Photoshop 911 Cases:

Questions and Tips sent in by readers... post your question to the Photoshop 911 hot line! www.Photoshop911/emergency.html ... then watch each issue of DT&G News to see if your question or tip has been published. As always we invite your comments, corrections and tips on these or any other issues using Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop Elements.

 

Recent Photoshop FAQs

• Burned Holes in Photoshop How do you simulate a burned hole in Photoshop?
• Help recall Filter Settings... Reapplying filter effects, returning to the last filter settings used.
• PS Bevels by hand How to make bevels by hand rather than through layers styles
• PS helps Faded Photo This badly aged and faded photo from 1900 needs two scans not just one.
• Photoshop vs. Elements - Which is better? Photoshop Elements? Which should I buy? We simply got tired of answering this same frequent question -- so, Photoshop and Photoshop Elements expert, Richard Lynch joins us to put this long-running debate to rest: Which is best: Photoshop or Elements??
• Line Drawings from Photoshop - This reader asks how to convert a Photoshop image into a line drawing...
• Making nice looking collage - ... again we refer readers to our Montage tutorial
• Photoshop and Disk errors - Cannot open a Photoshop file because of disk damage.
• Rescue a water-soaked photo - a framed photo gets submerged in water and sticks to the glass... which cracks. Who do you call?
• Washed out prints... - Prints much lighter than screen... color matching the devices is the only answer
• Photoshop Ghosting Borders - Using Photoshop to "ghost" or screen back a portion of a photo
• Spot Color Separations with Photoshop - This reader asks for help producing Spot Color Channels in Photoshop for silk-screen printing.
• Curving Type in Photoshop - Using Photoshop's Warp filter to curve type
• Saving and loading color tables - This reader wants to create a custom colors library. Here's how to edit, save, delete and load color palettes in Photoshop
• Mismatched resolution causes problems - This reader wants to mix resolutions in the same file but not lose pixels. It's a conundrum.
• Up Sampling to Print Posters - This reader needs to print a 24 x 36 print without a large format printer. The answer is tiling.
• Photographing X-Rays - Get high quality images from x-rays, but don't photograph them. Use Photoshop
• Removing Date Stamps from Photos - When the video or digital capture device date stamps an image it presents a little problem. Here's what to do
• Bright background makes Photos look dark... - This is a common problem: you put a photo on a bright background and the photo looks darker. What do you do?
• Making a logo with outlined type tricks - Adding multiple outlines and strokes to type for an outstanding logo. Follow along.
• Selecting colors from a painting - Looking for tips on re-coloring photos using a watercolor painting as the basis for color selection
• Hot spots in photo (Flash Burn) - What do you do when the digital camera flash burns out flesh tones and bright subjects? Here's one solution...
• Anti-aliasing Type in Photoshop - Setting type options for very small Times type in Photoshop
• Reliable scan, monitor and print colors - Getting Consistently precise color between devices is a challenge. Here's where to start.
• Different Pictures in Picture Package - Here's how to put different pictures into the Picturepackage print utility in Photoshop
• Watermarking Photos (Batch) - FAQ: How to use Photoshop 7 and cs Watermarking in Batch mode.
• Making round corner rectangles in Photoshop - Photoshop actually does have an easy way to make round corners, but it takes a vector tool...
• Finding Color Swatch Keys - How to select a swatch color for the background color rather than the foreground color
• Saving Layer Effects for use elsewhere... - How to copy and paste layer effects or groups of effecs from layer to layer
• Adding Fill Flash in Photoshop - Fixing backlighted photos in Photoshop using "fill flash"
• Building Templates - Using Photoshop to build template files with built-in frames for inserting art.
• Clipping Paths, Masks - Importing Photoshop files into Illustrator can be frustrating if you're trying to retain Photoshop's transparency. But it's easy once you know...
• Color Proofing Tips - Matching color can be difficult. For big jobs you need to get it right before it goes to press
• Converting to Vectors - Photoshop may not be the answer for building vector images for screen printing
• Drop Shadows - Drop shadows are easy with the Styles Palette
• Fog an image to white - Photoshop fades out an image for ghostly results... like the promotional poster for the "Beyond Borders" movie
• Mac Preferences Files - Mac OS owners need to be aware of backing up the preferences files
• Mirror images - Photoshop "Flip" commands to mirror an image
• Photoshop and Illustrator When moving files to and from Illustrator to Photoshop and back again, be sure to match color space
• Images shift to red A Photoshop upgrade causes a decided shift in color toward Red.
• Remove Scratches - Using Photoshop to remove scratches from a scanned photo
• Spacebar Broken - Something has gone wrong and the spacebar doesn't work in Photoshop
• Changing Eye Color - Using the Replace Color dialog in Photoshop 7 to change the color of a person's eyes (or anything for that matter)
• Get Rid of White Backgrounds - Photoshop 911 reader wants to get rid of white backgrounds in exported files for PageMaker or Quark XPress
• Help! Lost Transform Handles - This reader (one of many) has lost the Free Transform or layer Move Tool handles... where did they go???
• Line Drawings from Photoshop - This reader asks how to convert a Photoshop image into a line drawing...
• Photoshop Balks on an iBook? - Photoshop 911 Case: "Is my iBook not up to running Photoshop cs under OSX?"
• Photoshop Replace Color (Textiles) - Photoshop 911 Reader asks how to change the colors in fabrics and textiles... we say Replace Color
• Printing Multiple Photos, Single Page - Rather than use Picture Package in Photoshop, this reader needs to print different pictures on the same page
• Removing Grain from Skin Tones - Photoshop 911 reader: "Help! I need to get rid of grain and roughness in skin tones!"
• Retouch skin tones for Newspaper - Photoshop 911 reader asks how to retouch human skin tones for newspaper reproduction
• Simulating Gel Buttons - Photoshop 911 reader asks "How to duplicate the Apple's QuickTime logo" (Gel Buttons?)
• White type for Web Pages - Having problems getting clean white type for web pages from Photoshop? This reader gets the inside tips.
• Aging Photographs - How do you age photographs? Make the old look young, and the young look old? Not what you think...
• Annoying Gray Boxes- Annoying gray boxes seem to pop into the upper left hand corner of Photoshop without warning... here's what you do
• Custom Gradients How do you make custom gradients? First place to start is with existing gradients. Here's how we do it in Photoshop
• Eyedropper Spread Trick - Photoshop Eyedropper Tool setting can help select an average of pixels rather than single pixel points... here's how
• Custom Gradients How do you make custom gradients? First place to start is with existing gradients. Here's how we do it in Photoshop
• Eyedropper Spread Trick - Photoshop Eyedropper Tool setting can help select an average of pixels rather than single pixel points... here's how
• Aging Photographs - How do you age photographs? Make the old look young, and the young look old? Not what you think...
• Annoying Gray Boxes- Annoying gray boxes seem to pop into the upper left hand corner of Photoshop without warning... here's what you do
• Retouch skin tones for Newspaper - Photoshop 911 reader asks how to retouch human skin tones for newspaper reproduction
• White type for Web Pages - Having problems getting clean white type for web pages from Photoshop? This reader gets the inside tips.
• Changing Eye Color - Using the Replace Color dialog in Photoshop 7 to change the color of a person's eyes (or anything for that matter)
• Get Rid of White Backgrounds - Photoshop 911 reader wants to get rid of white backgrounds in exported files for PageMaker or Quark XPress
• Help! Lost Transform Handles - This reader (one of many) has lost the Free Transform or layer Move Tool handles... where did they go???
• Photoshop Balks on an iBook? - Photoshop 911 Case: "Is my iBook not up to running Photoshop cs under OSX?"
• Photoshop Replace Color (Textiles) - Photoshop 911 Reader asks how to change the colors in fabrics and textiles... we say Replace Color
• Printing Multiple Photos, Single Page - Rather than use Picture Package in Photoshop, this reader needs to print different pictures on the same page
• Removing Grain from Skin Tones - Photoshop 911 reader: "Help! I need to get rid of grain and roughness in skin tones!"
• Simulating Gel Buttons - Photoshop 911 reader asks "How to duplicate the Apple's QuickTime logo" (Gel Buttons?)
• Building Templates - Using Photoshop to build template files with built-in frames for inserting art.
• Clipping Paths, Masks - Importing Photoshop files into Illustrator can be frustrating if you're trying to retain Photoshop's transparency. But it's easy once you know...
• Color Proofing Tips - Matching color can be difficult. For big jobs you need to get it right before it goes to press
• Converting to Vectors - Photoshop may not be the answer for building vector images for screen printing
• Drop Shadows - Drop shadows are easy with the Styles Palette
• Fog an image to white - Photoshop fades out an image for ghostly results... like the promotional poster for the "Beyond Borders" movie
• Mac Preferences Files - Mac OS owners need to be aware of backing up the preferences files
• Mirror images - Photoshop "Flip" commands to mirror an image
• Photoshop and Illustrator When moving files to and from Illustrator to Photoshop and back again, be sure to match color space
• Images shift to red A Photoshop upgrade causes a decided shift in color toward Red.
• Remove Scratches - Using Photoshop to remove scratches from a scanned photo
• Spacebar Broken - Something has gone wrong and the spacebar doesn't work in Photoshop

Photoshop 911 FAQ and Short tips

Including: help with a Pesky Webmaster; putting a Screen behind type; dropping an Image Into type; Blending Images into Montage; Reviving the last settings for repetitive work; Inserting Faces into a halftone; rescuing poloroid photos; generating Dotted Lines; having Trouble Saving Big Files; Flat Black vs 4c Black, Halftone in PMS Ink; Borrowing clouds; Fixing Blurred Photos?; Blurring Edges; Work at 72 or 300?; Corel Text to Photoshop; CMYK to Spot Color?; Change night to day; Editing Path Anchors; Vignetting, Color from B&W, Reduced files become Jagged, End of file, Convert Layer to Grayscale, Lost Clone Tool

Creating a Grid Mask in Photoshop 7

"is there an easier way to make a grid like this" a reader has a good idea, but using a pattern and a channel can make the effect more streamlined!

Fantastic Text Formatting in Photoshop 7

... sent in by Anne-Marie "HerGeekness" Concepcion from her DesignGeek Newsletter: "Tips and techniques for the digital designer" discussing how to make global text changes across multiple layers!

Examining X-Rays with Photoshop?

"Can you use Photoshop to evaluate x-rays?" Let's answer this reader's question, and at the same time get some insights into the Histogram dialog!

Latest call reports:

1. Scrambled images Could it be upgrading to version 7?
2. Gradient Trick fade from color to transparent
3. Neutral Gray ... depends on your color space
4. Channels in PS 5 adding spot colors to PS
5. Transformations moving selections across multiple layers
6. Adding Japanese Characters and other font problems
7. More type problems printing with off-market printers

Last Month:

1. Colorizing Black and White... is easy with blending modes
2. Resetting Palettes... working with the color palette
3. Understanding resolution... Keep in mind, they're only pixels
4. Convert a photo to a Puzzle... clipping paths to the rescue
5. Posters from Photoshop... oversized printing
6. Airbrushed Auto Photos... smooth it and groove it
7. RGB or CMYK?... work in the color space you need
8. Bulk Printing... print a pile of files at the same time
9. Ink stamped skin... fun with photos!
10. Sending quality images via email...
11. Clean line drawings from scans?... make'em sharp
12. Wrapping Text around Circles?... PS 5, no, PS 6, yes
13. Tiny type in Photoshop?... Keep your eye on the rez
14. Color casts in scans... Try: color correct or Variations
15. Clipping Paths to Quark... but not if they're tifs
16. Spot colors in Photoshop... the key is channels
17. Cropping in PS 6... crop, drag 'n' drop!

Previously: from question #451 back

(beware: these were a previous html version, and server, so some of the links within the articles might not work!   These also refer to pre-version 6 Photoshop, so use a little discretion when following the tips!)

1. Images look Purple in Photoshop 5
2. Soft Shadows from Photoshop to Quark
3. Lighting an Object with PS Lighting Filter
4. Opening Files in Photoshop at 66%
5. Maintain detail quality while resizing...
6. Selections Across Layers
7. Previewing images in PS 5?
8. What is Batch Conversion?
9. Postcard, Old Photo Album Effects!
10. Photo into a Sketch
11. Getting Started with Photoshop Plug-ins
12. (see) PS Animation
13. History Brush Tip from Neil Woldman
14. What is layer masking?
15. ...getting a job working with Photoshop?
16. Fixing Red Eye- Joseph Kling, and staff
17. Scanning without moire?- Joseph Kling
18. Using Photoshop's Measurement Tool - Joseph Kling
19. Rollovers with Glowing Edges - David Bouton
20. Creating impasto brush work - David Bouton again
21. Help! PS only shows 12 fonts!
22. At what res do I output for transparencies?
23. Replacing Color...
24. Paths, expansion and fills...
25. Wispy Hair: follow-up
26. Photoshop 5: Not all is well
27. Wispy hair? To mask, overprint or knockout... that is the question
28. Blending Body Parts (see also "Feathering", and "Scaling" seminars.)
29. Photoshop 5 Rumors
30. How do you create textured type? (reference in &Type! Center)
31. Fading an image
32. Building PMS Colors
33. Transparent GIFs revisited
34. Best Books for Learning Phosohp
35. TIFF placed in PageMaker -- bad resolution??
36. Mask Problems (includes #95 Merging Paths)
37. Easter Eggs... drawing an Egg in Photoshop
38. Mr. Vector sez: "KILL THE RIP"
39. Paths from Illustrator to Photoshop
40. Screen Line Art Behind Typography
41. Placing TIF files with Clipping Paths in PageMaker
42. Separating Backgrounds from Complicated Images
43. Photos for Newsletters: Beauty in Black & White
44. LPI vs DPI vs PPI: the maze of resolution
45. Another Myst Fan: Creating FOG in Photoshop
46. Photoshop Cheats - Cheat sheet for shortcuts and commands
47. Fragmentation - Photoshop runs faster with a clean hard drive
48. X-Files Wannabe - how to do that glowing type?
49. Opening Corrupt DCS Files - from Cornell Coello
50. HELP I've lost the Toolbox! - Your tool box is gone... what do you do?
51. What's required for 35mm Slides? - Slides at home? Sure!
52. What about Simple Drop Shadows?- One of our most popular questions
53. What about Generating Projected Shadows?
54. When are shadowsNOT Shadows?
55. How about Projecting Shadows Across Objects?
56. I'd like to Get Photoshop for Less?- It can be done.
57. Alternatives to Photoshop - Can't afford the ticket... try this.
58. Creating Ripped Paper Edges from scans
59. But what if I don't have a scanner?

 

NOTE: Tips prior to those above have been removed.

Post your questions and tips to the Photoshop 911 hot line

If we don't have the answer, we turn to the Photoshop Bibliography in the Designers' Bookshelf and select books until we find the answers for you. Sometimes answers are the composite of information from several of the books --- always edited and written to give you the fastest possible answer in the shortest possible number of words.

 

If you have a Photoshop related web site, or you know of a good Photoshop tutorial based web site, why not list it in the Photoshop 911 Search Engine soon to appear at Photoshop911.com

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