The
menu bar is a key Photoshop interface component. It provides access to a
number of important features, functions, and other screen components.
When you click on a heading in the menu bar, a list of options (called a
menu) will be displayed that corresponds to the heading that was
clicked.
A
right pointing arrow next to a menu item indicates that there is a sub
menu available. If you let your mouse pointer hover over the menu item
for a moment, the sub menu will appear.
Three
dots following a menu item (…) indicates that the menu item will display
a dialog box or window when clicked.
The
nine menu headings on the Photoshop CS Menu bar are:
|
File |
The File
menu contains a number of options to open, create, and save
files. You can access the Photoshop CS enhanced file browser
through the file menu (File->Browse). The file menu also
contains options for automating Photoshop, for importing files,
and for exiting Photoshop. |
|
Edit |
The Edit
menu gives you access to common editing features such as cut,
copy, paste, and spell check. Beyond this, the editing menu has
an undo option, and provides access to the colour settings,
keyboard shortcuts, presets, and preferences dialog boxes.
|
|
Image |
The Image
menu presents options for manipulating your image canvas,
including resizing, duplicating, rotating and aspect ratio. It
also allows you to select colour modes. |
|
Layer |
Layers are like
transparent sheets that can be layered one on top of the other.
Each sheet can contain an image or part of an image. The
Layer menu provides access to many features of Photoshop
that deal with layers. |
|
Select |
The Select
menu contains options for making and working with selections.
Selections are specified regions of an image that can be
manipulated independently. |
|
Filter |
The Filter
menu gives you access to a wide range of artistic and retouching
effects that you can apply to your images. |
|
View |
The View
menu has options to add rulers and grids to your workspace. You
can also access the zoom feature and modify the Photoshop screen
presentation from this menu. |
|
Window |
You can use the
Window menu to select which windows are displayed or hidden
on the Photoshop screen. You can also choose to hide or display
the status bar, options bar, and tool box from this menu. |
|
Help |
The Help
menu is your access point to the Photoshop CS help features.
Please see the Getting Help section in Lesson 1.1.
|
Explore the Photoshop CS menus by clicking on each heading in the menu
bar; you can click on one menu to expose it, and then slide your mouse
along the menu bar to expose the other menus. Be sure to expose any sub
menus indicated by right pointing arrows, and have a look at a few of
the dialog boxes indicated by three dots after a menu item.
