ADOBE PHOTOSHOP : GENERAL TIPS

Resetting Preferences:
Few things can be as big a headache as a misbehaving Photoshop. Thankfully, replacing Photoshop's Preferences file can do wonders when the program is acting up. Think of it as "Photoshop Aspirin." The file can become corrupted, leading to all sorts of mysterious and unusual Photoshop behaviour. If you delete the file, it forces Photoshop to create a replacement file the next time it runs. Without a Preferences file available when it starts up, Photoshop uses the factory-set defaults. Here's how to do it, it is so quick and easy you can do it everytime you use Photoshop:

Photoshop CS2:
Quit Photoshop and then, holding down Shift+Alt+Ctrl (Windows) or Shift+Option+Command (Macintosh), relauch Photoshop. When asked to reset the preferences click Yes. Photoshop will delete the Preferences file, revert to the default settings, and resume its launch.

Older versions of Photoshop (CS, 7, 6, 5.5):
Immediately AFTER launching Photoshop, down Shift+Alt+Ctrl (Windows) or Shift+Option+Command (Mac). (Don't hold down the modifier keys before you launch, press them immediately afterward and hold them down until you see the dialog box.)  More info>>

Creating a Composite Layer:
You have an image composed of several layers and you want to create a new layer that has the entire image merged, while still maintaining all the seperate layers:
1. Create a new layer and make it active.
2. In Photoshop CS2 Click the top Layer. hold shift and click the bottom to select all layers. (In Photoshop 7 and earlier, link all the layers together, by clicking to the left of the image thumbnails in the Layer palette, you will see the little chain, indicating that the layers are linked.)
3. Now while holding down the Alt/Option key, click Merge Linked from the Layer palettes "fly-out" menu. (Also work from merge Visiable.)
ZAP! You now have a new layer with the info from all the layers combined into it without merging the layers. I don't know about you, but I think that is pretty slick!

In Photoshop CS2 all you need to do is click on the top layer and press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+E (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Option+E (Macintosh). CS2 will create the new layer on top for you. On CS do the same thing but make a blank layer first.

Hiding Selections:
To hide the "marching ants" border, press Ctrl+H (Windows) or Cmd+H (Macintosh). This also works to hide the highlight on the text on 6.0. Now you can preview the colour of the text.

To select all pixels on a layer:
In the Layers Palette click on the layer thumbnail while holding down the Cmd/Ctrl key.

To move a selection to its own layer:
Press Cmd+J (Macintosh) or Ctrl+J (Windows). This will copy it. To cut and move a selection press Shift+Cmd+J (Macintosh) or Shift+Ctrl+J (Windows).

Creating a Scanlines Pattern:
1. Start a new document of size width= 4 px and height= 8 px, with the background set to transparent. Zoom in and use the Rectangular marquee selection tool to select the top half of the canvas. Now fill it with black using the Paint Bucket Tool (g), or Edit>Fill>Use - Black.
2. Now save it as a Pattern. Go to Edit>Define Pattern and give it a new name: "scan line pattern". Click OK.
3. Open the image on which we want to add the scan line effect. Create a new layer and go to Edit>Fill>Use - Pattern. Select the scan line pattern and click OK. If you find the scanlines are too dark, reduce the opacity of the scanline layer.

Variations:
1. For thinner scan lines: use an image 2 px wide x 4 px high and colour half black.
2. For thicker scanlines: use an image 6 px wide x 12 px high and colour half black.
3. For vertical scanlines: use an image 8 px wide x 4 px high, and select the left half.
4. After step 3 above, change the blending mode to 'Overlay' for a really nice effect.

TV Scanlines using this Action:
Download this action for TV lines.

Note:  Mac users may need to Control·click on the above link. PC users may need to right-click on the above link and select Save Target As. Just pop the file into your Photoshop Actions folder.

Change Brush Size and Softness:
As you use any tool that uses a Brush (paintbrush, eraser, clone, healing tool, etc.), press the [ ] keys to get a smaller or bigger brush diameter. If you hold the Shift key + [ the brush will get softer and ] harder to a total of 5 different levels of softness.

Make a new Document from a Layer:
Using the Layers palette, when you choose Duplicate Layer, you can change the Document setting to "New" to create a brand new picure from any layer.

Quick Fills
To fill a layer or selection with foreground colour press Alt/Option+Delete. To fill a layer or selection with background colour press Command/Ctrl+Delete. Now to get really cool: To fill just the area with pixels hold down the Shift key together with the above keys. This toggles the preserve transparency option. And press Shift+Backspace to open the Fill dialog box.

Web Text:
When doing text for the web, either use no anti-alising or sharp. If you use very small type make sure you have wide tracking (space between letters). This will make it a lot easier to read. No point in having a beautiful website if no-one can read it!

Changing Screen Mode:
Press the "F" key to cycle through 3 differant screen modes. Press Tab to hide the tools and palettes. Press Ctrl R or Cmd R to turn off the Rulers. To bring everything back again, just press F, then Tab, then Ctrl R or Cmd R to turn on the Rulers

Closing Multiple Windows:
How long does it take you to close all open documents in Photoshop? Just hold down the shift key when you go File>Close and Photoshop will close all the open documents.

Reducing file sizes and speeding up large images:
Even what you can't see, is effecting your file sizes. If you have imported an image that is larger than your canvas size. Select all and crop. You will be surprised how much you can save. Also delete unwanted layers, they can add file size too!

Colour Modes, Formats and Resolutions:
For the web: Use 72 dpi resolution. Use the RGB colour mode and save as a .jpg (Joint Photographic Experts Group) if its a photo. Save as a .gif (general image format) if is a logo or clipart type image with only a few colours and no gradients or drop shadows. If you want tranparency, use .gif or .png (portable network graphic). If you need animation save as a .gif.

For print:  Use CMYK colour mode and save as either a .tiff (tagged image file format) or an .eps (encapsulated postscript). Resolutions: for commercial print purposes 300 dpi. To print inhouse to an inkjet, use RGB at 150 or 200 dpi.

De-saturating Images:
The steps for trying this technique are very simply. Right-click on the image layer in the Layers palette and select Duplicate Layer. With the new layer selected go to Image>Adjustment>Desaturate. Next, go to the Opacity selection in the Layers palette and adjust the slider to your taste. That's it. I find an opacity of somewhat between 50% and 70% usually looks best. Try it. See if you like it.
Variation: When you're done the above steps, select the background image and then apply Filter>Stylize>Find Edges. You can then add a Levels Adjustment Layer to modify brightness and contrast. You can also play with the blending modes. Try Hard Light.

Quick Black and White:
If you press Cmd+Shift+U (Macintosh) Ctrl+Shift+U (Windows) all the colour will be removed from the selection. If no selection is made, then the entire layer will be turned into grayscale instantly.

Cloning Images on Layers:
Whenever you want to duplicate an image on a layer, (eg. you are putting star-bursts everywhere), just hold the Alt/Option key and drag ... zap, a duplicate. To keep it aligned, also hold down the Shift key as you drag.

Using RGB Filters while working in CMYK?
As you may know some filters like the render filters are disabled in CMYK. Here is a neat tip, work in RGB mode with CMYK preview turned on using CTRL/CMD+Y.  Build your file as normal then when you are finished, convert it to CMYK using Image>Mode. This will allow all the filters to work, give you a smaller file size as you work (used 1/4 less memory) and you won't "lose" your colours when you convert it. Note: only convert to CMYK when outputting images to be printed on a commercial printing press.

Selection Tips:
To constrain a selection to a perfect circle or square hold down the shift key.
To start drawing from the center hold the Alt/Option key.
Ever find that you started drawing a selection and you need to move it while you are drawing? No problem, just hold the spacebar and drag.

Custom Gradients Made Easy:
When you are making a new colour gradient and you want to use the same colour more than once, don't recreate it. Just hold down the Option/Alt key and drag a copy of the colour tab.

Last updated: 6 Feb 07

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