Photoshop Hints

There are many panels in Photoshop that we might want quick access to but don’t want open all the time while we are working away as they take up too much workspace real estate.  Here is how to dock them so that they are neatly tucked away, yet remain at hand for when you require them.

Are you struggling to see what you are after in amongst the menu bar of Photoshop?  This colourful tip might just help you out…

When working with a large number of layers you can often only want to see what is contained on the one layer.  It can be a real drag to have to individually turn every layer off.  There is a short cut available that enables us to only look at one layer while turning all the others off.  Here’s how…

Being able to draw straight lines easily in Photoshop is well, straight forward.  Let me show you how…

Adding all of your layered work into one layer, yet keeping all of your working layers, is an important feature of Photoshop but finding how to do this is not obvious.  Here’s how to complete this invaluable step…

Sometimes when working with a large number of layers it can be difficult to see the pale grey in the layers stack which indicates the layer you currently have active or are working on.  It is possible to change this to a blue colour which might be more visible for you.  Here’s how to do this…

Colour-coding your guides can really help you visually with your work.  Here’s how you can change the colour of your guides so that not all of them are cyan…

Positioning accurately placed guides can really help you with your composition.  Let me show you how…

Colour coding thumbnails of images is easy in Bridge.  Let me show you how to do this…

Did you know that Bridge has a wonderful feature that enables you to reorganize your images into your own customized sequence to assist you with image flow for a portfolio or book construction?

There are many units available to us in Photoshop when it comes to working with the rulers.  Want to know an easy way to change from one unit to another?  Then here it is…

Rulers can be really helpful when working in Photoshop.  Here are two ways access them…

Guides can be of great help if you are trying to place something within an image precisely.  Here’s how to find them…

Not sure where you saved an already open image in Photoshop?  This nifty wee trick might be of assistance…

Being accurate with your masking sometimes means being able to view your mask over your image.  Not sure how to do this?  Watch on to find out…

Can’t find the tab of an image you know you have open because you have so many images open?  Here’s a little trick to accessing those hidden images…

There is a quick and effective way of simply turning off your mask so that you can see the original pixels that are hidden.  Let me show you how…

The interface of Photoshop has a document window that holds a vast amount of easily accessible information.  Here is how to find it...

Marching ants come with features that are hidden.  Watch this video to see what they may be…

Photoshop has many hidden menus and none of these are immediately obvious.  When you bring up or activate the free transform tool you can easily swap from one form of this tool to another.  Here’s how…

There are so many tools In Photoshop that simply get in the way of your workflow.  Here is how to hide them from the toolbar but still have easy access to them should the need arise on occasion.

Have you ever truly explored the layers panel?  There are so many features there that can assist you find a layer in no time at all.  Here’s how…

Do you find it a pain when you have lots of images open in Photoshop, to close them individually?  There is a feature in this editing program that allows you to close all open images at once…

Ever wanted to look at your work in Photoshop without the distraction of all the panels and toolbar surrounding your work?  Watch this handy wee video to learn how to do precisely this…

Did you know that hidden away in Photoshop are a number of “easter eggs” that customize the photo editing app in wacky ways?  Let’s look at how you can add coffee or toast to your colour theme tiles…

Did you know that hidden away in Photoshop are a number of “easter eggs” that customize the photo editing app in wacky ways?  Let’s look at how you can add a banana to your toolbar…

Do you find it annoying that Photoshop always adds the word “copy” after the name of a duplicated layer?  This feature can be turned off in a really simple way…

​When AI Denoise was initially introduced it always produced a separate .dng file.  This feature can be circumvented…

Being able to see what is contained on a layer thumbnail in Photoshop can be pretty important at times, especially if you have forgotten to rename it.

Here is a way to increase the size of the thumbnails in Photoshop…

Photographers are visual people.  Find out how to take advantage of this in Photoshop by colouring the layers of your layers panel…

The default for the cropping tool once activated, shows the rule of thirds grid.  This can be changed very simply.  Let me show you how…

Have you ever run out of space in your layer panel?  Have you ever wished for a longer layer panel but don’t wish to undock it?  Here’s a quick tip that you may find helpful when working in Photoshop…

All photographic editing should be conducted in a non-destructive manner as this allows you to change your mind. This even includes cropping! Find out how by watching my tip here.

Do the fly-out tool tips annoy you in Photoshop? Here's how to hide them...

Is the edge of your brush in Photoshop not showing? Find this annoying? There is an easy fix as this can happen often. Watch this video to find out how to make the edge of your brush visible again.

​Sometimes you just want to see some aspect inside of Photoshop without opening an image.  There is a very simple way of being able to do this…

Docking the panels in Photoshop that are most frequently used is an easy process, one in which you can save as your preferred workspace.  This even includes the toolbar settings you may have already applied…

Did you know that Photoshop has a pest control feature? If you wish to learn about eradicating ants, then this little video snippet should be able to assist you...

Want a quick way to re-open recently opened and closed images in Photoshop? Then watch my handy hint...

Does the floating contextual task bar get in the way of your work?  Watch this wee video clip to learn how to hide or pin the bar so that you can work uninterrupted from it yet still have it readily available for when you do wish to use it.

​Do you want access to all file formats when you go Save As in Photoshop?  The following video clip will show you how to set Photoshop up enabling you to have access to all the file format types that it recognizes.

A Curves Adjustment Layer has many more functions attributable to it than just brightening or darkening an image. You are able to manipulate colour using this non-destructive layer also.  Watch this video to see how this is possible.