Mastering Photoshop CS2 Advanced

Lesson 9:  Working with the Pen Tool

•  Use the Pen Tool to draw straight and curved paths
•  Save work paths.
•  Fill and stroke paths.
•  Edit paths using path-editing tools.
•  Convert a path to a selection.
• Convert a selection to a path.

Lesson 10:  Working with Vector Masks, Paths, and Shapes

• Draw and edit layer shapes and layer paths. 
• Create complex layer shapes by combining or subtracting different shapes. 
• Combine vector paths to create a shape.
• Use edit mode to add and edit a text layer. 
• Load and apply custom layer shapes.
• Create a work path from text.
• Alter the appearance of work paths. 
• Apply a gradient and use a work path to create a vector mask. 
• Merge and distort layer combinations.

Lesson 11:  Using Advanced Layer Techniques

• Create paths to clip a layer.
• Create layer sets to organize and manager layers.
• Create adjustment layers and used them to apply color and tonal adjustments without permanently changing pixel data.
• Create a knockout gradient layer to use one layer selectively to reveal others.
• Import layers from other Photoshop files.
• Duplicate and clip layers.
• Add layer styles to a layer, and apply the effects to multiple layers.
• Rasterize layers.
• Convert clipping paths to masks.
• Use filter effects.
• Create a border layer for your artwork.
• Flatten and save layered files to reduce file size.

Lesson 12:  Automating Tasks and Creating Special Effects

• Automate a multi-step task
• Use guides to help you place and align images precisely.
• Save selections and load them as masks.
• Apply color effects only to unmasked areas of an image.
• Make color correction to a selection using an adjustment layer.
• Use filter effects to create effects.
• Use layer styles to create editable special effects.

Lesson 13:  Using Spot Colors to Create Two-Color Images

• Use channels to convert a color image to grayscale.
• Adjust the tonal range of the image by assigning values to black and white points.
• Sharpen the image.
• Add spot color to selected areas of the image.

Lesson 14:  Arranging Objects in ImageReady CS2

• Duplicate and align a layer object to other objects as you move it in the image.
• Create a layer group.
• Duplicate, align, and transform a layer group.
• Create a layer set and apply changes to it.
• Duplicate and edit text objects.
• Align and group text objects.
• Change the attributes of multiple text objects.

Lesson 15:  Creating Links in Photoshop and ImageReady CS2

• Create image slices in Photoshop and ImageReady.
• Link user slices to other HTML pages or locations.
• Define image-map areas using different methods.
• Link image-map areas to other HTML pages and locations.
• Generate and HTML page that contains the sliced image in a table.

Lesson 16:  Optimizing Web Images

• Create animations by hiding and showing layers.
• Create animations based on changes in position, opacity, and layer effects.
• Use the Tween command to create smooth transitions between frames.
• Create animations using vector masks.
• Create animations using layer masks.
• Preview the animations in ImageReady and in a web browser.
• Use the Optimize palette to optimize the animation.