case, but you can use nearly any version of Photoshop that you have. If you don't have Photoshop, you can download the free trial of the newest version, CS4, from Adobe.com.

So let's begin!

Step 1) Open up a new blank canvas in Photoshop by going to File > New. Make your canvas about 500 x 500 and make the background white. If you want to put this text on a photo instead of a blank canvas, feel free to do so (just open your picture by going to File > Open instead).

Step 2) Next, select the Horizontal Type Tool from the free floating vertical menu bar on the left hand side of the screen. Click the upper left hand corner of the canvas and drag the dotted line box to the lower right hand corner.

Step 3) Before you type in the box, make the font size 120 and select any style font you like. Then type in the box. I used the word "Associated Content" but you can use any word or words you like.

Step 4) Now we're going to change the blending mode of the font to get the metallic look. First go to and select Drop Shadow. Make sure the Blend Mode is on Multiply. The Opacity should be 70% and the Angle should be 120. Additionally, Use Global Light should be selected. Size and Distance should both be at 5.

Step 5) Next select Outer Glow. The Blend Mode should be Normal, Opacity again at 70% and the gray box should be selected. Size again should be at 5. Under Quality, Range should be 50%.

Step 6) Go to Satin and select it. Blend Mode should be Multiply. Opacity should be 50% and Angle should be 20 degrees. Distance should be 10 and Size should be 15.

Step 7) Finally, go to Gradient Overlay. Select Reverse. And Blend Mode Normal. Opacity should be at 100% this time. Select Gradient on the little side arrow. When the drop down menu loads, click the side arrow and go to Metals. Select the color that goes from black to gray and then back again. This will finally apply the metallic look to your photo.

Then you're done! And you've learned how to both add text and add a new texture to your text as well, a metallic one. Play around with the blending options for a variety of different styles and looks. The possibilities in Photoshop are endless.

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Create Light Writing

We all know light writing can be done by adjusting the shutter speed on a camera, but you can also do it in Photoshop as well. Now, it won't look like you took it with a camera, but I have a tutorial that will create a light writing effect in Photoshop. Now, to create a light writing effect, you will need to know how to use the pen tool. It took me awhile to figure it out, but once you do, it will be easier. In this guide, I will be using Photoshop CS3 to create a light writing effect to an image.
Step One: Open up an image you want to give a light writing effect. (File - Open)

Step Two: Create a new Layer (Layer - New Layer). Select the pen tool. Make sure on the top on Photoshop the box with the pen inside of it is selected.

Step Three: With the pen tool, create swirves from left to right (Refer to my picture to see what it should look like).

Step Four: Once you created your swirves, you'll want to adjust your brush. Set the brush color to white. Then change the brush size to how thick you want your beam to be. Smaller is usually better but you don't want it too small. Also, make sure it's a feathered brush, not hard edged. Click the image, A box will come up asking you something, click "okay".

Step Five: Without doing anything with the brush (making any marks), select the pen tool again. Right click on your line and select "Stroke Path". When the box comes up, make sure it's set to the brush tool. Select "okay".

Step Six: Once your path is stroked with the brush, right click again and select "Delete Path".

Step Seven: Once you have deleted the path, you will want to erase some of the lines to make it look like it's weaving in and out of the image (Refer back to my image to see what it should look like).

Step Eight: Next, we will add a filter that will make it look blurry but more realistic. (Filter - Blur - Gaussian Blur). Set the Radius between 2.0 - 5.5. It depends how fuzzy you want it to look.

Step Nine: Double click on the Light writing layer and a Layer Style Box should appear. Check the boxes Drop Shadow and Inner Shadow. There, you can adjust the color of the glow to what you would like. Make sure when you adjust them, you click their box so you only adjust those settings.

And that's all there is to it! The best thing I like about when doing this is when you're done and you use the brush, it looks like the light writing, that's how I made the extra dots around the light writing. This may take some time to perfect but overall it's a fun effect to add to photos!

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Create a Realistic Bruise

The fun thing about Photoshop is that there are so many different things you can do within the program. Photoshop is mostly used to edit photos, but you can also design web banners, logos, and much more. One thing Photoshop is mostly used for is to edit pictures of people. Amateur and professional photographers alike all use Photoshop to edit their photographs of models. There can be numerous things wrong with a photo. It can be too blurry, too sharp, out of focus. You can also edit photos to make them look better. You can remove wrinkles, remove tattoos, edit out blemishes and more. You can also add things to photos. You can enhance breasts, eyes, lips, skin, etc. You can add tattoos to skin as well. With Photoshop, the possibilities are unlimited. Just find a photo you want to use and start Photo shopping away!

In this tutorial, you will learn how to edit photos in a different sort of way. I will show you how to add a bruise to skin with only using the brush tool, the burn tool, and the sponge tool. Each tool has a different function in this tutorial, but each will add to the overall effect of the bruise.

To begin with, choose a photo of a person or a close up of skin. If you don't have a photo of your own, go to sxc.hu or morguefile.com and find a photo there. Mine is from sxc.hu. Also choose where you want to place your bruise. I decided to give my model a black eye, but you can put a bruise just about anywhere you like, just as long as the skin is visible. Close-up shots work the best though so you can get the full color and detail of the bruise just right.

Step 1) Open up your picture in Photoshop by going to File > Open and searching for the file like you would any old document. If you're copying and pasting off the Internet, go to File > New. The canvas size will automatically adjust to the size of the picture on your clipboard. After the blank document is open, go to Edit > Paste.

Step 2) Select the Burn Tool, located on the vertical menu bar. The Burn Tool is shaped like a hand and is grouped with the Sponge Tool and the Dodge Tool. For the settings for the Burn Tool, set it to Midtones and 50 percent exposure. Use a large brush as well. Around 300 pixels, depending on how large your picture is. Just make sure not to use a tiny brush.

Step 3) Using the Burn Tool, go over and make the initial bruise in Photoshop. This will determine the size and shape of your bruise. Go over the area twice with the brush.

Step 4) Using a soft paint brush of the same size in a dark yellow color, go over the burn area with settings at Soft Light and opacity of 35%.

Step 5) Repeat Step 4 with a dark purple color. Go over the area twice instead of once, like you did will the yellow.

Step 6) Now the bruise is colored, use the Sponge Tool to Desaturate the color a little bit. I used a 300 pixel size brush and a flow of 50. Go over the bruise once more.

Then you're done! And you now have a realistic looking bruise on the skin of your picture.

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Create a Cloud Brush

There are so many different things you can do in Photoshop. One thing Photoshop is commonly used for is to edit photos. Both amateur and professional photographers alike use Photoshop to edit their pictures of models, landscapes, objects, and much more.
Although you can edit pictures in Photoshop, there is much more you can do in the program as well. You can create web banners, logos, and other graphics. You can also create your own brushes. Creating your own brushes can be a lot of fun, especially since you can use them on your photos after you create them.

In this tutorial, I will show you how to create your own cloud brushes. Cloud brushes are especially useful because you can create your own sky scenes and put pictures of people in the clouds as well. With your own custom brush, the possibilities of what you can create are endless.

So let's begin!

Step 1) Open up a new canvas in Photoshop that's 500 x 500 pixels. Do this by going to File > New and changing the size to 500 x 500. Make sure the two color boxes towards the bottom of the vertical menu bar are black and white. Black should be the top color and white should be the bottom color.

Step 2) In order to apply the clouds to the picture, go to File > Render > Clouds. This will now show your background as gray clouds on a black background.

Step 3) Select the Lasso Tool on the free-floating vertical menu bar and draw around a part of the clouds. For the size of the selected area of mine, I took up a quarter to a third of the picture. Select an area that has both light and dark areas in order to get the full cloud effect.

Step 4) Now to soften the selection. Go to Select > Feather and choose 12.

Step 5) After softening the selection, we need to copy and paste the selection on a new layer. First, go to Edit > Copy then go to Layer > New > Layer. On the layer palette/box make sure the eye is turned off on the bottom/original layer and on on the top/new layer. This will show you a layer with gray and white boxes. Then go to Edit > Paste.

Step 6) Now go to Edit > Define Brush Preset. And your brush will be automatically loaded into your Brush Tool and is ready for use.

Step 7) To use your brush, open up a new document, around 1000 x 1000 pixels. Use the Paint Bucket Tool to paint the background blue. Then select your Brush Tool and select the cloud brush (it'll be at the bottom if you scroll down) and select the color as white. Make sure the light is hard and the opacity and flow is 100% and then simply click your mouse.

Then you're done! And you have a great cloud brush! Try creating clouds of different sizes and shapes using the Lasso Tool while selecting the clouds.

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Make Lips Glossy

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Make Lips Glossy


There are so many different things you can do in Photoshop. One feature Photoshop has is Filters. The Filters apply numerous different effects to photos and make it possible to add certain textures and other aspects to photos. There are different Filters, but in this tutorial we'll use the Artistic Plastic Wrap Filter.
One thing Photoshop is used for is to edit pictures of people. You can change pictures of people in numerous ways. You can change hair color, skin color, eye color. You can also change backgrounds, edit blemishes. Because Photoshop is used to edit pictures of people, I will show you how to edit lips in this particular tutorial. I will show you how to make lips shiny and glossy. This is a great technique to learn and use when you edit pictures of people because it can really enhance a glamour photo or any old portrait.

To begin, you'll need a picture of a person or a close up shot of lips to work with in Photoshop. You can use a portrait or a macro shot. You can also use your own photo of a friend of yourself. If you don't have a photo to use, visit morguefile.com or sxc.hu. At either of these websites you can find free photos to use. To find a good photo simply go to either website and search "woman lips."

So let's begin!

Step 1) First, open your picture in Photoshop. Go to File > Open and search for your picture like you would any old document. If you're copying and pasting off the web, go to File > New and click OK. The canvas size will automatically adjust to the size of the photo on your clipboard.

Step 2) Duplicate the layer by going to Layer > Duplicate.

Step 3) Zoom in on the lips to about 200 percent using the Zoom Tool, located on the free-floating vertical menu bar.

Step 4) Choose the lasso tool, either the regular Lasso Tool or the Magnetic Lasso Tool. Both can be found on the vertical menu bar grouped together. Choose to Feather at 4 pixels.

Step 5) Select the lips. Go slowly and be careful to select all of the lips, connecting the Lasso.

Step 6) Go to Filter > Artistic > Plastic Wrap. You'll see it will only apply to the lips.

Step 7) Now you'll see the plastic wrap over the lips. We need to change the overlay of the layer now. On the layers palette go to the background copy and change it to lighten. This will give you the nice, glossy look on the lips of your photo.

Then you're done! And you've given your lips a beautiful, glossy look in just 7 easy steps.

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Make a Water Reflection

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Make a Water Reflection 


There are so many different things you can do in Photoshop, no matter what version you have. There are tons of ways to edit photos. Some examples include blurring backgrounds, swapping heads of people, changing hair color, changing backgrounds, and much, much more. No matter what version you have, you can pretty much edit your photos however you want just so as long as you know how to use the right tools.
In this tutorial, I am going to show you how to create a water reflection using Photoshop (any version). Water reflections can be a cool element to add to photos to make them more interesting. They can also be a nice touch if you're adding a normal reflection. Before we start this tutorial, just think about what a water reflection has. One thing that comes to mind for me is ripples. Because of this, we're going to add a nice rippling effect to our water reflect to make it cool-looking and unique.

Before you start this tutorial, make sure you find a good picture to work with. You can basically use any picture, but I am going to use a picture of a scene. I love sunsets, so I'll use that. You can use a picture of a person or really anything. Just make sure the photo is large enough when you work with it in Photoshop. Some great places to find photos include sxc.hu and morguefile.com. Check out those websites if you don't have a picture of your own to use.

So let's begin.

Step 1) Open your image in the version of Photoshop you have. The best way to do this is by going to File > Open and then finding your image.

Step 2) Duplicate the layer. Hot key CTRL + J. Make sure you now have two layers. If you copy and paste the picture on to a canvas, be sure to flatten it first by clicking CTRL + E.

Step 3) Next we're going to increase the canvas area size. Go to Image > Canvas Size.

Step 4) Now make the settings as such: Width: 0 percent. Height: 100. Relative: checked. Make sure the Anchor portion of the Canvas Size box has a blank box with arrows pointing out in all directions. This step will double the size of your canvas height wise so that you can get the reflection portion of the image.

Step 5) Use the selection tool and select the image, not including the bottom white part. After you select it, hit CTRL + J, this will copy and paste it on a new layer.

Step 5) Click CTRL + T, and rotate the copy and pasted image 180 degrees and move it into the white space on the bottom of the picture.

Step 6) Create another new layer again by going to Layer > Duplicate Layer.

Step 7) Fill the layer in with white using the paint bucket tool.

Step 8) Go to Filters > Sketch > Halftone Pattern. This will create the lined ripples for the ripple pattern the water has.

Step 9) Make the settings as follows: Halftone Pattern. Size: 3. Contrast: 40. Pattern Type: Line.

Step 10) Now we're going to make ripples look more water-y and normal. To do this go Filter > Blur. Do this three times until the image is blurred all over, but the lines are still visible.

Step 11) We're going to put this image on a different document so we can use it in a little bit. Go to Layer > Duplicate Layer and on the options window, choose New and name it whatever you like. Click OK when you're done.

Step 12) Now delete the ripple pattern layer.

Step 13) Merge all the layers together by pressing CTRL+E.

Step 14) Go to Filter > Distort > Displace. Horizontal Scale should be 4 with the Vertical Scale at 0.

Step 15) A new window will now open. Open up the halftone pattern from earlier and the click OK.

Step 16) We're almost to the end! Now that the effect is applied, it's on both images and we only want it on the bottom picture. Select the layer with the upside down image and click CTRL.

Step 17) Add a mask layer by clicking the icon on the bottom of the layer box that is fifth from the left.

And you're done! You have an awesome ripple effect on your photo now!

Photoshop tip: One other way to make a water reflection is to simply add a water texture just to the bottom picture and put the layer on overlay.

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Give Your Photos a Vintage Look

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Give Your Photos a Vintage Look


In this tutorial, you will learn how to add a vintage effect to you photo. I will be using Photoshop Cs3. Adding a vintage effect looks better on some, rather than others. You will learn step by step how to add your own vintage effect and once you have the hang of it, you can play around with it
Step One: Select a photo you would like to add the vintage effect to, and open it.

Step Two: Duplicate the layer. (Layer -Duplicate Layer)

Step Three: On the duplicated layer, you'll want to change the layer style from "Normal" to "Soft Light". This will bring out more color to your photo and darken some areas.

Step Four: Create a new blank layer. (Layer - New Layer)

Step Five: In the new blank layer, go to your color pallet (double click) and find the color "000d5e" (it should be a dark blue color). You can also type in the number code at the bottom of the color options on the bottom left column.

Step Six: Select the Paint Bucket tool and fill in the blank layer.

Step Seven: On the blue layer, set the layer style from "Normal" to "Exclusion". If you want, you can repeat steps 4-7 if needed be, but usually you don't need too.

Step Eight: Flatten the picture. (Layer - Flatten Image).

Step Nine: Select the Burn Tool (it looks like a small hand). Set the opacity to 54% and go over the whole picture evenly.

And there you have it! Your very own vintage photo! You can mess around with the burn tool at different opacity's but generally it looks very well around 50-60%. I have worked with Photoshop for over 6 years and I always use this technique when adding a vintage effect to my photos.

Here's a helpful tip: If you make a mistake, don't trash your picture and throw away your hard work. All you need to do is press Ctrl + Z and it will undo your last move!

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Enhance Eyes with Textures

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Enhance Eyes with Textures

In Photoshop, you are able to change eye color. But did you know you can apply a texture to it to make it stand out even more? Apply a texture to the eye can make it more appealing than just changing the eye color. In this Tutorial I will be using Photoshop CS3. Once you learn how to do this, you will be able to use any texture you want to. This is a little more advanced for beginners, but I think it's something easier to learn.
Picking or Taking an Image of an eye.

If you're planning to take your own picture, make sure you use the Macro setting on your camera. This will allow you to take a clean, close up, good quality picture that you will be able to work with. If you using someone else's picture, the same rules still apply. Good quality, close up, and clean.

Picking Out A Texture.

When picking out a texture for your eye, there are a few things you should consider. The first thing you want to think about is "What would work well with my image?". If you're image is intense and powerful, you probably want to use fire or something along those lines. You also want to make sure it's a good quality texture. If it's not, it won't look very good with your eye. The last thing to think of is picking out a certain part of a texture you want to use. If a part of a texture is dull or doesn't have good detail, you probably shouldn't use it.

Applying The Texture.

Step One: Open the eye image you want to use (File - Open).

Step Two: Copy and paste the image you want to use to your image (Edit - Paste). The texture should appear on a new layer and ready to work with.

Step Three: Transform the size of the texture to the size of the eye (Edit - Transform - Scale). If you know the hot keys: Ctrl + T. Once you press that, move around the texture to the size of the eye.

Step Four: Once you have the texture is the eye size; bring down the opacity of the layer to around 30% or so. This will allow you to see the eye. Erase around the eye. Make sure you use a soft edged brush to erase. Make sure you erase the texture on the pupil.

Step Five: Bring the Opacity back up to 100. This will now allow you to have the full effect of the texture on the eye while we change the Blending Options.

Step Six: This step is entirely up to you. Change the Blending Options to what you find looks the best. I used hard light but that's just what worked well with my image.

Step Seven: If you don't think the texture works well with the image after you have tried it, use a different one. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get what you want.

And that's all there is to it! It's easy, simple, and fun. You're never limited to what textures you can use or which Blending Options you can try. Just as a tip, if you have a blue eye, try a water texture. If you eye is green, try a leaf texture and so on. Just remember: Experiment!

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Digitally Enhance Breasts

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Digitally Enhance Breasts



Photoshop is an extremely different and fun program that virtually anyone can use. There are so many different ways to do the same thing in Photoshop too. There are dozens of different tools you can use and master. Once you master one tool, it opens up a door of possibilities on what you can do to a photo. The best way to learn Photoshop is to experiment and try things on your own. Another great way to learn is from example and follow Photoshop tutorials, in which there are tons on Associated Content alone.
One thing both amateur and professional photographers alike use Photoshop for is it edit pictures of people. You can basically edit pictures of people in a variety of different ways. You can change hair color, change eye color, make someone skinnier, swap heads and facial features, and much more. One thing many glamour magazines and photo editors will also do is increase the breast size of women. It's a relatively easy thing to do and it only takes a few steps, but it definitely makes a world of difference and you'll see how.

In this tutorial, I will show you how to increase the breast size of a woman through a few simply steps. To start with, you'll need a face-on picture of a woman. Side pictures do work, but for the sake of this tutorial we'll make it easy and just use a face-on picture. (I found my picture of sxc.hu by searching the word "bikini.")

So let's begin!

Step 1) Open up your picture in Photoshop by going to File > Open and searching for the picture like you would any old document. If you're copying and pasting off the web, go to File > New and the size of the canvas will automatically adjust to the size of your photo on the clipboard. After File > New, click Edit > Paste.

Step 2) Using the Elliptical Marquee Tool (on the vertical menu bar), make a circle around one of the breasts, including the whole breast.

Step 3) Go to Edit > Free Transform and make the circle 5 percent bigger.

Step 4) Now go to Filter > Distort > Spherize.

Step 5) Make sure the Mode is Normal and the amount is set to your choosing. The larger the amount, the larger the breasts will be. For my picture, I chose to do 100 percent, and as you can see they came out rather large and plastic-y looking. If you want to go for a more natural look, keep the number low. Use the preview tool to see what size works for your photo.

Step 6) Repeat steps 2-5 on the other breast.

Step 7) Now that the breasts are enlarged, it's time to do some blending. As you can see, using the Spherize Filter, the edges of the breasts became sharpened. Using the blur tool at around 10 pixels and strength of 22, go along the edges of the sharpened breasts to blend them in.

Then you're done! And you've increased the breast size in 7 easy steps!

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Remove Wrinkles

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Remove Wrinkles?



I love Photoshop for a variety of reasons. The main thing is that you can basically do anything to a photo. You can edit anything you want out of a photo and add anything you want in. Photoshop is just a hugely versatile program. You can edit basically any picture too. You can edit pictures of people, landscapes, objects, just about anything. One other great thing is that there are many ways to do one thing. So if you feel more comfortable working with one tool than another, just use that tool.
When you're working with pictures of people, there are a lot of different things you can change on the photo. You can change hair color, eye color, remove blemishes and wrinkles, and much, much more. In this Photoshop tutorial, I will show you how to remove wrinkles on a picture of a person. This is what many glamour magazines do when they retouch photos of models and celebrities. So why shouldn't anyone be able to do it?

In this tutorial, we're going to use the Healing Brush Tool. This technique is relatively simply and can work on either small, almost unnoticeable wrinkles, or on large, deep wrinkles. In order for this tutorial to work properly, make sure you have a photo of yourself or someone else with noticeable wrinkles. The wrinkles can be around the eyes, the mouth, or on the cheeks. Just about anywhere will work for the sake of this tutorial. I found my photo of morguefile.com. Both sxc.hu and morguefile.com are great places to find free photos of just about anything.

So let's begin!

Step 1) Select your image by going to File > Open and searching for your picture the way you would search for a document.

Step 2) Make sure your image is flattened completely before you start, otherwise you'll have too many layers. This is usually only a concern when you copy and paste a picture off the internet though. Simply press CTRL + E on your keyboard to merge the layers.

Step 3) Since you never want to work on the original photo, make a copy or a duplicate layer by going to Layer > Duplicate Layer. You will now have two identical layers of your photo on the Layers drop down menu box on the right hand side of your screen.

Step 4) Zoom into the area you want to work on first using the magnifying tool on the vertical menu bar.

Step 5) Open the Healing Brush Tool by clicking the hotkey "J" on your keyboard. In order for the Healing Brush Tool to work, you will need to find a nearby area next to the wrinkle you want to get rid of. This area you choose should not have a wrinkle on it and should just be flat skin.

Step 6) Click the ALT key on your keyboard and go over this chosen area (the one that doesn't have any wrinkles.)

Step 7) Now paint over the wrinkle. This will cover up the area with a flesh tone color and once you lift your key up, the wrinkle will be gone.

Step 8) Repeat steps 6-7 on every wrinkle you want to get rid of.

Then you're done. And you have a wrinkle-free face! Talk about quick and easy too!

Photoshop Tutorial: Learn How to Use Auto Shapes

Photoshop Tutorial:Learn How to Use Auto Shapes?


When using Adobe Photoshop, there are a ton of different things to do. Even if you are just a beginner to the program, Photoshop already has pre-programmed tricks and features for you to try out to make your learning experience easier. In this tutorial, you are going to learn how to use one of my favorite pre-programmed features: Auto Shapes. The reason why I love Auto Shapes is because I don't have the steadiest hand to create my own shape in Photoshop. Plus, with Auto Shapes, Photoshop will give you flawless outlines or filled in shapes that you can use for virtually everything. Even if you use one of the shapes already in this digital editing program, you can always add your own flare to it, so do not feel like it's limiting you to anything. And again, of course, you can create your own shapes, but it's difficult and not entirely necessary, especially for beginners.
To start with, what can you use Auto Shapes for? I said basically anything, but here are some specific examples:

-Logos 
-Brushes 
-Stickers 
-Borders 
-Craft projects 
-and more...

So let's begin to learn how to use these amazing Auto Shapes!

1) As always, you'll need to open up a new document in Adobe Photoshop and make it a good size. We'll start off small, so choose 500x500. Once you feel comfortable, you can always choose a bigger size and more shapes to work with, but start out with 500x500 now.

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Make Yourself Look Thinner Using the Liquify Tool

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Make Yourself Look Thinner Using the Liquify Tool

 Liquifying images In Photoshop can be very simple. Liquifying is a filter that isn't talked about a lot but it's simple to apply to images. The liquify tool can be very effective what editing your images. There are a few tools inside the liquify but I will be using the most basic way. Using this filter allows you to adjust facial areas such as the nose, eyes and around the face. It can also be used to make a person look a little smaller than they appear to be. However, there is a limit to how much you can stretch a photo using liquefy. You cannot take a huge green ball and warp it into a tiny marble. I will be using Photoshop Cs3 to demonstrate.
This technique is often used in glamour magazines, believe it or not. Liquifying is for touching up photos only. So here in this tutorial, I will be liquifying a person's figure. I personally don't think anything is wrong with the person I am using, I'm just simply showing how to use the liquefy tool to touch up a person's figure.

How to Choose the Right Photo.

Choosing the right photo to liquify is important, if the angles are off it will be difficult to do and look uneven. You will want to choose an image that's head on. That way you can get to all the body parts and adjust them. If you want to use a face, angles don't matter as much except the way the eyes are shaped.

How to Liquify.

Step One: Open the image you want to liquify (File - Open).

Step Two: Create a duplicate layer of your image. This will allow you to see a difference in your picture once you're done. (Layer -Duplicate Layer).

Step Three: On the new Duplicated Layer, go to: Filter -Liquify. A new window will open and you will see your image displayed.

Step Four: On the top left on your new window, you should see a finger that looks like it is poking something. That's known as the forward warp tool. Select it. Now, you want to choose a brush size that's relative to the area you want to liquify. If you want to make the brush smaller without changing its numbers use "]" if you want your brush bigger. Press "[" if you want it smaller. These are hot key tools you can use. Make sure if your use them, hold them down until it's the size you want.

Step Five: Warp what you want to fix. To do so : Click, hold and drag IN. Dragging it in makes your image appear smaller. Keep doing this until satisfied with the outcome.

Note: If you make a mistake, on the right side click "Restore All". This will restore your image to its original photo so you can restart. Also, If you choose to small of a size, your area will come out lumpy and uneven. If you liquify a nose, you a smaller brush, if it's a stomach or a leg, use a bigger one. There are a few more tools in liquify that you can uses, but again this is the most basic. It's fast, simple and easy.

Intro: Liquifying images In Photoshop can be very simple. Liquifying is a filter that isn't talked about a lot but it's simple to apply to images. The liquify tool can be very effective what editing your images. There are a few tools inside the liquify but I will be using the most basic way. Using this filter allows you to adjust facial areas such as the nose, eyes and around the face. It can also be used to make a person look a little smaller than they appear to be. However, there is a limit to how much you can stretch a photo using liquefy. You cannot take a huge green ball and warp it into a tiny marble. I will be using Photoshop Cs3 to demonstrate.
This technique is often used in glamour magazines, believe it or not. Liquifying is for touching up photos only. So here in this tutorial, I will be liquifying a person's figure. I personally don't think anything is wrong with the person I am using, I'm just simply showing how to use the liquefy tool to touch up a person's figure.

How to Choose the Right Photo.

Choosing the right photo to liquify is important, if the angles are off it will be difficult to do and look uneven. You will want to choose an image that's head on. That way you can get to all the body parts and adjust them. If you want to use a face, angles don't matter as much except the way the eyes are shaped.

How to Liquify.

Step One: Open the image you want to liquify (File - Open).

Step Two: Create a duplicate layer of your image. This will allow you to see a difference in your picture once you're done. (Layer -Duplicate Layer).

Step Three: On the new Duplicated Layer, go to: Filter -Liquify. A new window will open and you will see your image displayed.

Step Four: On the top left on your new window, you should see a finger that looks like it is poking something. That's known as the forward warp tool. Select it. Now, you want to choose a brush size that's relative to the area you want to liquify. If you want to make the brush smaller without changing its numbers use "]" if you want your brush bigger. Press "[" if you want it smaller. These are hot key tools you can use. Make sure if your use them, hold them down until it's the size you want.

Step Five: Warp what you want to fix. To do so : Click, hold and drag IN. Dragging it in makes your image appear smaller. Keep doing this until satisfied with the outcome.

Note: If you make a mistake, on the right side click "Restore All". This will restore your image to its original photo so you can restart. Also, If you choose to small of a size, your area will come out lumpy and uneven. If you liquify a nose, you a smaller brush, if it's a stomach or a leg, use a bigger one. There are a few more tools in liquify that you can uses, but again this is the most basic. It's fast, simple and easy.

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Use Layers to Edit Your Photos

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Use Layers to Edit Your Photos?



Intro: When using Photoshop, I have to say using Layers in one of the most important things to know how to use. Layers are simply one image stacked on top on another. Let's say I have two colors, one red, and one blue. If blue is on one layer, and red is on another, stacked together you get purple. It's the same way in Photoshop. Layers where introduced in Photoshop 3.0, so if you have that and newer versions, you will be ready to go! Now, layers can be used in many ways. Let's say you want to change your eye color. To do this, you would need to create a new layer. This new layer will allow you to work over image while still being able to adjust what you need. If you wanted to enhance your eye color, it's quite simple using Layers.
How to Use Blending Options.

There are 25 options when dealing with Blending Options. Normal, Dissolve, Darken, Multiply, Color Burn, Linear Burn, Darker Color, Lighten, Screen, Color Dodge, Linear Dodge, Lighter Color, Overlay, Soft Light, Hard Light, Vivid Light, Linear Light, Pin Light, Hard Mix, Difference, Exclusion, Hue, Saturation, Color, and Luminosity. Now, I know there may be a lot but each on is different and unique that will give different effects to your image. Each blending option shows different effects with different results for each layer. So if you are going to set a layer to Color Burn with a bright image, it will most likely look different with a darker image.

How to Use Opacity.

Opacity: Opacity plays a major role when using Layers. This allows you change how heavy or how light you want your layer to be. If you're adding a texture to your image, you will want to use low opacity so set it somewhere around 10-40%. If you're adding color to your image you will want to set the opacity to around 40-70%. Really experiment with the opacity on the layers. Opacity is really important and can make a huge difference to your image.

How to Make a New Layer.

There are two main ways to make a new layer. On top of your screen, click: Layer - New - Layer. Another way to create a new layer is by clicking the icon on your layer control panel (on the right side of Photoshop) and click the icon that looks like a sticky note.

How to Merge Layers.

After creating many Layers, they can be hard to keep track of. Most of the time, it's easier to work on an image that has less layers. This is where Merging Layers is important. Merging Layers basically means smushing to layers together. This makes keeping track of Layers more manageable. There is a few ways to do this. Hot Key: CTRL + E. You can also go to (Layer - Layer Down). And finally, when you are satisfied with your image, you can go to (Layer - Flatten Image). This will combine all of your layers together so you have one full image.

Although layers may sound difficult at first, with all the things you should do with them, it's one of the easiest things to learn in Photoshop. You use Layers so much that it becomes natural and easy to do. Layers are very important to use and require a lot of experimenting but it will help you create a stunning picture. Just remember, whenever you want to add something to an image, no matter how small it is, use Layers!

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Rotate Vertical Images

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Rotate Vertical Images

Introduction: Photoshop is an amazing program brought to the world by Adobe Inc. Whether you're an advanced user or just a beginner, there are millions of different techniques and uses to learn and have fun with. In this tutorial, you will learn how to easily rotate your pictures. This technique is extremely simple and will help you when you take vertical pictures by holding your camera longways. Once you have rotated your pictures, they will be just one step closer to printing or emailing to friends or family. So put your imagination to work and have fun with this easy, quick, and fun tutorial.
1) To begin with, you'll need to open up Photoshop. If you don't have Photoshop, you will need to go to Adobe.com and download the free 30-day trial of the program. In 30 days you will need to buy the program if you want to keep it.

2) Once you have Photoshop downloaded, you'll need to open up your image on its own canvas by going to File>Open and then searching for your uploaded image.

3) To completely flip it, you will need to Image>Rotate Canvas and then select which preference you need. If you need to flip it 180 (meaning your picture is currently upside down), do so.

4) The most popular rotation is 90 degrees clockwise or counter clockwise. This means that you held your camera vertically when you took the initial picture.

5) One other option is Arbitrary, meaning that you will need to select the degrees in which to flip the picture and which direction, clockwise or counterclockwise, to flip the image. This is extremely helpful when you took the image when the camera was accidentally tilted. You may need to try a few times to get the degrees right to make the picture exactly straight.

If you mess up, over-rotate or under-rotate it, or change your mind, you will need to click CRTL+ALT+Z, which will take you back one step and allow you to try again. Not only can you use this "hot key" for going back while rotating, you can use it whenever. Keep in mind that you can click it more than once to go back numerous steps.

Additionally, make sure that you always save the original when working in Photoshop. The CRTL+ALT+Z button will only take you back a certain amount of steps.

6) So once you have the image rotated, save it as a new image by going to File>Save. The best name to save it as is usually the name of your image + rotated. This way you'll know while browsing through your images or in your computer files.

Keep in mind your image is perfect for printing, as most digital cameras take photos in high DPIs and high resolutions!

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Remove Backgrounds

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Remove Backgrounds




One of the most common uses of Photoshop is to erase a background. There can truly be many reasons on why you would want to erase or remove a background on an image. You may dislike what's in the background, maybe it's a busy scene and you just want to isolate the subject. Maybe you want to put in your own background. Say you're making Christmas cards and you want to be behind a fireplace instead of the white background the photo studio put you in front of. Because of the need to remove backgrounds, there are a few ways to do so in Photoshop.
In this tutorial, I will show you how to remove a background when the color of the background in the same throughout the picture. Because of this, we'll be using a tool called the background eraser tool. It's nifty little tool to have it really does the trick when you need to remove a background easily and quickly.

The way the background eraser tool works is that it samples color. When it does this, it removes color throughout the picture that's within the same color range. This makes removing backgrounds that are a solid color fairly easy.

Step 1) Open your image up on a new canvas. In order for this tutorial to work, select an image with a subject that is in front of a solid color background.

Step 2) Find the background eraser tool on the vertical menu bar that is free floating on the screen. You will have to find the eraser tool first and hold down your mouse until the icon with the scissors above the eraser is visible and then select that tool.

Step 3) Now we'll choose the specific settings on the background eraser tool options box. Choose "Discontinuous", with a "Tolerance" of 20 or so and a sampling of "Continuous." Make sure the "Tolerance" box is selected too.

Step 4) It's easiest to work with your background when it's a highly contrasted color when put against your subject. Because of this I like to create a new layer by double clicking on the background and naming it whatever you prefer.

Step 5) Next, we're going to create a new layer and drag it below the original named layer and filling it in with either white or black. Whatever you choose, make sure it's a solid color (I usually prefer black).

Step 6) Now select your brush while still on the background eraser tool. Use a large brush that doesn't have soft edges. Find a solid brush with a hardness of about 70-80.

Step 7) Go over the image with the brush, clicking down so that the background gets erased. Do this in one easy motion. Remember if you see something you don't like, click CTRL + ALT + Z to go back a step. Continuing erasing until the background is completely removed.

Step 8) Select the subject by clicking your mouse by holding down the CTRL button on the keyboard. Then invert the selected subject by going to Selection > Invert and then pressing delete on your keyboard.

Then you're finished! You can now add in your own background or keep it like it is.

Photoshop Tutorial: Mastering the Lasso Tool and Selection Function

Photoshop Tutorial: Mastering the Lasso Tool and Selection Function

Photoshop is a really unique program because it gives you the opportunity to do a million different things to one photo. In Photoshop, there are numerous tools you can use, each with an individual function. The key to mastering Photoshop is to master the individual tools. The tools range from the crop tool, the healing brush tool, the paint brush, and many more. Each tool has an individual task and can do different things to a photo, leaving you with many different outcomes. When mastering a tool, it's good to take it one step at a time.

One important tool and function is the Lasso Tool and the selection function. By knowing how to use the Lasso Tool and the selection function in Photoshop, you can have the ability to do numerous different things, including changing backgrounds, adding objects to photos, and much more.

In this tutorial, I will guide you through the steps to use the lasso tool and ultimately select elements in your photos. It's a good thing to know because it can lead to learning other tools and other functions within Photoshop, no matter what version you have.

Before we begin, make sure you have a photo that you want to work with. This can be a picture of an object or a person. Try to skip landscapes and other scene pictures for the sake of this tutorial. If you don't have your own picture, just visit morguefile.com or sxc.hu and choose one from there. They're free and you can find a picture of virtually anything. I'll be using a picture of a pink, rubber ball I found on sxc.hu.

So let's begin!

Step 1) Open your picture in Photoshop by going to File > Open and searching for the photo like you would any old document. If you copied and pasted off the web, go to File > New and then click OK. The size of the new canvas will be adjusted to the size of your photo.

Step 2) In order to make a selection around your photo you need to select the Lasso Tool on the vertical menu bar on the left hand side of the screen. Just hover above the icons and Photoshop will tell you the name. Click on the Lasso Tool when you find it.

Step 3) Using the Lasso Tool, draw around your subject carefully. If you've chosen to use the Lasso Tool around a person, make sure you get all of them so that the dotted line is completely around them. Same goes for using an object. When you've completed the selection, it should look similar to the example photo attached to this article. The trick to selecting with the Lasso Tool is to zoom in and work carefully, making sure you get all the edges. If you have to lift your mouse, make sure you resume with the Plus Lasso Tool. To get this tool, select the original Lasso Tool and find the Plus Lasso Tool at the options on the top of the page on the horizontal menu bar.

Step 4) Now you've selected the object or person. You now have the capability to copy and paste the selection wherever you want. You could put your person in front of a beach scene or wherever you like.

Step 5) You'll also notice that you can move the image around on the same canvas. If you use the Move Tool, you'll notice there will be a blank space where the object or person originally was.

And there you have it! You've mastered the lasso tool!

10 top Photoshop resources

10 top Photoshop resources

Want to learn Photoshop? Or hone your skills in the photo editing software? Then check out these top online resources.

The web is a wonderful thing, brimming with resources and tutorials for people wanting to learn the art of Photoshop CS6 (and previous versions). But, sometimes, too much choice can be confusing, so we've picked 10 top sites that will really help you get to grips with the photo editing software. 

01. Lynda

Get access to professional Photoshop tutorials on training site Lynda

If you haven't got to know Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin's extensive tutorial video library then you should. Lynda doesn't deal exclusively with Photoshop but the site offers a wealth of training in the software for the beginner to intermediate user. Some of the training is free but to access the majority of it you will need to subscribe to the site, which starts at $25 per month. 

02. PSD Learning

Access brilliant Photoshop training at PSD Learning

PSD Learning started back in 2008. It is owned and edited by designer Ross Aitken, who has an avid interest in computer graphics and shares his knowledge through easy to follow tutorials. It has a clean layout and is organised into different categories for easy navigation. Learn everything from Photoshop scripting to creating a dramatic movie poster here. 

03. Pixel2life

Take advantage of the thousands of Photoshop tutorials on Pixel2life

Pixel2life is a huge tutorial search engine on the internet, which caters for graphic designers and programmers. It has an extensive section on Photoshop training with literally thousands of tutorials to choose from. The site also features a really useful sidebar of sub categories in order for you to find lessons in the effects you want to achieve.

04. Photoshop Essentials

If you're a beginner to Photoshop, then Photoshop Essentials is a great place to start learning

If you're a newbie to Photoshop, then head over to Photoshop Essentials, which has easy to follow, step-by-step style training. They have lessons on everything from Photoshop basics to photo editing and retouching, text effects and more. And it's all written with beginners in mind. The site is clean, tidy and easy to navigate. It also has helpful side bars featuring the latest and most popular tutorials.

05. Photoshop tutorials on Deviant Art

Find a wealth of helpful Photoshop tutorial on online art community Deviant Art

Photoshop tutorials has a brilliant range of learning material on online community for artist and art enthusiasts Deviant Art. Divided into seven different categories, including a beginner and web design section, it is easy to find the specific tutorials you're after. This site isn't just for people wanting to learn though, you can submit tutorials too. See the site for terms and conditions. 

06. Phlearn

Phlearn is owned by Aaron Nace, who has a unique and entertaining style of teaching

Phlearn is a fantastic, free online resource offering lots of high quality photography and Photoshop instructions. Owner and creative director Aaron Nace also aims to make the training interesting and dynamic, keeping the viewers attention by throwing in the occasional joke or singing and dancing on screen. Informative and entertaining: what more could you want?

07. Psd tuts +

Psd tuts+ offers an extensive library of tutorials for users of all skill levels

Psdtuts+ is a blog that offers some of the best Photoshop tutorials around. The site has an extensive library of tutorials covering many different areas, including 3D, illustration and text effects to name but a few. It also has a Basix section for beginners so users of all skill levels can learn the art of photo manipulation, retouching, icon design, text effects, and much more.

08. Practical Photoshop

Help yourself to a wealth of awesome tutorials on the Practical Photoshop website

Monthly magazine Practical Photoshop features a wealth of brilliant tutorials amongst its pages, many of which make it on to its equally good website. There's pages of training to work through and something for users of all levels and, best of all, it's free!

09. Tutorial9

Tutorial9 is a fantastic online resource for free Photoshop training

Tutorial9 is a fantastic resource for Photoshop tutorials, all of which are entirely free. There are currently 30 pages of training available so you are sure to find something of interest here. There is also a search option so you can filter your options to find the newest tutorials submitted by either Tutorial9 themselves or submitted by other users. 

10. PS Hero

PS Hero not only offers Photoshop tutorials but an inspiration gallery and free goodies too!

PS Hero is a brilliant Photoshop resource run by Hero - a surfer, photographer and graphic designer based in Southern California. With a large selection of free tutorials, this site offers training in the areas of graphic design, photo and text effects. It also features an inspiration gallery and goodies section where you can take advantage of free PSD files, custom shapes and more. 

Photoshop CS7: the features we want to see

Photoshop CS7: the features we want to see

With Photoshop CS6 now well and truly in the hands of designers, what's in store for Photoshop CS7? Rob Carney canvasses some expert opinions...

Photoshop CS6 has some amazing features, but what could be next? With CS5.5, Adobe announced that it would be releasing new .5 versions of Creative Suite every year. That means one thing - the next version of Photoshop, CS6.5 (but possibly Photoshop CS7, given the new Creative Cloud offering) is well underway.


With Adobe CS6 the company added some great new features, including a redesigned UI; the ability to search layers by effect, name and more; a Blur gallery enabling you to edit blurs directly on screen; video editing, 3D and much more. But what features will be added in Photoshop CS7? We've taken a look at the current feature set and how this could be expanded upon, as well as got the views of designers to find out what users of the software would like in the next release.

Content-Aware Move tool

We'd like to see the Content-Aware Move tool ported across to lighting in shadows

In Photoshop CS6, Adobe introduced a new Content-Aware Move tool - enabling you to easily shift the position of objects in an image, with the software filling in the background intelligently.

Asphensia, an Oxford-based illustrator, wanted to see this ported across to lighting and shadows - so essentially you could move an object and replace/fill the area it leaves with exactly the same lighting and shadows. It's almost there in Photoshop CS6, but could be a really neat added tweak to the feature-set in Photoshop CS7 (adding more options to control the Content-Aware Move tool would be great).

CSS support a la Fireworks

Mike Lane is a senior UX designer, with 15 years of experience in web and graphic design, and he's keen to see the next version of Photoshop CS7 get more CSS support.

"There are some great third-party tools out there that do some of these
things, but I'd personally like to see more integrated tools for generating CSS from your designs and effects right within Photoshop CS7," Lane tells us. "Somewhat along the lines of the CSS panel in Fireworks CS6. Fireworks is a fine product, but I spend the majority of my time in PS and would very much like to have it right there."

Better Brush Editor in Photoshop CS7

Whilst Photoshop CS6 introduced some excellent new brushes - most notably the erodible brushes that simulate lead in a pencil or pastels on the page - in Photoshop CS7 this could be taken further. One suggestion by artist Ciaran Lucas is a more scalable Brush Editor.

The Brushes panel has remained much the same for a few releases now and it would be interesting to see a more developed panel, with perhaps a new way of creating and editing brushes. Something as extensive as Corel Painter's Brush Creator would be excellent - and something digital artists would love.

We'd like to see some updates to the Brushes panel

In fact, why not bring a complete natural media brush set (okay, there is some functionality at the moment - we know that) to Photoshop CS7? Dutch illustrator and animator Sylvia van Schie also picked up on this - wanting a brush set that emulates ink on a watered sheet.

You can do this in Painter, so we don't see any reason why Adobe couldn't include it in the next release of Photoshop.

Vector paint bucket

Another suggestion from Ciaran Lucas was a vector paint bucket - rather like Illustrator CS6's Live Paint tool.

This would be brilliant for quickly creating complex vector shapes in Photoshop, as you could make selections from your images and quickly fill them with vectors rather than relying on turning selections to paths or using the Pen/Custom Shape tool.

We can imagine vector and pixels working even more smoothly together with the addition of a tool such as this.

Font identifier for Photoshop CS7

Jon Burgerman, renowned illustrator and artist, wanted to see a font identifier built in to Photoshop CS7. We presume this would be something like What The Font's web and iPhone app.

A font identifier could be built into Photoshop CS7, along the lines of the What the Font app

That would be pretty cool - being able to open any image and determine the fonts used. Fantastic for finding out what others have used in their designs. Burgerman also suggests a 'button for when you've run out of ideas' but we doubt even Adobe can manage that one.

Since Adobe bought Typekit, designers have been waiting to see where the company takes this hugely popular web font service. Graphic designer and art Director Tom Muller is one such designer.

"I'd love to see a proper integration of web type rendering in Photoshop CS7," Muller explains. "Since Typekit is now part of Adobe I'm sure (I hope!) they're working on ways to integrate web fonts into their app suite so designers can work in an environment that truly matches the end product."

Instagram-style filters

Computer Arts cover artist Neil Stevens, aka Crayonfire, suggested a whole set of Instagram-style filters for quickly adding a vintage look to your photos.

We'd love to see this - whereas you can replicate the effects used in Instagram, there's no real quick way of doing it without using a third-party plug-in. It would be a very popular addition to the tool.

Further improvements

Other tweaks we'd like to see in Photoshop CS7 are:

• Better tools for making selections - rather like Vertus' Fluid Mask (wouldn't it be great if Adobe acquired Vertus and integrated this as standard?)
• Better quick image-enhancement tools; and being able to edit layer effects in a more intuitive and quicker way.

Selection tools similar to those seen in Vertus' Fluid Mask wouldn't go amiss

And what about more document presets for different digital devices (a given, really) and being able to adjust all filters on-screen like in the new Blur gallery? The latter would be a complete re-write of the Filter Gallery, but could be revolutionary in how designers and artists use Photoshop filters.

You could also selectively paint on levels adjustments, H&S and any other colour or image tweak you like - without having to worry about quick masks/layer masks.

Oh, and one other thing - what about a sculpting brush tool like those found in brush. Wouldn't that round off Photoshop's new 3D functionality rather nicely?

What would you like to see in Photoshop CS7? Let us know in the comments below.