Cropping
The first things I learnt on Photoshop was cropping an image. This is basically removing a portion of an image. To do this, I used the crop button, under the modification tab in the toolbox. Cropping comes in use when creating a collage or poster to fit in all the different images.
Layers
A layer is simply one image stacked on top of another. This helps to overlap images over eachother, with this I was able to change each layer as I wanted. This includes:
Opacity: Changing the opacity allowed me to show some layers more than others. 0 is transparent and 100 is fully opaque.
Blend Modes: These change the way that the selected layer blends with the layers underneath it. This came in great use for compositing and special effects.
Visibility: If the eye is showing that layer is visible. This helps to focus on one layer without the distraction of others.
Locked: The padlock means that something is locked in the layer. Here are the different things that can be locked/unlocked.
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Add Layer Mask: This is the button to press to add a layer mask to the currently selected layer. This will be further explained later on in the portfolio.
Add Adjustment Layer: The best way to apply image adjustments. There can change the colour or tone of an image. All layers are affected underneath an adjustment layer (Unless clipped). This is a good option to using Image > Adjustments because adjustment layers are non-destructive and re-editable.