On-Line Study Group

PhotoShop 6

Text: PhotoShop Bible

Read about these tools.

Tools

  • Lasso, Marquee, Line/Pencil, Dodge

    • Shortcut Keys:

    L = Lasso
    M = Marquee
    N = Line, Pencil (v5)
    B = Pencil (v6)
    O = Dodge
    P = Pen
    Q = Quick Mask

    Exercises:

    When trying these exercises, remember: If you can't paint, first thing to do is press Enter or just click in the program.

    When that doesn't work, check whether there is a selection active. If there is not, check the Options palette. These are the two most likely sources for problems.
     

    The Lasso

    1. Choose a color.
    2. Press L for Lasso. Select (drag) an irregular shape.
    3. Press Alt-Delete to fill with foreground color.
    4. Cycle through the Lasso tools with Shift - L, or with L, if you have set your preferences to allow this.
    5. Note the different cursors that appear.
    6. Draw a polygon with the "pointy" lasso. To stop using the very sticky pointy lasso, you can double-click to close the selection, or press Esc to get rid of the critter.
    7. Deselect and then use the Magnetic Lasso to select one of the color areas in the image. (I'm not a fan of the Magnetic Lasso. Selecting with the Wand or with Color Range seems to me a better choice.)
    The Marquee
    1. Press M for Marquee.
    2. Press M again, or Shift-M to toggle between the rectangular Marquee and the Elliptical Marquee
    3. Drag a rectangular Marquee and fill with foreground color (Alt-Delete)
    4. Drag an elliptical Marquee and fill with foreground color (Alt-Delete)
    The Line/Pencil

    The Pencil is an unloved tool. It has a ragged edge. But if you need a non-antialiased edge, you might need to use it.

    Because it's unloved, it keeps getting moved around and given different shortcut keys. In version 5, it's the N key, and it's grouped with the Line. In v6, it's grouped with the brush, and the shortcut is B.

    1. Press N or B to select the Pencil tool.
    2. Draw a freehand shape. Note, this is a pencil line, not a selection.
    3. Press K or G for Bucket, choose a color and click inside your freehand shape.
    The Dodge Tool (Dodge, Burn, Sponge)
    1. Create some filled shapes with the lasso, marquees and pencil. Use different colors to fill.
    2. Press O (the letter, not the numeral) to select the Dodge tool.
    3. Click and hold on the Dodge tool icon on the toolbox to see the different tools - Dodge, Burn and Sponge.
    4. Select a comfortably large brush.
    5. Test the Dodge tool on the colors.
    6. Change the Options for the tool and experiment some more.
    7. Press Shift-O to cycle through the three tools. Experiment with each, and with the options for each.
    Pen tool will be discussed at a later time. This tool creates Bezier curves and paths. Its marks do not print.

    Quick Mask will be discussed at a later time. If you get into it by pressing the Q key, press Q again to get out of it. You'll know you are in it because the only color you can paint with is a washed out red, and when you come out of it, anything you painted is selected. (This is its strength. It lets you paint selections.)
      


    Copyright Christine C. Frey, 1999
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