You are here:

Adobe Photoshop/shrinking/expanding pics?

Advertisement

Expert: - 7/10/2009


Question

graph output

Hello Richard

I will try to keep this as short and concise as possible.  

I am the lab manager of a science laboratory at a university.  We have used a graphics program called Canvas to make our figures for publications, presentations, etc.  Our figures are nothing too fancy...tabular data from Microsoft excel input into a formula, which makes an output consisting of a bunch of squiggly lines that are filled with color and export into a format such as .emf and input into our graphics program (please see attached).

The problem is is that Canvas is VERY OBSOLETE, so we looking to get a little more up to date.  We keep hearing about Photoshop, which I downloaded the free trial.  So far...so good.  It seems to have amazing capabilities.  However, I can not figure out how to 'grab' an image (jpeg, emf, tiff, etc) and shrink/expand to get all of our cm (y axis) to line up (see image), which can be done on canvas, as well as on Powerpoint, Word, etc.  Can this be done on Photoshop?  If so, how?  This is a very important feature for our work.  (Note...all sets of lines are separate images...they just need to be shrunk/expanded manually).

Thank you!!!

Thomas

Answer
I'm sorry, but I really don't understand what you're trying to do. Are you saying that you have data blocks like the ones in the picture and you just need to use Photoshop to align them all to a vertical line on the top of the page?

If so, I wouldn't use Photoshop for this (although you COULD). I would use a vector art program like Illustrator or CorelDraw. Photoshop COULD do this, but it's really designed for editing images and pictures… not page layout.

Let me know if you have any other questions or comments.

Also, be sure to visit my FREE Tips & Tricks Page at http://www.599cd.com/tips?key=AllExperts


Cordially,

Richard Rost
599CD Computer Training
http://www.599cd.com

P.S. Try one of my FREE tutorials at http://www.599cd.com/Photoshop?key=AllExperts

P.P.S. I volunteer my time at AllExperts to help people, and I get a LOT of questions, so I can't take an hour to answer each question. If you need more DETAILED HELP, come to my TechHelp web site at http://www.599cd.com/TechHelp/AllExperts and I'll take as much time as you need to answer your question.

Out of work? Know someone who is? Get a FREE copy of my Computer Job Skills CD at http://www.599cd.com/JobSkills?key=AllExperts

Richard Rost

Expertise

I can answer any and all questions regarding Adobe Photoshop. If you need help with layers, masks, channels, paths, fixing photos, drawing by hand, or even filters, feel free to ask me.

Experience

I have been teaching Photoshop in the classroom and online for almost a decade. I currently teach online at http://www.PhotoshopLearningZone.com

Education/Credentials
I am completely self-taught with Photoshop - which I believe is the best way to learn. A good book, tutorials, and experts (such as those here at AllExperts) to ask question of is the best way to understand a subject. I have been an Expert here at AllExperts in several other catgeories (MS Word, Excel, Windows, etc.) for a long time.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.