Tip of the Day | Page 39

Easier Drop Shadow Angle Adjustments

If you’re creating a drop shadow using Photoshop’s built-in layer styles (from the Add a Layer Style pop-up menu in the Layers palette), rather than setting the Distance and Angle numerically, you can adjust it visually. Just move your cursor outside the dialog right into your image, click on the shadow itself, and drag it where you’d like it.

March 28th, 2008 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Can’t We All Just Have The Same Style?

Want to apply a style that’s on one layer to a bunch of other layers? It’s easy (if you know the trick). Just link all the layers that you want to have that same style by Command-clicking (PC: Control-clicking) on them and clicking the Link icon at the bottom of the layers palette. Then Control-click (PC: Right-click) on the layer’s name with the style you want to copy and choose Select Linked Layers from the contextual menu that appears. Control-click (PC: Right-click) again and choose Paste Layer Style, and your copied style(s) will instantly paste to every linked layer.

March 27th, 2008 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Filter Gallery Zoom Quick Tip

If you’re in the Filter Gallery (under the filter menu) and want to zoom quickly to a particular level of magnification, just Control-click (PC: Right-click) anywhere within the preview window and a contextual menu of zoom views will appear.

March 26th, 2008 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Centering Dragged Layers The Easy Way

When dragging a layer from one document to another, the object will appear in the new document at the point your cursor was when you released the mouse button. If you’d prefer that the layer appear perfectly centered within the other document, just hold the Shift key as you drag, and when you release the mouse button, the object will be perfectly centered.

March 25th, 2008 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Moving Multiple Layers From Document To Document

Want to move more than one layer at a time from one document to another? It’s easy, as long as you know where to drag from. First, Command-click (PC: Control-click) to select your layers and then click the Link icon at the bottom of the Layers palette to link your layers together. Then, make sure that you drag your layer from within your document itself, rather than trying to drag the layer from the Layers palette. Dragging a layer from the Layers palette to another document is fine, as long as you only want to drag one layer at a time.

March 21st, 2008 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Copy A Layer In The Same Location In Another Document

To make a copy of your current layer and have it appear in the exact location in a different Photoshop document, Control-click (PC: Right-click) on the layer in the Layers palette that you want to copy, and choose Duplicate Layer. When the Duplicate Layer dialog appears, choose the Destination from the Document pop-up menu, and click OK.

March 20th, 2008 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (3)

Instant Opacity Change

Anytime you want to change the Opacity of the layer you’re currently working on, just switch to the Move tool (V) and press a number key on your keyboard: 4 = 40% Opacity, 5 = 50% Opacity, etc. If you want an exact percentage, such as 52%, then type 52. (Note: You have to type quickly, or you’ll get 50%, then 20%.)

March 19th, 2008 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

More Control Over Blends: Advanced Blending

Using Blend Modes is a great way to get the layer you’re on to interact with the layers beneath it. The only problem is you don’t have much control over these blend modes-—they either look the way you want them to, or not. They’re pretty much an “on” or “off” tool. If you’re looking for that next level of control over how layers interact with each other, you need the advanced Blending Options. These are found by double-clicking in the empty space just to the right of the layer’s name in the Layers palette. What appears onscreen looks like the Layer Style dialog (and in fact, it is), but if you look closely, you’ll see two bars with sliders at the bottom of the dialgo giving you control over how your layered images interact. Here’s another quick tip: If you hold the Option key (PC: Alt key) before you drag one of the sliders, it will split the slider in two, which gives you smoother transitions and more usable blend effects.

March 18th, 2008 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Turn Your Layer Comps Into Their Own Docs

If you’re using layer comps to compare different layouts within the same image, you can share these comps with people not on your network (or without access to your computer) by creating a separate document for each layer comp. This makes it easier to email them, and easier for your recipient to view them. Luckily, you don’t have to do this all manually; just go under the File menu, under Scripts, and choose Layer Comps To Files.

March 17th, 2008 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (1)

Applying Layer Styles To Your Background Layer

How do you apply a layer style to your Background layer? You can’t. That is, unless you double-click on your Background layer. This brings up the New Layer dialog where you can rename your Background layer, and when you do, it turns into a regular layer. Now you can apply layer styles to your heart’s content. Want an even faster way? Just hold the Option key (PC: Alt key) and double-click, then you won’t get the dialog at all—it will just convert it into a new layer named Layer 0.

March 14th, 2008 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

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Photoshop Tutorials

2012 Text Effect

Recreate the text effect from the title to the new blockbuster movie.
More Fun with 3D

Continue exploring the possibilities with Photoshop’s new 3D tools.
Reverse Restoration

Corey shows you how to make a new photo look damaged by blending in some unusual textures.
3D Background Effects

Use Photoshop’s new 3D tools to create some dazzling background effects.

Premium Video Tutorials From NAPP

Photo Retouch
Scott Kelby shows you how to take an overexposed photo into a great photo using Photoshop. Want Great Photoshop & Photography Skills?

Extended Definition Processing
Scott Kelby shares a technique he's been working on, which gives your final image an HDR look using just one photo.
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Smart Object Masking Trick
Dave Cross shares a trick he discovered that will help you remove white from around your subject when using smart objects.
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Light Painting
Dave Cross takes a popular trend - light painting - and shows you how you can paint text recreating this cool trend.
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Viewing and Basking in your Image

When I’m done working with an image, I like to sit and admire it (hey, I spent six hours working on it, I should). To do that, I hit the Tab key, then hit the F key three times. This hides all of the panels and toolbars and lets you see the image by itself surrounded by black. To get back to regular mode, press the F key and the Tab key one more time.