Quick Tips

On this page is a disparate collection of Tips for Photoshop.
They are added to at times so further visits will prove useful.

Tip
Sometimes it is a good idea to hide the moving selection line without actually deleting it. To do this use Ctrl + H / Cmd + H. The selection line will be not be seen on the screen but it still works as a selection. To make the line visible use Ctrl + H / Cmd + H again.

If you do hide the selection and carry on with other activities, it can be easy to forget there is still an active selection. You might start using the Clone Stamp tool, for example, and it won't work. Hopefully you'll realize before spending too much time kicking the computer and cursing the manual.

Tip
Once the Info palette is on the screen, any tool will provide a colour reading.
For a precise reading, press Caps Lock.

Tip
A quick way to zoom in is to hold down the Space bar + Ctrl / Space bar + Cmd and drag the cursor over the area you want the enlarge.

Tip
When using a brush tool, such as the Brush, Airbrush or Eraser, there is a constant need to change brush sizes and levels of hardness. A quick way to bring up the relevant dialogue box is to Right + click / Ctrl + click on the screen.
The box will stay on the screen until the brush is used or either Enter or Return is pressed.

Tip
Ctrl + E / Cmd + E will merge the active layer with the layer below it.
Ctrl + G / Cmd + G will group the active layer with the layer below it.

Tip
For a quick undo, press Control + Z on a PC (Ctrl + Z) or Command + Z on a Mac (Cmd + Z). To redo the action repeat this shortcut.
To undo the previous actions as well, press Ctrl + Alt + Z / Cmd + Opt + Z for as many actions as you want to remove.

Tip
Want to be up with the latest computer acronyms? Of course you do.
Well, typing is out - a Victorian word used with old machines found mainly in museums now.
The modern word is pidif as in to pidif or pidifing.
It comes from Positive Interface Digital Input Facility.

Tip
When using the Lasso, more area can be included in the selection by using keystrokes. Hold down Shift and the cursor will be the Lasso sign with the addition of a + sign. Carry on selecting with the Lasso cursor, crossing into the existing selected area and the two parts will be joined.
To take something out of the selection, hold Alt and encircle the area to be removed.

Tip
When using the freehand Lasso tool, hold down Alt / Option to convert the tool to the Polygonal Lasso. Similarly, with the Polygonal tool, hold down Alt / Option to temporarily convert to the freehand Lasso. Drag with the freehand Lasso; click and move with the Polygonal Lasso.
In this way, the two alternatives can be combined as you go round the subject.

Tip
Use the square bracket keys [ and ] to change the brush size.
Shift + square brackets will change the hardness of the brush.

Tip
Make a copy of an image file and work on the copy. The image might be on a CD in which case it will be locked, so you are safe.
Very often, however, the file might be a scan you have done and it's on your computer. In such a case, copy it immediately and work on the copy. An image file can be copied by the computer like any other file.

Tip
The Layers palette and any other palettes to be left open permanently should be placed against the right side of the screen. The open image document will not then move behind these palettes.

Tip
The font used in several layers can be changed all in one go. Link all the type layers together. While holding Shift, select the new font from the Character palette or the options bar.

Tip
Excessive computer work can damage your health.
Even with the use of a quality chair and good sitting position, back and neck problems are not uncommon among people doing a lot of computer work. The trouble arises from the lack of movement. The cartilage discs in the spine do not have a blood supply but rely on movement to work them and keep blood working around them for lubrication – a bit like a sponge being squeezed.
With a lack of movement, these discs start to dry out. That's when aches and pains begin.
The solution is to stand up and move around often. Light stretching and gentle exercises can pay dividends in the long term.

As a change from sitting all the time, it is possible to kneel. Place a substantial cushion on the floor and kneel by sitting up rather than sitting back on the heels. This position will allow the spine to have more movement. You are probably better doing this when on your own rather than in a crowded office.
Some operators prefer to stand at the computer. It's tiring at first but the body gets much more movement this way. Of course it does require a much higher working table so that the screen is eye-level and the keyboard easy to reach.

Tip
I hope your desktop background screen is a boring mid-grey. Unfortunately it needs to be.
A coloured or fancy image screen can affect the judgement over colour.

Tips galore are in Photoshop In A Day.


Tip
To change the colour of a white or black area in an image, curves won't help, because the whole image is affected.
Image > Adjustments > Selective Color can be used to change a white, a neutral or a black without corrupting other colours.

Tip
If you feel the an adjustments in any dialogue box is going wrong and you want to make a fresh start, hold the Alt key. The Cancel button changes to Reset; click on it; the existing settings are cancelled but the dialogue box stays on the screen.
On many dialogue boxes, pressing Alt will cause the Cancel button to change Default.

Tip
When there are two or more layers in the Layer palette, the active layer can be repositioned in the layer stack with Ctrl + ] and Ctrl + [ or Cmd + ] and Cmd + [ .
The layer that is active can be moved up with Alt + ], and down with Alt + [ .

Tip
A drab image with weak colours can be give a quick pep-up. In the Layers palette, copy the image by dragging the Background on to the Create a new layer icon at the bottom of the palette.
Change the mode of this copy layer to Overlay or Multiply, depending which works better.

Tip
To scroll through the modes of a layer, use Shift + = (equals sign).
To scroll back through the list, use Shift + – (minus sign).

Tip

Another health tip.
Continuous long term use of the mouse with hours of repetitive clicking can produce strain in the ligaments and tendons. This is referred to as Repetitive Strain Injury. Once this injury is there, it can be extremely difficult to cure.

There are a few ways to avoid the problem before it begins:
Firstly, take frequent breaks.
Secondly, try and use the other hand. Not everyone is ambidextrous but practice helps; left-handed people tend to have a better ability here.
Thirdly, use the keyboard as much as possible. There are dozens of keyboard shortcuts and they are quicker than using the mouse.

Tip
An image can end up with many layers, even dozens. Holding Alt and clicking on an eye icon in the Layers palette will either make them all visible or switch off all layers except the one you are clicking on.

Tip
A lot of palettes on the screen restrict the viewing area. Short of having two monitors or a 21" screen there is another way to create more screen space.
To hide all the palettes, the toolbox and the top options bar, press Tab.
To clear the screen of just the palettes, press Shift + Tab.
To make the image fill the screen, the shortcut for View > Fit on Screen is Ctrl + 0 for PC or Cmd + 0 for Mac. This is a zero not a capital O.

Tip
To bring up Preferences quickly, use Ctrl + K / Cmd + K.
From there further shortcuts take you to the different sections, such as Ctrl + 3 / Cmd + 3 for Displays & Cursors and Ctrl + 5 / Cmd + 5 for Units & Rulers.

Tip
Working on a high-res image can be very time consuming and we never seem to have enough RAM and processing power. A useful trick is to do all your experimenting on a low-res copy of the image.
This does not usually work with filters but any Adjustment Layers can be dragged across on to the high-res version of the image.

Tip
To create clouds, use a very soft white airbrush. Spray on a new layer, over a blue sky.
Use the Liquify filter to reshape the clouds. The Twirl and Bloat tools can deal with the edges; followed by the Warp tool, under Edit > Transform.


Tip

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