Photoshop CS1 help???

Question

on photoshop cs1, i was wondering how to make the background black and white? or just a plain solid color?

Answer 1

If you want to begin with a background color other than white:
In the tools palette there are intersecting squares indicating the foreground color and background color. By default they are black and white. There is an arrow you can click to switch them if you want a black background. If you want a color, click on the background square, a color picker window will open in which you can pick any color.
After selecting the background color, click file> new. There will be a choice at the bottom of the window for background contents. It offers the choice of foreground color, background color or transparent. If you have preselected the background color as directed above in the tools palette, choose background color.

If you are working with an image and want the change the background around a figure, select the area you want to change using any of the selection tools, then fill the area with the color you want.

I am not sure what you mean by "make the background black and white". You can fill with a gradient from black to white:
Select the area, choose the gradient fill tool from the tool palette. Drag the tool across the area.

I hope that helps.
Judy

Answer 2

If you refer to the whole image you can just click:
1-Image/Adjustment/desaturate=B&W
or
2-new layer on top and paint bucket with the color you want and give it some opacity.
or
3- Go to the tab/window of channels (you can go to windows and select it or just find it to your right) and click the "eye" to close the view for a certain a color and the image will be more solid.

Answer 3

I recommand you to use Google Picasa to manage and edit your pictures.

Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with folder names you will recognize. You can drag and drop to arrange your albums and make labels to create new groups. Picasa makes sure your pictures are always organized.

Picasa also makes advanced editing simple by putting one-click fixes and powerful effects at your fingertips. And Picasa makes it a snap to share your pictures ¨C you can email, print photos at home, make gift CDs, instantly share via Hello™, and even post pictures on your own blog.

free download in here, just have a try:

http://www.toolforyou.net/google-picasa/

Good Luck, Best Wishes!