Using Photoshop

I have recently come across a problem relating with interface design. A co-worker that I've been tutoring in some of the finer arts of Photoshop was recently building a more complicated interface design. He'd actually done fairly well except for when he resized one of the layers with the Free Transform tool and pixelated the edges of the object (Whoops!).

The inside arc in the above image was resized with Free Transform which you are able to see has screwed up the anti-aliasing a fair bit on this object (it's on a seperate layer). This tutorial will also be handy if you've increased the size of one of your objects (this will definitely pixellate it).

Luckily in order to fix something like this it is a fairly easy process and you won't need to redo the whole layout again. [Phew!]

1. Isolate the problem layer (ie turn all other layers off with the "eye" icon next to that layer) so that alll you are able to see now is the layer you want to smooth.

2. Hold down your <CTRL> key and click on the object's layer. This should make a perfect selection.

3. Change to the Channels window (make sure it's visible by selecting WINDOW >> SHOW CHANNELS). Click on the "Save Selection as Channel" Button and then select the new channel usually called Alpha 1

4. Select the whole canvas <CTRL> + <A> and then select FILTER >> BLUR >> GAUSSIAN BLUR. Give it a value of around 3 pixels but it can depend on how much pixellation you are trying to eliminate. Do not set it too high. Click OK.

5. This next part is what actually smooths the channel. Hold down <CTRL> + <L> (or select IMAGE >> ADJUST >> LEVELS).

Drag the left hand slider a little before the middle and then bring the right-hand slider across to the middle until your object looks nice and smooth. Unfortunately the settings are not always the same and if you drag the sliders too close to one another your object will start to pixellate again. Click OK.

6. Click on the "Load Channel as Selection" button and then go back to the Layers window (WINDOW >> SHOW LAYERS).

7. If you now create a new layer and fill that with your color, gradient and effects you will now have a much more smooth looking object.

BEFORE:


AFTER:

AFTER:
[with Gradient, Stroke and Shadow effects]

By Andrew
BlueDesignStudios

This article was brought to you in conjunction with YnotMasters Network