Photoshop CS4:
Advanced, ACE Edition

Topic-Level Outline

Days: 1

Prerequisites: Photoshop CS4: Basic, ACE Edition or equivalent experience

Unit 1 : Fills and overlays

Topic A: 0 Filling image areas

A-1: Creating swatches

A-2: Filling selections

A-3: Creating fill layers

Topic B: 0 Gradients and patterns

B-1: Creating gradients

B-2: Creating a simple pattern

B-3: Creating an offset pattern

B-4: Saving a set of presets

B-5: Creating a tool preset

Topic C: 0 Layer overlays

C-1: Filling areas with overlay layer styles

Unit 2 : Masks

Topic A: 0 Mask channels

A-1: Editing a Quick Mask

A-2: Editing an alpha channel as a Quick Mask

Topic B: 0 Layer masks

B-1: Creating a layer mask

B-2: Editing a layer mask

Topic C: 0 Grayscale masks

C-1: Creating soft edges with a grayscale mask

C-2: Fading a layer with a gradient mask

Topic D: 0 Clipping masks

D-1: Clipping a layer to an underlying layer

Unit 3 : Vector paths

Topic A: 0 Creating vector paths

A-1: Discussing the uses of vector paths

A-2: Creating a freeform path

A-3: Converting a selection to a path

A-4: Creating paths with the Pen tool

Topic B: 0 Editing vector paths

B-1: Adjusting path points

B-2: Changing the number of anchor points

B-3: Combining subpaths to form a single path

Topic C: 0 Vector masks

C-1: Creating a vector mask

C-2: Creating a clipping path

Topic D: 0 Paths for creative imagery

D-1: Converting type characters to editable shapes

D-2: Wrapping type on a path

D-3: Creating a vector shape layer

D-4: Stroking a path with a brush shape

Unit 4 : Creative image effects

Topic A: 0 Painted effects

A-1: Simulating an illustration with the Art History Brush

A-2: Blending a texture with Overlay mode

A-3: Creating a custom brush

Topic B: 0 Warping

B-1: Warping text

B-2: Warping image layers

Topic C: 0 Efficient compositing

C-1: Grouping layers

C-2: Creating and transforming Smart Objects

C-3: Working with Smart Object contents

C-4: Creating vector Smart Objects

Topic D: 0 Vanishing Point

D-1: Editing an image with the Vanishing Point filter

Topic E: 0 Smart Filters

E-1: Applying Smart Filters

E-2: Masking Smart Filter effects

Topic F: 0 Layer comps

F-1: Creating layer comps

Topic G: 0 Images for video

G-1: Viewing pixel aspect ratios

G-2: Creating an image for video

G-3: Scaling a square-pixel image for video

Unit 5 : Automating tasks

Topic A: 0 Actions

A-1: Discussing automation

A-2: Recording an action

A-3: Playing an action

A-4: Editing an action

A-5: Pausing an action

Topic B: 0 Organizing actions

B-1: Making actions work as buttons

B-2: Saving actions in sets

Topic C: 0 Batch processing

C-1: Batch-processing files

Topic D: 0 Customizing Photoshop

D-1: Assigning keyboard shortcuts and menu item colors

D-2: Saving a workspace

Appendix A : ACE exam objectives map

Topic A: 0 Comprehensive exam objectives