photoshop pro ...from the ground, up

header image for CS4 tutorials home page

main > tutorials > CS4: What's New? > Brushes

Go Back To: CS3 Tutorials Home Page Tutorials Home Page Lightroom Tutorials

PS CS4: What's New — Brushes

There are not too many brand new features to CS4 brushes, but what is there is most definately welcome, especially when it comes to resizing and changing hardness — it is so much easier now!

The Enhanced and Improved Cursors

Photoshop CS4: Brushes

Brush cursors now come with a highlighted edge making it easier to actually see them regardless of the color you're hovering over.

Resizing and Changing Hardness

If you do any kind of brush work on a regular basis, man are you going to like this!

Changing Diameter:

Mac: Press the Cntl-Option keys then simply click-drag either left (smaller) or right (larger).
Win: Press the Alt key then right-click and drag.

Changing Hardness

Mac: Press the Cntl-Option-Cmd keys then click-drag left (softer) or right (harder).
Win: Press Alt-Shift then right-click and drag.

Pretty straight forward and pretty simple, but I'm addicted already. A very small thing, but what a huge improvement to ease of use.

Brush Panels

This section is meant just as kind of a review for those of you not used to accessing the full array of controls you have over your brushes.

Brush Presets Panel

Photoshop CS4: Brushes

By pressing the down-arrow, circled in green, you get the Brush Presets Panel. From here, you can manually change both diameter and hardness, as well as getting a whole variety of brush tips.

To access even more brush tips, click the right-arrow, circled in red.

Brushes Panel

Photoshop CS4: Brushes

After selecting the Brush Tool, press the B key, you can click the brush icon near the top in the Options bar to get the almighty, all powerful Brushes Panel.

It's amazing the trouble you can get into here — Wet Edges anyone?

main | tutorials | resources | contact | sitemap

The Search

Photomatix

Create amazing high dynamic range images using Photomatix Pro software. View some examples of the kind of images which Photomatix can produce.

SiteGrinder

Create websites from Photoshop with Site Grinder software. You do the creative part, it does the coding.

Videos

For those who learn best by visual means, we have an excellent selection of video tutorials from Christopher Swift.

Alien Skin

Add some zest to your Photoshop work with plugins by world renowned Alien Skin, featuring Snap Art, Eye Candy, and Exposure.

Fluid Mask

Extract images from their backgrounds with uncanny precision using Fluid Mask. Take a tour of Fluid Mask and find out how amazing it is.

Special discount price when ordering Fluid Mask through us!

Photozoom

Enlarge your images to enormous proportions with virtually no loss in sharpness or detail with Ben Vista software — Photozoom Pro 2.

Books

The LAB colorspace book: the Canyon Conundrum Photoshop LAB ColorThis is simply the best book on the LAB color space you'll ever buy.

photoshop cs3 book Adobe Photoshop CS3 Classroom in a Book From the Adobe Creative Team itself! Takes you from beginner to advanced.

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book — an excellent resource for learning all you need to know about Lightroom.

CS3 Resources

Auto FX

Stunning effects with Auto FX software for Photoshop:

Resources

Wacom

From graphic design to photo touch ups, Wacom pen tablets make life easier: Wacom Pen Tablets

Site Hosting

This site is hosted by pair.com.