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Basic Help for Adobe Photoshop
Graphics Programs
Adobe Photoshop is a wonderful program, but it is serious overkill for most folks. An affordable, web friendly graphics program is Paintshop Pro.
Getting Started
  • Only the computers in BA1W, and the computers under the "printing" sign in BA1S have Adobe Photoshop installed (it's big and expensive, remember? :)
  • Click on "start" slide to "programs" "adobe Photoshop" and then click "Adobe Photoshop" to start.
  • Always remember to change to the A: Drive :)
Resizing Images
  1. In adobe photoshop, click "file" then "open"
  2. Change to the A: drive, select your file and click "open"
  3. Click on "Image" in the menu, and then "image size"
  4. It is usually best to reduce the size by 1/2, or 1/4, or 1/8
  5. However, you can set it to the size you used with the "width" option in the <IMG SRC=""> tag.
  6. You can shrink a file, and it looks ok. If you enlarge a file, it looks horrible, so you may want to "file" "save as" under a new name :)
  7. NOTE: Handy trick to speed loading of images. When you have the file the size you want, write down the actual width and height, then
    • Enter them in the <IMG SRC=""> tag
    • ie. width="40" height="60"
    • Knowing the actual size of an image ahead of time allows netscape to load the pictures faster, as it knows how much space it will take up.
Cutting out a Chunk of your Image
  1. Have the picture you want loaded into Photoshop
  2. In the toolbar window, click on the "dashed square"
  3. Click and hold the mouse where you want the upper left corner of your cut
  4. Drag the mouse to the lower right corner of where you want to cut
  5. Let go of the mouse button
  6. Go to "edit" "Cut"
  7. Now, go to "file" and "new"
  8. Just click accept, you may notice an odd size, that's ok.
  9. Go to "edit" and "paste" and it fits perfectly (which is why the size seemed different)
  10. Now at this point, you can't save it as a jpg file. This is ***IMPORTANT*** Adobe uses layers whenever you cut and past, and you must get rid of them first.
    • Go to "Layers" and then "Flatten Image"
  11. Now you can go "file" "save as" and change the type to jpeg (jpg)
Making a Transparent GIF
  1. This can be a major pain, but it can be done.
  2. If it is already a .gif, you can skip the next few steps.
  3. Open the file (.jpg or .jpeg)
  4. Click on "file" "export"
  5. "Gif89a export"
  6. "OK"
  7. Save it with a .gif ending
Now, that you have it as a .GIF, do the following
  1. Close the .jpg version if it's still open.
  2. Click on "file" "open" change to the A: drive and open the .gif file
  3. Again, "file" then "Export" then "gif89a export"
  4. Now, in the options window, you can click on the colors you want to be transparent in the image.
  5. Select ok, then save it (same name or different, your choice)
  6. Load it in Netscape (file, open page, choose file etc) to check it out.
Creating a long thin background Image
  1. This will give you the effect of solid bars etc for your background
  2. Click on "file" "new"
  3. Set "width" to 1650 and height to 2
  4. Use the "magnifying glass" tool to zoom in a bit If the color selector isn't visible, go to "Window" and select the option
  5. Choose the colors you want by clicking on them, then use the "brush" or the "pencil" and paint the colors you want.
  6. To get an idea of where you are, go to "Window" "show navigator" and it will tell you your position in inches
  7. Save it as a jpeg or a gif, up to you.
  8. Now, when you put background="filename.jpg" in the <BODY> tag, it will show up. (Remember, "filename" is whatever YOU named it. ;)
Scanning Images
  1. Start Adobe Photoshop (see above)
  2. "file" "import" "Twain32"
  3. A window with a parrot pops used to pop up. Now a different program pops up. Click on "preview" or "scan" to get a preview.
  4. When the preview pops up, adjust the dotted line to surround the area you want to scan
  5. If the image doesn't show up in color (and your photo IS in color) click on "options" and change it to "color photo best"
  6. Click "Final" (used to be accept)
  7. Wait. :)
  8. The new image should open up inside Adobe Photoshop
  9. Click "File" "Save as"
    1. Change file type to "jpeg"
    2. Location to "A:" drive
    3. Give it a simple name.jpg
    4. When the quality window pops up, leave it set at around 6 (medium)

IMPORTANT NOTE ON SCANNING:
There are some possible problems with scanning. The main points to remember are

  • The scanner must be turned on BEFORE the machine boots. If the green light in the front isn't on, turn the scanner on and reboot.