The Basics - Photoshop Tools Part 3 of 3

The Basics – Photoshop Tools Part 3 of 3

March 22, 2010 in Featured, Photoshop by Rufino

The Basics – Photoshop Tools Part 3 of 3

This tutorial is a continuation of our tutorials: “The Basics – Photoshop Tools Part 1 of 3” and “The Basics – Photoshop Tools Part 2 of 3“

For recap, these are the tools that are discussed in part 1 and 2: Move Tool, Rectangular Marquee Tool, Elliptical Marquee Tool, Single Row Marquee Tool, Single Column Marquee Tool,Lasso Tool, Polygon Lasso Tool, Magnetic Lasso Tool, Quick Selection Tool, Magic Wand Tool, Crop Tool, Slice Tool, Slice Select Tool, Eyedropper Tool, Color Sampler Tool, Ruler Tool, Note Tool, Spot Healing Brush Tool, Healing Brush Tool, Patch Tool, Red Eye Tool, Brush Tool, Pencil Tool, Color Replacement Tool, Clone Stamp Tool, Pattern Stamp Tool, History Brush Tool, Art History Brush Tool, Eraser Tool, Background Eraser Tool, Magic Eraser Tool, Gradient Tool, Paint Bucket Tool, Blur Tool, Sharpen Tool, Smudge Tool, Dodge Tool, Burn Tool, Sponge Tool, and Pen Tool. Now, lets move forward with the list and I will discuss the Part 3, the last part of the Photoshop tutorial.

Author: Rufino Peligrino Jr.

Here is the last list of the Photoshop Tools.

Freeform Pen Tool (P)
- The Freeform Pen Tool is used to draw paths and vector shapes easily by adding anchor points automatically. Click the Freeform Pen Tool which is under the same group as the Pen Tool. Set the options to your liking in the Options bar. The options for the Freeform Pen Tool are just the same as the Pen Tool options in the Options bar except for the Magnetic option.

The Magnetic option allows you to switch to a Magnetic Pen that clings to the edges of the contrast objects automatically.

- Click and hold your mouse button and draw like a pencil.

Add Anchor Point Tool
- The Add Anchor Point Tool is used mainly to add anchor points to anywhere in your image.

Delete Anchor Point Tool
- The Delete Anchor Point Tool is used for the main reason of deleting any anchor points in your image.

Convert Point Tool
- The Convert Point Tool is used to edit the existing paths and vector shapes by means of converting the smooth anchor points to make corner anchor points or vice versa. Click the Convert Point Tool under the same group as the Pen Tool. Then, click on any smooth anchor point in order to convert it to a corner anchor point. On the other hand, to convert a smooth anchor point back, just drag away starting from the corner anchor point.

Horizontal Type Tool (T)
- The Horizontal Type Tool is used to create and edit vector based texts inside a different layer. Click the Horizontal Type Tool below the Pen Tool. In the Options bar, you can see these following options:

Set the options for the font: family, size, anti-aliasing, alignment, and color.

Using this option, you can also create a warped text for your texts.

More options will pop up when you click the Character and Paragraph panel. Set them to your desired settings.

- To create a text, make sure the tool is activated. Now, click on the part of the image that you want to put your text. Then, type in your text.

Vertical Type Tool (T)
- The Vertical Type Tool is just the same as the Horizontal Type Tool except that it types the text in a vertical manner.

Horizontal Type Mask Tool (T)
- The Horizontal Type Mask Tool is used to create a selection in a type-shaped form. The type selections can be moved, filled, stroked, and copied just like all other selections. Click the Horizontal Type Mask Tool which is under the same group as the Horizontal Type Tool. Make sure that the activated layer is the one that you want to put your text into. Set your desired options in the Options bar. The options for the Horizontal Type Mask Tool are exactly the same as the Horizontal Type Tool and Vertical Type Tool. Now, click the part of the image that you want your text. By doing this you will notice that there is some kind of a quick red mask that will cover the active layer. Type in your text and you’re done.

Vertical Type Mask Tool (T)
- The Vertical Type Mask Tool is just the same as the Horizontal Type Mask Tool except that it types the text in a vertical manner.

Path Selection Tool (A)
- The Path Selection Tool is used to move and select the components and anchors point of the existing path and vector shape masks. Click the Path Selection Tool located below the Horizontal Type Tool. Then, click at the path or shape component in the image window that you wish to select.
- To show the bounding box together with your selected path, click on the Show Bounding Box button in the Options bar.
- To move the selected path or shape component, just simply click and drag it.
- To delete a selected shape or path component, just hit the Delete key.
- In order to select two or more path and shape components, just click on the path and shape components that you want to select while holding down the Shift key.
- When two or more components are selected, you can combine or align them to make a single path using the corresponding buttons in the Options bar.

Rectangle Tool (U)
- The Rectangle Tool is used to create rectangular paths and shapes. Click the Rectangle Tool located below the Path Selection Tool to activate it. In the Options bar, you can see the following options:

The Shape Layers option allows you to create shape layers.

The Paths option allows you to draw paths or shape outlines.

The Fill Pixels option allows you to make rasterized shapes in the current layer.

To set the Geometry options, click on the button.

Set the color for the shape that you create.

When you want to create multiple shapes, use these options:

The create new shape layer option allows you to create a new shape within a separate layer.

The Add to shape area option allows you to create many shapes using the same layer.

The Subtract from shape area option allows you to subtract shapes in your current shape layer.

The Intersect shape areas option allows you to intersect in existing shapes using the same layer.

The Exclude overlapping shape areas option allows you to create a new shape using the current layer by subtracting overlapping areas.

You can also add styles to your created shape layers by choosing one in the Style picker option.

Meanwhile, when you want to create paths, you can choose from these options:

The Add to path option allows you to create multiple paths in the same layer.

The Intersect to path area option allows you to intersect in existing paths in the same layer.

The Exclude overlapping path areas option allows you to create a new path using the current layer by subtracting overlapping areas.

On the other hand, when using the Fill Pixels option, you must set the Blending mode and the Opacity option to your liking.

- To create a shape or path, just simply click and drag into your image.

Rounded Rectangle Tool (U)
- The Rounded Rectangle Tool is used to create rectangular paths and shapes but with rounded corners. Click the Rounded Rectangle Tool which is under the same group as the Rectangle Tool. The options and instructions for the Rounded Rectangle Tool is exactly the same as the Rectangle Tool except for just one option, the Radius option.

The Radius option allows you to set the amount of the corner rounding.

Ellipse Tool (U)
- The Ellipse Tool is used to create elliptical paths and shapes. Click the Ellipse Tool that is located under the same group as the Rectangle Tool. And also, the Ellipse Tool options are just the same as the options for the Rectangle Tool. The only difference is the fact that it creates an ellipse instead of a rectangle.

Polygon Tool (U)
- The Polygon Tool is used to create polygonal paths and shapes. Click the Polygon Tool which is under the same group as the Rectangle Tool. The options and instructions for the Polygon Tool is exactly the same as the Rectangle Tool except for just one option, the Sides option.

The Sides option allows you to set the number of sides for your polygon.

Line Tool (U)
- The Line Tool is used to create line paths and shapes. Click the Line Tool which is under the same group as the Rectangle Tool. The options and instructions for the Polygon Tool is exactly the same as the Rectangle Tool except for just one option, the Weight option.

The Weight option allows you to set the width of the line that you want to create.

Custom Shape Tool (U)
- The Custom Shape Tool is used to create custom shapes and paths. Click the Custom Shape Tool which is under the same group as the Rectangle Tool. The options and instructions for the Custom Shape Tool is exactly the same as the Rectangle Tool except for just one option, the Shape picker option.

The Shape picker option allows you to choose various different kinds of shapes.

Hand Tool (H)
- The Hand Tool lets you navigate around an image. Click the Hand Tool which is located below the Shape Tool group. In the Options bar, you can see the following options:

There are four standard viewing modes that you can select. The Actual Pixels, Fit Screen, Fill Screen, and Print Size.

- Click on the image and drag to move around the image area.

Rotate View Tool (R)
- The Rotate View Tool is used to rotate an image without transforming it. Note: It only works when OpenGL is enabled. Click the Rotate View Tool which is under the same group as Hand Tool. You can click and drag to rotate the image. A compass will then appear to indicate the north of the image no matter what is the angle of your image. Or, you can enter a value in the Rotation option to indicate the degrees of shifting. Or lastly, you can click and drag the Set Angle of Rotation option to control the view. If you want to view the original view of the image, click the Preset View button.

Zoom Tool (Z)
- The Zoom Tool is used zoom in and zoom out of your image. In using the Zoom Tool, every click allows you to magnify or reduce the image view to the next percentage and it centers the display to the point where you click. The maximum magnification level is 3200%, in which after that percentage, the magnifying glass will appear empty.
- Click the Zoom Tool located below the Hand Tool. As default, the pointer looks like a magnifying glass having a plus sign on its center. Then click on the center of the image area to magnify it. To reduce or zoom out the view, click the zoom out icon in the Options bar, and then click on the center of the area of your image that you want to reduce the view. Or you can just simply click on the center of the image area where you want to zoom out while holding down the Alt key for Windows or Option key for Mac.
- In the Options bar, you can see these following options: