Adobe Photoshop CS5
ACE Exam Objectives

Selected Element K courseware addresses Adobe Photoshop CS5 ACE exam objectives. The following tables indicate the levels (Level 1, Level 2, Photo Printing and Color, Web Production) where Photoshop CS5 skills are covered. For example, 3A indicates the lesson number and topic applicable to that skill.

Domain 1.0 Working with selections

Objective	Level	Topic(s)	
1.1	Given a scenario, create a selection using an appropriate tool or method.	1	4A	
1.2	Save and load selections.	1	4B	
1.3	Move and transform selections.	1	4A, 5A	
1.4	Given a scenario, use Refine Edge controls to capture detail in soft and hard selection edges (options include decontaminating edge color).	1	4C	

Domain 2.0 Working with Layers

Objective	Level	Topic(s)	
2.1	Create and manage layers in the Layers panel (includes creating, reordering, selecting, controlling visibility of, duplicating, locking, clipping, grouping, deleting layers).	1	5A	
2.2	Given a scenario, use layer Blend modes to achieve a desired effect.	1	5D	
2.3	Given a scenario, use Opacity and Fill controls in the Layers panel to achieve a desired effect (options include ability to vary Opacity/Fill of multiple layers)	1	5D, 6A	
2.4	Given a scenario, successfully work with Smart Object layers (options include creating, transforming, editing, and duplicating Smart Object layer; creating multiple Smart Object layers from a Camera Raw file; and importing and editing vector objects as Smart Objects).	2	1C	
2.5	Given a scenario, combine images to make a collage (options include dragging and dropping a closed file into an open document, dragging layers from one open image to another, using Shift to register layers, Paste in Place and Paste Into commands).	1	4A, 5A	
2.6	Apply, customize, and set default values for Layer Styles.	1	5D	
2.7	Use Layer Comps to save different designs within a single image.	2	3C	

Domain 3.0 Using Masks and Channels

Objective	Level	Topic(s)	
3.1	Given a scenario, successfully create and edit layer masks (includes using the Masks panel, painting on a mask, converting a selection to a mask).	2	3B	
3.2	Explain the benefits of using layer masks and vector masks.	2	3B	
3.3	Explain the differences between color channels and alpha channels.	1	4A	
3.4	Describe how to create a spot color channel suitable for prepress.	Photo Printing and Color - topic 8C	

Domain 4.0 Working with Type and Vector tools

Objective	Level	Topic(s)	
4.1	Create and edit type layers.	1	5B	
4.2	Describe the difference between pixel-based and vector-based images.	1	3B	
4.3	Create graphic shapes using the Shape tools.	2	3A	
4.4	Use the Pen tools to create or edit a vector path.	2	2A, 2B	
4.5	Understand how to manage one or more paths in the Paths panel.	2	2A	

Domain 5.0 Adjusting and processing photographs

Objective	Level	Topic(s)	
5.1	Given a scenario, correct the color and tone in a photograph using the appropriate adjustment layers and commands (options include Levels, Curves, Hue/Saturation, Vibrance, Brightness/Contrast, Shadows/Highlights, and Auto Color).	2	1C	
5.2	Explain the advantages of using Adjustment layers.	2	1C	
5.3	Use the Adjustments panel to create and manage one or more adjustment layers.	2	1C	
5.4	Successfully perform on-image adjustments with Curves, Hue/Saturation, and Black and White adjustment layers.	2	1C	
5.5	Convert a color image to black and white with the most control.	2	1C	
5.6	Create a panorama from multiple photographs.	Photo Printing and Color - topic 4A	
5.7	Enhance the dynamic range of an image with Merge to HDR Pro.	Photo Printing and Color - topic 3B	
5.8	Correct lens-related errors with the Lens Correction filter (options include chromatic aberration, distortion, and vignetting).	Photo Printing and Color - topic 3C	
5.9	Given a scenario, sharpen a photograph correctly (options include Unsharp Mask, Smart Sharpen, and the Sharpen tool).	Photo Printing and Color - topic 5B	

Domain 6.0 Retouching and Manipulating images

Objective	Level	Topic(s)	
6.1	Given a scenario, use the appropriate retouching method (options include Content Aware Fill, Spot Healing Brush with Content Aware option, Healing Brush, Patch tool, Clone tool, and the Clone Source panel).	2	1B, 5A	
6.2	Given a scenario, correctly use Puppet Warp to deform an object (options include repositioning limbs, retouching portraits, changing stacking order of objects, and correcting photographic distortion).	2	1B	

Domain 7.0 Working in Adobe Camera Raw 6

Objective	Level	Topic(s)	
7.1	Explain the purpose of the primary Camera Raw adjustment settings.	Photo Printing and Color - topic 3A	
7.2	Given a scenario, successfully apply a local correction in Camera Raw (options include Adjustment brush, Gradient filter, and the Spot Removal brush).	Photo Printing and Color - topic 3A	
7.3	Use Camera Raw controls to reduce luminance noise and color noise.	Photo Printing and Color - topic 3A	
7.4	Explain the Camera Raw to Photoshop workflow.	Photo Printing and Color - topic 3A	
7.5	Given an option, open and manipulate a JPEG or TIFF in Camera Raw.	Photo Printing and Color - topic 3A	
7.6	Describe the Camera Raw to JPEG workflow.	Photo Printing and Color - topic 3A	

Domain 8.0 Painting and filtering an image

Objective	Level	Topic(s)	
8.1	Given a scenario, use the Mixer Brush and its options properly.	1	4D, 6A	
8.2	Given a scenario, adjust Bristle Tip brush settings appropriately.	1	6A	
8.3	Given a scenario, choose and use the proper method of choosing a color (options include HUD Color Picker, Eyedropper tool with color ring, Swatches panel, Color panel, and the Color Picker).	1	4D, 6A	
8.4	Understand how and why to use Smart Filters.	2	1C	
8.5	Create and use gradients and patterns.	1, 2	Level 1 – 6A
Level 2 - 1A	

Domain 9.0 Working in Photoshop

Objective	Level	Topic(s)	
9.1	Use Mini-Bridge to view, manage, and open images inside Photoshop.	1	2A	
9.2	Describe how to arrange panels and manage workspaces (options include arranging and docking panels, customizing shortcuts, saving custom workspaces, using the workspace switcher).	1	2B	
9.3	Work with tabbed documents and controls in the Application bar (options include tabbed documents, arrange documents menu, screen modes, canvas rotation, Application Frame, and n-up).	1	2A	
9.4	Given a scenario, choose an appropriate method to zoom and pan in the document window (options include the new scrubby zoom feature).	1	2A	
9.5	Given a scenario, create a new file (options include size, color mode, and resolution).	1	4A	
9.6	Given a scenario, properly resize an image (options include Image Size dialog box, resampling controls, Canvas Size dialog box, Transform options, Crop tool, and
Content Aware Scale).	1, 2	Level 1 - 3B, 4A, 5C
Level 2 - 1B	
9.7	Given a scenario, know how to crop and straighten an image (include grid for rule of- thirds, perspective cropping, and the Ruler tool Straighten option).	1	5C	
9.8	Successfully add copyright and other metadata to images in Photoshop and Bridge.	1	Appendix	
9.9	Understand common file formats and the pros and cons of saving an image in those formats.	1	3A, 3B, 8A, 8B	
9.10	Describe how to switch between 32 bit and 64 bit mode on Windows and Mac, and understand the advantages of each mode.	1	3B	
9.11	Understand the process of color management in Photoshop (options include Color Settings, converting to and assigning color profiles, embedding a color profile in the Save dialog box, and the color management settings in Print dialog box).	Photo Printing and Color - topic 1B, 2D	

Domain 10.0 Outputting for Print and Web

Objective	Level	Topic(s)	
10.1	Given a scenario, configure settings in the Print dialog box for output.	1	8A	
10.2	Given a scenario, soft proof an image in Photoshop.	Photo Printing and Color - topic 2D, 7C	
10.3	Create a Web Gallery using Adobe Bridge.	1	Appendix	
10.4	Given a scenario, use the controls in the Save for Web and Devices window to optimize photographs and graphics for the web.	Web Production	1B onwards	
10.5	Correctly slice a web layout into multiple files using layer-based slicing and the Slice tools.	Web Production	5A