Getting To Know Photoshop 2

The Options Bar | Image Magnification

The Options Bar

Finding the Options Bar

The options bar is under the menu bar. If you do not see it, you may open by clicking windows=>options. Options should be checked in this menu for it to display.

To Dock or Undock

The options bar in the default layout is "docked". This means it is attached right under the menu bar. Grab the left side of it where you see the two vertical lines. and drag it down. The bar will undock and move. You will see the blue bar on the left side now. This is where you grab the bar to move it. If you want to dock it you place it back in position. It will go back to the docked state. You may also redoc by clicking window=> workspace=> reset palette locations.

Purpose of the options bar

The options bar is used to display the different options for each tool and some transformations. The left side of the options bar displays the active tool. Hit your M key and look at your options bar. The active tool is the marquee tool on the left side of the options bar.  You will see a variety of option settings available for this tool. Each tool has a different set of options so hit your L key and watch the options change. hit your g key and see the change.

Applying default settings for tool

The options bar has default settings. Once you change them, they will remember your last settings as you work. To reset your default settings you can right click on the picture of the tool and select reset tool, or reset all tools to do all of them.

You can also click the drop down arrow/carrot on the right side of the tool image on the options bar. this will show you the preset options for this tool.

When you have the presets box open, click the right hand carrot on it. you will be brought to a menu where you can reset the presets, reset your tools, replace your presets and so forth.

Click the Load Presets from this menu. You will be brought to your presets folder in your program software on your hard drive. You may have presets there to load which came with the program that are hidden. You may even find presets on the web that would benefit you for any particular tool option for you to use.

With this option you can also save settings as presets for use later on and even create files to transfer to other PC's to use and to use in newer version of photoshop.

Changing Option value settings

In options you will see toggle buttons for selections, drop down slider bars, blanks to fill in, blanks to adjust using up down arrows for raising the value or lowering the value. Most of these are intuitive.

• To cancel values before you apply simply hit the escape key on your keyboard. Some settings have a built in X on the options bar to use to cancel the setting.
• To apply some settings there will be a check box on the right side of your options bar.

Images Magnification

Open the image from lesson 1. You will see the image displayed at 100%. A change in magnification does not change the image. when you change magnification you only change your view for working on the image, not for final output.

Each time you change the magnification the number on the info bar changes at the bottom as well as the number in the title bar for the image.

Magnifying the image:

• Click the menu View=> Zoom In to magnify.
• You may also use the short cut ctrl + to magnify
• Select your zoom tool on tool bar and click on image.
• Hit your Z key and click on the image.

Reducing Magnification:

• Click The menu View=> Zoom Out to reduce.
• You can also hit ctrl -  to reduce
• Select your zoom tool with the options set to (-)
• Hit your z key to select the key and hit ALT key while click on the image to zoom out.

Fit To Screen is used to adjust the image so that it fits on your screen for your resolution and monitor size.

Using the Zoom Tool

The Zoom Tool gives you more control then the menu item. Apply the following to the image you have open.

1. Select the zoom tool and move the tool pointer over the image.
2. Center the zoom tool over one skater and click once to zoom. This will center your zoom in over this skater.
3. Hold down the alt key and watch the zoom tool + turn to a -. Click once to reduce it one magnification. Release the alt key.
4. Use the zoom tool to draw a marquee around the head of the skater. Plant the Zoom tool at one corner of your marquee area and drag it down to the opposite corner. This will make the marquee area fill your viewing area.
5. Once you have magnified a small portion to fit your viewing area, right click on your canvas with the zoom tool and select actual pixels
6. Use the zoom tool again to select a marquee area around the head to enlarge it. again.
7. Double click the zoom tool on your tool box to return your image to normal.
8. Click on another tool such as the Hand tool.
9. While you have another tool selected you can temporarily switch to the zoom in tool by holding your space bar and control key and click on your image to zoom. Release the keys.
10. While this other tool is still selected, you can temporary switch to the zoom out tool by holding space bar down with alt depressed on your keyboard. Click on your image. Release the keys.