This unit covers the process of creating new images, loading images, and using images in Photoshop

Creating New Images
If you haven’t already started Photoshop  start it now.  Creating a new image involves five key decisions: Image Name, Image Width and Height, Image Resolution , Image Mode , and Image Contents.  To create a new image, select File/New by {Clicking} on File on the Menu  Bar and selecting New.  The New dialog box appears.

Name
Enter the name of your image file in the Name field.  It’s a good idea to name all of your files appropriately so that you can remain organized and productive.  Web sites can consist of many images and easily idenpsdying images by name can be a significant benefit.  You do not have to enter the name of the file at this point however; you can name it when you save it if you wish.  Input FirstImage.

Width & Height
Specify the width (horizontal size) and height (vertical size) in pixels.  To ensure you are working in pixels select pixels from the drop-down menu.  Recall the basic unit of your screen’s display is the pixel and because web pages are screen based it is essential to work in pixels rather than inches or any of the other unit options.  Create an image with a width of 300 pixels and a height of 250 pixels (300x250).  Recall that most web sites are developed with a maximum horizontal size of 640 pixels.  Because of scroll bars and other screen-space or “real-estate” taken up by the browser a maximum horizontal size of 600 pixels is recommended.  There are exceptions to this rule, such as the horizontal size of background images.

Resolution
Set resolution to 72 ppi for images designed for the Internet.  Again, recall that your screen can display a density of no more than 72 ppi (some monitors have a slightly larger range) making higher resolutions, which create larger file sizes, wasteful.  You may choose to design and edit in a higher ppi if you are developing images to fulfill multiple objectives, such as print, video, and Internet.  Appropriate ppi settings can be determined by consulting your service bureau.  For now, select a resolution of 72 ppi.

Mode
Select RGB Color for Image Mode .  Because your images are destined for the screen, which uses the RGB Color space, RBG Color is the appropriate mode to create and edit your images.  Recall that in addition to the RGB color space, digital images have different color or bit-depths.  By default, RGB mode in Photoshop  operates in a 24-bit color depth.

Contents
Contents determine the initial background color of your image.  Options  include White, Background Color , and Transparent.

Selecting White creates an image with a white background.

Selecting Background Color  creates an image with the current color of the Background Color swatch in the Toolbox .  By default, this color is white, but in the process of editing you will almost certainly change it. 

Selecting Transparent creates a background without any color, similar to glass or acetate.  Photoshop , by default, represents transparency by a gray and white-checkered pattern.  You can customize the pattern by selecting File/Preferences /Transparency  & Gamut.  Use the Grid  Size and Grid Colors drop-down menus to make changes.  You can customize the transparency colors by {Clicking} on the swatches and selecting the color you desire.  Changes are immediate.  Most Photoshop users leave the Transparency Preferences at default.

Select Transparent and {Click} OK in the New dialog box.  You should have an Image Window  in the Photoshop  workspace.  Why select a transparent background?  You’ll find out as we progress through this chapter and the next.  Note that the checkered pattern in the image is only an indicator of transparency, it is not image data.

 Image Window 

At the top of the Image Window is the name of your document, the current level of magnification (FirstImage @ 100%), the current Layer you are working on (at this point the image has only one Layer), and the Image Mode , in this case RGB with a bit depth of 24. Standard controls for minimizing, maximizing, and closing the document appear at the top right corner. You can {Click} and drag the top of the Image Window to move it anywhere within the workspace. If you drag the Image Window to areas occupied by the Toolbox and the Palettes the Image Window is covered by them.

To resize the Image Window {Click} and drag the top, bottom, left, or right sides to increase or decrease the size in any of these directions. To resize the Image Window proportionately {Click} and drag at any of the corners.

We will be using and modifying the photoshop6xfiles included with this manual. Take the time now to copy those files into a new directory on your hard drive so you can save the changes that you make them. Save “FirstImage” in a new folder inside the photoshop6xfiles folder that you just installed. After you have saved your blank or empty image close it by {Clicking} on the Close icon at the top right corner of the Image Window .