Saturday, February 1, 2014
Transform a selection
You can transform a selection in just the same way as a layer. Just go to Select>Transform Selection. Right-click to choose from familiar transform modes like Skew and Warp.
Fixed Ratio selections
The Rectangular Marquee tool has a useful ‘Style’ setting in the Options Bar that lets you make a selection at a fixed ratio or size. This is helpful if you want to select a specific area to use as a wallpaper or for web pages.
Switch lasso
When using the Lasso tool, hold Alt then release the mouse
button to temporarily switch to the Polygonal Lasso tool.
button to temporarily switch to the Polygonal Lasso tool.
The amazing Cmd/Ctrl+click
Use the Cmd/Ctrl+click shortcut on any layer thumbnail, mask thumbnail, Channel or Path to load its shape or contents as a selection.
Hide the Marching Ants
Press Cmd/Ctrl+H to hide or reveal a selection’s ‘marching ants’ line. Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+H does the same for a Path line.
Paste in place
Cut and paste a selection to a new layer and Photoshop will place it in the middle of the screen. If you want to paste it to a new layer, but keep the position the same, use Cmd/Ctrl+X to cut and Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+V to paste in place. Similarly, you should hold down Shift while dragging layers between documents with the Move tool to keep the same position.
Crucial selection shortcuts
With any selection tool, hold Shift to add to an existing selection and Alt to subtract from it. Shift+Alt together allows you to intersect selections.
Speedy navigation
Being able to quickly and easily move around your image and
zoom in or out will speed up your workflow more than anything else. Use Cmd/Ctrl and + to zoom in, Cmd/Ctrl and – to zoom out. Hold the space bar to temporarily access the Hand tool and drag around the image.
zoom in or out will speed up your workflow more than anything else. Use Cmd/Ctrl and + to zoom in, Cmd/Ctrl and – to zoom out. Hold the space bar to temporarily access the Hand tool and drag around the image.
Top Tool Photoshop Tips
Right-click for contextual menus
Almost all tools have a contextual menu that’s accessed with a simple right-click. This usually gives you the tool’s major controls and a few handy shortcuts. As well as the tool you have active, where you right-click affects the menu, too. For example, a right-click over a layer thumbnail or mask thumbnail gives different options.
Step-by-step Blend fire effects
A: Copy in the fire
Open a portrait image and a generic fire image, then grab theMove tool and check Auto-Select Layer and Show Transform Controls. Drag the fire image into the girl image to copy it in, then change the Blend Mode of the layer toScreen.
B: Position and warp
Click the bounding box to transform the fire layer, then resize, rotate and position the layer. Right-click while in Transform mode and choose Warp to wrap the fire around the body. HitCmd/Ctrl+J to copy the fire layer and transform again to build up the effect.
Quick masking
You may be familiar with Color Range in the Select drop-down menu. But did you know that you can access a similar command through the Color Range button in the Masks Panel? (Window>Masks). This allows you to quickly make a mask by sampling colours, which can be used for making a quick spot colour effect.
Quick masking
You may be familiar with Color Range in the Select drop-down menu. But did you know that you can access a similar command through the Color Range button in the Masks Panel? (Window>Masks). This allows you to quickly make a mask by sampling colours, which can be used for making a quick spot colour effect.
Change Opacity
When not using a painting tool, you can change layer Opacity
simply by pressing a number key. Hit 1 for 10%, 5 for 50%, and 0 for 100%.
simply by pressing a number key. Hit 1 for 10%, 5 for 50%, and 0 for 100%.
Select similar layers
To quickly select all layers of a similar kind, such as shape or type
layers, highlight one of them and then go to Select>Similar Layers.
layers, highlight one of them and then go to Select>Similar Layers.
Layer Mask views
Hold down Alt and click a Layer Mask thumbnail to toggle between a view of the mask and the image. Hold down Shift and click to turn the mask on or off.
Edit multiple type layers
To apply a change of font or size to multiple type layers at once, hold down Cmd/ Ctrl and click the layers in the Layers Panel to highlight them, then simply select the Type tool and change the settings in the Options Bar.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Shortcuts
- Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Alt+E will merge a copy of all Layers
- F Cycle through workspace backgrounds
- X Change your foreground and background colours
- D Reset foreground and background colours to black and white
- ] and [ Change your brush tip size
- Cmd/Ctrl+J Duplicate a layer or selection
- Space Bar Hold Space and drag to navigate around the image
- TAB Hides or shows all panels and tools
- Cmd/Ctrl+T Transform a layer
- Cmd/Ctrl+E Merge selected layer down, or merges several highlighted layers
- Cmd/Ctrl/Ctrl+Shift+Opt+S Save for web & devices
- Cmd/Ctrl+L Bring up levels box
- Cmd/Ctrl+T Open Free Transform tool
- Cmd/Ctrl+M Open Curves
- Cmd/Ctrl+B Edit Colour Balance
- Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Opt+C Scale your image to your preferred state
- Cmd/Ctrl+Opt+G Create clipping mask
- Cmd/Ctrl+0 Fit on screen
- Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+>/< Increase/decrease size of selected text by 2pts
- Cmd/Ctrl+Option+Shift->/< Increase/decrease size of selected text by 10pts
- ]/[ Increase/decrease brush size
- Shift+F5 Fill the selection
- }/{ Increase/decrease brush hardness
- ,/. previous/next brush
- </> First/last brush
- Cmd/Ctrl+] Bring layers forward
- Cmd/Ctrl+[ Send layer back
- Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+[ Send layer to bottom of stack
- Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+] Bring layer to bottom of stack
Close all images
To close all of your documents at the same time, Shift-clickany image window’s close icon.
Colour Code Layers
Use colour coding to organise your Layers Panel. Right-clickover a layer’s eye icon to quickly access 8 colour code choices.
1000 History states
Go to Edit>Preferences>Performance to change the number of History states up to a maximum of 1000. Beware though of the effect that this has on performance.
Photoshop tips: Funky backgrounds
Want to change the default grey background to something more funky? Shift–click over the background area with the Paint Bucket tool to fill it with your foreground colour. Right-click it to go back to grey.
Easier marquee selections
Hold down Alt to start a selection at the centre point with any Marquee tool, and then hold Space to temporarily move the selection around.
Quick full Layer Masks
You can Alt-click on the Layer Mask icon to add a full mask that hides everything on the layer.
Bird’s Eye View
When zoomed in close, hold down H and drag in the image to instantly dart out to full screen then jump back to another area. One of the best Photoshop tips for viewing work!
Photoshop tips: Rotating Patterns
You can make amazing kaleidoscopic patterns with the help of a keyboard shortcut. Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Alt+T lets you duplicate a layer and repeat a transformation in one go. To demonstrate, we’ve made a narrow glowing shape by squeezing a lens flare effect, but you can use any shape, image or effect you like. First, make an initial rotation by pressing Cmd/Ctrl+T and turning slightly, then hit Enter to apply. Next, pressCmd/Ctrl+Shift+Alt+T repeatedly to create a pattern.
You can make amazing kaleidoscopic patterns with the help of a keyboard shortcut. Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Alt+T lets you duplicate a layer and repeat a transformation in one go. To demonstrate, we’ve made a narrow glowing shape by squeezing a lens flare effect, but you can use any shape, image or effect you like. First, make an initial rotation by pressing Cmd/Ctrl+T and turning slightly, then hit Enter to apply. Next, pressCmd/Ctrl+Shift+Alt+T repeatedly to create a pattern.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)