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Tip of the Day | Page 49
Disabling a Layer Mask
If you would like to temporarily disable a layer mask, press-and-hold the Shift key and click on the layer mask thumbnail.
Loading a Layer Mask as a Selection
In order to load a layer mask as a selection, Command-click (PC: Ctrl-click) on the layer mask thumbnail in the Layers panel.
Alternating Your Layer Mask Colors
When you create a selection around something for a layer mask, you either want to show the area that you selected or hide it. If you want to show the area that you select-ed, click on the Add Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel. If you would like to hide that selection, press-and-hold the Option (PC: Alt) key when you click on the Add Layer Mask icon.
Scroll While Lassoing
If you’ve zoomed in to use the Lasso tool (L) and you’re nearing the edge of the window, you’ll need to scroll over to continue using the tool. To do this, don’t let go of the Lasso tool and press the Spacebar. This will temporarily activate the Hand tool so you can scroll to the side. Let go of the Spacebar to continue using the Lasso tool.
Why send an email? Say it with Notes!
I think this is a very underutilized tool in Photoshop. You have the option to place sticky notes in an image with the Notes tool (N). When you double-click on the note, it opens up to reveal any content. This allows you to give people direction and be very specific about it, instead of saying “Change the section to the right of the image above the head near the left 1/3 of the section of the eyebrow.” Put a note on it, and you’re done.
Magnetic Lasso Switch
If you are working with the Magnetic Lasso tool and need to access the Polygonal Lasso tool, press-and-hold the Option (PC: Alt) key and click. That will automatically switch you to the Polygonal Lasso tool. UPDATE: Dave Cross just ran in and added a variation to this: if you press-and-hold the Option (PC: Alt) key and click-and-drag, it will turn into the regular Lasso tool. Thanks Dave!
Quick way to find a Pantone Approximate Color
Ever wanted to know what a specific color would be in a specific library (like Pantone)? Select the color with the Eyedropper tool (I). Click on your Foreground color swatch to open the Color Picker. You will notice there is a button for Color Libraries. Click on that, and it will bring you the approximate color swatch for whatever library you chose.
Instant Artistic Effect – Just add Edge Vignette
Anyone can take a picture and give it more of an artistic feel using vignetting. In the Lens Correction dialog (Filter>Distort>Lens Correction), there is a setting called Vignette that’s used to correct problems with lenses that darken the edges of a photograph. It can also be used to add vignetting to a picture for dramatic effect. Drag the Vignette Amount and Midpoint sliders to the left. In a few seconds, your picture will look just like the pros.
Increasing Brush Sizes
Pretty much all applications that use a brush can be regulated using the Bracket keys. The Left Bracket ( [ ) key decreases the brush size, while the Right Bracket ( ] ) key increases its size. If you press-and-hold the Shift key, it increases the size by a larger amount.
Scrubbers 101
In most dialogs, you can use the scrubber (slider) to change measurements. To change the performance of the scrubber, try using these keys: Shift will make the scrubber jump very quickly to larger or smaller numbers and Option (PC: Alt) will slow down the scrubber to move one number at a time
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Photoshop Tutorials
Hollywood Touch-Ups
See how you can add some subtle touches to give that green screen studio shot the Hollywood treatment.
3D Christmas Ornaments
Corey shows how to create reflective holiday ornaments using 3D in Photoshop.
Styles & Text
This week Corey has a tutorial using layer styles and text shapes to create energetic effects.
3D Light Beams
This effect was discovered by a 'happy accident' and uses the 3D features inside of Photoshop CS4 Extended.
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Flare Effects
Corey has a cool trick for creating a flare brush and see how one effect can lead to another.
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Hollywood Touch-Ups
See how you can add some subtle touches to give that green screen studio shot the Hollywood treatment.
-
3D Christmas Ornaments
Corey shows how to create reflective holiday ornaments using 3D in Photoshop.
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3D Distortions
This week Corey has a cool new trick for using 3D reflections in a rather creative way!
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.
Join NAPP & Get a Free DVD.
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.
Want More?
Light Painting
Dave Cross takes a popular trend - light painting - and shows you how you can paint text recreating this cool trend.
You Don't Need to be a Pro to Join NAPP.
Create A Composite Layer
If you have a multilayer composition and you
want to apply an effect to all the layers at once, don’t flatten the layers–use a composite layer instead. Hide the layers you want excluded, and press Shift-Command-Option-E (PC: Shift-Ctrl-Alt-E). A new layer will be created at the top containing a merged copy of all the visible layers.
Another option is to create a new layer at the top of the stack and make it active. Command-click (PC: Ctrl-click) each layer you want to include to make those layers active, as well. Press Option-Command-E (PC: Alt-Ctrl-E).
by Colin Smith
