Photoshop CS4 - Online Course

Adobe Photoshop CS4 is the leading digital image editing software. The Photoshop CS4 interface lets you work intuitively to design and manipulate images for print layouts, web publishing, multimedia, video, and photography. Photoshop CS4 is the perfect tool for establishing a workflow that can help you express creativity in visual form. The procedures and techniques you see in this course were developed on and for a Windows PC.

This series is for anyone who wants to learn about Adobe Photoshop CS4, and see procedures and techniques developed on and for a Windows PC. This online course contains 13 lessons and should take approximately 25 hours to complete.

Lesson 1: Getting Started with Photoshop CS4 (2.0) hours

Getting Started with Photoshop CS4 teaches you how to compose an image, use the Mask panel, add graphics with the Clone tool, add an adjustment layer, add a text layer, and make a 3D image. This course explains some of the hottest new features available in this version of Photoshop. This course steps you through creating a 3D postcard. The composition for the postcard will come from several different sources, allowing you to use some of the new cloning, masking, and adjustment features. Topics include Taking a Look at the Final Project, Composing an Image, Using the Mask Panel, Adding Graphics with the Clone Tool, Adding an Adjustment Layer, Adding a Text Layer, and Making a 3D Image.

Lesson 2: Exploring the Workspace (2.0) hours

Exploring the Workspace teaches you how to identify common tools on the Tools panel, zoom in and out of a document with the Zoom tool, rotate the image view of a document with the Rotate View tool, distinguish the differences between three available screen modes, access panels in the panel docking area with the Basic workspace, and save a custom workspace. This course familiarizes you with the features of Adobe Photoshop CS4 that allow you to customize the workspace as you see fit. Topics include Exploring the Tools Panel, Navigating the Image Area, Using Tabbed Windows and Screen Modes, Using Panels, and Expanding and Customizing Panels.

Lesson 3: Using Adobe Bridge (2.0) hours

Using Adobe Bridge teaches you how to navigate Adobe Bridge, create and work with folders in Adobe Bridge, create and locate metadata, add keywords to images, use Bridge to create a Web gallery, and build a PDF contact sheet. This course explains the use of Adobe Bridge in relation to the other CS4 applications and Adobe Photoshop. Bridge is a central hub that you can use to locate, organize, and browse the documents you need to create print, Web, video, and audio content. Topics include Working with Adobe Bridge, Using Folders, Creating Metadata and Keywords, Finding Files, Creating a Web Photo Gallery, Creating a PDF Contact Sheet, and Changing the Adobe Bridge View.

Lesson 4: Understanding Photoshop Basics (2.0) hours

Understanding Photoshop Basics teaches you how to describe document settings, remove backgrounds, save files, combine images, work with layers, soften hard image edges, add text to images, describe different image file formats, and change color settings. This course explains several of the fundamental uses of Adobe Photoshop CS4. This course teaches about combining images by working with layers. This course also features information on the different image file formats that can be used in Photoshop. Topics include Combining Images, Transforming Combined Images, Removing Backgrounds and Stacking Layers, Refining Edges, Adding Text, Saving Photoshop Files, Choosing a New Color Profile, and Adjusting Image Size and Saving as PDF.

Lesson 5: Making the Best Selections (3.0) hours

Making the Best Selections teaches you how to use the selection tools, refine your selections, transform selections, use the Pen tool, and save selections. This course explains the options that are available for making selections in Photoshop CS4. Building up skills with the selection tools is critical to making natural-looking manipulations and adjustments to an image. This course provides many methods that can be used individually or combined to create the best selection. Topics include Square and Center-Point Selections, Creating a Layer from a Selection, Using the Magic Wand Tool, Using the Lasso and Quick Selection Tools, Refining Selection Edges, Saving and Copying Selections, Using the Pen Tool, Selecting an Area with the Pen, and Pen Tool Selection Tips.

Lesson 6: Painting and Retouching (3.0) hours

Painting and Retouching teaches you how to select colors, use the Brush tool, apply transparency, use the blend modes, and retouch images. This course explains the RGB and CMYK color models and how to use them in Adobe Photoshop CS4. This course also discusses how to retouch images using cloning and healing tools. Topics include Selecting Colors, Painting in Photoshop CS4, Changing Opacity and Applying Color, Blending Modes and the Eyedropper, Retouching Images and Repairing Fold Lines, The History Panel and Healing Brushes, The Patch Tool and Clone Source Panel, and Cloning from Another Source.

Lesson 7: Creating a Good Image (2.0) hours

Creating a Good Image teaches you how to use color settings and the histogram, discover a neutral, use curves, and use Unsharp masking. This course explains several different settings you can use to correct color, lighting, or sharpness in order to get the best picture possible. Topics include Color Settings and the Histogram, Making Image Adjustments, Defining Highlights and Shadows, Adjusting Midtones and Neutrals, and Sharpening Images.

Lesson 8: Working with Layers (3.0) hours

Working with Layers teaches you how to describe and use layers, select and move layers, use layer masks, create compositions, and apply clipping masks. This course provides comprehensive information on using layers in Adobe Photoshop CS4. Layers are most helpful to build and use when creating professional composite images. Topics include Building Layers, Selecting Layers, Stacking Order, Visibility, and Masks, Preserving Transparency, Creating Compositions, Creating and Editing Layer Masks, Cloning and Aligning Layers, Applying Filters to Layers, Creating Type Layers, and Layer Styles and Clipping Masks.

Lesson 9: Doing More with Layers (2.0) hours

Doing More with Layers teaches you how to make color changes with adjustment layers, use the Black and White adjustment layer, combine layer effects, and apply layer fill and opacity settings. This course discusses creating adjustment layers, layer styles, and other advanced layer options. The topics discussed in this course are geared towards maintaining original image information while applying effects. Topics include Changing Colors with Adjustment Layers, Refining Adjustment Layers, Adding Pattern Fill Layers, Adjusting Black and White, Adding Tints and Gradients, Adding Text Layers, Using Layer Styles, and Saving and Accessing Layer Styles.

Lesson 10: Using Smart Objects (1.0) hour

Using Smart Objects teaches you how to open an image as a Smart Object, convert a layer to a Smart Object, place and edit a Smart Object, and replace the contents of a Smart Object layer. This course covers using Smart Objects to retain an image's original information, even after a filter has been applied. It also covers placing graphics as Smart Objects, converting them to Smart Objects right in Photoshop, and even combining Smart Objects for greater flexibility and creativity. Topics include Using Smart Objects.

Lesson 11: Using Filters (1.0) hour

Using Filters teaches you how to work with filters and the Filter gallery, fade filter effects, take advantage of Smart Filters, and use Vanishing Point. This course explains the fundamentals of applying filters, and shows how to use advanced filter features, like the Filter Gallery and Vanishing Point. Topics include Using Filters.

Lesson 12: Creating Web and Video Images (1.0) hour

Creating Web and Video Images teaches you how to create Web and video presets, save a still image for use on the Web, save a still image with transparency for video, and build animation for Web and video. This course explains how to use Photoshop CS4 to style and distribute text, edit image slices for use with a Web page, and create video files and animations. Topics include Creating Web and Video Images.

Lesson 13: Working with 3D Objects (1.0) hour

Working with 3D Objects teaches you how to prepare an image for 3D, create a 3D object, adjust 3D lighting, and animate a 3D object. This course explains how to convert a standard two-dimensional image into a 3D image by creating a 3D object and adjusting the lighting. Topics include Working in Three Dimensions.