How to Use Photoshop for Mac

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How to Use Photoshop for Mac
Image Credit: twinsterphoto/iStock/Getty Images

Photoshop is a popular photo-editing program for the Mac OS. Photoshop is the preferred image editing software for many graphic professionals because of its powerful capabilities. Adobe has refined Photoshop's user interface to the point that even a novice can use the program. With this beginner's guide to Photoshop and some practice, you'll quickly learn how to edit photos like a professional.

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Step 1

Open Adobe Photoshop. Go to Photoshop Menu > Preferences > Display and Cursors. Set your Painting Cursors to "Brush Size" and your Other Cursors to "Standard". This makes it easier to see the exact size of the brush you're using. Click "OK".

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Step 2

Familiarize yourself with the tool palette. If you move your cursor over each tool, it will bring up the name of the tool and the letter key to type to quickly access that tool.

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Step 3

Open the photo you'd like to edit by holding down the command key and pressing the "o" key. On Apple keyboards, this key has an Apple logo on it that may not be present on third-party keyboards. Select your image and then click "Open".

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Step 4

Type "z" to select the Zoom tool. Click and drag the dotted marquee around the area you want to zoom in on. In this case, we're going to remove the unwanted highlights in the dog's eyes.

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Step 5

Type "w" to select the Wand Tool. Select the area(s) where you want to change the color. To select more than one area, hold down the shift key. Go to the Select menu and choose "Feather". Type in a value of 1 where it says "pixels".

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Step 6

Type "i" to select the Eyedropper tool. Click on the area of color you want to match. Hold down the option key and press "delete" to fill that area. Type "command-d" to deselect.

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Step 7

You have to clone part of the image around the new fill to match her eyes. Type "s" to select the Clone Stamp Tool. Use the left and right bracket keys to adjust the size of your brush. Hold the option key and click on the area you want to sample. Click and hold to paint the area you wish to clone over.

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Step 8

Type "command-0 (zero)" to undo the zoom. Type "c" to select the Crop tool and bring up its options. Type "5" in the Width field and type in "7 in" the Height field. Set the Resolution drop down menu to" Pixels/Inch". Type "300" in the Resolution field.

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Step 9

Click and drag around the area of the photo you want to keep. If you need to, click in the center of the dotted lines to move the box. The lighter parts of the image will remain, and the darker parts are discarded. Press the return key.This gives you a nice size image for printing and framing.

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Step 10

Go to Image Menu > Adjustments > Brightness and Contrast.

Step 11

Adjust the sliders until the color is pleasing to your eye. Click "OK".

Step 12

Type "command-s" to save the photo or go to File menu > Save As... if you want to save it under a different name, or in a different location. Congratulations, you've just professionally edited your first photograph.

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