Slice and Dice Those Images - Page 2

Slicing graphics has also gotten easier. The Slice tool can now readily prepare images for the Web, directly from Photoshop, without the need to take it into ImageReady. Another new feature allows Photoshop to do all of the work for users by creating slices from a Photoshop image. The program even creates the necessary tables and accompanying HTML code for the Web page.

Organize Those Layers

Layers can now be organized into folders called Layer Sets by using the layers palette and sorting the layers as you work. Layers can also be color-coded to quickly identify them. Another new layers feature is the content layer, which allows the user to add layers for applying gradients, patterns and color fills to affect the layers beneath it. The user can easily edit, change the stacking order and delete these content layers in much the same way as an adjustment layer. As before, layers can be locked and kept from being edited or moved at the user's discretion by clicking on the appropriate checkboxes in the layers palette.

ImageReady Updated As Well

Also included is an updated version of ImageReady. This new version, 3.0, includes animation capabilities along with text warping and image map creation.

Take Advantage of the Presets

Adobe has also added numerous preset values to this latest version. These allow for management of hundreds of preset gradients, patterns, textures, shapes, and brushes that come pre-packaged with Photoshop 6.0. For example, if you want to load a new brush, simply choose from the Brushes fly-out menu and it will load instantly, without having to stumble around the hard drive to find its location.

Managing Your Colors

The manner in which color management is dealt with has also been updated. Adobe has opted to put all of the color settings in one box, making it much easier to use. Of course they have also included a number of presets as well as allowing the user to create their own custom settings.

Make Things Run Easier

One of Photoshop's pluses has always been the ability to automate many of the regularly used tasks. In version 6, Abobe has expanded this feature. One of the more noticeable automation updates is in the use of graphics for the Web. This latest version allows the user to choose from different backgrounds and layouts. It will even create the HTML code for the Web page using various templates, both with and without frames.

Leave Notes For Others

One new feature that may be useful to some designers — and their clients — is the ability to attach notes to a file. This is especially useful in the case of design teams. One designer can leave a note for the other members of the team. It also allows a designer to send a graphics file to a client with notes attached directly to the file.

Print Preview

Adobe has made great improvements to the print dialog box. This allows the user to preview an image before the final output, hopefully preventing many major surprises along the way.

In Conclusion

There are quite a few changes, even since the 5.5 version. Adobe Photoshop version 6 is a "must have" for many graphic designers, whether it is used for basic image editing or creating the hottest Web site around. While veterans will be able to jump into the application and use it in no time at all, rookies who have never used the application should be able to catch on quite quickly as the learning curve seems fairly shorter than in previous versions.

Adobe Photoshop Version 6 Review