24 Hidden Photoshop Tricks Every Pro Must Know!

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will explore 24 hidden Photoshop tricks that can enhance your workflow and improve your editing skills. These tips are designed for all levels of users, whether you're into retouching, compositing, digital art, or graphic design. You'll save time and streamline your processes with these powerful features.

Step 1: Use Layer Locks for Movement Control

• Lock your layers to prevent accidental movements.
• Go to the Layers panel, select a layer, and click the lock icon.
• For movement lock, ensure only the "Move" option is checked.

Step 2: Create Unlimited Color Grading Presets

• Open the Color Grading panel.
• Adjust the sliders for shadows, midtones, and highlights.
• Save your settings as a preset for future use.

Step 3: Utilize the Face Command

• Select the Face tool in the toolbar.
• Click on a face in your image to reveal automatic adjustments.
• Adjust features like eyes, mouth, and skin tones quickly.

Step 4: Fit Your Work to the Canvas

• Use the shortcut Ctrl + Alt + 0 (Cmd + Option + 0 on Mac) to fit your image to the canvas.
• This is especially helpful to see the entire composition without manual adjustments.

Step 5: Auto-Zoom for Layer Selection

• Hold the Alt key (Option on Mac) and click on a layer to auto-zoom into it.
• This will help you focus on specific details without navigating through the entire image.

Step 6: Change Perspective with Perspective Warp

• Select the Perspective Warp tool from the Edit menu.
• Draw a grid over the object to adjust its perspective.
• Fine-tune the points to achieve the desired angle.

Step 7: Advanced Liquify Techniques

• Use the Liquify filter to reshape images.
• Employ the Reconstruct tool to revert parts of the image to the original.
• Enable Face-Aware Liquify to adjust facial features easily.

Step 8: View the Same Document in Multiple Windows

• Go to Window > Arrange > New Window for [Document Name].
• This allows for easy comparison or editing of different sections simultaneously.

Step 9: Repeat Transformations Easily

• Use the shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T (Cmd + Option + T on Mac) to duplicate a transformation.
• This is handy for applying consistent changes across multiple layers.

Step 10: Create Knockout Effects

• Use the Knockout option in the layer styles to create transparency effects.
• Adjust the settings to control how layers interact with one another.

Step 11: Export All Open Documents at Once

• Navigate to File > Scripts > Export Layers to Files.
• This will allow you to save all open files in one go, saving time.

Step 12: Discover Secret Sliders in Curves

• Open the Curves adjustment layer.
• Look for hidden sliders by holding Alt (Option on Mac) while adjusting the curve.
• This can help refine your color adjustment process.

Step 13: Sample Colors from Outside Photoshop

• Use the Eyedropper tool and hold the Shift key.
• This will allow you to sample colors from your desktop or other applications.

Step 14: Rotate Your View

• Use the shortcut R to activate the Rotate View tool.
• Click and drag to rotate the canvas for easier drawing or retouching.

Step 15: Fix Color Issues with Selective Color

• Go to Image > Adjustments > Selective Color.
• Adjust the sliders to correct color imbalances effectively.

Step 16: Create a Slideshow

• Select multiple layers in the Layers panel.
• Go to File > Automate > PDF Presentation to create a quick slideshow.

Step 17: Paint in Perspective Using Vanishing Point

• Navigate to Filter > Vanishing Point.
• Define your perspective grid and paint directly within that perspective.

Step 18: Use Reference Point Shortcuts

• Hold Alt (Option on Mac) while clicking to set your reference point for transformations.
• This helps in maintaining consistency when transforming multiple layers.

Step 19: Blend Colors with Blend-If

• Double-click on a layer to open Layer Style.
• Use the Blend-If sliders to blend layers based on a range of colors.

Step 20: Implement Content-Aware Scale

• Select an image and go to Edit > Content-Aware Scale.
• Adjust the scale while preserving important content in the image.

Step 21: Utilize Layer Comps

• Create Layer Comps to save different states of your layers.
• This is useful for showcasing variations without duplicating layers.

Step 22: Smart Object Shortcuts

• Convert layers to Smart Objects for non-destructive editing.
• Right-click on the layer and select "Convert to Smart Object."

Step 23: Use Auto-Blend for Compositing

• Select multiple layers and go to Edit > Auto-Blend Layers.
• This is particularly useful for stitching images or creating panoramas.

Step 24: Fix Extreme Colors

• Use the Vibrance and Saturation sliders under Image > Adjustments to correct over-saturated areas.
• This can help in achieving a more balanced color profile.

Conclusion

These 24 hidden Photoshop tricks can significantly enhance your editing efficiency and creativity. By incorporating these techniques into your workflow, you'll be able to tackle projects with greater ease and precision. Experiment with these features and discover how they can elevate your Photoshop experience.