(Archives) Adobe Photoshop CS3: Basics for Working with Image Files

Last updated Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, at 10:23 a.m.

This article is based on legacy software.

Photoshop is a program used for editing images and graphics. This document will get you started by providing instructions for basic tasks.

Opening Images

Follow these instructions to open an image in Photoshop.

  1. From the File menu, select Open…
    The Open dialog box appears.

  2. Using the Look in pull-down list, navigate to the desired image.

  3. Select the image.

  4. Click Open.
    The image appears.

Creating New Images

You can create a new image by using the New dialog box. The New dialog box allows you to specify the name, width, height, resolution, and mode of your new image.

  1. From the File menu, select New…
    OR
    Press [Ctrl] + [N].
    The New dialog box appears.
    new

  2. In the Name text box, type a name for your image.

  3. Under the Preset section, in the Width text box, type a value for the width of your image.

  4. From the Width pull-down list, select a unit of measurement.
    NOTE: You have several unit choices: pixels, inches, centimeters (cm), millimeters (mm), points, picas, and columns.

  5. In the Height text box, type a value for the height of your image.

  6. From the Height pull-down list, select a unit of measurement.
    NOTE: You have several unit choices: pixels, inches, centimeters (cm), millimeters (mm), points, and picas.

  7. In the Resolution text box, type a value for the resolution of your image.
    NOTES:
    Resolution should be determined according to how the image will be used.
    You have two unit choices: pixels/inch and pixels/cm.
    HINT: In the lower right corner of the dialog box is the Image Size; it adjusts according to the image specifications.

  8. From the Color Mode pull-down list, select an image mode.
    NOTES:
    For more information on image modes in Photoshop, see Image Modes below.
    You have two choices: 8 bit or 16 bit.

  9. From the Background Contents pull-down list, select the image background.
    NOTE: You have three choices: White, Background Color, or Transparent.

  10. Click OK.
    A new Photoshop image is created.

Saving Images

The Save and Save As commands are located under the File menu. If you are saving a document for the first time, either selection will take you to the Save As dialog box.

NOTE: Different image file types allow you to save an image with a variety of options. This section provides instructions for saving an image that has a good balance of image quality and file size.

Saving a New Image

Layers allow for flexibility and creativity when working with an image. However, few other software programs can read the layers in a Photoshop image file.
RECOMMENDATION: Save the file as a PSD so you can make changes to the file in the future.

  1. From the File menu, select Save As
    The Save As dialog box appears.

  2. Using the Save in pull-down list, select the location for saving the image.

  3. In the File name text box, type a name for the file.

  4. Continue with the appropriate section according to the file Format you are creating: (PSD, GIF, JPEG, TIFF).

To save as a PSD:

PSD is a Photoshop file. It has a large file size and it allows you to make changes to your graphic. With this file type no information is lost, thus it is the highest image quality. This format can be saved with layers.

  1. From the Format pull-down list, select Photoshop (*.PSD; *.PDD).

  2. Click Save.
    The image is saved.

To save as a GIF:

GIF has a small file size and low image quality. It cannot be saved with layers.

  1. From the Format pull-down list, select CompuServe GIF (*.GIF).

  2. Click Save.
    A dialog box appears asking you to flatten layers.

  3. Click OK.
    The Indexed Color dialog box appears.
    indexed color

  4. In the Options section, from the Dither pull-down list, select None.

  5. Click OK.
    The GIF Options dialog box appears.

  6. If you want the image to load section by section, select Normal.
    If you want the image to load by fading in, select Interlaced.

  7. Click OK.
    The image is saved.

To save as a JPEG:

JPEG has a good balance between file size and image quality. It cannot be saved with layers.

  1. From the Format pull-down list, select JPEG (*.JPG; *.JPEG; *.JPE).

  2. Click Save.
    The JPEG Options dialog box appears.
    JPEG options

  3. In the Image Options section, move the slider to adjust the image quality and file size.
    HINT: A quality rating of 8 results in a good balance between image quality and file size.

  4. Under Format Options, select Baseline (“Standard”).

  5. Click OK.
    The image is saved.

To save as a TIFF:

TIFF has a large file size and high image quality. It cannot be saved with layers.

  1. From the Format pull-down list, select TIFF (*.TIF; *.TIFF).

  2. Click Save.
    The TIFF Options dialog box appears.
    HINT: The default settings provide a good balance between image quality and file size.
    TIFF options

  3. Click OK.
    NOTE: If you did not select Discard Layers and Save a Copy, an alert regarding layers and file size appears; click OK.

Saving an Existing Image

  1. From the File menu, select Save.
    The image is saved to its original location.

Using Save As

Using Save As allows you to save variations of an image or the same file in a different location.

  1. From the File menu, select Save As…
    The Save As dialog box appears.

  2. Using the Save in pull-down list, select the location for saving the image.

  3. In the File name text box, type a name for the file.

  4. From the Format pull-down list, select a file type.
    For more information regarding the options pertaining to the format you selected, review the options for each file format under Saving a New Image above.

  5. Click Save.
    The image is saved to the selected location.

Printing Files

Photoshop CS3 has an improved Print dialog box with easy to use features that help you customize how your images are printed. The new Print dialog box includes ways for you to reposition your image on the printed page, control the coloring of the image from the printer, and resize the print size of your image. This section will give instructions on selecting a printer, repositioning the image on the page, and page setup.

  1. From the File menu, select Print…
    The Print dialog box appears.
    print

  2. From the Printer pull-down list, select your printer.

  3. In the Copies text box, type the number of copies you want to print.

  4. (Optional) To center the printed image on the page, in the Position section verify that Center Image checkbox is selected.
    NOTE: The option is selected if a checkmark appears in the box.

  5. (Optional) To position the printed image on the page manually, verify that the Center Image option is unselected and that Show Bounding Box is selected.
    NOTE: The options are selected if a checkmark appears in the box.
  6. On the page preview at the right, click on the image.
    Handles appear at the four corners of your image.
  7. Click and drag the image to the desired location.
    OR
    In the Position section, in the Top and Left text boxes, type the size of the top and left margins.
    Your image is repositioned.
  8. To make the image the size of your page, in the Scaled Print Size section select the Scale to Fit Media option.
    NOTE: The option is selected if a checkmark appears in the box.
    OR
    To select the print size of your image by percentage, in the Scale text box type a percentage.
    OR
    To select the print size manually, in the Height and Width text boxes, type the desired size.
    OR
    On the page preview, click on one of the selection handles surrounding your image and drag it to the desired size.
  9. (Optional) To change the layout of the page, use the portrait or landscape buttons. portrait and landscape

  10. When you are finished setting up your image, click Print.
    Your image is printed.