13 Best Photoshop Tips and Tricks

Photoshop Tutorials - Photoshop 7 Tips and Tricks

1. CTRL + Click on any given layer to Select it.

2. You just about finished your layout design and you realize it requires a new Object and so your layers require rearrangement. Here's what to do, in your Layers Palette 'Link' all the Layers that need to be rearranged and with the 'Move Tool (M)' shift all the Layers in one movement. Or with the 'Arrow' keys on your keyboard, nudge those Layers in the desired direction.

3. Make use of 'Layer Sets'. The folder icon on the bottom of the Layers Palette will create that just for you. Then place the necessary Layers inside that Folder Set for proper organization. Its a good idea to start a design with use of these.

4. Ok, so you never bothered to use Layered Sets and your close to finishing your design, but the 'Layers Palette' is an unorganized mess! Here's the solution. Decide what layers are appropriate for a Set. For example you have five Layer elements that make up a logo, then link them together. Then click on the little black 'Arrow Menu' on the top/right of the 'Layers Palette', and from the Drop Down list choose 'New Set From Linked...'. Give the Set a Name (Logo for example). Finally, notice that the Blending Mode for that new layer set is 'Pass Through', change that to 'Normal'.

5. For more workspace area, or if your Document exceeds the workspace area because of all the Palettes blocking your view. Hit the Tab key to toggle all Palettes visibility mode.

6. Save yourself a click on the 'Zoom Tool' on the Toolbar Palette by using the 'Ctrl + Plus(+)/Minus(-) keys. Works well if your like me and you have all the Palettes toggled off (Tab Key).

7. Spacebar is your friend. Ever have a good zoom in a document or you design above the normal 800x600 resolution, and say your using the 'Polygonal Lasso' tool and you reach the end of your viewable area in your document, well, instead of reaching to adjust the scrollbars, press the 'Spacebar' key and the tool you are using automatically toggles to the 'Hand' Tool so you can adjust your documents position . Let go of the 'Spacebar' key and your back to the previously used tool.

8. You have more than one Document open and you need to see them side by side for comparison, go to 'Window/Documents/Tile.

9. If your personal about how your Workspace looks, then save it. Go to 'Window/Workspace/Save Workspace', then give it a name when prompted. Handy if there are multiple users sharing your computer, or if certain Workspace's work better for different design sizes. At anytime, Reset the Palettes or delete the current Workspace by going to 'Window/Workspace/Delete Workspace' or 'Windows/Workspace/Reset Palette Locations'.

10. Got a lot of documents open and need to see a quick Slide Show. Press the F key to toggle 'Full Screen Mode', then press the Ctrl + Tab keys to cycle through the open documents.

Ctrl + Tab will cycle Next through your documents in the order they appear in Photoshop.
Ctrl + Shift + Tab will cycle Previous through your documents in the order they appear in Photoshop.

11. Cycle through all your fonts. Have a text layer selected in your document, then go to the 'Font List' drop down and select the default one or the one you have originally chosen, then use the Up/Down Arrow keys to cycle through the list of fonts read by Photoshop.

Font's that have no alternative 'Bold/Italic' options, use the 'Faux Bold or Faux Italic' ooptions from the 'Window/Character' Panel.

When using a lot of text on a single layer, use the 'Ctrl +A' keyboard feature for easy selection.

12. Ctrl + Shift + N , creates a new empty layer. Ctrl + Shift + N + Alt, creates a new empty layer bypassing the Layer Properties Dialog Box.

Layer Manipulation: Once in the Layers Palette, and you choose to re-organize a layer, here's a couple of keyboard tricks to get use to.

Alt + [ cycles through stacked (multiple) layers in a downward motion. (including the Background Layer) Alt + ] cycles through stacked (multiple) layers in an upward motion. (including the Background Layer)

Ctrl + [ moves the selected layer downward (excluding the background layer)(works with Layer Sets) Ctrl + ] moves the selected layer upward (excluding the background layer)(works with Layer Sets)

Ctrl + Shift + [ moves the selected layer to the bottom of the stack (excluding the background layer)(works with Layer Sets) Ctrl + Shift + ] moves the selected layer to the top of the stack (excluding the background layer)(works with Layer Sets)

Delete multiple layers.

Save yourself production time when there's a need to remove multiple unused layers.
Here's how.
Link the unnecessary layers then press Ctrl + E key to Merge Linked Layers, then drag to the garbage bin icon on the Layers Palette. To avoid the Delete Dialogue Box, hold the Alt key as you drag a linked item to the garbage bin icon.

Delete Hidden layers.

Save yourself production time when there's a need to remove unwanted hidden layers.
Here's how. Go to 'Layer/Delete/Hidden Layer' option on the top menu bar.
Alternately, from the 'Layers Palette', select the context menu button option (the samll arrow) and from the list choose, 'Delete Hidden Layers'.

TIP: To avoid the 'Confirm Delete Dialog Box', hold the Alt Key, click the context menu button, scroll to the option 'Delete Hidden Layers' & select it. This will automatically delte the hidden layers.

WARNING: Only recommended if your document does not require the use of hidden layers for 'Slice or Rollover Effects'.

Cycle through Layer Blending Modes: Alt + Shift + (Plus sign) key to cycle downward in the Layer Blending Modes list. Alt + Shift - (Minus sign) key to cycle upward in the Layer Blending Modes list.

Applying styles across multiple layers.

First create an empty layer. With the new empty layer still selected, Link the layers you would like to Merge. Alt + Ctrl + E keys to 'Merge Linked' Layers and create a duplicate. Alt + Ctrl + Shift + E key combination will 'Merge Visible' Layers and create a duplicate. (Handy when you don't want to destroy the original layers.) Then go ahead an apply the style required on the Merged Linked duplicate layer.

Hide 'n Seek

Hold the Alt key when clicking on the Eye Symbol icon (Visibility Mode) in the Layers Palatte to Hide all other layer layers except the active layer.

13. Use Adjustment Layers: The benefit of using adjustments layers is that it provides unique adjustments to your composition without destroying the original pixels. Unlike the same 'Adjustments' from the 'Image' menu option, any affects done through those options is applied directly to your photo.

So ultimately, flexibility and non-destructive habits are well worth learning.

How To Using plug-in modules In Photoshop

Plug-in modules are software programs developed by Adobe Systems and by other software developers in conjunction with Adobe Systems to add features to Photoshop and ImageReady. A number of importing, exporting, and special-effects plug-ins come with your program; they are automatically installed in folders inside the Photoshop Plug-ins folder.

You can select an additional plug-ins folder to use compatible plug-ins stored with another application. You can also create a shortcut (Windows) or an alias (Mac OS) for a plug-in stored in another folder on your system. You can then add the shortcut or alias to the Plug-ins folder to use that plug-in with Photoshop and ImageReady.

Once installed, plug-in modules appear as options added to the Import or Export menu; as file formats in the Open, Save As, and Export Original (ImageReady) dialog boxes; or as filters in the Filter submenus. Photoshop and ImageReady can accommodate a large number of plug-ins. However, if the number of installed plug-in modules becomes great enough, Photoshop or ImageReady may not be able to list all the plug-ins in their appropriate menus. Newly installed plug-ins will then appear in the Filter > Other submenu.

To install an Adobe Systems plug-in module:

Do one of the following:

• Use the plug-in installer, if provided.
• (Windows) Copy the module into the appropriate Plug-ins folder in the Photoshop program folder. Make sure that the files are uncompressed.
• (Mac OS) Drag a copy of the module to the appropriate Plug-ins folder in the Photoshop program folder. Make sure that the files are uncompressed.

Important: For Macintosh, the plug-ins that come with Photoshop 7.0 are compatible with both Mac OS 9.x and Mac OS X. However, any plug-in originally intended to work on Mac OS 9, such as plug-ins from previous versions of Photoshop and some third-party plug-ins, can only be used on Mac OS 9.x or in the Classic environment on Mac OS X. You can place such plug-ins in the Plug-ins folder for the Mac OS X version of Photoshop, but they will not appear unless you launch Photoshop in the Classic environment.

To install a third-party plug-in module:

Follow the installation instructions that came with the plug-in module.

If you cannot run a third-party plug-in, the plug-in may require a legacy Photoshop serial number.

To specify a legacy serial number (Photoshop):

1. Do one of the following:

·         In Windows and Mac OS 9.x, choose Edit > Preferences > Plug-Ins & Scratch Disk.

·         In Mac OS X, choose Photoshop > Preferences > Plug-Ins & Scratch Disk.

                        Enter the serial number from Photoshop 6.0 or earlier in the Legacy Photoshop Serial Number text box.

To select an additional plug-ins folder:

1. Do one of the following:

·         In Windows and Mac OS 9.x, choose Edit > Preferences > Plug-Ins & Scratch Disk.

·         (Photoshop) In Mac OS X, choose Photoshop > Preferences > Plug-Ins & Scratch Disk.

·         (ImageReady) In Mac OS X, choose ImageReady > Preferences > Plug-Ins & Scratch Disk.

                        Select Additional Plug-ins Folder.

Click Choose, and select a folder or directory from the list. Make sure that you do not select a location inside the Plug-ins folder. To display the contents of a folder, double-click the directory (Windows) or click Open (Mac OS).

When you have highlighted the additional plug-ins folder, click OK (Windows), Select (Mac OS) or Choose (Mac OS 9.0 and later).

                        Restart Photoshop or ImageReady for the plug-ins to take effect.

To suppress the loading of a plug-in or folder of plug-ins:

Add a tilde "~" character at the beginning of the plug-in name, folder, or directory. That file (or all files in the folder) will be ignored by the application.

To view information about installed plug-ins:

Do one of the following:

• In Windows, choose Help > About Plug-In and select a plug-in from the submenu.
• In Mac OS 9.x, choose Apple menu > About Plug-In and select a plug-in from the submenu.
• (Photoshop) In Mac OS X, choose Photoshop > About Plug-In and select a plug-in from the submenu.
• (ImageReady) In Mac OS X, choose ImageReady > About Plug-In and select a plug-in from the submenu.

To load a plug-in in only Photoshop or ImageReady:

Install the plug-in either the Adobe Photoshop Only folder or the Adobe ImageReady Only folder inside the Plug-ins folder.

Note: Use this procedure when you want to use a plug-in within only Photoshop or ImageReady, or when a plug-in may only be compatible with one of the two applications.

How To Placing files in Photoshop

You can use the File > Place command to place artwork into a new layer in an image. In Photoshop, you can place PDF, Adobe Illustrator, and EPS files; in ImageReady, you can place files in any supported format, with the exception of Photoshop (PSD) files containing CMYK images.

When you place a PDF, Adobe Illustrator, or EPS file, it is rasterized; you cannot edit text or vector data in placed artwork. Keep in mind that artwork is rasterized at the resolution of the file into which it is placed.

To place a PDF, Adobe Illustrator, or EPS file (Photoshop):

1. Open the Photoshop image into which you want to place the artwork.

2. Choose File > Place, select the file you want to place, and click Place.

3. If you are placing a PDF file that contains multiple pages, select the page you want to place in the provided dialog box, and click OK.

The placed artwork appears inside a bounding box at the center of the Photoshop image. The artwork maintains its original aspect ratio; however, if the artwork is larger than the Photoshop image, it is resized to fit.

4. If desired, reposition the placed artwork by doing one or more of the following:

·         Position the pointer inside the bounding box of the placed artwork, and drag.

·         In the options bar, enter a value for X to specify the distance between the center point of the placed artwork and the left edge of the image. Enter a value for Y to specify the distance between the center point of the placed artwork and the top edge of the image.

·         To adjust the center point of the placed artwork, drag the center point to a new location, or click a handle on the center point icon in the options bar.

                        If desired, scale the placed artwork by doing one or more of the following:

·         Drag one of the handles at the corners or sides of the bounding box. Hold down Shift as you drag a corner handle to constrain the proportions.

·         In the options bar, enter values for W and H to specify the width and height of the artwork. By default, these options represent scale as a percentage; however, you can enter another unit of measurement. To constrain the proportions of the artwork, click the Constrain Proportions icon ; the option is on when the icon has a white background.

                        If desired, rotate the placed artwork by doing one or more of the following:

·         Position the pointer outside the bounding box of the placed artwork (the pointer turns into a curved arrow), and drag.

·         In the options bar, enter a value (in degrees) for the Rotation option .

The artwork rotates around the center point of the placed artwork. To adjust the center point, drag it to a new location, or click a handle on the Center Point icon in the options bar.

                        If desired, skew the placed artwork by holding down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac OS), and dragging a side handle of the bounding box.

                        Set the Anti-alias option in the options bar as desired. To blend edge pixels during rasterization, select the Anti-alias option. To produce a hard-edged transition between edge pixels during rasterization, deselect the Anti-alias option.

                        To commit the placed artwork to a new layer, do one of the following:

·         Click the OK button in the options bar.

·         Press Enter or Return.

To cancel the placement, click the Cancel button in the options bar, or press Esc.

To place a file (ImageReady):

1. Open the ImageReady image into which you want to place the file.

2. Choose File > Place, select the file you want to place, and click Open.

3. Select offset options:

·         From the Horizontal pop-up menu, choose an option for placing the file horizontally with respect to the image. In the Pixels text box, enter the number of pixels to offset the placed image horizontally.

·         From the Vertical pop-up menu, choose an option for placing the file vertically with respect to the image. In the Pixels text box, enter the number of pixels to offset the placed image vertically.

Note: To enter a negative number (and offset the placed file to the left or below the image), type a hyphen (-) before the number.

                        Click OK.

                        If you are placing a PDF file that contains multiple pages, select the page you want to place, and click OK.

                        If you are placing a PDF or EPS file, select Rasterize options, and click OK:

·         Enter Width and Height values for Image Size.

·         Select Anti-aliased to minimize the jagged appearance of the artwork's edges as it is rasterized.

Select Constrain Proportions to maintain the same height-to-width ratio.