Photoshop
New Images
Opening Images
The Open command is used to import or open a pre-existing file that you want to work on. Various image file types can be opened with this command. If you're opening a vector file type (e.g. EPS), there is an extra step involved. You'll get to practice opening a .psd and an .eps file in an exercise.
For this lecture and those following in this module, you will need to download NewImages.zip (2.6 MB). Once the file has finished downloading to your computer, extract the files from the zip file using a decompression utility program like WinZip (PC) or Stuffit Expander (Macintosh). You should now have a folder on your hard drive called NewImages containing files named:
- Cat_extract.psd
- Cat.psd
- CDROM.tif
- pencil.eps
- pink_rose.jpg
- poppies.jpg
- shapes.psd
Practice Exercise: Opening Files
- Go to File > Open or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl-O (Cmd-O).
Open Dialog Box
The Open dialog box contains opening options to navigate to particular locations, to view a preview of the image before opening it, or to search for a file on your computer.
View a full-sized version of the Open dialog box or the CS3 version.
- Navigate to the NewImages folder that you downloaded.
- In the Open dialog click on the Files of type: (Windows) or Enable: (Mac) menu to display its options. Notice the list of file types or formats Photoshop supports. Select the option to view all files. It's best to allow Photoshop to automatically detect the file format. This is because it will open a JPEG as a PSD if it is told to, for example. This can result in distorted or damaged files.
- Click on the Cat.psd file in the Open dialog and click the Open button. (If a dialog called Embedded Profile Mismatch opens, just click OK to close it.)
Opening Vector Graphics Files
Photoshop can open EPS, Adobe Illustrator (.ai) and PDF files. All of these are vector formats. When you open up vector files in Photoshop, they will be rasterized, meaning that the vectors will be rendered as pixels. Then you can edit them like any other bitmap image.
There is an extra step involved in opening vector graphics files so let's try opening one to see. In the zipped file you downloaded, there is a file called pencil.eps. This image was created in Freehand and exported in EPS format.
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Use the Open command or keyboard shortcut to open the file. The Rasterize EPS Format dialog will be displayed, as shown here.
The nice thing about importing a vector image is that you can set its dimensions and resolution before you rasterize it and it doesn't suffer any loss in quality as it would if you scaled it after it was rasterized.
- Accept the default settings in the Rasterize EPS Format dialog and click OK.
The pencil image will open in a document window and you'll notice that it appears against a checkered grey and white background. This pattern is displayed in transparent areas of the image.
Rasterize EPS Format Dialog Options
- Width and Height
- The original dimensions of the image file are initially displayed in the dialog. You can enter different values to scale the image prior to rasterizing it. Clicking on the Width and Height pop-up menus will allow you to select other units of measurement.
- Resolution
- The image resolution set in your Preferences will determine the default value that appears here. You can change it.
- Mode
- The Mode pop-up menu lets you select the colour space you want to work in.
- Anti-aliased
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When enabled, the edges of the graphic will be smoothed out by filling the edges with semi-transparent pixels of colour and the places where two colours meet will be slightly blended. If this check box is disabled, the edges will have a jagged appearance. The image to the right places both versions of the pencil together for comparison purposes (magnified by 300%). Both the outside edges of the illustration as well as the areas where different colours meet are affected by anti-aliasing. Usually, you'll want your images anti-aliased.
- Constrain Proportions
- When this check box is enabled, a link icon connects the Width and Height fields. If you enter a different value in one of those fields, the value in the other field will be automatically calculated to retain the original proportions of the image at its new size. Disabling the check box will remove the link icon and let you set the width and height independently.
- Close both the cat and pencil images by going to File > Close All or use the keyboard shortcut Shift-Ctrl-W (Shift-Cmd-W). You will be prompted to confirm closing without saving the EPS file. Choose Don't Save.
Open Recent List
A handy alternative to the Open command is the Open Recent command, also in the File menu. This will display the names of documents recently opened in Photoshop. The number of files listed is determined in the File Handling preferences.
- Access this menu to re-open Cat.psd.
- Close Cat.psd.
Opening Images Summary
- The Open dialog box will allow you to browse through all available files that Photoshop can open.
- The dialog box lets you find files on your computer and select specific image formats to look for.
- When opening vector image files, you have the option of setting different dimensions and image resolution without any loss in quality. Then Photoshop will rasterize the image, meaning that it converts the vector data to pixels.
- The Open Recent command is a quick way to find and open recently viewed documents.
Opening Images Keyboard Shortcuts:
- Open: Ctrl-O (Cmd-O)
- Close All: Shift-Ctrl-W (Shift-Cmd-W)
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