The Essentials of Photoshop for Creative Professionals
There are plenty of books on Photoshop for photographers; for everyone else, there’s Precision Photoshop: Creating Powerful Visual Effects. In clear, conversational language using extensive images and screenshots, this book gives you in-depth guidance on learning how to use Photoshop. The author shares her practical knowledge and insider tips gleaned from years working on visual effects in the entertainment business.
Requiring no prior experience, the book first offers a step-by-step beginner’s tutorial on the main features of Photoshop, with the tutorial files available on the book’s CRC Press web page. It next shows you how to manage various assets, such as text, 3D, or HDRI files, and provides solutions to the most common questions asked by new Photoshop users. The author explains how to work with camera raw files and describes how to unlock your artistic potential through Photoshop’s powerful tools. She also covers more advanced tutorials involving higher concepts and specific source images, such as creating panoramas, high-contrast images, 3D effects, and motion.
Illustrating key techniques with examples of production-quality work, this book delves deep into aspects most important to creative professionals. Whether you’re a beginner or more experienced user, you will find precise instruction on critical elements of the workflow.
The Cheat
Introduction
Before You Start
The Tutorial
Photoshop Setup and Overview
Starting/Setting Up Photoshop
Setting Adobe Photoshop to the Default Preferences
Work Area Overview
The Visual Bridge: Accessing and Organizing Files
Introduction
Installing Bridge CC
Workspace Overview
Finding Your Keys
Using Your Keys
Collections
Manage Color
Batch Renaming Your Files
Creating a Custom Layout
Exporting Bridge Adjustments
Search for Files and Folders
Stacks
Mini Bridge
Quickies
Introduction
I Just Need to Make This Picture Smaller
I Just Want to Make This Color Photo Black and White—or Maybe with Just a Little Color
I Just Want to Sharpen This Picture a Little
I Just Need to Get Rid of That (Wire/Timestamp/Other Annoying Inclusion)
I Just Want to Crop This Picture for Better Composition
I Just Want to Replace
I Just Want to Make a Seamless Pattern
I Just Want to Get Rid of the Noise in the Photo
I Just Want to Get Rid of the Red Eye in the Picture
I Just Want to Make This Picture into Something that Looks More Graphic
I Just Want to Print These All on One Page
Aw, These Shadows Ruined My Pictures
Going RAW
The RAW "Format"
Working in the RAW: Adobe Camera Raw Workflow/Controls
Merge to HDR Pro
One-Night Stands
Introduction
Spacescape
Auto-Blend to Sharpen
Create a Panorama
Old Photograph
Pencil-Drawing Effect
Tilt-Shift Miniaturization
Brushes
Introduction
Finding Brush Controls
The Brushes Palette
Shape Dynamics
Scattering
Texture
Dual Brush
Color Dynamics and Other Dynamics
Transfer
Brush Pose
Other Brush Tip Characteristics
Putting the Brush Palette to Use
Brush Blending Modes
Pencil
Color Replacement Tool
Mixer Brush
Custom Brushes
Brush Libraries
Second Date
Introduction
Chemical and Cross Processing
Eye Cream
Adding Depth of Field
Gritty Photo Koala
What Is Your Type?
Smarter in So Many Ways
Introduction
Smart Objects
3D
Learning Your Way around 3D
Video—Another Kind of 2D
Setting Your Workspace
Crash Course
Power User
Disintegrating Dancer
Pre-Vis Fly-Through
Surreal Painting
Efficiency and Display
Customizing Shortcuts
Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts
Automating Tasks
Other Action Presets
Creating Actions
Adding a Conditional
Editing or Changing an Action
Saving Your Set
Batch Processing
Creating a Droplet
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Display
Concepts, Definitions, and Terminology
Introduction
Image File Formats
Vector Formats
3D Program File Formats
Aspect Ratios
Film Format Nomenclature
File Resolution
Efficient Texture Size
Matting
Index
Biography
Lopsie Schwartz is a visual effects (VFX) and animation veteran who has worked at prestigious facilities, such as Weta Digital, Disney Animation, and Rhythm and Hues. Over the past 15 years, Lopsie has used Photoshop for commercials, major motion pictures, television shows, games, photo retouching, and fine art. She has also taught VFX and animation at various college-level institutions.