Chapter 2

How to Use Photoshop’s Tools

Toolbox Tips

When you first look at Photoshop’s Toolbox, it’s just that skinny little bar along the left side of the window, and you think, “That doesn’t look too hard to learn,” until you realize that there are actually 64 tools in all because many are hidden behind other tools. The phrase Adobe uses to describe any tool that is hidden behind another tool is an “Atelier Cloister Element,” or ACE for short. That’s why you may have read some photographers bragging online about being an “Adobe ACE,” which just means they have passed an in-depth online test (with a minimum score of 82 or higher) based on properly identifying each of the Atelier Cloister Element tools when only displayed onscreen for a fraction of a second, with the tool’s icon lightly tattooed on the side of a bat-eared fox, as it moves through its natural habitat (this is harder to do than it sounds, which is why Adobe ACEs tend to brag about passing the test). In the Photoshop community, passing the ACE test is akin to landing an F/A-18 on the deck of a moving carrier, so it’s a pretty big deal if you score an 82 or higher. I don’t mind telling you, I’ve been at this a while and I only scored an 84, so I can confirm first-hand, it’s a pretty challenging test. But, at least when you’re done with this chapter, you’ll already be able to score in the 36 to 37 range, but that’s because as photographers: (a) we don’t need to use all 64 tools, (b) most of the tools are for designers anyway, and (c) photographers as a group are somewhat gullible, because I made this whole “Atelier Cloister Element” thing up. Totally. Now, I would feel bad if you had fallen for it, but since you didn’t (and you were snickering right along with me the whole time), I think we’re all good, right? No harm, no foul, right? Hello? Anybody there?