Thursday, June 3, 2010

Photoshop Workbench 230: Photoshop’s Most Frequently Asked Questions

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In today’s Workbench, I’ll share answers to some of the most commonly asked Photoshop questions. These tips are in no particular order, but each one is invaluable. Thanks to Jerry Fornarotto for submitting this amazing bear image and to Jack Lavoie for his spectacular mountain reflection. As you can see, I’ve stacked their images into a layered file to help illustrate some of the tips.

  1. How do I add more than one gradient to a mask?
    Either use the black-to-transparent gradient or change the Gradient tool’s blend mode from Normal to Darken.
  2. How do I draw a straight line with the Brush?
    Click once at the beginning of the line. Shift-click again at the end.
  3. What’s the shortcut for making a brush incrementally harder or softer?
    Hold Shift and tap the Right Bracket key (harder) or the Left Bracket key (softer).
  4. How can I see where I’ve painted on a mask?
    Press the Backslash key or Option-click (PC: Alt-click) on the mask thumbnail.
  5. How do I create a selection from the contents of a layer or layer mask?
    Command-click (PC: Control-click) on the layer or layer mask thumbnail.
  6. How do I cycle through the blending modes?
    Activate the Move tool. Hold down the Shift key and tap + or -. On a PC, once the blending mode pull-down is activated (highlighted), this keyboard shortcut no longer works. Instead, use the down and up keys to cycle from mode to mode.
  7. How can I center something on a layer?
    Select>All. Choose Move tool. In Options Bar, click Align Vertical and Horizontal Centers.
  8. How can I quickly “audition” different fonts?
    Select the Type tool and activate the type layer. Click in the font menu in the Options Bar. Tap the Up or Down Arrow keys to view different choices.
  9. The selection block prohibits me from seeing text properly. How can I get around this?
    Command-H (PC: Control-H)
  10. How do I reset the Color Picker to the default appearance?
    Click the radio button to the left of “H.”
  11. How do I hide Photoshop’s panels?
    Press the Tab key.
  12. How do I magnify the image to 100%?
    Double-click the Zoom tool.
  13. How can I make the image fit within my display window?
    Double-click the Hand tool.
  14. How do I view the image over a gray or black background?
    Tap the “F” key.

5 Responses to “Photoshop Workbench 230: Photoshop’s Most Frequently Asked Questions”

  1. Karen W Poore Says:
    Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 5:44 pm

    Hi Mark,
    I have your books and your videos on CS5. This is my first viewing of your workbench issues. I found the tips and video straight forward and to the point and very useful!
    Thanks …
    Karen in Austin

  2. Karen W Poore Says:
    Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 8:53 am

    Hi Mark,
    Any word on your HDR release?

  3. Tony Reynes Says:
    Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 12:00 pm

    Mark,

    It is wonderful to review these tips of yours…..half I remember and half I know I used to know. Keep these reminders up! Gray hair forces them out of the cranium.

    Tony

  4. Ria Sha Says:
    Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 1:23 am

    hi Mr Mark,
    i watched every single of ur episodes and lately
    u explain every new tools in cs5 but never
    mention 16 bits jpeg .Q is what is the benefit working with 16 bits,saving it and the difference between 8 and 16 bits.
    Thanks,

  5. Art Czepczynski Says:
    Monday, March 28, 2011 at 4:18 pm

    Mark,

    I have learned Photoshop exclusively through watching your workbench videos back from the days of radiantvista. Keep it up.. you have made a huge difference in my photography over the years. Thank You.

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