C.A.D.-1 Notes
Subject Overview
C.A.D.-1 introduces Adobe Photoshop as a professional design tool — teaching students to manipulate, edit and enhance images, apply layer effects and filters for special effects, and optimise images for print and web. You'll learn the Photoshop interface, layers and basic selections, photo draping and painting tools, photo retouching and colour correction, and close with colour settings and creating special text effects. This is a 2-credit core practical paper across 4 units, assessed through a practical examination.
Subject at a glance
4
Units
21
Topics
2
Credits
4
Infographics
Unit-wise Syllabus
4 units — click WhatsApp below to get the full notes for each
Unit 1: Photoshop interface & layers
- Toolbox
- panels and menus
- working with images and basic selections
- rulers/guides/grids
- adjustments panel
- creating and managing layers
- blending modes
Toolbox
Selection, brush, clone and more
Panels
Layers, adjustments, swatches
Layers
Stack of editable images
Blending modes
How layers mix: multiply, overlay
Study guide
This unit introduces Photoshop: the toolbox, panels and menus, images and selections, rulers, guides, grids, adjustment panel, layers and blending modes. Work with layers non-destructively.
Unit 2: Photo draping & painting
- Photo draping basics using the Wrap tool
- draping a garment or dress with blending modes
- painting with the Brush tool
- colours and swatches
- gradients and custom brushes
- 1
Select the garment area
- 2
Place the fabric print as a new layer
- 3
Warp to follow the folds
- 4
Set blending mode
Multiply keeps the shadows
- 5
Mask the edges
- 6
Adjust colour and save
Study guide
You learn photo draping with the Wrap tool, draping garments with blending modes and painting with brushes, colours, swatches and gradients. Try draping a print onto a garment photo.
Unit 3: Photo retouching & colour correction
- Red Eye tool
- Clone Stamp tool
- Patch and Healing Brush tools
- Colour Replacement tool
- adjusting levels and curves non-destructively with adjustment layers
Clone Stamp
Copies pixels from one area to another
Healing Brush
Blends texture to match
Patch
Replaces a selected area
Red Eye
Removes flash red eye
Levels and curves
Non-destructive tone correction
Study guide
You learn retouching and colour correction: Red Eye, Clone Stamp, Patch and Healing tools, Colour Replacement and levels and curves via adjustment layers. Use adjustment layers so you can undo changes.
Unit 4: Colour settings & special effects
- Quick Mask mode and the Pen tool
- colour palette and CMYK gamut settings
- Photoshop filters and Smart Filters
- text effects and gradients
Colours
Red, green, blue light
Cyan, magenta, yellow, black ink
Model
Additive
Subtractive
Used for
Screens, digital
Gamut
Wider
Narrower: check before printing
Study guide
You study Quick Mask, the Pen tool, colour palettes, CMYK gamut, filters, Smart Filters, text effects and gradients. Always check colour in CMYK for print work.
Why C.A.D.-1 Matters
Digital design tools are standard in fashion and textile studios, and Photoshop skills are asked in most design job postings.
How to Prepare for C.A.D.-1
- Practise daily with your own design projects.
- Learn keyboard shortcuts and layer organisation.
- Build a digital portfolio of your work.
C.A.D.-1: Frequently Asked Questions
Which software is taught in CAD-1?
Adobe Photoshop, used for image editing, photo draping and digital colour work.