The preview in the Color Range dialog shows the entire image by default, which can make it hard to judge the potential selection mask if you’re trying to select only small areas. The solution is to first create a selection around the area on which you want to work before you choose Select>Color Range. Once you do, the preview in the dialog will only show what you have pre-selected.
They are still there only their name has changed. Palettes no longer exist in Photoshop CS4. Officially, they are now called panels.
The sample size of the Eyedropper tool (I), found in the Options Bar, controls the size of the area that’s evaluated when it provides color and tonal feedback, but it can also affect how certain selection tools work,e.g., the Magic Wand or the Color Range command. The default Sample Size value is Point Sample, which samples a single pixel; however, this isn’t ideal for photographs, where using 3 by 3 Average or 5 by 5 Average will give you better results.
Flawless skin can be key to successful portraits of ladies. Make their skin creamy soft by tapping the K key in Adobe Camera Raw 5 to call up the Adjustment Brush. Set the Clarity slider to ?40 for starters. Brush over the skin you want to smooth. Want it smoother? Drag the slider farther to the left. This is a great way to get proofs out quickly without losing gallons of time with the Healing Brush tool in Photoshop.
The new Masks panel consolidates working with layer masks by putting most of the functions commonly used in one place. Show this panel by selecting Masks from the Window menu. Want to change the layer mask from its normal white reveal all to black hide all? Click the Invert button. Bonus tip: You can do the same thing from the key-board by pressing Command-I (PC: Ctrl-I).
