We all know that Photoshop can offer endless methods to accomplish the same task, being an extremely versatile application. The workflow is different from one person to another, but which technique is the best for the task at hand? That can be difficult to understand for users who just started to use Photoshop and are trying to improve but they do not know what to choose when there are so many ways of producing the same effect.
- Working on a single layer
First things first, no matter what you want to do in Photoshop it is always best to work on separate layers, leaving the background layer alone. This allows you to go back later and make changes to the layers you made. You don't like the color balance you modified back then? Don't worry, you have the flexibility of removing the layer or making changes to it so that it works with your concept and idea.
This is what they call a non-destructive workflow, creating new layers for each effect and each modification you make and even naming them accordingly so that it's easier to make changes later.
- Deleting and Erasing instead of Masking
This is a really bad habit and I sometimes do it myself when I don't have time to get into the details of a photograph I'm editing. This is clearly a very destructive way of editing because you lose image content. To avoid that, there is this thing called layer mask.
What it does is it temporarily hides the parts you want to hide in an image and if you want to go back you can always deactivate the mask or make changes to it.
- Click-click-click that mouse button like there's no tomorrow
The best way to use Photoshop is with one hand on the mouse(or pen) and the other hand on the keyboard. You don't have to know all the keyboard shortcuts Photoshop has, you just have to know the ones that are most useful to you. And if you don't like Photoshop's default shortcuts, you could always customize your own.
Here are some basic shortcuts that are useful for general use:
Cmd/Ctrl + T = Free Transform Cmd/Ctrl + S = Save document Cmd/Ctrl + A = Select all Cmd/Ctrl + D = Deselect Cmd/Ctrl + I = Invert colors Cmd/Ctrl + click on the thumbnail of the layer = selection based on the content of the layer Cmd/Ctrl + G = Group Layers Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + G = Ungroup LayersPimp your background desktop with this wallpaper:
- Transforming Pixel Layers
Introduced back in Photoshop Cs2, this technology called Smart Objects allows us to transform a layer as many times as we want without losing image quality. What Photoshop does in this case is it embeds the image inside the PSD file as a separate file and it uses that embedded source image to render the changes of the Smart Object.
It is important to convert a layer into a Smart Object while it's still in its highest available size to get the best quality out of it.
- Got any adjustment layers?
Similar to working on a single layer, working without using adjustment layers is a big mistake. If you use the image menu to create adjustments they will be applied on the selected layer and you can't change them later on.
On the other hand, if you apply them as Adjustment Layers they will appear completely independent from the layer you're working on and you have great control in terms of opacity, blend mode and settings. Keep in mind that an Adjustment layer will affect all underlying layers; if you want it only on a specific layer, you have to clip it to that layer.
- Organizing the disorganized workflow
Again, another mistake I seem to do is being disorganized in terms of how my layers look/are named, if they are in groups, etc. But that happens only when I'm working on a small project that doesn't require a lot of layers.
If you are working on an image that is fairly complicated and you suddenly end up with a lot of layers and you don't know which one is which, then you can either group similar layers, name them correspondingly, set a color for them so that they're easily recognizable afterwards.
Don't think of it like a waste of time, it will by far save you a lot of time, especially if you are working on the project with a team and the PSD files are shared between other people.
- Using filters destructively
Photoshop gives you the option to apply filters in a non-destructive way as Smart Filters. When you apply a Smart Filter to a layer, you will be able to turn it off and on easily to check/change something, modify its settings, opacity/blend mode, etc. Moreover, you can apply multiple filters onto the same Smart Object and use a mask to hide or reveal the effect.
- Lack of navigation skills
Look at those vertical and horizontal scroll bars around the image. They are there only to strengthen your wrist muscles. You can stop wasting your time and use the Spacebar button, which gives you access to the Hand tool and pan the image around with it.
Here are some quick things that will help you navigate in Photoshop easily:
Space = hand tool Z + drag right and left = zoom in and out Hold down H + click = bird's eye view Cmd/Ctrl + 0 = fit to screen Cmd/Ctrl + 1 = actual size of the document- What's bridge?
Adobe Bridge is Photoshop's native file management application. What it does is it helps organizing and finding your images/project files, while saving a lot of time. I find it useful when you are working on two display, and having it placed on the second display so you can access it quickly if you're working on an project that let's say, requires a lot of images.
- Hey there PSD, be my backup buddy
It's always good to save your work as a PSD file. Why? Well, there will come a time when your computer freezes and you curse the day you didn't save your work frequently. Having a PSD file at hand when you work for a client is really useful when the client wants some changes and you can go back and actually change that ugly bird in the sky with a beautiful dove.
you can click on all the screenshots I've provided to take a closer look at them and download the Photoshop Wallpaper
Discussion:
What bad habits do you have when working in Photoshop?Is your workflow organized or you just go with the flow?Which of these seem complicated to you and you think you won't use them in the future?
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