Uncategorized

Guest Blogger: Dave Cross

July 07, 2011

We are very excited and honored to have Adobe guru Dave Cross as our guest blogger today. Dave is an Adobe Certified Instructor and Photoshop Hall of Famer who has just started a new studio space, which is part photo studio, classroom and workshop. Read more about Dave from our feature on Studio 3 based out of Tampa Bay, Florida.  [break]

Today, Dave shares with us some awesome keyboard shortcuts and tips for using Photoshop in your work flow. Thanks for passing along your expertise to our readers. Take a look at these time-saving tips: [break]

TIP: Change Opacity with the keyboard

[break]

This tip has “been around” for awhile, but every so often I mention it and people say, “huh?”
 If you have a layer active (other than the Background) and a non-painting tool (such as the Move tool) selected, change the opacity of that layer by pressing the first number of the percentage you want. For example, press 4 for 40%, 7 for 70%, etc. You do not have to click on the Opacity field first. You also can press two numbers (very quickly). For example: 3, 5 to change to 35%. Press 0 to get back to 100%. [break]

This tip also works with painting-type tools. With the tool active, press the number and the opacity (or strength or exposure or whatever % that tool uses) will change. [break]

TIP: Tricks with Photoshop Guides

[break]

OK, this is actually a tip that works in Illustrator and InDesign as well as Photoshop. 
If you’re dragging a guide off the ruler onto the image window and you decide you want it in the opposite direction (horizontal vs. vertical), don’t let go of the mouse and press and hold Option (PC: Alt) to change the guide direction. [break]

In Photoshop, you can change the direction of an existing guide: with the Move tool selected, press Option (PC: Alt) and click on an existing guide to change its direction. [break]

TIP: Change Opacity in Free Transform

[break]

If you’ve already pressed Command-T (PC: Cntl-T) to Free Transform a layer and then realize that you can’t really see what you’re doing, no problem. Even though Free Transform is active and you can’t use most functions in Photoshop, you can still lower the Opacity of the layer so you can see what you’re doing relative to the underlying layers. When you’re finished transforming, put the opacity back to 100.

[break]

TIP: Customizing keyboard shortcuts

[break]

If you’ve ever tried creating custom keyboard shortcuts in Photoshop (using Edit>Keyboard Shortcuts), you’ll know that there’s not many combinations left–all the ones you might want to use are probably taken. In some cases though, take a closer look: The shortcut you want to use may currently be assigned to a command you never use. Here’s a quick list I put together of commands that I personally will “never” use and their shortcuts (and, therefore, I could assign them to a different command). [break]

Auto Tone: Shift Command L (PC: Shift Cntl L) [break]
Auto Contrast: Option Shift Command L (PC: Alt Shift Cntl L) [break]
Auto Color: Option Shift Command B (PC: Alt Shift Cntl B) [break]
Print One Copy: Option Shift Command P (PC: Alt Shift Cntl P) [break]
Record Measurements (CS5 Extended): Shift Command M (PC: Shift Cntl M) [break]

Here’s a secondary list of commands that I might (rarely) use, so I would also consider reassigning these shortcuts. [break]

Liquify: Shift Command X (PC: Shift Cntl X) [break]
Save for Web & Devices: Option Shift Command S (PC: Alt Shift Cntl S) [break]
File Info: Option Shift Command I (PC: Alt Shift Cntl I) [break]
Color Balance: Command B (PC: Cntl B) [break]
Vanishing Point: Option Command V (PC: Alt Cntl V) [break]
Close & Go to Bridge: Shift Command W (PC: Shift Cntl W) [break]

Disclaimer: Of course you need to evaluate which commands you do or do not use – these are just suggestions… [break]

TIP: Customizing keyboard shortcuts, Part Deux

[break]

If you’re a fan of using Adjustment layers rather than the commands from the Image>Adjustment menu, here’s another change to the keyboard shortcuts that you may want to consider. [break]

Using Edit>Keyboard Shortcuts go to Layer>New Adjustment Layer. Choose the type of adjustment layer you want (I’ll use Levels in this example). Click beside the command and press Command L (PC: Cntl L). You’ll be asked it you want to accept that you’re going to override the default Levels shortcut and assign it to Levels Adjustment Layer. Click Accept. [break]

[break]

From now own, to add a Levels Adjustment Layer, press Command L (PC: Cntl L) and then OK. [break]

Note: you can always return your customized keyboard shortcuts back to the default settings in the Edit Keyboard Shortcuts dialog, using the Set menu and choosing Photoshop Defaults. [break]

All About Studio 3

[break]

[break]

Wide Range of Classes Offered

[break]

[break]

For more on the classes Dave’s studio offers, visit his site. Those are some awesome tips for our readers…thanks for sharing your expert knowledge with us today!

[break]

Do it all in Fundy Designer!

New to Fundy Designer? Get started with our free trial! Ready to try the latest version of Fundy Designer? Click here to purchase or upgrade to Fundy Designer v10!

Recommended Blog Posts

v11 Now Available - Download Today - Free Trial

X