ptg Understanding Navigation and Measurement Systems Introduction When you go on a road trip, you need two things to make the trip a success: good navigational aids (maps), and an understanding of how to measure distances between two points on a road map (1 inch typically equals 100 miles). When you are working with Adobe Photoshop, one of the keys to making the journey a success is to understand the navigational and measurement aids available. Photoshop lets you choose a measurement system to fit a specific project. For example, if you're working on images destined for the Web or a monitor, you'll be using pixels as a measurement system. Conversely, if you're outputting to paper, or possibly a 4-color press, you'll likely choose inches or picas. Selecting between different measurement systems does not impact the quality of the final image, only how you measure distance. Trust me on this one; understanding how to measure dis- tance helps to make the journey an enjoyable experience (I know from experience). Having problems squinting at the small details of a photo- graphic image? Using the Zoom tool is a great way to get you focused where you need to be. Zooming into a specific section of a document makes touching up the fine details just that much easier. In addition, the Info panel gives you up-to- date information on the exact position of the cursor inside the document, as well as detailed color information that can be indispensable in color-correcting an image. The ability to create text annotations allows you to record document information that might be vital to the processing of the image and pass it on to anyone who opens the docu- ment. Photoshop's navigation and measurement systems are more than just information; they represent control of the doc- ument and control of the creative process. 2 2 What You’ll Do Change the View Size and Area with the Navigator Panel Change the Color of the Navigator Panel View Box Change the Screen Display Mode Change the View with the Zoom Tool Increase or Decrease Magnification Move Images in the Document Window Work with Multiple Documents Work with One Image in Multiple Windows Move Layers Between Two Open Documents Create Notes Work with the Info Panel Change How the Info Panel Measures Color Work with Rulers Create Tool Presets 33 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 34 Chapter 2 Photoshop's Navigator panel gives you an overall view of the image and the ability to navigate through the document or change the zoom size. Viewing images at different sizes gives you the ability to focus on small elements of the design without actually changing the image in any way. Once small areas of an image are enlarged, it's easier for you to make minute changes. Zoom size determines the visible size of an image; the zoom percentage can be seen in the document window. Zooming in (enlarging the image) by using the handy magnifying glass lets you work on and manipulate fine details, and then you can zoom out (reduce the image) to view how the changes impact the entire image. The Navigator panel contains a thumbnail view of the image, and under the thumbnail are easy-to-use controls that let you adjust the zoom of the image. In addition, changes made in the Navigator panel are immediately viewable in the active document window (what you see is what you get). Changing the View Size with the Navigator Panel Change the View Size with the Navigator Panel Select the Navigator panel. Use one of the following methods to change the view size: ◆ Drag the triangular slider to the right to increase the zoom or to the left to decrease the zoom. ◆ Click the small and large mountain icons, located to the left and right of the triangular slider, to decrease or increase the zoom. ◆ Enter a value from .33% to 1600% into the Zoom box. 2 1 1 Click mountain icons to increase or decrease the zoom. Drag slider to zoom Enter a zoom value Did You Know? There are additional ways to zoom in using the Navigator panel. In the View box, hold down the Ctrl key, and then drag to resize the active document. You can constrain the view box to drag horizontally or vertically. Hold down the Shift key, and then drag the view box horizontally or vertically. Navigator Panel Shortcut You can control the view of the document through a great shortcut. Simply click once in the Zoom input box on the Navigator panel, and then use the Up/Down arrow keys to increase or decrease the zoom value of the document 1% at a time. Not fast enough for you? Then hold down the Shift key, and use the Up/Down arrow keys to change the zoom size 10% at a time. Press the Enter key to see your changes reflected in the active document window. For Your Information From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 2 Understanding Navigation and Measurement Systems 35 Zoomed images are typically larger than the size of the document win- dow. When this happens, Photoshop adds navigational scroll bars to the bottom and the right of the document window. However, using scroll bars is not the only way to change your position within the image; the Navigator panel gives you a visible approach to changing the view- able area of the image. The view box in the Navigator panel represents the visible boundaries of the active document window, which is the viewable area of the image. Changing the View Area with the Navigator Panel Change the View Area with the Navigator Panel Select the Navigator panel. Drag the view box in the thumbnail of the active image. Click within the thumbnail. The position of the view box changes, which also changes the viewable area of the image in the document window. 3 2 1 3 1 2 Did You Know? You can show the Navigator panel. If the Navigator panel is not visible, click the Window menu, and then click Navigator. You can change the Zoom size of an image using the Navigator thumbnail. Hold down the Ctrl key (Win) or the A key (Mac), and then drag in the thumb- nail. When you release your mouse, the selected area expands. It's just like using the Zoom tool, except you're dragging in the Navigator's thumbnail. Conversely, if you drag a second time (this time using a larger rectangle), the image zooms out. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 36 Chapter 2 The colored box in the Navigator panel (proxy preview area) defines the viewable area of the image. It's important for the colored lines of the view box to stand out clearly against the image. The default color of the view box is a light red; however, some documents contain images that are predominantly the same color as the colored lines of the view- able area, making the viewing area difficult to identify. By changing the color of the lines, you can make sure they stand out against the image. This may seem like a small thing, but choosing a color that contrasts with my image significantly cuts down on my frustration level when I'm attempting to identify the viewable area. Changing the Color of the Navigator Panel View Box Change the View Box Color Select the Navigator panel. Click the Navigator Options button, and then click Panel Options. Click the Color list arrow, and then click a predefined color, or click Custom to select a color from the Color Picker dialog box. Click OK. 4 3 2 1 View box 3 4 1 2 Did You Know? You can increase the size of the Navigator panel’s thumbnail. Drag the lower right corner of the Navigator panel to expand the size of the panel. As the Navigator panel increases in size, so does the thumbnail. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 2 Understanding Navigation and Measurement Systems 37 In Photoshop, the Screen Display mode determines the background displayed behind the active image. For example, you can choose a Screen Mode that changes the background to black, and then hides all the panels. Since monitor backgrounds, combined with Photoshop's panels, add distracting colors to your workspace, changing the Screen Mode gives you a chance to isolate your image against a solid color background. Viewing your images against a black or gray background helps your eyes identify the true colors within an image. Changing the Screen Display Mode Change the Screen Mode Click Change Screen Mode button to toggle between screen modes or click the Change Screen Mode button arrow, and then select the mode you want: ◆ Standard Screen Mode. Displays the image against a gray, black, or custom color background (Win), or with the visible desktop (Mac). All menus and panels are visible. ◆ Full Screen Mode with Menu Bar. Centers the image, and displays it against a gray, black, or custom color background. ◆ Full Screen Mode. Centers the image, and displays it against a gray, black, or custom color background. (Default: Black) TIMESAVER Press F to toggle between the screen modes. 1 Full Screen Mode with Menu Bar Full Screen Mode 1 Standard Screen Mode Did You Know? You can temporarily hide all of the panels and toolbox. Press the Tab key to hide the toolbox and panels. Press the Tab key a second time to display the hidden toolbox and panels. Hold down the Shift key, and then press the Tab key to hide the panels, but not the Toolbo x or Option s ba r. In In terfac e preferences, you can choose to have either a border, a drop shadow or no effect for each screen mode. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 38 Chapter 2 Working with the Zoom tool gives you one more way to control exactly what you see in Photoshop. Just like the Navigator panel, the Zoom tool does not change the active image, but allows you to view the image at different magnifications. The Zoom tool is located towards the bottom of Photoshop's toolbox, and resembles a magnifying glass. The maxi- mum magnification of a Photoshop document is 1600%, and the mini- mum size is 1 pixel. Increasing the magnification of an image gives you control over what you see and gives you control over how you work. Large documents are difficult to work with and difficult to view. Many large documents, when viewed at 100%, are larger than the maximum size of the document window, requiring you to reduce the zoom in order to view the entire image. Changing the View with the Zoom Tool Zoom In the View of an Image Select the Zoom tool on the toolbox. Use one of the following methods: ◆ Click on the document. The image increases in magnification centered on where you clicked. ◆ Drag to define an area with the Zoom tool. The image increases in magnification based on the boundaries of the area you dragged. When you zoom in to 500% or more magnification, a Pixel Grid will appear, making it easy to make pixel-specific modifications. ◆ Bird's Eye View. If you are zoomed into an image, you can press and hold the H key, click with your mouse and zoom out. Then reposition the viewing rectangle to the next spot you want to zoom into and it will zoom you into that specific spot. 2 1 1 2 Zoom in Click and drag method From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 2 Understanding Navigation and Measurement Systems 39 Zoom Out the View of an Image Select the Zoom tool on the toolbox. Hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key, and then click on the screen to reduce the zoom of the active document. The zoom reduction centers on where you click on the active document. IMPORTANT Since images viewed in Photoshop are composed of pixels (like bricks in a wall), the only way to really see what the printed results of your artwork will look like is to view the image (even if it is too big for the screen) at 100%. 2 1 1 2 Zoom out Did You Know? You can zoom in or out using shortcut keys regardless of what tool you’re currently using. To zoom i n, p re ss Ctrl+Spacebar (Win) or A+Spacebar (Mac) and click or drag to define an area. To zoom out, press Ctrl+Space- bar+Alt (Win) or A+Spacebar+Option (Mac) and click or drag to define an area. You can always display a clear view. When you zoomed into your image at 33% or 66% in previous versions of Photoshop, you would get a jaggy pre- view. Now, no matter what magnifica- tion size you choose, the preview is crisp and clear. From the Library of Wow! eBook . tool is located towards the bottom of Photoshop& apos;s toolbox, and resembles a magnifying glass. The maxi- mum magnification of a Photoshop document is 160 0%, and the mini- mum size is 1 pixel area. You can always display a clear view. When you zoomed into your image at 33% or 66 % in previous versions of Photoshop, you would get a jaggy pre- view. Now, no matter what magnifica- tion size. zoom out. Then reposition the viewing rectangle to the next spot you want to zoom into and it will zoom you into that specific spot. 2 1 1 2 Zoom in Click and drag method From the Library