Learn Photoshop Tips and Tricks

1. Learning Photoshop

2. Keyboard Shortcuts
Experienced Photo shoppers do their image editing quickly and easily thanks to a
collection of useful keyboard shortcuts. Rather than searching through dropdown
menus and submenus (which can feel especially complicated when new
Photoshop updates come out), it’s helpful to learn shortcuts for the tasks you’re
more likely to perform frequently.
The Site is as follows https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/default-
keyboard-shortcuts.html

3. Always perform destructive edits on new
layers
If you’re used to working in Lightroom, you’ve already put in your time performing non-destructive
edits. Essentially, adjustment layers you use in Lightroom don’t change the photos themselves. The
edits exist as a separate file, so you can always revert to the original image with no harm done.
Photoshop can work that way too, as long as you prepare your file and workspace correctly. When
you open an image, it will appear as the Background layer. To keep that image intact and
unchanged, make a copy of it by choosing Layer > New > Layer from Background.
You’ll see an identical copy of your background layer appear on top of the Background layer. Now
you can edit your background copy as much as you want, but still have the original version to revert
to as needed.

4. Save your Photoshop files correctly for
future editing
Even the most experienced retouchers will occasionally flatten the
layers of an image and save in the wrong format from time to time.
It can be incredibly frustrating to want to tweak one minor aspect
of your project, but only have a flattened jpg to work with.
To avoid future headaches, save a PSD file of your most
complicated editing projects. PSD files preserve your layers
individually so you can return to them at any time for future photo
editing and adjustments

5. Practice using layer masks
Layer masks are one of the most powerful Photoshop tools. Masks make it possible to hide
any portion of a layer, and you can use them on as many layers as you need.
For example, if you’re editing a portrait and you want to brighten the eyes, you can select just
the areas you want to brighten by using a layer mask. If you want to soften the shadows on
the face, you can add a second layer mask to perform that task. Add additional layer masks for
darkening the background or tweaking the hair color. The sky’s the limit.
The flexibility and reversibility of editing with masks makes them one of the most important
skills to practice in Photoshop. The sooner you get the hang of them, the smoother your
editing sessions will be.

6. Follow along with Photoshop tutorial
videos
One of the easiest ways to develop new Photoshop skills is by
watching and practicing along with tutorial videos.
Adobe maintains a large collection of Photoshop tutorials on
their website, but if there’s something specific you want to learn,
you can also try a Google search to find a video tutorial that will
help.

7. Find what works for you and create a
consistent workflow
It’s important to remember that there are many
different ways to achieve the same results in
Photoshop. There is no single correct path for
editing a photo. Video tutorials may tell you
different techniques to get the same effect, but the
best option is the one you can perform over and
over again comfortably.

8. Here are some of our favorite simple tips
and tricks for Photoshop beginners:
Transform: Change the size of an image, rotate, flip or distort it!
Change the Unit of Measurement
Magnetic Lasso Tool
Magic Wand Tool
Custom Shape Tool
Adjustment Layers
Layer Styles
Spot Healing Brush
Dodge Tool
Blur Tool

9. Transform: Change the size of an image,
rotate, flip or distort it!
Click Edit > then click Transform > and select the action you desire.
Press Ctrl + T on your keyboard and a bounding box will then appear around the image, indicating transformation. This
means you can now resize your image. The best way to do so is by placing the cursor on one of the rectangle corners of
the box and then dragging the corner while holding the Shift key. When you’re finished just press Enter and you’re done.
To flip your image vertically or horizontally press Ctrl + T and then right click your mouse. A popup window will appear
with a few options for rotating and flipping the image. Select the action you want and when you are done press Enter.
To distort or skew an image press Ctrl + T and then place the cursor on whichever corner you want to distort. Press Ctrl
while holding your mouse down on whichever corner of the image you’re looking to morph and drag it down to your
desired point, finally press Enter to activate.

10. Change the Unit of Measurement
A short and quick way to switch between units of
measurements that you’re working with is to place
your cursor on one of the rulers on your grid (press
Ctrl + R to show or hide the rulers), and right click,
then choose a new unit from the context menu. There
you’ll find a wide variety of units, from centimeters to
pixels, millimeters, points and even percents.

11. Magnetic Lasso Tool
This easy selection tool helps you trace and outline the exact part of an image that you’re
looking to edit, and then separate it from the rest of your image in order to perform certain
actions. For example, you can select and separate a product from its background. Nearly fool-
proof, the magnetic lasso tool detects the edges of an object, so it works best when you have
a bold contrast between an object and its background with well-defined edges.
To access the Magnetic Lasso, click and hold your mouse button down on the Lasso tool until
a fly-out menu appears . The Magnetic Lasso is the last one with a small magnet on its icon.
Select it and then go to your image and place your mouse on the edge of the part you want to
alter. Click your mouse once, release and just go over the edges of the object you want to
select (just like you do with scissors when you cut something out).

12. Magic Wand Tool
The Magic Wand is another selection tool, ideal for when you are working with a
background that is more monotone and consistent (like a solid color or clear blue
sky).
The Magic Wand tool is most often used to switch up backgrounds or large color
blocks. To use it, choose the Magic Wand tool from the tools panel and click on
the part of the image you want to select. Make sure that you toggled the “add to
selection” option on the top bar (icon of two squares) so that you can move
forward with switching up the colors and tones of your selection.

13. Custom Shape Tool
Did you know that in addition to photo editing, you can also easily add shapes
and design elements to your Photoshop creations. The Tool Panel has all of the
basic shapes you need like square, line, circle, ellipse etc in addition to a whole
slew of extended options. The Custom Shape tool is easy to find in the Options
Bar, represented by an icon that kind of looks like a puzzle piece.
Access even more shapes by clicking again on the small arrow on the right side of
the panel. If you are looking for banners, speech bubbles or arrows of all kinds,
this is just the tool for you.

14. Adjustment Layers
A truly stunning image generally has more to it than meets
the eye. That’s what makes the Adjustment Layers tool so
important. The Adjustment Layers tool lets you adjust the
color and hue of your image by adding a top layer to it. The
best part about this feature is by adding that extra layer, you
can totally reverse your changes while keeping the rest of
your image intact. You will find Adjustment Layers in the
bottom of the the Layers Panel (a black and white circle icon).

15. Layer Styles
This is a simple & easy way to add some pizazz to your image. Layer
Styles are special effects that can be quickly applied to individual
layers of your image. All you have to do is double click on a layer
and then choose the effect you like.
You can select from a whole variety of features, add a stroke or a
glow, drop a shadow, and much more with just a click of the
mouse. Be careful you don’t overdo it. These effects have a
tendency to look cheap when used in excess.

16. Spot Healing Brush
Probably the tool that Photoshop is best known for, this tool
was created to remove life’s little imperfections. The spot
header brush is that magic tool that we wish was around in
our awkward teenage years to make pimples disappear from
every picture. Just place the brush over the area you want to
“fix”, make sure the brush is a bit bigger than the blemish and
click. Photoshop automatically samples from around the
retouched area to color match your image to perfection.

17. Dodge Tool
The Dodge Tool lightens pixels wherever you use it. So in
other words, it’s the perfect Photoshop tool to do away
with “tired eyes”. Set the Dodge Tool to a soft brush, go to
Range setting in the menu bar’s pull-down and choose
highlights, set Exposure on around 20%. Then carefully
brush over the eye area. Remember not to overdo it, or
your model will start to look like an alien. A few simple
strokes should do the job.

18. Blur Tool
Sometimes all you need from Photoshop is to do away with
some fine lines. That’s where the Blur tool comes in. This
simple tool works wonders to remove small wrinkles by
blurring them in just a bit. Use the Blur tool to smooth-out
small imperfections like the wrinkles around the eye or
mouth area and simply blur them into the background.
Again, be gentle and remember not to overdo it or instead
of improving your image or you can end up spoiling it.