Photoshop is one of the most complete design programs out there.is suitable for any discipline from photography or illustration to animation. Whatever you imagine you can do with Photoshop. But, if it is your first time using it, it can seem like an intimidating program and, therefore, in this post, we explain the basic tools of Photoshop so that you can start creating what you want with the basic functions of Photoshop.
Basic Photoshop Tools
Among the basic Photoshop tools that we are going to present to you, many appear in general in any of the modes, while others are specific to one mode (in this case, photography mode). To change the mode you just have to go to Window > Workspace > Choose the one you need.
To start, we advise you to use the workspace called essential aspects, as it has the most tools.
Layers
One of the basic Photoshop tools that you should understand and master the first time are layers. Photoshop is based on the creation of different layers, one on top of the other, which allows you to add the things you want to an image.
When you use these basic Photoshop functions, and create a new layer, you are creating an image independent of the previous one within the workspace, which allows you to modify it without damaging the work you have done previously.
Selection tools
Another of Photoshop’s basic tools are those in the selection category, where there are several options:
move tool
With this tool you can select any of the elements within your work area and move them to the position you want.
Frame tool
Frames, another of Photoshop’s basic functions, allow you to select any element within the image so that you can move or alter its shape. This tool has two subcategories: the rectangular and elliptical marquee tool. To access the drop-down menus, just press and hold the icon.
Each one makes a selection with a single click, the only thing that differs is the shape.
Quick selection tool
Within the quick selection tools menu there are other tools:
From photoshop tools, the quick selection tool allows you to select a specific sector of the image you are working on and delete or move it as you wish. Of the photoshop tools, the magic wand tool is very good for erasing backgrounds. This tool select all elements that have the same color and immediately.
lasso tool
Within the Photoshop lasso tools there are three other tools:
The Adobe Photoshop Lasso Tool allows you to select freehand, making the selections of the shapes you want and without being limited by straight figures. The polygonal lasso tool gives you straight lines that you can move at any angle that you require. The magnetic lasso tool sticks to the image that is selected at that moment.
Crop tool
This Adobe Photoshop tool edit everything within your workspacecan be used both to resize the workspace and to crop a part of the image. When you use it, the only thing that will remain of the cropped image is what is inside the selection areawhich is the most illuminated part.
Dropper tool
The Adobe Photoshop Eyedropper helps you select the color tone you want from any image in your work area. It’s a quick way to find color shades.
The workspace that we have shown for the selection tools was the paint one; to show other tools the workspace will be changed. However, as mentioned above, the most basic tools will always be in essential aspects.
Spot Healing Brush Tool
Among the basic Photoshop tools, this is one of the most used in photography. This tool allows you to remove any unwanted elements from your image; It acts on a specific area, it serves to erase imperfections on the face and things like that.
Inside this tool is also found red eye brush tool, which helps you instantly remove the red eyes left by the flash. It is a very useful tool when editing an image.
brush tool
Within the main Photoshop tools and the brush are the tools that they allow you to draw freehand on your image. There are the brush and pencil tools. The brush tool softens the strokes you are making and allows you to change the thickness, smoothing and hardness parameters. The difference with the brush is that it does not soften the strokes and is more opaque.
eraser tool
The best-known tool in most editing programs and the main Photoshop tools is the eraser, which allows you to delete the section you want without problem. The eraser only acts on the layer you have selected, so pay close attention to which layer you are on before erasing.
Paint can tool
You are surely familiar with the paint can since the days of Paint. It is used in the same way: you click with the paint can and that space will get the color you have chosen.
In some versions of Photoshop it is disabled. You will have to activate it in Edit > Toolbar; in that list, you must search for it and, once selected, press Done so that it appears in your toolbar.
pen tool
This is one of the basic Photoshop tools that needs practice. It is among the main Photoshop toolswell uses Bézier curves to make selections, it doesn’t matter if it is polygonal or curved. It is an ideal tool for making specific adjustments.
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