Photoshop keyboard shortcuts

[Kevin]

While visiting with Keith, we got into some Photoshop stuff. He had commented on some of the keyboard shortcuts that I habitually used. I thought it might be nice to have a thread that contained some of our handy-dandy keyboard shortcuts that each of us use to make processing in Photoshop a bit easier.

I'm on a PC but assume the Control (Ctrl) key's cousin on a Mac is Command (Cmd). Correct me if I'm wrong.

So please, if you feel so inclined, add some of your shortcut keys that you've found useful.

[Kevin]

Here are a few of mine.

Ctrl + J to create a new layer by copying the current layer (the one highlighted in blue in your Layer's palette). I use this ALL the time. Very quick. It also can be used if you have made a selection then do a Ctrl+J to create that selection as a separate layer.

Often when I'm using a tool like the eraser or paint brush, instead of going to the top to change brush size, I simply hit the "[" key to reduce the size or the "]" to enlarge the size of the brush/eraser.

One last shortcut I've found useful is for zooming in and out of the picture. I know you can type in the % value in the lower left corner but I have gotten into the habit of hitting Ctrl + - (minus key) to reduce or Ctrl + + (plus key) to enlarge.

[Kevin]

OK...it's been nearly a month and nobody has any shortcuts to add? Does that mean everyone only uses the mouse to work in Photoshop? ;)

[Keith]

and whats wrong with that slap;
Will be happy to know, I did remember 3 or 4 shortcuts now that I use faithfully, so you can train old dogs new tricks :D

[gluwater]

Ctrl + Alt + ~

Selects highlight only. Great for combining two exposures. I use it all the time.

[PhotoByMark]

I found this chart of a whole bunch of shortcuts. Maybe you will find it useful?

http://user.fundy.net/morris/downloads/PSCS2_Shortcuts.pdf

[Kevin]

Holy crap! That's the motherload of shortcuts!! Thanks Mark! :)

[Jeff JTPhoto]

Ctrl - to reduce
Ctrl + to enlarge
Ctrl A select All
Ctrl X Cut
Ctrl C Copy
Ctrl V Paste

[dmwphoto]

I keep trying ctl.Alt.del and everything goes blank????dunno; :Devil:

[tived]

I saw an add in NAPP for a Photoshop keyboard, which had listed a bulk of shortcuts onto the keyboard.

I'll try and find the add again

Henrik

PS: it would be a good thing for people who start with PS so you can get in the habbit of using them.

Ctrl+Alt+D feather a selection (provided you have made a selection)

Ctrl+D Deselect a selection

any number from 1-9 will give you your brush size and by adding shift you will change opasity

[MiriamJ]

Good thread. shortcuts=less time processing=more time shooting. I like that!

That ctrl+J seems exceptionally useful. I've been wishing I knew a shortcut to duplicate a layer.

Some of my favorites:

Spacebar to get the hand to move the picture
Ctrl+0, (zero), quick way to increase to full size
Ctrl+F, do last filter action again
alt+ctrl+f, slider to fade last filter action

F12 to revert,
alt+Ctrl+Z to undo last transaction
shift+ctrl+Z to redo the transaction you just undid.

shift+ctrl+Y, out of gamut warning
holding down the alt key while adjusting levels in the RGB channel will tell you if you're adjusting too far and losing detail.

Sometimes it's better to go to the channels to create a mask. I'll go to the channels pallete, and then I'll drag one of the channel icons, (usually blue channel), to the icon at the bottom that makes a copy, click on the zthen control+L will give me a quick levels adjust. I do an extreme adjustment, slowing bringing the left and right sliders in to isolate my subject. Cleanup is with the eraser, using the X key to switch foreground and background colors,(black and white) to erase or add to the mask.

After that, ctrl+A to select all, ctrl+C to copy, go to your layers pallete, alt+click on the mask you want to paste into, ctrl+V to paste, and if necessary, ctrl+I to invert the mask.

This allows me to make masks that I wouldn't be able to get any other way, and it's fairly fast, depending on the photo.

[Kevin]

Thanks for playing, Miriam! :)

I'm intrigued by your use of channels to create a mask. I'd like to ask if maybe you could expound on that concept. My only experience with channels is looking at them (;)) or using the Channel Mixer for B&W conversion.

Can you explain more about this process? Does it prove useful if say, for example, one of the color channels is blown? Or is it for some other purpose?

Thanks for your explanation.

[MiriamJ]

Thanks for playing, Miriam! :)

I'm intrigued by your use of channels to create a mask. I'd like to ask if maybe you could expound on that concept. My only experience with channels is looking at them (;)) or using the Channel Mixer for B&W conversion.

Can you explain more about this process? Does it prove useful if say, for example, one of the color channels is blown? Or is it for some other purpose?

Thanks for your explanation.

You're welcome! :)

It's just a different way of making a mask that often yields better results than copying the background and pasting it into a mask. I often use it to selectively apply filters or effects such as lightening or darkening to a photo I'm editing.

It was such a long explanation, that I gave it it's own thread. It's at: http://www.pixel-shooter.com/forum/showpost.php?p=50383&postcount=1

[Jeff JTPhoto]

Here is the complete list in PDF from Adobe.

http://user.fundy.net/morris/downloads/PSCS2_Shortcuts.pdf

[Joe F.N.]

Here is one that I thought was being used by everyone when viewing photographs. Then I discovered it wasn't. The simple F11 button to get rid of all crap on the screen so only the image is visible. To see the full image press F11 to eliminate tool bars. After viewing hit it again to restore all. That will teach me to never 'assume.'

[Ellen]

I keep forgetting all the shortcuts, by the time I look at my chart I have lost interest.