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.

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.