Electronic Signatures

• Electronic signatures, also known as digital signatures, are a way of storing a John Hancock to be used on other online documents such as word-processing reports and letters. The process of creating an electronic signature is similar to doing one on a piece of paper -- the signer actually scrawls an on-screen replica of a signature. Where Photoshop comes in handy is its ability to support transparency. Creating a digital signature means that signature must be able to be placed on any color or texture background. A signature created in a less robust software package may place a white background around the signature, as not all programs offer transparency. Design electronic signatures in Photoshop to give a digitally personal way to sign electronic documents or add a layer of security.
  
  

One-Minute Makeover

• Any kind of makeover, from a complete house renovation to trying out a new eye shadow, usually requires a minimum investment of time and effort. Some of the more involved makeovers, such as plastic surgery, can even put a life at risk. By opening Photoshop and importing a photo of a person or place in need of a makeover, budding renovators can start tweaking in a few clicks. See what it is like to have brown eyes instead of blue, no contact lenses required. Re-envision your home with a complete siding makeover in minutes, not months. Create a diet motivator by putting your head on the body of a celebrity you wish to emulate.
  
  

Free to Fantasize

• If you ever thought you'd be the perfect mate for a superstar celebrity but just can't seem to break through the security barrier, Photoshop may be the closest thing to making the dream happen. With a quick scan of a picture of a celebrity from a magazine and another import of a personal photo, you can use Photoshop's selection tools -- including the lasso and magic wand -- to make a surprisingly realistic looking photo of you and your celebrity crush. More knowledgeable Photoshop users may even take advantage of the program's blur, clone and blending tools to ensure a seamless background behind the newly paired happy couple.
  
  

Fast Fixes

• Photoshop isn't a miracle worker, but it can perform some magic tricks. In documents such as portable document files, or PDFs, text is often locked down or flattened, meaning the user can read it but can't make changes. An exception to this is when a user has another Adobe product, Acrobat, although the majority of non-Adobe package users just have the Adobe Reader, which allows viewing of PDF files, but no editing. PDFs and other documents that don't allow editing may be brought into Photoshop for some sly tweaks. Photoshop's eraser tool can help remove any dust specks or tears on the document from the scanner. Photoshop's brush tool and shape tools can provide a way to highlight within the document and add arrows, and its text tool, which is called type, even permits you to add text to the document.