Magazine Test Run - Photoshop Basics

This is a tester magazine that I created to understand the basics of using Photoshop.

Firstly, to get started you have to open up Photoshop and once you have done that, you click on ‘File- New’ For the Preset, you have to click on International Paper and select ‘OK’ this will give you your A4 page. To make sure that everything that you put on the page is aligned and neatly done, you will have to set up rulers. In order to do this you have to make sure that the cursor turns black when on the ruler on the left hand side of the page, then click and drag to the white page around 1 cm in. Do that for all 4 sides of the page. For an average size of the page, it has to be 16.7% but depending on yourself that can change. Make sure to save the file.

After I done that, I started to create the magazine that is featured above. To get the background image, I went on Google and selected an image and then saved it. On Photoshop, you have to go to ‘File’ and select ‘Open’ once you have selected your picture it will come up in another screen, if you minimize that screen, an then drag the image to the Photoshop plain page it will make the image appear.  To resize the image, you will have to press ‘CTRL+T’ this will locate a box around the image which then you can resize. Make sure that you hold the shift key down when resizing otherwise the image will pixilate. To add the Masthead, you have to select the ‘T’ tool and then draw on your text box, if you want the text behind the writing you will have to select the ‘Rubber tool’ and erase away any unnecessary writing, but resizing the rubber. One you are satisfied, you will then have to press another tool, it can be the ‘Moving Tool’ (The first one on Photoshop) and a message will come up which you will have to press ‘Allow’ this secures your writing or image in place. To create Teasers, you will have to select the ‘T’ too again. By adding images and different types of text you are creating new layers. In order to move to another layer you will have to double click on it. The layer that you are working on will be highlighted dark blue on the bottom right hand side of your screen. If the layer has a lock symbol on it, you will have to double click the lock so that you can work on the layer. If you want a background colour, you have to click on the ‘Bucket tool’ and then select a colour from the top right hand side of the page. Once you are happy with your work, you can then save it.