User`s manual
Chapter 9 - Software Overview
77
Bitmap Editing in FastARTIST
Photoshop is always in bitmap mode because it is a pixel-
based editing program. FastARTIST (along with CorelDRAW
and Adobe Illustrator) defaults to vector mode when you
launch the program, so you will need to nd the bitmap editing
tools in these programs. In FastARTIST, double-click on the
image. That changes the top Toolbar icons to standard bitmap
editing mode (very similar icons to Photoshop).
Selecting Areas
In FastARTIST, if you want to apply a Tone Curve adjustment or
Unsharp Masking to specic areas, you must double-click on the
object to make the bitmap tools available. You then click on the
Lasso tool (Hint: It looks like a lasso) and hold down the mouse
button while drawing around the area you wish to modify. When
you release the mouse, you will have a yellow outline identifying
the selected area. Now, anything you do ONLY happens to this
area.
In Photoshop, you can choose an area with one of the Selection
Tools on the Toolbar. Click on the tool that looks like a Lasso
and draw around the object while holding down the left mouse
button. When the mouse button is released the selected area will be identied by what is called “Marching
Ants” – small moving lines around the selected area. While the area is selected, any changes made will
only apply to this area. To remove the marching ants, go to the Select > De-Select (You can also use the
keyboard shortcut of [Ctrl] + D). If you want to select square or round areas, use the Marquee Tool (top
left tool) and use this the same way you would use the Lasso tool.
Channels and Layers
What really separates Photoshop from FastARTIST and
CorelDRAW is the ability to work in Layers to build images.
Therefore, whenever you are using Photoshop, you should have
both the Channels Palette and Layers Palette open.
People often get these confused so here are the rules: The
Channels Palette is used to create output. Channels print. The
Layers Palette is used to create or build the image and layer
the various components together including adding Type to an
image. Layers don’t print.