A quick guide to Adobe Photoshop’s Basic Tools
palette with a
description of each tool’s functions and shortcuts. The hidden tools have not
been covered here as this is just a quick start guide. For more in depth
details and functions please refer to the relevant tutorials as they are
presented. Essential for those brand new to Photoshop.
All the keyboard shortcuts are in ( ).
Move Tool
(V)
Use this tool to move things by left clicking with the mouse.
Usually it is used it to move a Layer around after it has been placed.
Usually it is used it to move a Layer around after it has been placed.
Rectangular
Marquee Tool (M)
This tool is for making selections on your image in a rectangular
shape.
This changes the area of your image that is affected by other tools or actions to be within the defined shape.
Holding the [Shift] key while dragging your selection, restricts the shape to a perfect square.
Holding the [Alt] key while dragging sets the center of the rectangle to where your cursor began.
This changes the area of your image that is affected by other tools or actions to be within the defined shape.
Holding the [Shift] key while dragging your selection, restricts the shape to a perfect square.
Holding the [Alt] key while dragging sets the center of the rectangle to where your cursor began.
Lasso Tool
(L)
Use this to draw selections in whatever shape you would like. This
tool is not very accurate for going around fine areas but works well if you
just want to select a large area.
Magic Wand
Tool (W)
This tool is used to select a color range. It will select the
block of color, or transparency, based on wherever you click. In the Options
Bar at the top, you can change the Tolerance to make your selections more/less
precise.
Crop Tool
(C)
The Crop Tool will crop your image or part of your image to the
size you specify in the values boxes in the options bar at the top. Press the
Enter/Return key, to commit the crop.
Eyedropper
Tool (I)
This tool works by changing your foreground color to whatever
color you click on. pressing the [X] key will toggle between your background
and foreground color.
Healing
Brush Tool (J)
Use this tool to repair scratches, specs and dust on images and to
remove small areas that need cleaning up. Choose your cursor/brush size, then
holding the [Alt] key, you select a nice/clean area of your image. Let go of
the Alt key and paint over the area to be removed by holding down the left
click on the mouse.
Brush Tool
(B)
This tool paints on your image, in whatever color you have
selected, and whatever size you have selected, by holding down the left click
on the mouse. There are various options for the brush tools sizes and shapes
which can be found in the options bar.
It is also used on layer masks for showing or hiding parts of the image. (Advanced)
It is also used on layer masks for showing or hiding parts of the image. (Advanced)
Clone Stamp
Tool (S)
This tool is similar to the Healing Brush Tool (see above). You
use it the exact same way, except this tool doesn’t blend at the end. It
creates a direct copy of the information from the first selected area to the
second, ie, cloning the sampled area.
History
Brush Tool (H)
This tool works in a similar way to the Brush Tool, except the
information that it paints with is from the original state of your image. If
you go Window > History, you can see the History Palette. The History Brush
tool paints with the information from whatever History state is selected.
Eraser Tool
(E)
This tool works like an eraser and erases the information wherever
you left click and drag.
If you’re on a Layer, it will erase the information with a transparent. If you are on the background layer, it will erase with whichever secondary color you have selected.
If you’re on a Layer, it will erase the information with a transparent. If you are on the background layer, it will erase with whichever secondary color you have selected.
Gradient Tool
(G)
With this tool you can make a gradient of colors. It creates a
blending of your foreground color and background color when you click and drag
it.
Blur Tool
(R)
The Blur tool is self explanatory and makes parts of your image
blur. Left click and drag to make things blurry.
Dodge Tool
(O)
This tool is used to lighten whichever area you use it on. It can
be set to Highlights, Midtones or shadows in the options bar at the top of the
program.
Pen Tool (P)
Use this tool for making accurate selections. You use the tool by
clicking to add a point. If you click and drag, it will change the shape of
your path, allowing you to bend and shape the path for accurate selections and
such. It takes a little time to learn this tool.
Horizontal
Type Tool (T)
This tool creates text. Click a single point, and start typing.
Click on the move tool to move the text around.
Path
Selection Tool (A)
This tool is used when working with paths. As this is only the
basic tools it won’t be covered here.
Rectangle
Tool (U)
This tool, by default, draws a Shape Layer in the form of a
rectangle. It fills the rectangle with whichever foreground color you have
selected.
Hand Tool
(H)
Use this for moving your entire image within a window. If you are
zoomed in close and your image area is larger than the window, you can use the
Hand Tool to navigate around your image. Left click and drag.
You can get to this tool at any time whilst using any other tool by pressing and holding the Space bar.
You can get to this tool at any time whilst using any other tool by pressing and holding the Space bar.
Zoom Tool
(Z)
Use this tool to zoom into your image. Pressing and holding the
Alt key will reverse the action. Holding the Shift key will zoom all of the
windows you have open at the same time. Double-click on the Zoom Tool in the
palette to go back to 100% view.
Color Picker
Almost at the bottom of the tool bar you will find your color
boxes. Foreground (in the front) and Background (in the back). Click on either
one to bring up the color select dialog box.
Quick Mask
Lastly there is the Quick Mask mode. This enables selection of
specified areas that have been masked using the brush tool after Quick mask has
been pressed. To enable the selection, re press the quick mask mode when all
areas required have been painted with the red mask.
