Photoshop Tools Explanation - Basics

Move tool -- shortcut (V)
As the name suggests ,it is used to move objects (or) images.

Rectangular Marquee tool -- Shortcut (M)
Used to make selections in rectangular shapes.It changes The selected
portion of the image that is affected by other tools (or) actions within
the selected portion.
Holding [SHIFT] while dragging the selection creates a perfect square.
Holding [ALT] while dragging sets the center of the rectangular to where
the cursor started.

Elliptical Marquee Tool -- Shortcut (M)
Used to select portions in Elliptical shape.
Holding [SHIFT] while dragging the selection creates a perfect cilrcle.
Holding [ALT] while dragging sets the center of the circle to where the
cursor started.

Polygonal Lasso Tool -- Shortcut (L)
This tool is used to draw selections in any shape u wish.It is done by
clicking points through the image and completing it at the starting
point.

Magic Wand Tool -- Shortcut (W)
This tool is used to select a color range.It will select the portion of
colors ,based on where the click is made. The tolerence can be adjusted in
the options menu to make it more /less precise.

Crop Tool -- Shortcut ©
The Crop tool works similar to rectangular marquee tool.The selection is
also similar.But the main difference is that it crops out the image (i.e)
The selected portion remains , others are discarded.

Slice Tool -- Shortcut (K)
The Slice Tool is mainly used in web designing.It splices or cuts the image
based on the sections made. This tool is a little advanced, a detailed
tutorial on this tool will be posted soon.

Healing Brush Tool -- Shortcut (J)
This tool is used to repair patches and specs on images. A very handy tool.
Using the cursor and then holding down the [ALT] key,you can select the
clean area of the image ,and paint over the bad portion of the image(let
off the [ALT] when painting).

Brush Tool -- Shortcut (B)
A very Basic tool in photoshop.It paints on the image in what ever color is
selected in the color palette . the size of the brush can be adjusted
using the [RIGHT CLICK] . Custom brushed can also be used.To use custom
brushes ,select the brush tool , [RIGHT CLICK] and click on the small
arrow, and select [REPLACE BRUSHES...] ,now select the custom brush that
you downloaded.

Clone Stamp Tool -- Shortcut (S)
This tool operates similar to the healing brush tool,Except that it creates
a exact replica of the selected portion.

History Brush Tool -- Shortcut (H)
The History Brush tool paints it with the original state of the image. The
windows palette can be accessed from Windows-->history.

Eraser Tool -- Shortcut (E)
This tool works opposite to the brush tool.It erases of the portions.Custom
brushes can also be used in the eraser tool.

Gradient Tool -- Shortcut (G)
This tool is used to make a gradient of colors (or) simply multiple colors.

Paint Bucket Tool -- Shortcut (G)
This tool is used to pour colors into the selected area or the layer.
The color is selected from the foreground color pallette.

Blur Tool -- Shortcut ®
It just blurs out the portions . select the tool and click and drag to make
the portions blurred, the more the click and drag is applied the more
blurred it becomes.

Dodge Tool -- Shortcut (O)
This tool lightens whatever area it is used it on.Absolute black wont
lighten.

Path Selection Tool -- Selection (A)
This tool is for working in paths.A kind-of advanced tool.A detailed
tutorial will be posted later.

Horizontal Type Tool -- Shortcut (T)
As the name suggests it is used to type text in horizontal way.Click and
drag can be used to make a bounding box for the type area,or a sinlge click
can be made and the text can be typed as long a you want!

Pen Tool -- Shortcut (P)
Pen tool is used to create paths.The path selection tool is also used to
modify the paths. A detailed tutorial to be posted soon.

Rectangle Tool -- Shortcut (U)
As the name goes,it is used to shape layers in rectangular form.It then
fills the rectangle with whatever color is selected in the foreground.

Notes Tool -- Shortcut (N)
It's kind-of a digital post it notes.Used to give additional information to
others. The noted gets saved with the PSD file.

Eyedropper Tool -- Shortcut (I)
This tool changes the foreground color to what ever color you click
on.Holding [ALT] key when clicking will change the background color.

Zoom tool -- shortcut (Z)
This tool lets you to zoom in/out the image.It doesnt affect the size of
the canvas.Holding down [ALT] and scrolling will forward will zoom in ,
scrolling backward will zoom out.