Tip of the Day | Page 49

Creating A Flattened Version Of Your Layered Image

Alright, you’re working on a Photoshop file that has a “bizillion” layers, and you want to create a new layer that’s an exact copy of what your flattened image would look like. First, create a new blank layer by clicking on the Create a New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette, then press Command-Option-Shift-E (PC: Control-Alt-Shift-E). You can also go to the Layers palette’s flyout menu and choose Merge Visible while pressing Option/Alt. Either way, the new layer you created will now have a flattened version of your image.

October 25th, 2007 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Switching From Warp To Free Transform (And Back Again)

If you’re using CS2’s Warp Image feature (which is accessed by bringing up Free Transform, then Control-clicking [PC: Right-clicking] inside the Free Transform bounding box and choosing Warp from the contextual menu), there’s a good chance you’ll need to resize the image once you start warping it. If that happens, there’s a button you can click that will switch back to Free Transform. It’s near the top-right corner of the Options Bar, and clicking the button will toggle you between Warp and Free Transform.

October 24th, 2007 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Making A Smart Object Dumb – Well, Kinda

If you’re using CS2’s Smart Objects (by using the Place command under the File menu to add images to your document rather than opening them and dragging-and-dropping them in with the Move tool [V]), you’ll also want to know how to convert your Smart Object layer into a regular ol’ layer. To do that, click on the Smart Object layer, then go under the Layer menu, under Smart Objects, and choose Convert to Layer.

October 23rd, 2007 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Think You Might Change Sizes? Make It A Smart Object!

If you’re building a collage, or some other document that has images on different layers, and you think you might wind up resizing some of the images, rather than just dragging-and-dropping opened photos into your main document, make them Smart Objects. That way, when you resize them (especially helpful if you increase their size), it calls upon the original image to make a clean resize (instead of a blurry, pixelated version). To create a Smart Object, you only have to change one thing—instead of opening the photo, go under the File menu and choose Place instead.

October 22nd, 2007 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (1)

Hidden Zoom Feature In Vanishing Point

If you’re using Vanishing Point and need to quickly zoom in on an area, just move your cursor over that area, then press-and-hold the letter X on your keyboard to zoom in on the area where your cursor is. To zoom back out, release the X key.

October 19th, 2007 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Turning Your Vanishing Point Grid

Need to wrap your Vanishing Point filter grid around a corner? No sweat—just hold the Command key (PC: Control key), drag a center point, and the grid will bend around the corner.

October 18th, 2007 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Getting More Control Over Vanishing Point

When you apply the Vanishing Point filter, by default it applies the effect to your Background layer, which means once Vanishing Point “does its thing,” you don’t have any control over the results. If it’s too light, too dark, you want to change the color, blend mode, etc., you’re out of luck. That’s why, before you run the Vanishing Point filter, you should create a new blank layer first by clicking on the Create a New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette. That way, the object (text, whatever) to which you apply Vanishing Point winds up on its own separate layer, where you can control everything from color to opacity and more.

October 17th, 2007 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Using Camera RAW Images As Smart Objects

You can add any RAW image to your existing document as a Smart Object. Just use the Place command (under the File menu) and navigate your way to the RAW image. When you choose the RAW image, Photoshop will first open Camera Raw so you can process it. When you click Open in the Camera Raw dialog, it will place itself into your document as a Smart Object (and it will have a bounding box around it so you can determine the size you want it to appear within your document). Once you’ve sized the placed image, press Return (PC: Enter) to lock it into position. If you need to make any edits to the RAW photo after it’s placed into your document as a Smart Object, just double-click on the Smart Object’s thumbnail in the Layers palette and your RAW image will reopen in Camera Raw. Make your changes, click OK, and it will automatically update in your main document. Sweeeeeettttt!

October 16th, 2007 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Find Things Fast By Color-Coding Them

If there are particular areas of Photoshop you use a lot, you can make finding them in the menus even faster by color-coding your favorite menu items. Here’s how: Go under the Edit menu and choose Menus. When the dialog appears, scroll down to the menu you want and double-click on it. Now scroll down until you find the command you want to color-code, and then click on the word “None” to the far right of that item (under the Color column) and a menu of colors will appear. Choose the color you want for that item, and from now on it will appear highlighted in that color. This is ideal if you’re training new Photoshop users. For example, you could color-code certain items for when they’re doing prepress (maybe make those items appear in red) and choose another color for when they’re designing Web graphics.

October 15th, 2007 | 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.

October 12th, 2007 | 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.