Bitmap Tools
Marquee
Shift - to make multiple selections
When making the selection using the oval maquee tool the Alt key makes
the present location of the cursor the center of the oval or circle.
(much easier than the default setting).
Alt - removes the selection (if it overlaps with a previous selection
it removes the overlapped area from being selected.)
Shift + Alt constrains the marquee and makes the cursor position the center of the shape.
Arrow keys - knudge the seletion area
Shift + Arrow keys - knudges 10 pixels at a time
M - Toggles between marquee tools
Pointer tool when used with a selected area
Ctrl + Alt - copies the selected area to wherever the cursor is.
Alt drag - copies the selection to wherever the pointer is moved
Ctrl - moves the selected area
Alt - turns the pointer into the Subselection tool
Once an item is selected use the arrows to knudge the object in the desired direction.
Magic Wand - allows you to automatically select items of similar color. You could select all the blue sky in a picture while leaving out all other colors.
Tolerance - the higher this value the more colors are accepted, the lower the tolerance the fewer colors are found to match.
Edges - You must choose the edging method before making your selection.
Hard - creates a stair step pattern around the edges
Anti-alias - attempts to smooth out transitions by adding lighter shaded pixels on the edges
Feathered - expands the border and applies a blur to the added pixels.
Zoom
Alt - to zoom out, + changes to a -
Lasso Tool - allows you to manually select a portion of an image.
Shift - + sign appears, you can now add areas
to a previous selection
Alt - removes areas selected from previous areas selected (where there
is overlap)
Rubber Stamp Tool
Alt key repositions the sample area (+)
Source Aligned - the sample position changes with the cursor and remains where you stop. Without this the sample area always moves back to the original position.
Use Entire Document - if an image contains several different objects all of the information is copied, not just the base object.
Modify - Transform
To display the Modify toolbar go to Window > Toolbars > Modify
Info Panel - used to move or resize and object
Alt + Shift + F12 opens the Info Panel
History Panel
Shift to select several steps
Click the Save button to save the group of commands - now available
under the Command menu
Importing Objects
Ctrl + R - opens the import window
Oval Tool
Alt - creates a oval from a center point
Shift - constrains the oval to a perfect circle (you can press both Shift + Alt at the same time to create a circle from a center point.)
Masks - can be used to make images specific shapes.
Create a vector object. Select an image and the select copy. Return to the vector object, select it and then Edit > Paste Inside, the image is now seen inside the object.
F8 - convert to symbol
F12 - preview as web page
Converting an Image to Black and White or Sepia Tone
Black and White - Select the image then select Command > Creative > Convert to Grayscale
Sepia (old fashion photo) - Select the image then select Command > Creative > Convert to Sepia Tone
Feathering -
1. Use the marquee tool to select the area you want in your image
2. Go to Select > Feather - change the radius to the desired value, 10 would produce little feathering while 50 would produce a wide feather area. Click OK.
3. Go to Select > Select Inverse then click the Delete key on your keyboard. This will delete the background and reveal the feathered image.
Creating a Feathered Collage
1. Create several feathered images.