Functions of Photoshop Tools

Functions of Photoshop Tools in Graphic Design - In the world of graphic design, Photoshop is one of the popular design applications and is often used by creative graphic designers. This software or software is usually used to process photos or images into digital artwork. Therefore, if you are interested in working in the field of design, then you must learn and master Photoshop software.

Are you interested in learning Photoshop? Do you already know the function of the tool in Adobe Photoshop?. On this occasion, roufcreative will discuss some Photoshop tools and their functions that can be used in graphic design.

Functions of Photoshop Tools in Graphic Design

Here are Photoshop tools that can be used to improve graphic design skills:

1. Move Tool

The Move tool has a function to move objects in the form of images or text. In use, you just hover over the object you want to move. The Move tool icon is usually in the form of an arrow. As for the shortcut, you can press V on the computer keyboard.

2. Marquee Tool

Basically, the Marque tool has a function to select objects on the canvas. After making the selection, you can perform several actions on the selected section, ranging from delete, cropping, changing colors, and also adding other effects.

Marque tools are divided into four types, namely:

• Rectangular marquee tool, to select with a rectangular shape.
• Elliptical Marquee Tool, to select with a circle shape.
• Single row marquee tool to create horizontal selections with a smaller size (1 pixel).
• Single column marque tool to create vertical selection with a smaller size (1 pixel).

3. Lasso Tool

The Lasso tool has almost the same function as the Marquee tool, but you are free to select anything by not fixating on the shape. So you need to move your mouse to form the desired selection. 

One way to use the Lasso tool is to select freely. Then replace the tool with the Move tool to separate the selected parts.

Lasso tools are divided into two types, which are as follows:

• Polygonal lasso tool that makes selections based on the angles of the lines.
• Magnetic lasso tool that selects automatically based on the shape of the object. 

4. Quick Selection Tool & Magic Wand Tool

Next is a tool that is very useful and is likely to be used frequently in making graphic designs. The quick selection tool serves to quickly select according to the shape of the object. While the Magic wand tool serves to select based on the colors on the object. The use of this tool is almost the same as the Lasso tool, but the difference is the shape and application. 

5. Crop tool & Slice Tool

For those of you who like to process photos, you must be familiar with this tool. The crop tool serves to cut objects with a rectangular or rectangular shape that can be set in size. As for the Perspective crop tool, it is used to cut objects that are oblique or not static in shape. So you can adjust the size of the piece to the object.

In addition to crop, in this tool there is also a Slice tool that functions to make a selection of objects that will be cut into several parts. While the Slice select tool is used to move the parts that have been selected. The selected part will usually be extracted into pieces of images from the object.

6. Eyedropper Tool

Simply put, the Eyedropper tool serves to take the color on the object and insert it in the color box. So that the color that has been taken becomes the main color in the use of other tools, such as the Brush tool and the Shape tool. The eyedropper tool also has other types such as the 3D Material eyedropper tool which is used for 3-dimensional objects. Then there's the Color sampler tool to retrieve colors with RGB and CMYK info.

The eyedropper tool has several other tools, namely:

• Ruler tool to measure the distance and location of objects on the canvas. 
• Note tool to note the selected object.
• Count tool to number objects.

7. Brush Tool

Next are the tools you can use to draw or paint objects. Yep, that is the Brush tool. Basically this Brush tool you can use to color objects.

The availability of various brush shapes on the brush tool can make your graphic work more unique and interesting. For example, you can see in the Photoshop image display above. After you select the Brush tool, later on the menu bar or the top of the Photoshop page will appear various brush shapes that you can choose from. 

The brush tool has other types of tools, namely:

• Pencil tool that serves to color objects with pencil stroke shapes or with smaller sizes. 
• Color replacement tool that you can use to retrieve colors from other objects as the colors of your brush. 
• Mixer brush tool, which is used to mix different colors in the use of brushes.

8. Spot Healing Brush Tool

This tool is usually used in the photo processing process such as removing acne. However, the use of this tool is not only that. Basically, the Spot healing brush tool serves to remove certain parts of the object by equalizing the surrounding colors.

In the Spot healing brush tool there are also several other types, namely as follows:

1. Healing brush tool, serves to remove or change certain parts of an object based on the selected sample area. In its use, you first select/take the sample area using (Alt). Then you just have to hover over the part you want to remove.
2. Patch tool, has to replace the selected part with another section you choose with the same shape. In use, you have to select the part you want to change, then hover over the other section. 
3. Content aware move, serves to copy the selected part of the object, without deleting the section. 
4. Red eye tool, serves to remove the redness of the eyes caused by the flash light when taking pictures.

9. Eraser Tool

The next tool is the Eraser tool which has a function to erase part or all of the object. In addition to deleting objects, the Eraser tool also has other types such as, Background eraser tool which functions to remove the background on the image. Then there is also the Magic eraser tool that can be used to erase parts on objects that have the same color. 

In using the Eraser tool, you can delete some parts of the object as you wish. The first step is to select the tool in the tool bar and then after the icon of the tool appears, you can point it at the object whose part you want to delete.

10. Gradient Tool

The Gradient tool has a function to create a graded color or more than one color in one object. This tool is usually used to color the layer or background of the image. In its application, the Gradient tool also has various patterns as in the example image below. You can see several patterns to choose from in the menu bar. Starting from linear, radial (circle), diamond (gem), angular, and reflected. 

Gradient tools have two types, namely: 

• Paint bucket tool that serves to quickly color an object.
• 3D material drop tool to give 3-dimensional objects the right color.

11. Shape Tool

The Shape tool is useful for creating objects with various shapes. Starting from the Rectangle tool with a rectangular shape, the Rounded rectangle tool to create a rectangle with curved corners, the Ellipse tool to create a circle / oval object, the Polygon tool serves to create objects with various numbers of corners (corners), the Line tool to create lines, and the Custom shape tool to create objects with various shapes that have been provided by Photoshop on the Menu bar. 

In its use, you just have to select the tool in the tool bar section. Then select the shape you want to create on the canvas.

12. Pen Tool

Basically the Pen tool is used to create a selection line with a specific point point.  This tool is usually used to perform editing processes such as, deleting, moving, changing colors, and so on. 

The pen tool has several other types, which are as follows:

• Freeform pen tool serves to create lines and point points with free shapes. 
• Add anchor point tool serves to add point points that are useful for changing the selection line. 
• Delete anchor point tool serves to reduce point points on the selection line
• Convert point tool serves to change the selection line by shifting the point point.

13. Direct Selection Tool 

Direct selection tools are usually used to tidy up and change point points on parts of objects. Using this tool, you can shift any point on an object as you wish. While the Path selection tool is used to move the position of the object. 

This tool can also be applied to images created with the Shape tool. You can change the point of the points that are in the arrow image. Any point point in the corner of the object you can change or delete.

14. Blur Tool

The blur tool is generally used to obscure part or all of an object. This tool also has several types, such as the Sharpen tool to sharpen colors on objects and also the Smudge tool to give the effect of a wet paint brush. 

In use, all you have to do is select the tool and point it to the part you want to change to be more blurry. 

15. Type Tool

This tool is used to create text text on an object or canvas. The type tool is divided into 4 types, namely:

• Horizontal type tool serves to create text in a horizontal direction.
• Vertical type tool serves to create text in a downward (vertical) direction.
• Horizontal type Mask tool serves to create a selection area in the form of text (letter) with a horizontal direction.
• Vertical type Mask tool serves to create a selection area in the form of text (letters) with a vertical direction.

In the use of the Type tool, there are other options. In the menu bar, you can change the font (type) of the text to be written. Then set the text shape like, bold, italics, and normal. In addition, you can also adjust the text size and color.  

Read Next: Tips for Learning Photoshop for Beginners

That's the discussion about some of the Functions of Photoshop Tools in Graphic Design. Hopefully it is useful, it can add insight and improve graphic design skills, especially novice graphic designers.