Photoshop Secret Techniques

You always want to use you Photoshop like a pro but you don’t know how and so lots of books are written to provide you with the knowledge on how to maximize the potential of your Photoshop. But somehow, spending money to buy mountains books can be impractical. Here are some secret techniques among the thousands of techniques that can help you to get the best out of Photoshop.

Fill for effect

If you want to create some awesome effects in your images using gradient fill, consider using the Layers palette to change the fill layer's opacity or blending modes. It's quick, easy, and highly effective. To create a fill layer:

1.Choose Layer > New Fill Layer or click the black-and-white circle at the bottom of the Layers palette. This opens a menu from which you can choose the type of fill you want.

2.Choose Gradient from the menu to open the Gradient Fill dialog box.

3.Choose the gradient from the Gradient drop-down menu; then choose the style of gradient you want from the Style drop-down menu. Your choices include Linear, Radial, and more. Now choose the angle and the scale for the gradient with the remaining choices. Play around with these settings to get a sense of how they operate and to see how the sliders and drop-down menus can immediately affect your image.

4.Click OK. A fill-layer area appears on your Layers palette. If you want to change the position, the color, the scale, or the type of gradient (Pattern or Color) at any time, double-click the layer's icon on the Layers palette.

Snap a shot automatically

If you know you'll be working on a complex image, have Photoshop create a History Snapshot anytime you open a new file. Check the "Automatically create first snapshot" box in History Options, and you're ready to go. You can also choose to take a snapshot each time you save a file. One important thing to remember is that all snapshots are deleted when you close the image file.

Cast a perfect shadow

In Photoshop, Blending modes control the way two layers affect one another. The Blending mode drop-down menu is located at the top of the Layers palette. To make your shadows come to life, use the Multiply Blending mode to make the shadow blend seamlessly with the object upon which it's cast. To apply the Multiple Blending mode:

1.Place the image and its shadow on separate layers, with the image on the top layer, then align them as you'd like.
2.Click the top layer to activate it.
3.Choose a Multiply Blending mode from the drop-down menu. The Multiply Blending mode makes the top layer slightly darker, helping it blend with its shadow.

Magic Eraser Technique:

The Magic Eraser tool (hold down the Eraser icon in the toolbar to access it) allows you to erase pixels that are all the same color (or are a similar color).

1.First pass using Magic Eraser Tool: 72 tolerance, contiguous, anti-aliased.
2.Second pass using Magic Eraser Tool: 32 tolerance, other settings same.
3.Used Eraser tool (brush mode) to clean up edges, stray pixels, and shadow area.

Moving Selections (While Creating Them)

Did you know that you can move a selection even while you are in the process of creating it? The technique illustrated below is invaluable for creating precise shape selections.

1.Use the Elliptical Marquee tool [M] (use [Shift+M] to cycle) to draw an approximate selection (and hold the Shift key down as well to maintain a perfect circle). Don't worry about where you start the selection
2.With the left mouse button (and Shift key) held down, hold the Space Bar and (use the mouse to) position the selection over the desired region
3.Let go of the Space Bar (but not the mouse button or the Shift key) and continue sizing the selection to encompass the region of interest
4.Repeat Steps 2 – 3 until the entire object is contained within the selection (without ever letting go of the left mouse button and Shift key)
5.Finally, let go of the mouse button (and the Shift key)


Note: Even though this tip uses the Elliptical Marquee tool, it works for all of the rest of the Marquee tools [Shift+M].

The combination of knowing what you want and knowing how to do it properly is the best way to make the best out of your Photoshop: a mixture of creativity and acumen. As you learn more, you make fewer mistakes, your workflow becomes faster, and you have more time to explore creative possibilities.