Work Basics: Viewing (Video Included)

Easy viewing is very important component of correct editing, especially while dealing with larger images. To view the whole picture we have to zoom out, to view minor details we are to zoom in; to see a picture as it really is, we have to use actual size.

1. Open the image and note the initial zoom value.

2. Hold down [Alt] and [Space] keyboard keys to temporarily activate the Zoom Tool and mouse-click on the image to magnify the view. Note how the zoom value change. Click several more times. The image may appear jagged, but this is just the view sizing function and there is no problem with your image.

3. Now you can view minor details but you can't see the entire image, because it is too large. Look at the Navigator palette (if it's hidden, display it using the Window pull down menu). In the center of the palette you can see image thumbnail; the visible portion of the image is shown in a red rectangle. Drag the rectangle across the thumbnail and notice the image in the image window updating (movie).

4. Maximize the image window, by clicking the button, located in the upper right side of the window. Now the image view occupies all the workarea, however we can't see the entire image, because it is still too large.

5. Hold down [Space] key to temporarily activate the Hand Tool and drag the image to make the hidden areas visible. Note that you move the view only and not the image itself.

6. Pull down Window > Fit On Screen or press [Ctrl] and [0] (Zero) keys to fulfil this command. The image still may look a bit jagged, because it is not at 100% zoom.

7. Hold down [Ctrl], [Alt] and [Space] keys to activate the "zoom out" mode and click to reduce the image view.

8. To view the image as it actually is with 100% zoom, pull down Window > Actual Pixels or press [Ctrl+Alt+0] keys.

NB Always estimate the sharpness of an image at 100% zoom.