What is the shortcut tricks in Adobe Photoshop?

 

What is the shortcut tricks in Adobe Photoshop?

Adobe Photoshop is a powerful image editing software with numerous features and tools, and there are many shortcuts and tricks to improve your workflow and efficiency. Here are some useful shortcut tricks in Adobe Photoshop:

1.        Undo/Redo: Use "Ctrl + Z" (Windows) or "Cmd + Z" (Mac) to undo and "Ctrl + Shift + Z" (Windows) or "Cmd + Shift + Z" (Mac) to redo.

2.        Copy, Cut, Paste: "Ctrl + C" (Windows) or "Cmd + C" (Mac) to copy, "Ctrl + X" (Windows) or "Cmd + X" (Mac) to cut, and "Ctrl + V" (Windows) or "Cmd + V" (Mac) to paste.

3.        Duplicate Layer: "Ctrl + J" (Windows) or "Cmd + J" (Mac) to duplicate the selected layer.

4.        Zoom: "Ctrl + +" (Windows) or "Cmd + +" (Mac) to zoom in and "Ctrl + -" (Windows) or "Cmd + -" (Mac) to zoom out. Press "Ctrl + 0" (Windows) or "Cmd + 0" (Mac) to fit the image to the screen.

5.        Quick Selection Tool: Press "W" to activate the Quick Selection tool for quick and easy selections.

6.        Move Tool: Press "V" to activate the Move tool for moving layers or selections.

7.        Brush Size: Use the "[" key to decrease the brush size and "]" key to increase the brush size.

8.        Rotate View: Hold "R" and drag the canvas to rotate the view for easier editing.

9.        Hand Tool: Press and hold the spacebar to temporarily activate the Hand tool to pan around the image while zoomed in.

10.     Fill Selection: Use "Alt + Backspace" (Windows) or "Option + Delete" (Mac) to fill the selected area with the foreground color. Use "Ctrl + Backspace" (Windows) or "Cmd + Delete" (Mac) to fill with the background color.

11.     Layer Opacity: Press "0" to "9" to change the opacity of the selected layer (e.g., "5" for 50% opacity).

12.     Toggle Layers: Press "Ctrl + ;" (Windows) or "Cmd + ;" (Mac) to toggle the visibility of all layers on and off.

13.     Deselect: "Ctrl + D" (Windows) or "Cmd + D" (Mac) to deselect the active selection.

14.     Feather Selection: "Shift + F6" to open the Feather Selection dialog quickly.

15.     Color Picker: "Alt + Click" (Windows) or "Option + Click" (Mac) on any part of the image to pick a color.

These are just a few examples, and there are many more shortcuts available in Adobe Photoshop. Familiarizing yourself with these shortcuts can significantly speed up your editing process and enhance your overall experience with the software.

 

Undo/Redo

To undo or redo actions in Adobe Photoshop, you can use the following keyboard shortcuts:

Undo: "Ctrl + Z" (Windows) or "Cmd + Z" (Mac) Redo: "Ctrl + Shift + Z" (Windows) or "Cmd + Shift + Z" (Mac)

These shortcuts allow you to step backward (undo) or forward (redo) through your editing history. You can use them to correct mistakes, experiment with different changes, and navigate your editing process more efficiently. Keep in mind that the number of actions you can undo or redo depends on your history states settings in Photoshop's preferences.

 

Copy, Cut, Paste:

In Adobe Photoshop, you can use the following keyboard shortcuts for Copy, Cut, and Paste:

Copy: "Ctrl + C" (Windows) or "Cmd + C" (Mac) Cut: "Ctrl + X" (Windows) or "Cmd + X" (Mac) Paste: "Ctrl + V" (Windows) or "Cmd + V" (Mac)

These shortcuts work similarly to other applications and allow you to copy selected content to the clipboard (Copy), remove selected content and place it on the clipboard (Cut), and paste the content from the clipboard into the current document or layer (Paste). These commands are handy for duplicating or moving elements within your image or between different documents.

 

Duplicate Layer:

To duplicate a layer in Adobe Photoshop, you can use the following keyboard shortcut:

"Ctrl + J" (Windows) or "Cmd + J" (Mac)

Select the layer you want to duplicate in the Layers panel, and then press "Ctrl + J" on Windows or "Cmd + J" on Mac. This will create a copy of the selected layer above the original layer. Duplicating layers is useful when you want to apply different edits or effects to the same content without altering the original layer. It also allows you to work non-destructively, preserving the original content while making changes on the duplicated layer.

 

Zoom:

To zoom in and out in Adobe Photoshop, you can use the following keyboard shortcuts:

Zoom In: "Ctrl + +" (Windows) or "Cmd + +" (Mac) Zoom Out: "Ctrl + -" (Windows) or "Cmd + -" (Mac)

You can use these shortcuts to quickly change the zoom level of your image. Pressing "Ctrl + +" or "Cmd + +" will zoom in, making the image larger, while "Ctrl + -" or "Cmd + -" will zoom out, making the image smaller.

If you want to quickly fit your image to the screen, you can use the following shortcut:

Fit to Screen: "Ctrl + 0" (Windows) or "Cmd + 0" (Mac)

This shortcut will adjust the zoom level to fit the entire image within the Photoshop window.

 

Quick Selection Tool:

The Quick Selection Tool is a powerful selection tool in Adobe Photoshop that allows you to quickly and intuitively make selections based on the content of an image. It is useful for selecting objects with well-defined edges or areas with similar colors and textures. Here's how you can use the Quick Selection Tool:

1.    Open your image in Adobe Photoshop.

2.    Select the Quick Selection Tool from the Tools panel. It looks like a paintbrush with a dotted circle around it. You can also press "W" on your keyboard to select the Quick Selection Tool quickly.

3.    Adjust the brush size: In the options bar at the top of the screen, you'll find the Brush Size slider. Drag the slider or input a specific value to set the size of the brush. For larger areas, use a larger brush, and for finer details, use a smaller brush.

4.    Make the selection: Click and drag the Quick Selection Tool over the area you want to select. As you drag, the tool will automatically find and follow the edges and colors of the region you're trying to select. You may need to make multiple clicks and drags to refine your selection further.

5.    Add to or subtract from the selection: If you need to add more areas to your selection, hold down the Shift key and click-drag over the additional regions. To remove areas from the selection, hold down the Alt (Option on Mac) key and click-drag over the unwanted regions.

6.    Refine the selection: Once you have made your initial selection, you can use various selection tools and options in Photoshop, such as Refine Edge or Select and Mask, to fine-tune and improve the selection further.

7.    Perform the desired editing: Once you have the selection you want, you can apply various adjustments, filters, or edits to the selected area without affecting the rest of the image.

Remember that the Quick Selection Tool works best on images with clear and distinct edges. If your image has more complex edges or hair/fur details, you might want to use other selection tools like the Lasso Tool or the Pen Tool for more precise selections.

 

Move Tool:

The Move Tool is one of the essential tools in Adobe Photoshop that allows you to move layers, selections, and other elements within your image. It is represented by an arrow-shaped icon in the Tools panel. You can also quickly access the Move Tool by pressing the "V" key on your keyboard.

Here's how to use the Move Tool:

1.    Open your image in Adobe Photoshop.

2.    Select the Move Tool from the Tools panel or press "V" on your keyboard.

3.    Move Layers: If you want to move an entire layer, click on the layer you wish to move in the Layers panel to make it active. Then click and drag the layer on the canvas to reposition it.

4.    Move Selections: To move a selected area within a layer, use a selection tool like the Rectangular Marquee Tool, Elliptical Marquee Tool, or Lasso Tool to select the area you want to move. Then, with the Move Tool selected, click and drag the selection to move it around.

5.    Move Pixels: If you don't have a specific layer or selection, the Move Tool will move the active pixels on the current layer. Ensure that you have the correct layer selected in the Layers panel before moving the pixels.

6.    Use Arrow Keys for Precision: To nudge the selected element in small increments, you can use the arrow keys on your keyboard while the Move Tool is active. Pressing the arrow keys will move the selection one pixel at a time in the direction of the pressed arrow key.

7.    Duplicate and Move: If you want to duplicate a layer or selection while moving it, hold down the Alt (Option on Mac) key while dragging. This will create a copy of the selected element, and you can move it to a new location.

The Move Tool is a versatile tool that allows you to reposition elements in your image easily, giving you control over the arrangement and layout of your design. It's essential for arranging layers, aligning objects, and creating composite images in Adobe Photoshop.

 

Brush Size

In Adobe Photoshop, adjusting the brush size is crucial for precise and efficient painting, retouching, and editing tasks. Here's how you can change the brush size:

1.    Select the Brush Tool: In the Tools panel, click on the Brush Tool icon. It looks like a paintbrush.

2.    Use the Bracket Keys: While the Brush Tool is selected, you can use the square bracket keys "[" and "]" on your keyboard to decrease or increase the brush size, respectively. Press "[" to decrease the size and "]" to increase it.

3.    Adjust the Brush Size: Alternatively, you can use the Brush Size slider located in the options bar at the top of the screen. Click and drag the slider to the left to decrease the size or to the right to increase it. You can also input a specific value in the text box next to the slider.

4.    Right-click for Quick Size Control: Another way to quickly adjust the brush size is to right-click anywhere on the canvas while the Brush Tool is selected. A pop-up brush size control will appear, allowing you to drag left or right to decrease or increase the brush size, respectively.

5.    Use the HUD (Heads-Up Display): With the Brush Tool selected, hold down the Alt (Option on Mac) key and right-click-drag to activate the HUD. It displays a visual representation of the brush size and allows you to resize the brush interactively by dragging left or right.

Precisely controlling the brush size is essential for various tasks in Photoshop, such as painting, retouching, creating masks, and applying effects. Mastering the brush size shortcuts and techniques will significantly improve your efficiency and the quality of your edits.

 

Rotate View

The "Rotate View" tool in Adobe Photoshop allows you to temporarily rotate the canvas on the screen to make it easier to work on certain parts of your image at different angles. It does not physically rotate the image; it's just a visual adjustment to aid your editing process. The actual image file remains unaltered.

Here's how to use the Rotate View tool:

1.    Select the Rotate View Tool: In the Tools panel, click and hold the Hand Tool icon (the one that looks like a hand). This will reveal a fly-out menu with the Rotate View Tool. Click on the Rotate View Tool to select it.

2.    Rotate the View: Click and drag on the canvas in the direction you want to rotate the view. The canvas will rotate as you drag, and you can adjust it to any desired angle. This can be especially helpful when working on images that are not aligned with the horizontal or vertical axis.

3.    Reset the View: To reset the canvas back to its original orientation, simply double-click the Rotate View Tool icon in the Tools panel.

4.    Work on Your Image: While the view is rotated, you can edit your image as usual. The tools and features will work as if the canvas were not rotated.

5.    Undo Rotation: If you decide you want to revert to the original view, you can use the Undo command ("Ctrl + Z" on Windows or "Cmd + Z" on Mac) to undo the rotation and restore the canvas to its original orientation.

The Rotate View tool is particularly useful for artists and retouchers who may need to work on specific parts of an image at different angles. It can also be beneficial for correcting the perspective of an image or making adjustments to elements that are not aligned with the horizontal or vertical axis. Remember that the Rotate View tool is a temporary visual adjustment and does not affect the actual image data.

Hand Tool:

The Hand Tool in Adobe Photoshop is used for panning or navigating the canvas when you are zoomed in on an image and need to move around to work on different areas. It allows you to scroll and reposition the view without changing any elements or content in the image.

Here's how to use the Hand Tool:

1.    Zoom In: First, you need to zoom in on your image to a level where you want to work on specific details.

2.    Select the Hand Tool: In the Tools panel, click on the Hand Tool icon. The Hand Tool looks like a hand.

3.    Pan the Canvas: Click and drag with the Hand Tool on the image to move the view around. As you drag, the image will move in the direction you are dragging, allowing you to explore different areas of your image while remaining zoomed in.

4.    Zoom Out: If you need to zoom out to get a broader view of your image, you can use the Zoom Tool ("Z" on the keyboard) or press "Ctrl + -" (Windows) or "Cmd + -" (Mac) to zoom out.

5.    Release the Hand Tool: Once you've navigated to the desired area, release the mouse button to stop panning with the Hand Tool.

The Hand Tool is helpful when you're working on detailed areas of an image and need to move around the canvas without changing the zoom level. It makes it easier to access different parts of your image and allows you to maintain your focus on the specific elements you're editing. Remember that the Hand Tool does not alter any content in your image; it's just a navigation tool.

 

 

Fill Selection:

In Adobe Photoshop, the "Fill Selection" command allows you to fill a selected area with a color, pattern, or gradient. It is a quick way to add a solid color or pattern to a specific part of your image.

Here's how to use the "Fill Selection" command:

1.    Make a Selection: Use any of the selection tools (e.g., Rectangular Marquee Tool, Lasso Tool, Magic Wand Tool, etc.) to make a selection around the area you want to fill.

2.    Choose Fill Command: With the selection active, go to the top menu and select "Edit" > "Fill..." or use the keyboard shortcut "Shift + F5".

3.    Choose Fill Contents: In the "Fill" dialog box that appears, you can choose what to fill the selection with:

·         Use: This dropdown allows you to choose what to fill the selection with. Options include "Foreground Color," "Background Color," "White," "Black," "Pattern," and "Content-Aware" (if you have a newer version of Photoshop).

·         Contents: If you choose "Pattern" in the "Use" dropdown, you can select a specific pattern to use for filling the selection. You can also load additional patterns through the "Pattern Picker" dialog.

·         Opacity: Set the opacity of the fill, which determines how transparent or opaque the filled content will be. 100% means fully opaque, and 0% means fully transparent.

·         Preserve Transparency: Check this option if you want to only fill the non-transparent areas of the selection, keeping the transparent parts intact.

4.    Click OK: Once you've selected the desired fill settings, click the "OK" button to apply the fill to the selected area.

The "Fill Selection" command is handy for various tasks, such as coloring a specific part of an illustration, applying patterns to selected areas, or quickly adding a solid color background to a shape or selection. It provides a fast and efficient way to fill areas in your image without the need for manual painting or brushing.

 

Layer Opacity:

Layer opacity refers to the transparency level of a layer in Adobe Photoshop. It determines how transparent or opaque the contents of the layer will appear on the canvas. An opacity value of 100% means the layer is fully opaque (completely visible), while an opacity value of 0% means the layer is completely transparent (invisible).

Here's how to adjust the layer opacity in Photoshop:

1.    Open your image in Adobe Photoshop and access the Layers panel: If the Layers panel is not visible, go to the top menu and select "Window" > "Layers" to open it.

2.    Select the Layer: In the Layers panel, click on the layer you want to adjust the opacity of. The selected layer will be highlighted.

3.    Adjust the Opacity: In the Layers panel, you'll see an "Opacity" slider at the top. Drag the slider left to decrease the opacity (make the layer more transparent) and right to increase the opacity (make the layer more opaque). Alternatively, you can click on the percentage value and enter a specific opacity value.

4.    Preview the Changes: As you adjust the opacity, you'll see the changes on the canvas. The layer's contents will become more or less transparent, allowing you to see through to the layers below.

5.    Layer Blend Modes: Layer opacity works in conjunction with the layer's blend mode. The blend mode determines how the contents of the layer interact with the layers below it. Experimenting with different blend modes and opacity levels can lead to creative and unique effects in your compositions.

Adjusting the layer opacity is useful for various tasks, such as blending multiple layers together, creating semi-transparent elements, adding subtle textures or gradients, and achieving various creative effects. It allows you to control the visibility and transparency of individual layers, giving you precise control over your image's appearance and composition.

 

 

Toggle Layers:

Toggling layers in Adobe Photoshop means quickly turning the visibility of one or more layers on or off. This feature allows you to hide or show specific layers without deleting or affecting their contents permanently. It's especially useful when you have a complex composition with multiple layers, and you want to focus on specific elements or compare the image with and without certain layers.

Here's how to toggle the visibility of layers in Photoshop:

1.    Open your image in Adobe Photoshop and access the Layers panel: If the Layers panel is not visible, go to the top menu and select "Window" > "Layers" to open it.

2.    Toggle Visibility: Each layer in the Layers panel has an eye icon on the left side. Clicking on the eye icon will toggle the visibility of that layer. A visible layer will have the eye icon filled, indicating that it's currently visible. Clicking the eye icon will hide the layer, making its contents invisible on the canvas.

3.    Hide or Show Multiple Layers: You can toggle the visibility of multiple layers at once. To do this, hold down the "Shift" key on your keyboard and click on the eye icon of the first layer you want to hide or show. Then, while still holding "Shift," click on the eye icons of the other layers you want to hide or show. This action will toggle the visibility of all the selected layers simultaneously.

4.    Hide/Show All Layers Except One: If you want to hide all layers except one specific layer, hold down the "Alt" (Option on Mac) key and click on the eye icon of the layer you want to remain visible. This will hide all other layers, leaving only the selected layer visible.

Toggling layers on and off helps you focus on specific parts of your image, compare different variations, and organize your workflow efficiently. It's a non-destructive way to hide and show layers as needed without permanently altering your image.

 

Deselect:

In Adobe Photoshop, deselecting means removing an active selection so that no area of the image is currently selected. When you make a selection using any of the selection tools (e.g., Marquee tools, Lasso tools, Magic Wand, etc.), the selected area is highlighted with marching ants (dotted lines) to indicate the boundaries of the selection.

Here's how to deselect in Photoshop:

1.    Make a Selection: First, use any of the selection tools to create a selection around the area you want to work on or edit.

2.    Deselect: To remove the active selection, you have several options:

·         Press "Ctrl + D" on Windows or "Cmd + D" on Mac: This is the keyboard shortcut to quickly deselect. If you're using a Mac, you can also use "Ctrl + Click" outside the selected area and choose "Deselect" from the contextual menu that appears.

·         Go to the top menu and select "Select" > "Deselect": This will also remove the active selection.

·         Click anywhere outside the selected area: If you have made a selection, clicking anywhere outside that area on the canvas will also deselect it.

After deselecting, the marching ants will disappear, indicating that no area is currently selected. This allows you to freely work on the entire image without any restrictions from the previous selection. Deselecting is particularly helpful when you want to edit different parts of the image independently or perform actions on the entire image without affecting only the selected area.

 

Feather Selection:

Feathering a selection in Adobe Photoshop is a technique used to create smooth and gradual transitions between the selected and unselected areas. When you apply feathering, the edges of the selection become softer and more blended, rather than having a sharp and abrupt boundary.

Here's how to feather a selection in Photoshop:

1.    Make a Selection: Use any of the selection tools (e.g., Marquee tools, Lasso tools, Magic Wand, etc.) to create the initial selection around the area you want to work on or edit.

2.    Feather the Selection: After making the selection, go to the top menu and select "Select" > "Modify" > "Feather..." This will open the "Feather Selection" dialog box.

3.    Enter Feather Radius: In the "Feather Selection" dialog box, you can specify the feather radius. This value determines the width of the transition area along the selection edges that will be softened. Enter a value in pixels. The higher the value, the more gradual the transition will be.

4.    Preview and Apply: You can see a preview of the feathered selection on your canvas before applying it. Use the preview to adjust the feather radius to your desired effect. Once you're satisfied with the preview, click the "OK" button to apply the feathering to the selection.

Feathering selections is especially useful when you want to blend elements seamlessly into the background, create soft and natural vignettes, or when combining images to make composite photos. It helps avoid harsh and noticeable edges, resulting in more realistic and professional-looking compositions.

Remember that feathering is a non-destructive modification of the selection and can be adjusted or removed later if needed. Additionally, different selection tools may have different feathering options or might apply feathering automatically based on specific settings. So, make sure to explore the options and settings specific to the tool you are using.

 

Color Picker:

In Adobe Photoshop, the Color Picker is a tool that allows you to select and choose colors for various elements in your image, such as for painting, filling, or applying color adjustments. It gives you precise control over the color you want to use by allowing you to select from various color models, such as RGB, CMYK, HSB (Hue, Saturation, Brightness), and more.

Here's how to use the Color Picker in Photoshop:

1.    Activate the Color Picker: There are multiple ways to activate the Color Picker:

·         Double-click the foreground or background color swatch in the Tools panel.

·         Click on the color square in the Options bar when using the Brush Tool, Paint Bucket Tool, etc.

·         Press "Ctrl + Alt + Shift + K" (Windows) or "Cmd + Option + Shift + K" (Mac) as a keyboard shortcut.

2.    Choose a Color: The Color Picker dialog box will appear. In the Color Picker, you can manually set the color values using sliders or input specific numeric values for each color component (e.g., Red, Green, Blue). Alternatively, you can use the color spectrum area on the right side of the Color Picker to visually select a color by clicking and dragging the cursor.

3.    Preview: As you choose or modify the color, you can see a real-time preview of the selected color at the bottom of the Color Picker dialog box.

4.    Color Models: The Color Picker allows you to work with different color models. By default, it uses the RGB color model, which is based on the combination of Red, Green, and Blue values. However, you can switch to other color models like CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black), HSB (Hue, Saturation, Brightness), Lab, etc., by clicking on the tabs at the top of the Color Picker.

5.    Save Custom Colors: If you have a color you like and want to reuse it in the future, you can save it as a custom color by clicking the "Add to Swatches" button in the Color Picker dialog.

6.    Select and Apply: Once you have chosen the desired color, click the "OK" button to apply it to the active element, such as the foreground color for painting or the background color for filling.

The Color Picker is an essential tool in Photoshop for working with colors and achieving precise color adjustments. Whether you need to match a specific color, create custom gradients, or select colors for various elements in your design, the Color Picker provides you with the flexibility to choose and work with colors effectively.