Adobe Photoshop CS3 Smooth Edges Tutorial

This tutorial will go show you how it is possible to take an object and smooth its edges to your desire. While we are doing this you will also discover how to unsmooth it or adjust it to your needs. We will be doing this in Adobe Photoshop CS3. You can use other default tools to try to sharpen and smooth your objects, but they are not as precise as using this method and should be avoided if you have this option to work with. I have included helpful screen captures to guide you through the process. Please read carefully to fully grasp the nature of this process. Thank you for being a loyal tutorial visitor to Adobe Software Tutorials.

To start the tutorial please open Adobe Photoshop CS3 and click (File, New…) like the illustration shows.

Now you should name the project we are working on and set the width and height to something at or above 550x450. Please use a resolution over 90% otherwise the output will not look as smooth as it possibly could. Keep the background as white.

Now you can see our background layer and what we are going to work with. However, we will not be working on the background layer itself. We are going to create a new layer by selecting the icon on the bottom right corner of the screen that creates new layers.

Now you can see the new layer that we have created.

Now we are going to make the background not viewable so we can focus on Layer 1.

Now you can selected the Custom Shape Tool from the selection toolbar on the left side of the screen.

I have constructed an arrow with a black base so that it is easy to see the difference when you change the smoothness.

Now we are going to select the Vector Mask Thumbnail. You can do that by Control-Left Clicking on the thumbnail.

After you have selected the Vector Mask Thumbnail, we can go to the bottom of the right toolbar and select the Add Layer Mask button. This will add a layer mask to the object we have created.

Now we can select the Layer Mask Thumbnail so that we may single it out for changes. You then can select Control-D, to deselect the layer.

Now we can go to the top toolbar and select (Filter, Blur, and Gaussian Blur…). Select a ration of 4.0 pixels to make it an even blur.

Now you will see that the Layer Mask is blurred by the filter we have just implemented.

Now you can select the Layer Mask Thumbnail. You can do this by pressing Alt-Left Click to the layer mask available.

After selecting the thumbnail, select (Image, Adjustments, Levels…).

You will now see a graph with three pyramids on the edges from 0-255. The closer you bring the three triangles to the middle the smoother your object is going to look. This is where you are able to play around with how your object will look with the variances of the degrees. If you have something special in mind you can adjust this how you please. I brought my pyramids rather close to the middle. It seemed if I brought them too close the smoothness almost became too smooth to use for a picture.

Here you can see the selection I made and what it looks like on the screen.

Press “OK” and you will end up at this screen.

Now you should select the Layer Mask Thumbnail. Use a right-click to bring up a menu

The menu that you see when you right-click the Layer Mask Thumbnail will look like the illustration below. Please select the Add Layer Mask to Selection option.

You will see now that a dotted line is now around the object of the layer mask.

Now you will press Alt-Left Click on the Layer Mask Thumbnail to complete the implementation of the layer mask to the object.

Now you select Control-D to get rid of the dotted lines and deselect the Layer Mask Thumbnail.

Now you can make the background visible again and look how smoother it is on a white background after it has been smoothed.

This process to smooth the edges of objects is a great tool that anyone with a little patience can use to improve the look of their objects. It does not matter whether you are using it for pictures or for web content. I hope that this tutorial has taught you a few features that the Adobe Photoshop CS3 has to offer. Please remember to check back with us frequently for more unique tutorials by the website owner. If you want to submit your own tutorials or be informed of updates to our website please join the newsletter, which is sent bi-weekly.

If you are looking for how you can possibly learn more about Adobe Photoshop or any other Adobe product there are some really good tutorial software programs that teach very well. Most of them provide video tutorials that take you step by step through every feature and process within each product in detail. The possibility of getting lost or losing focus is minimal because you are in control of the rate of speed that you learn. I personally recommend Total Training because of its great information and detail. They are also a partner of Adobe. Digital Media Studios also has a very good series of products that may be a better solution for some individuals. Remember that with time you can unlock the Adobe Guru in you!

Total Training provides customers with a Video Training Series that is promoted by a Partnership with Adobe Systems (Worldwide). You can't go wrong with the incredible series of DVD software that this company provides. Total Training provides a one of a kind offer to let you try all of their online products for 2 days with a special guest pass. You will be on your way to being an Adobe expert in no time!

   Marrut Software Training Tutorials

Marrutt Software Training Tutorials provides you with a cheaper alternative to Total Training package. They use VTC software training CDs, which are used by Adobe Systems (Europe) Ltd, Ford Motor Co Ltd, Ministry of Defence and nearly all the universities and colleges in the UK. Marrutt also provides free software demos of all products online. You can view the first 3 chapters of each product within the demo. You will be able to see the quality of the product before you purchase it. An example of an online free demo can be found here Marrut Adobe Photshop CS3 Online Demos.

If you would like something that is a bit more contemporary, why not settle down and read a good book. This Adobe Photoshop CS3 is written by the Adobe Creative Team. It provides great information for learning the ins and outs of the program. If you have the mindset to read attentively, I personally recommend this book.

These products have a different approach to teaching people from beginners to professionals how they can learn Adobe Photoshop or improve on their techniques. From Video instruction, Adobe Flash illustration, to your plain text-based document, the choice is up to you how you want to learn. Remember to return for updated articles and tips on the forum from myself and visitors. Stay Smart and Keep Learning!