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This post is about the different methods of viewing images. After reading this post, you will learn about different techniques of zooming an image, changing the screen mode and arranging image windows in the work area.

Zooming an image

When you want to make changes in an image, you may need to modify the zoom level of the image to see more details (when you zoom in) or more of the image and less details (when you zoom out). There are different methods for this purpose:

1) Navigator panel

Navigator panel is a great way for changing the zoom level of the image or scrolling around the image.
Choose Window> Navigator. You can zoom in and zoom out the image by dragging the slider under the image thumbnail to right and left in order. The red rectangular outline represents the area of the image that appears in the image window. Drag the red outline around the thumbnail area to see other areas of the image.2) Zoom Tool
Look at the status bar at the bottom of your image window and notice the percentage listed on the far left which shows the zoom level of the image. Now find the magnifying-glass icon in the Tool panel and then click it.The pointer looks like a tiny magnifying glass with a plus sign (+) in the center of the glass.

*Note: If you hold the pointer over the tool’s icon in the Tool panel, you will see the tool’s name and its keyword shortcut.

Click anywhere in the image window. The zoom level will change into a preset one. If you click again, the zoom advances to the next level up to maximum level of 3200%. Notice that the location you clicked is centered in the enlarged view.
You can also drag a rectangular with the zoom tool to enclose the area of the image that you want to see with more details. Now that area fills the entire image window.If you want to see more of the image and less details (zooming out) press Atl/Option key while using Zoom tool. At this time, the plus sign(+) is changed into minus sign(-).

3) Type a new percent in the status bar or in the Zoom level option on the application bar.4) Choose View> Zoom in or View> Zoom out

5)Select the Zoom tool in the Tool panel and then choose zoom in or zoom out mode in the Option bar. When you choose zoom out mode you don’t need more to press Alt/Option key.

*Note: Double clicking the Zoom tool icon in the Tool panel changes the zoom level to 100%. To understanding the meaning of zoom level of 100% read this lesson: Resolution and image size

Changing the screen mode

Adobe Photoshop gives you the opportunity to view images on your entire screen or show/hide the menu bar, title bar, and scroll bars. Do one of the following:

•Choose View> Screen Mode > Standard Screen Mode to display the default window. (Menu bar at the top and scroll bars on the side)

•Choose View> Screen Mode > Full Sceen Mode With Menu Bar to display a full-screen window with a menu bar and a 50% gray background, but no title bar or scroll bars.

•Choose View > Screen Mode > Full Screen Mode to display a full-screen window with only a black background (no title bar, menu bar, or scroll bars)

*Note: You can change the screen mode by choosing the mode from the drop-down menu on the Screen Mode button in the application bar.

Arranging image windows

In the Adobe Photoshop, like other Adobe applications, you can open multiple images at the same time. To bring an open image to the front, choose the file name from the bottom of the Window menu or click on the title bar of the image. If you want to arrange the image windows, choose Window > Arrange and then choose one of the following:
•Cascade
Displays undocked windows stacked and cascading from the upper left to the lower right of the screen.

•Tile
Displays windows edge to edge. As you close images, the open windows are resized to fill the available space.

•Float in Window
Allows image to float freely.

•Float All in Windows
Floats all images.

•Consolidate All to Tabs
Shows one image in full screen and minimizes the other images to tabs.