Adobe Photoshop Basics

The Gradient Tool
The Gradient tool allows you to apply graduated color fills that blend from one color to another. Gradients are not just limited to two-color gradations, you can create custom gradients using several colors and varying levels of transparency for unlimited variations. The Gradient tool shortcut is G. In Photoshop 5.x, Shift+G toggles the five types of gradient fill types. In Photoshop 6, the gradient fill type is selected from the option bar and Shift+G toggles between the gradient and paint bucket tools.

There are five types of gradients: Linear, Radial, Angle, Reflected, and Diamond.

The gradient tool options allow you to choose and edit gradients. As with all the tools, the options can be accessed by double clicking the toolbox button in Photoshop 5.x, and via the options bar in Photoshop 6.

The transparency checkbox enables gradients with transparency, otherwise the transparent areas are filled with the neighboring color.

Dither adds a slight bit of noise to the gradient to reduce banding when gradients are printed.

Reverse flips the order of colors in the gradient.

The gradient style is selected from the menu on either the options palette or the options bar. In Photoshop 5.x, the edit button allows you to edit and create new gradients. In Photoshop 6, clicking on the gradient preview in the options bar brings up the Gradient Editor.

Pattern Fills
You can also use patterns as paint and fills in Photoshop. Patterns are handled a bit differently in Photoshop version 5 and version 6.

In version 5, you need to define a pattern every time you want to use a different one. Defining a pattern is simple, just make a selection and choose Edit > Define Pattern. Anytime a pattern is defined, the tools and commands that required a pattern fill will show that option. When you want to use a different pattern, just select it and choose the define pattern command again. Note that you can only define a pattern from a non-feathered rectangular selection.

In Photoshop 6, pattern fills are selected from a menu of patterns in the options bar. To add a new patterns you just open the image and choose Edit > Define Pattern. You can also define a pattern from a portion of the image by first making a selection.

As mentioned previously, patterns can but used as fills with the paint bucket and the Edit > Fill command. You can also paint with patterns using the Pattern Stamp tool. This tool shares the toolbox location with the rubber stamp (AKA clone) tool.

The pattern stamp works like a paintbrush, but instead of solid color paint, it paints with the currently defined pattern. The aligned check box causes your pattern to line up even if you stop one brushstroke and start a new one. When aligned us unchecked, the starting point of the pattern is reset each time you make a new stroke.

The Line Tool
The line tool is used to create straight lines and arrows.

In Photoshop 5, the line tool short cut is N and the toolbox location is shared with the Pencil tool. The line width and arrowhead locations can be adjusted through the options palette in Photoshop 5.x. When arrowheads are selected, you can modify the arrow shape by clicking the shape button.

In Photoshop 6, the line tool is shared with the Shapes tool. In the options bar, you can choose whether to create the line as a shape layer, a path, or a filled region. Since we haven't discussed shapes or paths yet, you may want to stick to creating lines as filled regions for these lessons, but feel free to experiment with shapes and paths on your own. When the line tool is active in the options bar, you can click the arrow next to the shape buttons to invoke the geometry option where you can turn arrowheads on or off and adjust the shape and size of the arrowheads.

Here's an example of the variety of arrowhead shapes you can create by changing the width, length, and concavity.

All the other painting tools require you to select a brush. Continue on to the next page to explore brushes and the brushes palette.

Next > Brushes