With all the slang and tech terms being used today, it can be difficult to make sense of it all.  Understanding the latest jargon will help you navigate through Photoshop a little easier.

Select the corresponding section of the word you are looking for.

          

A

Anchor Point   –   Anchor points set the outline when using the pen tool to create a path.

Anti-Aliasing   –   Anti-aliasing blends the surrounding color pixels to turn jagged edges into a smooth soft edge.

Adjustment Layer  –  A layer that allows you to make a single adjustments to several layers without permanently changing the original layer.

B

Background Color   –   The underlying color selection located in the toolbox.  White is the default color.

Background Layer   –   The bottom layer in your Photoshop file.

Bezier Curves   –  Curved lines or paths created using the path tool.

Blending Modes   –   Adjusts how one layer or color mixes with the layers below.

Bounding Box   –   A rectangular border around a selection with 8 transforming handles (small squares).

C

Channels   –   Stores the color element information of an image.

Click and Drag   –   Holding down the right button while simultaneously dragging the mouse.

CMYK   –   A color mode that uses cyan, magenta, yellow and black in creating various colors.

Color Picker  –  Allows you to define a specific color from an image or color spectrum.

Composite Image   –   Multiple images that are combined to one image.

Contiguous   –   Selection will include adjacent color pixels.

Contrast   –   Adjust the color balance of an image to make it stand out.

Copy Merged   –   Copies all visible layers and places it on the clipboard as one object.

Clipping Mask  –  Two or more linked layers that display the image from one layer to the shape of the base layer.

D

Desaturation   –   Adjusts images by increasing black or white to make colors more muted.

E

Ellipse   –   The three dots following a command indicating additional options are available.

F

Feather   –   Blends the jagged edges of a selection by making them more transparent.

Filters   –   Special effects that can be applied to an image.

Flatten   –   Merges all layers into a single layer in your Photoshop file.

Foreground Color   –   The top color selection located in the toolbox.  Black is the default color.

G

.gif   –   Graphics Interchange Format.   The most commonly used file format for web design.

Gradients   –   Containing two or more colors that blend smoothly from one to another.

Guides   –   Non-printing lines that are used for alignment and margins.

H

Handles – The small squares around a selection that allows you to move, resize, reshape or distort the image.

Hand Tool  –  Allows you to select a different view of your workspace using click and drag motions.

I

Import  –  Allows you to embed files directly into your current Photoshop file.

J

.jpeg   –   Joint Photographic Experts Group.   The most commonly used file format for digital photographs.

K

Kerning   –   Adjusts spacing between two letters of text.

Keyboard Shortcut   –   Simultaneously pressing a combination of keys on your keyboard to perform a variety of tasks (i.e., Ctrl + N opens a new file).

L

Landscape Orientation   –   The page orientation where the horizontal width is greater than height.

Layer Groups   –   Organizes layers in a single folder on the layers panel.

Layers   –   The working area in Photoshop that acts much like stacks of transparent paper layered on top of each other.   They contain the individual pieces of each element in your document and can be edited individually.

Layers Palette  –  Displays all the layers in your file.

Layer Styles  –  Special effects (drop shadow, stroke, bevel and emboss, etc.) that can be applied to an object, text or layer.

Lossless   –    Images can be reduced without any loss in quality.

Lossy   –    An irreversible loss in quality when reducing the size of an image.

M

Masks   –   Allows non-destructive editing to a selected object.

Marching Ants  –  An animation of flashing lines moving around your selection.

N

Non-Destructive   –   Does not alter the original image.

O

Opacity   –   Sets the amount of transparency to a color, image or layer.

Options Bar  –  Additional options and settings for the currently selected tool.

P

.pdf   –   Portable Document Format.   The standard file type used to transfer “ready to print” documents

.png   –   Portable Network Graphics.   A standard format for print and web images that supports full levels of transparency.

.psd   –   Photoshop Document.   The standard format for all Photoshop files.

Panels  –  Groups of features that can be docked, hidden or grouped for easy access.

Paths   –   Created using the pen tool to produce vector graphics.

Pixel (px)   –   The tiny color squares that combine to form an image.

Pixels per inch (ppi)   –   Describes the tiny color squares that form the resolution of an image.

Place Embedded   –   Places an image as a smart object directly into a Photoshop File.   These images can be edited directly in Photoshop and do not affect the original file.

Place Linked   –   Places an image that is linked to the external file.   When the image is updated, it also updates the image in the Photoshop File.

Points   –   The eight square boxes located around the bounding box of a selection.

Portrait Orientation   –   The page orientation where the vertical height is greater than width.

R

Raster Image   –   Raster images are created using individual color pixels (squares) put together to form a bitmap image.   When increased in size, raster graphics will lose a significant amount of quality and appear blurred or grainy.

Rasterize   –   Converting a vector graphic into a raster image.

Resampling Images   –   Adjusting the pixel dimensions (resolution) of an image.

Resolution   –   Measurement in pixels per inch of the printing quality of an image.   The recommended resolution for printing is 300 ppi and for web viewing is 72 ppi.

Revert  –  Returns the file to the state of the last time it was saved.

RGB   –   Color mode where red, green, and blue are combined in many ways to create other colors.

S

Sample   –   Refers to the pixel color selection of an image with the eyedropper tool.

Saturation   –   Adjusts images by reducing black or white to make colors more vivid.

Smart Object   –   Allows you to perform non-destructive editing on an image.

Smoothing   –   Takes away sharp angles and points to give a smoother look.

Snap to   –   Acts like a magnet to precisely align objects with guides, edges or other objects.

Step Backward  –  Allows you to revert to a previous state even after you have saved your file.

Step Forward  –  Allows you to move forward one state, only after using the step backward command.

Stroke   –   Applies an outer border to a selection using the foreground color.

Swatches Panel  –  A quick access to basic colors, gradients and patterns.

T

Tolerance   –   The value used to specify the similarity or difference of color variations.   Increasing the tolerance value allows for more color variations.

Tool Bar  –  Contains 64 tools used for editing images.

Transform Control   –   Displays the bounding box around selection.

V

Vector Image   –   Vector Images are created using paths put together to form smooth line art images.   Vector images are scalable (increase or decrease) with no loss in quality.

W

Workspace   –   The entire working area of your Photoshop file that contains the panels, tool bar, option bar and windows.