Julieanne Kost's Blog

To toggle from Free Transform to Warp mode, click the warp icon in the Options bar. While in Warp mode, Command (Mac) / Control (Win) + T toggles to Free Transform mode.

When in Free Transform, images that contain information beyond the visible image area may not display the transformation handles at your current zoom level. Instead of zooming out several times, select Command (Mac) / Control (Win) + 0 (zero) to zoom out – to “fit” the transformation handles on screen (just as Command (Mac) / Control (Win) + 0 (zero) will “fit” the image on screen when not in Free Transform).

Command (Mac) / Control (Win) + Shift + T transforms the layer(s) again by applying the same transformation settings. Option-Command (Mac) / Alt-Control (Win) + Shift + T will create a copy on it’s own layer while creating a duplicate transformation.

Command (Mac) / Control (Win) + T brings up the free transform bounding box. Holding the Shift key while dragging any of the corner anchor points (handles), forces proportional transformations while Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) transforms from the center. In addition:
  • Command (Mac) / Control (Win) freely distorts an image.
  • Command (Mac) / Control (Win) + Shift skews an image.
  • Option-Command (Mac) / Alt-Control (Win) + Shift changes the perspective of an image.
To apply a transformation tap the return or enter key, to cancel a transformation hit the escape key.

With the Move tool selected, selecting multiple layers (or selecting linked layers) allows them be aligned and distributed using the Align and Distribute icons in the Options bar.

Command (Mac) / Control (Win) + Shift + E will merge visible layers.
Command + Option (Mac) / Control + Alt (Win) + E creates a new layer and pastes a “flattened” version of the selected layers on it.
Command + Option (Mac) / Control + Alt (Win) + Shift + E creates a new layer and pasted a “flattened” version of all layers on it.

To duplicate a layer(s) in the Layers panel, select the layer(s) and Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) -drag until yo see a heavy black line between the layers – then release the cursor. I prefer this method over using Command (Mac) / Control (Win) + J because that shortcut will only duplicate a single layer. However, to cut a selection (or an entire layer) to a new layer, Command (Mac) / Control (Win) + Shift + J works like a charm.

To select multiple layers from the Layers panel, Command (Mac) / Control (Win) -click to the right of the layer or mask thumbnail (in the name area) on multiple layers Shift -click to select a range of contiguous layers in the Layers panel. When multiple layers are selected, commands will be applied to all layers when possible (this includes, moving, transforming, aligning, distributing, applying styles, etc.). In fact, when selecting multiple layers with the Move tool, you have the option to check “Show Transform Controls” (in the Options bar) to have Photoshop display a bounding box around selected layers. Not only does this help to show which layers are selected but can also be used to quickly transform multiple layers without having to use the Free Transform command.

To auto select a layer, with the Move tool selected, check the Auto-Selection option in the Options bar. Choose between Auto-Select Layers or Group. Or, to temporarily invoke the Auto-Select functionality, with the Move tool selected, Command (Mac) / Control (Win) -click on part of the layer’s content. To select more than one layer, Shift-click on the layer’s content in the image area. Shift clicking on an already selected object deselects it.

With the Auto-Select feature invoked, you can also click-drag over objects in the image area, to select their corresponding layers in the Layers panel. This method works well if you have multiple objects (layers) and a Background. Otherwise, because you have the Auto Select feature turned on, clicking in the image area will auto-select the first layer that you click on and begin to move it instead of selecting additional objects (layers). Because a Background is locked by default, it is impossible to select and therefore skipped by the Auto Select Feature. Hint: if you have layers that you do not want to auto select, lock them.

Simply clicking with the Type tool will create Point Type (lines of type that have to be manually broken to wrap using the return key). To create Paragraph Type, (type that is flows within a bounding box) click and drag with the Type tool to draw the bounding box. Or, Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) -click in the image area with the Type tool to display the Paragraph Text size dialog box to numerically enter the height and width of the bounding area.

Click in the text entry field next to the font family (on the Options bar) to highlight the font name and use the up/down arrow keys on the keyboard to select the next/previous typeface (if the type is selected in the image area, you can see the type change as you select different typefaces). While type in the image is selected, Command (Mac) / Control (Win) + H will hide the selected “reversed out” type enabling a more accurate preview of the type.

Clicking the cursor within a type block will auto-select the Type layer on the Layers panel. Shift-click with the Type tool to create a new Type layer (in case you’re close to another type block and Photoshop tries to auto-select it). Double clicking on the “T” icon on Layers panel will select all of the type on the layer.

When entering text, you’re in a semi-modal state in Photoshop – similar to Free Transform. However, the return or enter key will break the text to the next line – not commit to it (like it would apply the transformation). In order to apply (or commit the text) use the Command (Mac) / Control (Win) + return or enter.

To change the Type tool’s default options, the key is to close all documents. Then choose the Type tool and select your font family, style, size, anti-aliasing, alignment and color. Whatever options you choose, will become your new default.

Cmd + Opt (Mac) / Ctrl + Alt (Win) + 2 loads the luminosity of an image as a selection. This can then be used for a variety of manipulations such as adjusting color or building density.