Useful Photoshop Shortcuts You Need to Know About
Adobe Photoshop is a versatile tool that is used by millions of people worldwide. From editing photos to designing website interfaces, this tool is extremely useful. If you are a photographer or a graphic designer, you should definitely know your way around this software program. By editing your photos in Photoshop, you can achieve impeccable results and revamp your portfolio. Since every photographer is expected to master at least one editing tool, why not set your hand at this highly coveted program? Photoshop has a lot of shortcuts that can be used to save time and achieve faster results. On that note, here are some of the most useful shortcuts that will make your designing and photo editing projects easier.
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Marquee Tool
If you need to select a specific shape on your image layer, the Marquee tool can easily select the retained shape area. For both Windows and Mac, select the shortcut M. This will enable the Rectangular Marquee tool. To select the Elliptical shape, press Shift+M. Upon using the Elliptical shape, press Shift and drag the tool to make a perfect circle.
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New Layer
In Photoshop, every new design and editing work is based in layers as it makes your workflow smoother. If you need to change a particular part of the artwork or photograph, working in layers lets you make the change only in the specific areas, thereby saving your time and energy. For Windows, use Shift+Ctrl+N, and for Mac, use Shift+Cmd+N.
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Quick Mask
If you need to make any local adjustments within the image layer while keeping the rest of the image intact, use the Quick Mask option. To use this function, press the Q key after selecting the area in question. You will notice a red translucent mask formed in the unselected area. Press B, which is the shortcut key for the Brush Tool, and make changes as needed. Apply white color to delete the mask or apply black color to add a mask to the selected area.
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Lasso Tool
If you need to select a random (undefined) shape on your image layer, the Lasso Tool can help. Press L on the keyboard to activate this function. To switch between the Polygonal Lasso Tool and Magnetic Lasso Tool, press Shift+L on both Windows and Mac. The Magnetic option lets you select specific magnetic points and edges over the image layer, and the Polygonal option lets you select an area by clicking and placing points over the edges of the desired shape. Press the Alt/Opt key to form straight lines.
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Duplicate Layer
For every photo editing project, duplicating the image or making a copy of your current (image) layer is highly recommended. If you need to deselect certain elements, the expert editors at parkerphotographic.com/how-to-deselect-in-photoshop-step-by-step/ recommend working on the duplicated layer instead of the original as you can easily revert to the first image in case you make a mistake. If the copied layer is no longer needed, you can simply delete it. For Windows, use Ctrl+J, and for Mac, use Cmd+J.
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Crop
This is the easiest and most effective command among all. Once you select an image layer, press the C key to activate the Crop function. The grid formation allows you to move your mouse and crop the image as required. You can also access the Straighten Tool from the panel.
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Move
To move a selected area from one place to another within the same image layer or in your workspace, press the M key. The selected areas can be dragged or moved using the keyboard arrows or the mouse.
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Deselect a Layer
Before using the shortcut command to deselect a selected layer or part of any layer, the active lines of the selection should be visible. For Windows, use Ctrl+D, and for Mac, use Cmd+D.
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Clone Stamp Tool
This is another useful retouching app that most photographers often use. The Clone Stamp Tool copies a specific area of the image on the layer (the area copied is equivalent to the clone stamp size) and pastes it at your preferred points. To access this tool, press the S key. To increase or decrease the size of the stamp brush, press ] or [ respectively. When clicking on the area to be copied, press Alt/Opt. Click on the area where you wish to paste your copied selection.
If you are a beginner who is still trying to find your way around Photoshop, you can use these shortcuts to save time and improve your skills. If you are confused about whether or not you should learn this design and editing software, we highly recommend that you do. This versatile software will make your tasks easier and help improve your design and photo editing skills tremendously.
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