A key component in Photoshop is learning how to select and move the images in your document. Objects are selected by using the Rectangular Marquee Tool, while objects are moved about by using the Move Tool.

1. Open any picture.
2. Click on the Rectangular Marquee Tool from the toolbar, and click and drag a dotted bounding box around a small portion of the image.
3. After selection, click on the Move Tool. Place the cursor over the dotted rectangle, and click and drag. You will see that the selected image moves around your document space.
4. For a freeform selection path, you can use the Lasso Tool. Choose the Lasso Tool from the toolbar, hold down the mouse button over the image and trace a freeform path. When you let go of the mouse button, the dotted selection is complete. You can also move this selection by using the Move Tool.

You might not be aware of this, but Photoshop has had scripting support for some time now. It even comes with it’s own JavaScript debugger that adds a reflection interface. It has well documented support for JavaScript, AppleScript, and Visual Basic, all of which have their own set of problems. Thanks to the efforts of Apple on RubyOSA, we can now use Ruby to script this behemoth of an application

There are a variety of common shadow mistakes; in this article I'll go over a few and give you some tips on how to avoid them.

Incorrect Shadow Angle

Always make sure a shadow stays put on the ground in a horizontal fashion, regardless of how the image angle may change. Notice that in picture, there is no mountain or wall to explain the position of the donut's shadow.

Okay... so it's the holiday season and you're not really sure what to give the folks... or your friends... or the Pizza guy -- but if you've got Photoshop, and at least a little bit of talent, you can make some really cherished gifts in just moments. For the really important recipients, you can even frame your masterpiece.

Now, here's a trick to "slim down" your friend before snapping the all-important digital photo...Use clamps to tighten things up.

Well... I'm not really sure what Paul Chepikian had in mind, but his Photoshopping suggests a visual treat. Isn't this just the sort of thing your sister would like to have for a gift? Well, maybe not. But you get the idea.

Color has great power when it comes to conveying emotion and attracting attention. This power is multiplied exponentially when color is used as an accent in an otherwise monochrome image. By using selective coloring, we can draw the viewer's eye to the key areas of an image, with the colored areas adopting a jewel-like quality amid an expanse of gray.

Note: Due to the size and number of diagrams, we've made these thumbnails clickable, and should open the actual diagram in a new, pop-up window. If they don't, be sure you have JAVA turned on, and Pop-up blocking turned off.

The effect ranges from the subtle to the extreme. We can tint an image with just a hint of color, or apply an exciting splash of color to a specific area. Layer masks are an essential tool here, offering us the ability to restore color to the area of our choice, which can be controlled and restrained with the accuracy only a brush can provide.