A C C Ps Noodling

Basics

• Menu Bar followed by Options Bar. Document area. Tools bar on left. TIP: Options bar changes as the Tool selection changes.
• Open one or more files. Ctrl or Shift + selecting file names. TIP: The multiple files open as multiple tabs.
• Hover over tool icon for explanation. Hold on tool with corner icon for additional related tools.
• Start with an image that is almost same size or larger than the target frame or web page. TIP: Better resolution if image is resizing to smaller. 
• Crop - cutting off. Resize - changing dimensions of the existing content.
• Image > Image Size. The Image Size dialog contains essential controls for sizing. TIP: Ensure that the Link between W and H is present. Always try to resize proportionally.
• TIP: Resolution setting is more critical in print applications.
• Resample option is activated for Resize. Resample option is turned off during Resolution resets.
• TIP: Do not Save. Use the Save As option whenever editing images. Never tamper with the original image file.
• Use the Resolution to resize for print applications. TIP: Scale the image to more pixels per inch for printing.
• Tools > Crop Tool. Chopping handles appear on the image border. It is the Crop Box.
• Options Bar > Delete Cropped Pixels. TIP: Better deactivated; save the chopped-off data.
• Finalizing Crop: Click the Check Mark in the Options Bar. CAUTION: the keyboard Enter key also commits to the cropping.
• TIP: Straighten image. Options Bar > Straighten. Trace a straight horizontal line (such as table's edge) to give the Ps application a planar reference. Also manually using the mouse,  outside of the box.

Layers

• Like glass slides containing text, images, or fill (such as Background layer). Stacked with view of the aggregation of all layers.
• See the subject layers in the Layers Panel.
• Off | On toggle click the eyeball
• Checkers indicate transparency in layer
• CAUTION: Layers are subject to dimensions inside the overall image.

Image File Formats

• Many variables. Output to web | screen, print, animation, or multiple publishing realms?
• Web | On Screen image files: JPG, GIF, PNG, and SVG are the most common formats
• Overview of Web-based Image File formats

      - Use SVGs whenever possible (logos, icons)
      - Use JPGs as the default image format
      - Use PNGs for transparency or if there is text within the image
      - Use GIFs if you want an animated image that plays on all devices (may slow down your pages)

• TIP: In absence of a Style Guide, always coordinate image file standards with Marketing staff ASAP.
• The decision algorithm weighs: importance of image quality (1) versus speed (2) and user platform (3). Business users want speed while the photographic professional web site may be better served with quality (or option). PC or mobile?

World Order

• TIP: Tools / Toolbox behaves as an independent window. Window > Tools
• Pixels is measurement for screen images. Inch = 100. 
• Print size in inches: the image pixels divided by 100 converts to image inches.

Zoom Pan

• Ctrl +
• Ctrl -
• or View > Zoom In, etc.

A C C Id Noodling

File Saving | Double Saving

• Save in InDesign, or INDD file format, to retain layers, type, and other editable InDesign content.
• Choose File > Save As and choose IDML to save your project as a file that is backwards-compatible with previous versions of Adobe InDesign starting with CS4.
• TIP: PDF file format is an export. As necessary, determine if the file format supports animation and is accessible to users.

World Order

• Menu bar at the top, over the Work Window.
• Panels on the right include Properties, Pages, and CC Libraries (containing a variety of controls for working with documents).
• TIP: Full list of panels under the Window menu. Window > Panels
• Toolbox on the left of the Work Window contains tools for creating and editing artwork.
• TIP: Tools / Toolbox behaves as an independent window. Window > Tools

Zoom Pan

• Ctrl +
• Ctrl -
• or View > Zoom In, etc.
• or magnifying glass on Tools
• Pan is little hand on Tools

Content

• Text and graphics reside in Frames.
• See the Frame Tool in Tools / toolbox.
• Frames snap into the page's column guides. Little thingy indicates good landing.
• File > Place. As is "place text" or "place a graphic" into the frame.
• TIP: Content is placed at original size unless the frame is pre-selected. Click the Content Grabber to select and isolate the graphic from the frame.
• TIP: Click the Import File button, under Quick Actions, near bottom of panel on the right.
• Edit text content much as in a word processor.
• Cycle images when multiple images open using Ctrl + arrow keys on keyboard.
• Font, Font Size, Color. TIP: Red handle in lower corner says text is not fitting naturally.
• Click T tool OR double click smack-dab in the text to enter for editing. TIP: the double-click inside method is faster and gets the appropriate Properties Panel (right side of screen) up.
• Edit > Select All or click four times in the paragraph until it succumbs.
• TIP: Ctrl+A.
• TIP: Select the frame for global text settings in that frame.
• Leading: vertical space betwixt lines (LeD-ing).
• The icon ... is to open More Options in that context.
• Paragraph Formatting: alignment + styles of that paragraph regardless of selected text. TIP: Paragraph Styles apply all settings to a whole paragraph.
• Character Formatting: selected text only. Likewise, the Character Styles apply to only selected text. TIP: Know what is showing in the panel.
• Select text then go to Type > Show Hidden Characters / Hide Hidden Characters
• Create Style. Either for Paragraph or Character level

Colors

• Frames have Fill (the canvas color inside the frame) and Stroke (the frame border). Fill Color
• TIP: No border (Stroke > Swatches > None) = 0 Stroke.
• TIP: Select document colors-set before project goes too long.
• Per Adobe, CMYK (printer inks) and RGB (on-screen red green blue) are two most common color formats. Screen or print?

Frames

• Arrangement = Most back, back of, top.
• Properties > Arrange Button (Bring to Front, Bring Forward, Move Back, Send to Back). What needs on top? What needs showing the least?
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