Photoshop is a powerful photo editor that can be used to create beautiful graphics, logos, and illustrations. If you’re new to Photoshop, there are a few things you need to know before starting. In this first part of the How-To Geek Guide to Learning Photoshop, we’ll take a look at the basics of how Photoshop works and how to use it to create beautiful graphics.

Photoshop is one of the most intimidating programs for any beginner, but has powerful image editing ability for any skill level. Look through a fresh install of CS5, and learn the basic tools and info to help you get started.

Out of the box, this is what your default CS5 installation will look like. It looks even more intimidating than older versions, so let’s spend a few minutes taking a basic look around the program, demystify it, and get you editing your photographs, painting, or whatever you might want to do with your fresh install.

Starting your Custom Workspace

You’re going to want to move your panels and palettes around in an effort to get comfortable with your new install. In this area of your screen, you’ll see various “Workspaces,” which are the various arrangements of said palettes and panels. This can be helpful, because you might want a different arrangement for editing photos than you’ll use if you are also a painter or designer.

CS5 autosaves your changes to your workspaces, so create a new, custom one to play around in. You can always edit your stock Workspaces to fit your liking later.

Click the to bring up the contextual menu. Create a “New Workspace” and name it anything you like. Use your own name, or anything that suits you. Make certain to pick “Keyboard Shortcuts” and “Menus” as you can edit both of them and tie them to your workspace.

Click your new workspace and feel free to play around in it.

Customizing the Toolbox

The Options Palette

At the top of your screen, directly under your menus, you’ll see the options palette. When you select different tools, you’ll have the various options you can edit here. Each tool is complex without these options, and can become extremely powerful with knowledge of its options.

What’s in the Toolbox?

Part 1: The Toolbox Part 2: Basic Panels Part 3: Introduction to Layers Part 4: Basic Menus Part 5: Beginner Photo Editing Part 6: Digital Art Part 7: Design and Typography Part 8: Filters