15 Tips and Tricks for Photoshop

If you're a Graphic Designer or other creative professional, Photoshop is likely a go-to tool in your design arsenal. Even if you're not a Designer, there's a good chance you've used this program to edit photos or create fun images. Whether you're new to Photoshop or have been using it for years, we've compiled a list of 15 tips that will help streamline your design process.

1. Use 300 Pixels per Inch for Optimal Printing Quality 

If you're planning on printing your design, be sure to set the pixels per inch (PPI) to 300. This will ensure that your images are clear when printed. Go to Image > Image Size and enter 300 in the Resolution field to do this.

2. Remember the Importance of the Background Layer 

The background layer is the lowermost layer in your Photoshop project and serves as the foundation for everything else you'll build on top of it. When starting a new project, remember to double-click on the Background layer and rename it something indicative of your project. This will help keep things organized as your project progresses. Any changes made to the background layer will affect all layers above it, so be mindful of that as you're working.

3. Utilize Layer Masks 

Layer masks are a great way to non-destructively edit your images by hiding or revealing parts of a layer. To add a layer mask, click on the appropriate icon at the bottom of the Layers panel. You can then use a black or white brush to paint over the areas you want to reveal or hide.

4. Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts 

One efficient way to speed up your design process is to create custom keyboard shortcuts for the tasks you perform most often. To do this, go to Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts and scroll down to the command you want to create a shortcut for. Add the shortcut by clicking in the Shortcut field and entering your desired key combination.

5. Use Adjustment Layers 

Similar to layer masks, adjustment layers allow you to make changes to your image without affecting the underlying pixels. This is very helpful if you need to make global changes like brightness or color adjustments. To add an adjustment layer, select Layer > New Adjustment Layer and choose from a variety of options.

6. Take Advantage of Smart Objects 

Smart Objects are layers that retain their original quality even after being edited or resized. This is helpful when you are working with complex graphics or high-resolution images. To convert a layer to a Smart Object, go toLayer > Smart Objects > Convert to Smart Object.

7. Learn the Ways to Transform an Image 

There are a few different ways to transform an image in Photoshop. The most standard includes Rotate, Scale, and Skew. Go to Edit > Transform or use the corresponding keyboard shortcuts (CTRL/Cmd+T for Free Transform) to access these commands. Some of the more advanced are Free Transform (CTRL/Cmd+T), Warp (Edit > Transform > Warp), and Liquify (Filter > Liquify).

8. Get to Know the Blending Modes 

Blending modes are a quick and easy way to change your image's overall look and feel by blending it with another layer or color. Go to Layer > Layer Style > Blending Mode to access the different blending modes. Experiment with other options to see what effect they have on your image.

9. Use Brushes to Add Texture 

If you want to add extra textures or interest to your design, try using one of Photoshop's many brushes. To access the brush presets, go to Window > Brush Presets. You can also create your own custom brushes by going to Edit > Define Brush Preset.

The most popular brushes are the ones that come with Photoshop by default, but there are also a ton of great options available from third-party vendors.

10. Use Clipping Masks 

Clipping masks are a great way to use images as textures or overlays. To create a clipping mask, place the image you want to use on top of the layer you want to clip it to. Then, go to Layer > Create Clipping Mask or use the shortcut (CTRL/Cmd+ALT+G).

11. Master the Tools 

There are numerous different tools available in Photoshop, and it can be overwhelming trying to learn them all at once. Start with the basics: the Move tool (V), the Rectangle tool (U), and the Brush tool (B). Once you are comfortable with those tools, you can branch out from there. As you become more comfortable with the program, you'll naturally start using more of the advanced features.

12. Learn to Use Layer Styles

Layer styles are a great way to add some extra interest or style to your image. To access the different layer styles, go to Layer > Layer Style. Some of the most popular options include drop shadows, bevel and emboss, and color overlays.

13. Consider Protecting PDF Files 

If you're sending a PDF file to someone else, you may want to consider password-protecting it. This will prevent the recipient from making any changes to the document. To password-protect a PDF, go to File > Save As and choose PDF from the drop-down menu. Then, click the Security tab and enter your desired password.

14. Use the Save for Web Feature 

The Save for Web tool allows you to save images in a format that is optimized for the web. This is crucial because it reduces the file size of your image, making it quicker to load on a website. To access the Save for Web feature, go to File > Save for Web.

15. Get Familiar with the Preset Keyboard Shortcuts 

One of the quickest ways to speed up your workflow is to learn keyboard shortcuts. Go to Edit> Keyboard Shortcuts for a complete list of the Photoshop keyboard shortcuts go to Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts. Some commonly used shortcuts include CTRL/Cmd+S (save), CTRL/Cmd+Z (undo), and CTRL/Cmd+C (copy).

Learning all the different Photoshop tips and tricks can be overwhelming, but it's worth it to take the time to learn as many as you can. By becoming more familiar with the program, you'll be able to work faster and produce better results. If you are ready to learn how to use Photoshop for your photo editing, consider signing up for the Photoshop Bootcamp course from Noble Desktop.