Media Software

This is a staple program for artists and graphic designers that has been around since 1988. It is part of Adobe’s suite of creative programs and contains a powerful set of tools for photo editing and manipulation, for graphic design, and for art.

According to Adobe, “Photoshop is the world’s most advanced digital imaging software, used by photographers, designers, web professionals, and video   professionals. The app gives you the utmost power and creative control for 2D and 3D image manipulation and compositing, video editing, and image   analysis.”

Use this program if you need:

• Major photo editing or manipulation
• Logos and graphics
• Rasterized and EPS Files (best to use Adobe Illustrator for Vector Files)
• A project requiring the use of detailed layers

This program is not the best for:

• Basic graphics
• Book layouts (use InDesign instead)
• Presentations

If you are not familiar with Photoshop already and only need to create a simple poster, presentation, brochure, or graphic, consider using Canva. An introduction to this web-based program can be found here. 

Photoshop files automatically save in .PSD (photoshop document) format. This format is designed to preserve elements like layers, masks, transparency,   and more. In order to use the images you create anywhere else, you need to save or export the file in a more universal format (.jpg, .png, .pdf, etc.).

1. Open your file in Photoshop. Go to File > Export > Export Preferences.
2. Set your Export preferences, such as format, quality and destination.
3. Now go to File > Export and select Export As… at the top of the menu to export with your saved preferences.
4. If using multiple artboards, export your assets in one step by going to File > Export As… as choosing your preferences.

  For a video with more details on exporting, visit this page on Adobe’s help site.

• Official Tutorials
  Adobe has an extensive collection of tutorials for beginners and experts
• Tools Overview
  For an at-a-glance look at where to find basic tools and functions in Photoshop
• LinkedIn Learning
  These extensive courses and tutorials can be accessed for free through your FSU account under Resources
• Phlearn Tutorials
  This site includes both free and more in-depth paid tutorials dealing with various tricks and tools of Photoshop

• Photoshop User Guide
  This site links to various PDFs explaining the features and tools of Photoshop
• Photoshop Community
  This forum is a space to communicate with other Photoshop users and ask questions about features or problems