Photoshop Beginner Tool Tutorial

Ok sports fans, I’ve been requested to do another tutorial. So here it is. Before you learn anything else you have to learn what your tools are. Now don’t’ pass out
( Also please note that my tutortial for working with stock models is in the works )

Now please know that I personally have Photoshop Elements and the upper PS components will have a much larger and more varied layout but overall all the PS programs have the same tools.

Now lets take a small tour of your tools.
Right. First things first take a look at your left-hand side. See all that junk up there? Those are your marvelous tools you’ll be using.
Let’s get started
Take a look at the tool layout.
Your first tool there is your
MOVE TOOL
- You use this when you want to move a (unlocked meaning unmovable ) image or to resize it. This can also move and resize any other object including text.
ZOOM TOOL
- All this tool does is simply zoon in and out of your work space, it does not hurt your work in anyway. A helpful hint: If you have a mouse with a roller in the middle of the left and right mouse buttons you will be able to simply scroll in and out with that.
HAND TOOL
This simply allows you to pick something up, which you can also do with your move tool.
EYEDROPPER TOOL
- This is a very useful tool in the fact that it helps you find exactly what color you might be working with, whither this be a brush, a paint, whatever. It simply picks up whatever color you might put under it. Pure and simple.
MARQUEE TOOL
- All this is, is a way to either select something in a circular or rectangular way. It’s called a marquee because when you select something the outlines circle with little lights. It’s no big deal.
LASSO TOOL
- This is probably your most important tool especially in this tutorial. It’s purpose is to grab on to the outlines of objects so that you can select something from a background…..like a model perhaps?
MAGIC WAND TOOL
- This tool is very useful in the fact that it selects darn near everything. Now wait don’t freak out. It’s works great with a stock model or any object with a smooth background to it. Later you can go back and have PS select only what you what in the middle of the picture, but we’ll get to that later.
SELECTION BRUSH TOOL
- This is were your brushes will come in. You know all those wonderful stock artist around here that make those brushes to make different effects or things? You’ll be using that in this tool. You can also use your default brushes here too, meaning the brushes that have already come with your PS program.
TYPE TOOL
- Common since would tell you what this is. It’s a text tool. If you want any kind of lettering in your work, this is the tool.
CROP TOOL
- If you have ever worked with a photo machine in any store, this is your cropping option. Cut away sections you don’t like, that’s all it is.
COOKIE CUTTER TOOL
- I personally think is sort of dumb tool but it comes with this particular version of PS. All it does is cut your work into a particular shape, and I’m pretty sure that after all the work you have done you don’t want it cut into a heart.
STREIGHTENING TOOL
Pure and simple it straightens out your pictures if they are off center. Pretty useless when your move tool does this better to your own needs.
RED EYE REMOVER
- Got a model with a bit of red eye? This tool (tries ) to remove it. Personally I would paint over it or clone…..but we are getting too advanced. If it works for you great.
SPOT HEALING BRUSH
- This is a handy little tool as when you find what I like to call UFOs in you background which can be a little spot or something in your background image that is really annoying. This tool removes that. But be careful this tool clones what is around it, and sometimes it can look kinda odd if you have a three eyed model, but it really works on skies, and landscape images.
CLONE TOOL
- Probably one of the photo-manipulator’s best friends. All this tool does is copy what is around it. You can fix mistakes, add on. You name it.
ERASER TOOL
- The title says it. Erase things in your work. This is best used on your layers because if you use this on your background you erase your background down to your work board with the checkers which never looks good.
BRUSH TOOL
- Ever played with Paint on your computer? Basically this is what you do with Paint, but you have the option of airbrushing, which is wonderful when working with models. Hey it’s done in magazines, so why not here?
PAINT BUCKET TOOL
- Again if you ever played around with Paint on your computer all this tool does is fill the image with a your selected color.
GRADIENT TOOL
- This tool fades out a partial amount of any image, or object by filling it with a certain amount of a color. It has a very PowerPoint effect to it, but sometimes it’s very useful.
COSTUME SHAPE TOOL
-This is like your cookie cutter tool only that it doesn’t cut your main image into it’s shape but fills it with your chosen color.
BLUR TOOL
- This is a nifty little tool that allows you to blur, sharpen or smudge you images. You see that little arrow in the icon’s corner? If you hold down your mouse on the icon long enough it will give you the other tool options.
DOGE TOOL
- This tool is like the blur in that you can either bring out light or darken it with a burn. You can access that option in the same way I explained in the blur.
FORGROUND/BACKGROUND COLOR
- All this is, is the color you chose your background to be, but if you are putting a stock image over it, what does it matter? Still this tool is also your color chooser for your tools, PS objects…ext.

Some Helpful Hints
When you look at some of your tools You will notice a little arrow in the icon’s corner. If you hold down your mouse on the icon long enough it will give you the other tool options. This allows you to access the other tools in the tools category.

Now if you have any trouble with these tools are you simply want to learn something more advanced please let me know!