Making Manga

Opening a new Photoshop file

As I’ve already promised you, I will post some simple tutorials, which will introduce you the program easy – step by step.

First, I’ll assume you know how to open a computer software , so let’s begin…

When I open my program, a gray background appears – the working space – but no file to work with. So, we go to File>New (Ctrl+N); a dialog window appears, where you have some options: you can give your new .psd file a name (the default one is “Untitled-1″); the next field – named “preset:” – has a list with some types of Photoshop files. You can choose U.S.Paper, Photo, Web, etc. I usually choose “Web”, because it is the best if i want to put my work on the web – such as my blog or some other sites – it has the right width, height, resolution for this environment. However, if you have copied something (for example “Print Screen”) Photoshop recognizes that command, and when you make a new file, in the “preset” field appears “Clipboard” – as in the image below. If you modify the values in the following fields, the preset changes to “Custom”.

Figure 1

Next fields:

• width and height: there you can write a numerical – integer value between 1 and 300000. If you are out of the interval, then the closest value will be chosen automatically by the software;
• resolution: there you should have 72 if you’re doing something for the web, or 300 if you want to print it; what is resolution – the number of pixels/dots per inch (ppi/dpi);
• measurement unit: you can have there inches, centimeters, millimeters, pixels, points, picas, columns; for web files, choose pixels; for the ones you want to print you can choose inches, centimeters or millimeters; i haven’t used points, picas or columns and i don’t think you’ll need those either;
• background content: here you can choose from 3 options that colors your background layer in white (if you choose “White”),it lets it transparent (if you choose “Transparent”), or gives it the background color (if you choose “Background color” option); when “Background color” option is selected, the color you will have is the color you have in the “background color box” – see Figure 2;
• image size: the size your file will have with these preliminary settings; it will grow when you will work with the document and insert new elements in it (it may also shrink if you “crop” it or make the image or canvas smaller).

Figure 2

Working with layers in Adobe Photoshop

So, we’ve managed to open a new Photoshop file

Now let’s see what can we do with layers.

The Layer is an image. But it can have an image above and one below it. Let’s take image 3: you have the background layer – the white one – think it as a piece of paper; now imagine that the dark red square, the blue square and the circle are drawn on separate clear cellophane pieces of the same size as the background layer. For a clearer image, see the image below.

Figure 3

How can we create a new layer? Well, we can do that by clicking on Layer menu from Photoshop’s menu bar: Layer>New>Layer (or Shift+Ctrl+N); by clicking on “Create new layer” icon in the “Layer”‘s pallet (see Figure 3 or Figure 4).

Figure 4

How to delete a layer? You have to have the layer selected; then, just as in creating a layer, you can go to Photoshop’s menu bar Layer>Delete>Layer; or you can click “Delete layer” icon in the Layer’s pallet; as well you can just hit “Dell” button on your keyboard.

How to move a layer up or down? When you want to move a layer backward or forward you can just drag your layer (into the Layer’s pallet) on the position you want. Or, with the layer selected press Ctrl+[ to move backward or Ctrl+] to move forward.

Tips:

Another way of deleting a layer/group/effect: drag and drop the layer you want to delete onto the “Delete layer” icon.

A simple way of copying a layer: drag and drop your layer onto the “New layer” icon.

Well, in short, this is how we manage layers…and the most important options of a layer and a Photoshop file.

If you have any questions, or tutorial request, i’m waiting for them!

Thanks,

Hariana