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What
is the toolbox?
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The
toolbox has various tools for editing an image. The toolbox is divided
into several sections of similar tools:
- Selection
Tools
- Enhancement
Tools
- Vector
Tools
- Navigation
Tools
- Color
Tools
The
toolbox is pictured to the left. It contains all of the various
Photoshop tools. In addition to the visible tools, the tools with
a small black arrow in the lower-right corner contain fly-out menus
with other related tool choices. In the example to the left, the
Dodge Tool is depressed, displaying the Burn Tool and the Sponge
Tool in the fly-out menu.
To
select a tool to use:
- If
the tool is visible on the toolbox, click it once to activate
it.
OR
- If
the tool is hidden, point to the appropriate tool family icon
and hold the mouse button down; the fly-out menu will appear.
Click on the desired tool in the menu to activate it.
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What
do the tools do? |
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Below
is a description of each of the major tool families.
Detailed information about the individual tools in the Toolbox is
provided throughout these tutorials.
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Selection Tools

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The
Selection Tools allow you to use various techniques to select specific
sections of an image, rather than the entire graphic. These tools
create marching-ant marquees around the selected areas
and fade the unselected areas so users can determine exactly which
area they have selected. Once selected, you can edit and manipulate
a section of an image while leaving the rest untouched. The Selection
Tools are discussed in more detail in the Blending Images
section of this tutorial.
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Enhancement
Tools

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The
Enhancement Tools allow you to clone portions of an image, blur
or enhance backgrounds, fill an area with a selected color, or further
emphasize focal points. The Enhancement Tools are discussed in more
detail in the Enhancing Images section of this tutorial.
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Navigation
Tools

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By
using the Navigation Tools, you can move to different sections of
an image, or change magnification of the image. The Zoom Tool allows
users to magnify and reduce areas of images. Click the Zoom Tool
to zoom in (magnify); press the Alt key and click the Zoom Tool
to zoom out. The Hand Tool allows users to slide the image around
the Image Area in order to view different sections of the image.
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Color
Tools


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The
Color Tools control the foreground and background colors. In this
example, white is the current foreground color and red is the
background color. When used in conjuction with the Color Palette
and the Swatches Palette, users can select from millions of different
colors to use in their images. The Eyedropper Tool allows you
to select a color from an existing image. The Color Tools are
discussed in more detail in the Enhancing Images section of this tutorial.
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Copyright
© 2001, Bloomsburg University Virtual Training Help Center.
All rights reserved. This material may not be used without written
permission.
Contact Dr. Mary Nicholson at mjnich@bloomu.edu
The screenshots contained in this tutorial were created in Adobe
Photoshop 6.0.
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