Getting Graphic: Examining and setting screen resoultion; Creating graphic images with the Selection, Painting and Shape tools; Performing Transformations; Examining the difference between Raster and Vector graphics; Working with Custom Shapes and Compound Shapes; Exploring Batch Processing; Using Layer Styles and Shapes; Copying Layer Styles; Making a Layer Styles Library

Example #1: Created two rectangular shapes on two layers. The one of the first layer, the burgundy color, was created with a Vector object whereas the one on the top layer was created with a Raster rectangle. As shown, the Vector object maintains a clean edge even when transformed or rotated while the Raster object edges are blurred. Saved the image first as a PSD file to preserve the layers and then as GIF file named 'bjwshapes1'.

Example #2: Next we played with shapes and created something. I made a little "storybook" type scene with some of the shapes.

Example #3: The fun begins! We explored libraries of Custom Shapes and uploaded new Custom Shapes. Then we made a small composition using some of the Custom Shapes.

Example #4: We then learned how to create Compound Shapes. As you can see, this really was fun!

Example #5: Next we learned how to combine shapes. This was kind of slick, and easier to do than in some other graphics programs.

Example #6: The really fun part of the lesson came next - using layer styles with shapes. For this part of the lesson I used a shape I had uploaded from Adobe Studio Exchange - SCS_014. I couldn't stop playing with this one, as you can see, and will continue to see, from the title graphic. I tried so many styles and at the last minute decided to use SL-SeaGlassIndigo, which I had also uploaded from the Adobe Studio Exchange.

Example #7: One more fun part of the lesson was learning how to do batch processing. We converted all of our images to GIF files with an image size of 200 pixels wide and a resolution of 96 ppi. I learned that it's important to keep the top layer of each image the active layer as well as the last image opened last. When the images were opened out of order the new names were different from the originals.

Lots of good stuff in this lesson, Janee! Thank you!