The “Photoshop” tool by Adobe is one of the leading photo-editing software tools in the market today, compatible with both Windows and OS X platforms. It is widely used by people across various industries such as Web Designing, Graphic Designing, Advertising and Photography to name a few. The versatility of this tool to churn out high-quality images with sharp and lovely colors has made it a favorite among professionals and non-professionals alike.
Adobe Photoshop is available with the Adobe Creative Suite for students at the NC State Bookstore and installation help can be requested from the NC State Office of Information Technology.
Students can get access to Adobe Photoshop in all CHASS Computer-based classrooms and at the CHASS Lab at Tompkins 113.
Students can also attend the workshop offered by the NC State OIT. Further details can be found at http://webapps.ncsu.edu/classmate/workshop/index/details/workshopId/182.
What you need to know in Photoshop:
Technical Writers are not required or expected to be experts in Photoshop. They are expected to know only the basics of photo editing and image manipulation techniques of Photoshop.
Photo Editing – You are expected to know the basics of image manipulation such as working with brightness, contrast, resolution, and cropping techniques. Additionally, managers also expect technical writers to know how to determine the image quality for various print documents and web based content.
How Photoshop is used in the industry:
Photoshop is not widely used by technical communicators in the industry. They mostly use it only when there is need to assess image quality and select the right images for various types of content.
How Photoshop is used in the MSTC Program:
Basics of Photoshop is taught to undergraduate students in the English Department. Graduate students are not taught the software in a separate course. Since Photoshop is a proprietary software, students are recommended Photoshop alternatives to work.
Courses in which Photoshop is taught in the MSTC Program:
ENG 314 – Technical Documentation Design and Editing
This course is offered by the English Department to undergraduate students specializing in technical writing. In this course, basics of Photoshop is taught to students and assignment are given on image manipulation techniques and editing.
ENG 517 – Advanced Technical Writing, Editing and Document Design
Where can you get more information about Photoshop:
Students who are interested in learning more about Photoshop can get access to beginners tutorials in the Adobe Photoshop official website at http://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/.
Photoshop Alternative:
Since Photoshop is an expensive software, many instructors as well as organizations prefer free open source software that are similar to Photoshop and have the features of Photoshop.
1. Pixlr
Pixlr is an open source software for Windows PC, Mac, iOS, and Android platforms. It is a photo editor similar to Photoshop and contains features similar to Photoshop and has an interface similar to Photoshop as well.
Pixlr is free to use online and can be accessed at http://apps.pixlr.com/editor/
2. Photoshop Online Editor
Photoshop has an alternative free online editor that allows users to edit images online without downloading the Creative Suite.
Photoshop Online Editor can be accessed at http://www.photoshop.com/tools.