November 6, 2009

Pass Through

Layer Groups have their own blend mode called Pass Through which allows blending and transparency options to "pass through" the group and effect any layers below the group. To isolate the blending of layers within a group, change the Group's blend mode to Normal.

November 5, 2009

The Count Tool

With the Count tool selected (in the Extended version of Photoshop), Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) -click on the number to delete.

November 4, 2009

Measurement Scale

In the Extended version of Photoshop, select Analysis > Set Measurement Scale> Custom to customize the Measurement scale To display this scale in the Info panel use the flyout to select Panel Options and check the Measurement Scale option.

November 3, 2009

Measuring the Angle with the Ruler Tool

The Ruler tool can be used to measure an angle like a protractor. Drag the first line and then Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) -click on the either endpoint and drag out the second line. The angle can be viewed in either the Options bar or the Info panel.

November 2, 2009

Rotate Image

Taking a measurement with the Ruler tool and then selecting Image > Image Rotation> Arbitrary will automatically enter the measurement in the Rotate Canvas dialog box.

October 30, 2009

Inverting the Quick Mask

Option (Mac)/ Alt (Win) -click on the Quick Mask icon to invert the selection when entering Quick Mask mode.

October 29, 2009

Quick Mask (Q)

Double click on the quick mask icon to access the Quick Mask Options dialog box to change color, transparency and opacity options.

October 28, 2009

Scroll All Windows

With the Hand tool selected, checking Scroll All Windows (in the Option bar) will scroll (or pan) all open documents at once. Shift -drag (or pan) with the Hand tool to temporarily turn on the Scroll All Windows.

October 27, 2009

Fit On Screen

Double clicking the Hand tool in the Tool Panel is the same as selecting View > Fit on Screen (Photoshop will display the entire image as large as possible on screen. Note: Command (Mac) / Control (Win) + 0 (zero) also displays the image as large as possible.

October 26, 2009

The Hand Tool (H)

Holding down the spacebar (while most other tools are selected) will temporarily give you the Hand tool allowing quick panning of images that are zoomed in.

October 23, 2009

Bypass the Camera Raw Dialog

Shift-double clicking on a RAW image in the Bridge will bypass the Camera Raw dialog, applying either settings that have been saved with the file, or if there are no setting applied, opening the file with the camera defaults.

October 22, 2009

Photoshop Marketplace

You can go directly to the Photoshop Marketplace where you can look at all of the additional Filters and Plug-Ins that are available for Photoshop by choosing Filter > Browse Filters online.

October 21, 2009

Resetting Bridge's Preferences

When launching Bridge, Command-Option (Mac)/Control-Alt (Win) + Shift to choose "Reset Preferences", Purge Entire Thumbnail Cache", and/or Reset Standard Workspaces".

October 20, 2009

Assigning Additional Scratch Disks

When launching Photoshop, Option-Command (Mac) / Alt-Control (Win) prompts you to choose an additional scratch disk folder. Note: there is a very short window between clicking the PS icon to launch it and needing to hold down the keyboard shortcut, so get your fingers ready ahead of time!

October 19, 2009

Resetting Photoshop's Preferences

When launching Photoshop, Option-Command (Mac) / Alt-Control (Win) + Shift prompts you to delete the Adobe Photoshop settings file (which stores your preferences). Note: there is a very short window between clicking the PS icon to launch it and needing to hold down the keyboard shortcut, so get your fingers ready ahead of time!

>> See also JKost.com

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