Software Packages

In this section of my blog i will be discussing the main features of 2 different types of software packages. The 2 software packages i will be discussing are Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Paint.

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing application which provides users with a wide range of features. Due to the wide range of features provided, Photoshop is the most popular editing application currently available. The features of Photoshop that will be explained on this page are; freehand draw, rotate, flip, crop and resize.

Freehand Draw

When using the freehand draw tool, the user does not use any guiding or measuring instruments. Freehand drawing tools include; the brush tool, the pencil tool and the mixer brush tool.

Rotate

The rotate tool allows the user to rotate the image so that it can be viewed from different angles. The image can be placed upside down or at more of tilt than the original. To use rotate select ‘Image’ on the toolbar and then ‘Rotate Canvas’. From here there are a number of options for the user to choose from. i.e. 180⁰, 90⁰ CW, 90⁰ CCW.

Flip

The flip tool allows the user flip their canvas either horizontally or vertically. To flip an image in Photoshop, simply select ‘Image’ and then ‘Rotate Canvas’. You will then be able to select from options such as ‘Flip Canvas Horizontal’ and ‘Flip Canvas Vertical’. 

Crop

The crop tool in Photoshop allows you to remove parts of an image which are not needed and to change the size of an image. Draw a box around the part of the image you wish to keep and then press 'Enter' to delete the part of the image which is not needed.

Resize

The resize tool in Photoshop allows the user to change the height and width of an image. To resize an image in Photoshop select ‘Image’ and then ‘Image Size’. From here the user is able to change the image’s width and height and also what unit they are measured in. i.e. Pixels or Percent. They are also able to select the ‘Constrain Proportions’ box. If the user sets a certain height for an image, then having this box selected will set the correct proportions for the width of the image. This also applies if the user sets a certain width for an image.  

Microsoft Paint

Microsoft Paint is a basic graphics utility which is included in all versions of Microsoft Windows. It was one of the most used applications on Windows due to it being very easy to use. However, it has lost some popularity due to the emergence of other software such as Adobe Photoshop. The features of Paint that will be explained on this page are; freehand draw, rotate, flip, crop and resize.

Freehand Draw

When using the freehand draw tool in Microsoft Paint, the user does not use any guiding or measuring instruments. Paint has a number of freehand drawing tools available which are found in ‘Brushes’. In ‘Brushes’ the user can choose from ‘Brush’, ‘Calligraphy Brush’, ‘Airbrush’, ‘Oil Brush’, ‘Crayon’, ‘Marker’, ‘Pencil’ and ‘Watercolour Brush’.

Rotate

The rotate tool in Paint allows the user to rotate the image so that it can be viewed from different angles. The rotate tool is found on the top toolbar and when it is selected the user is presented with a number of rotation options. i.e. ‘Rotate Right 90⁰’, ‘Rotate Left 90⁰’, ‘Rotate 180⁰’.

 Flip

The flip tool in Paint allows the user flip their canvas either horizontally or vertically. The flip tool is found on the top toolbar in the ‘Rotate’ section. Whenever the user selects ’Rotate’ they are able to either flip their canvas horizontally or vertically.

Crop

The crop tool in Paint allows you to remove parts of an image which are not needed and to change the size of an image. Draw a box around the part of the image you wish to keep and then delete the part of the image which is not needed. The crop tool is found on the top toolbar next to the ‘Select’ tool.

Resize

The resize tool in Paint allows the user to change the height and width of an image. To resize an image in Paint, simply select the ‘Resize’ option which is found on the top toolbar. From here the user is able to change the image’s width and height and also what unit they are measured in. i.e. Pixels or Percentage. They are also able to select the ‘Maintain Aspect Ratio’ box. Having this box selected allows the user to change then height or width of an image without it losing too much of its quality.