[TUT] Photoshop begginer tips.

[Spl3en]

>
The goal of this tutorial is to learn you how to make easy, useful, and beautiful effects, using Photoshop.
> Feel free to comment this tutorial, Photoshop is really full of tips, and you will never stop to learn a little more everyday.
Click to see the final goal of this tutorial :

Spoiler (Click to View)

I ) "Scan Lines" effect.

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  Steps :
  > 1 - Create a new document. (Height : 4px ; Width : 4px)
  > 2 - Zoom the most you can.
  > 3 - Take the pencil tool.
  > 4 - Create a new layer
  > 5 - Hide the Background default layer.
  > 6 - Dray a line on the new layer, like this :
  
  
  
  > 7 - Edit > Define Pattern ... Put in the name "Scan Lines", then OK.
  
  > 8 - Ok, you're pattern is now saved !
  
  > But ... Hey! How to apply this on an image ?
  Easy ! Right Clic on the layer where you want to add the scanlines, then "Blending Option"
  A new window is going to be displayed, go into "Texture", and then choose your new pattern !
  For exemple, we are going to apply this effect on the SupportForum logo.
  
  
  And let's play a bit with the configuration in the "Texture" tab...
  Here is it !
  
  

II ) "Shadows" and "Opacity" effects.
/!\ This part of the tutorial has been inspired by Oyoh, but not leeched at all.

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  + =>
  
  
  
  
• Take a look on the precedent image (the SupportForums one)... You will notice that there is a little shadow under the image.
  This is not negligeable, that makes the image enhancive.
  
  > How to make it ?
  Right click on the layer where you want to add the shadow, then "Blending Option", and then look at in the "Drop Shadow" tab.
  
  Ok, now, let's make the frame.
  
  Steps :
  > 1 - Create a new layer.
  > 2 - Fill it with blue color.
  > 3 - Go on Blending Option of this layer, and put a shadow.
  > 4 - Go in "Stroke", choose the size : 1 and the color : Black. Then, press OK.
  > 5 - Now take the rectangular selection tool, and select the area you want to show on you're image. Then press DEL, for deleting it.
  > 6 - Change the "Fill" (under Opacity) of your layer to 40%.
  
  Here is it, you have your frame !
  Don't hesitate to change colours, or configuration in the Blending Options...
  

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III ) Glow and blur.

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• The secret of the glow is the "Gradient Tool". Let's see the steps for the sphere.
  
  Steps :
  > 1 - Create a new layer.
  > 2 - Take the "Elliptical Marquee Tool", and select a sphere on the working space.
  > 3 - Select the Gradient Tool, clic on the top of the sphere and drag your mouse to the bottom. This is going to make the gradiant color :
  
  
  
  > 4 - Take again the Elliptical Marquee Tool, then select an other sphere, a bit smaller, in the big sphere.
  > 5 - Take again the Gradiant Tool, and change the gradiant option to "Foreground to Transparent", then take the color White. like this :
  
  
  
  > 6 - Now fill the small sphere : click to the top and drag it to the bottom.
  
  
  Now you can play as you want with the Blending Options.
  
  
  Let's see a bit about blur.
  
  > How to make it ?
  Choose any image, duplicate its layer.
  Then, go in Filter > Blur > Glaussian Blur, and choose your radius.
  Then, put the blur layer under the original layer.
  An other tips : You can change the opacity of the original layer, this make sometimes a good effect. Example :
  
  
  

> Now, you are (almost with a bit more experience) able to do something like that :




This tutorial is finished !
Hope you have learnt something
Don't hesitate to ask questions.

[Skill]

This is a very well written tutorial. I like it.

How long did it take you to create it overall? (The tutorial)

[Spl3en]

Thanks
I began 1h30 ago.

edit : or maybe 2 hours

[uber1337]

Absolutely loved the tut, nice share, I have been meaning to properly learn to use Photoshop

[ProspectDotNet]

This is a great tutorial Spleen. I will use this to practice those techniques!

[Extasey]

Thanks man, +Rep!

[Jake]

Nice tutorial... very useful things to learn.

[Spl3en]

Thank you all for your comments.
I will see for making a second tutorial about some Photoshop advanced tips.

[Extasey]

Awesome! Can't wait!

[Guerreiro]

Definitely a very nice awesome step-by-step tutorial with good illustrations.