Tip of the Day | Page 7

Grouping multiple layers in a Layer Group

Layer groups are a great way to collect multiple layers into one set and manipulate them. Rather than creating one set and dragging all of the layers into the set, select all of the layers first. Once the layers are selected, press-and-hold the Shift key and click on the Create a New Group icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.

December 24th, 2009 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Auto Selecting a Layer

Here’s a really cool way to select a layer: with the Move tool (V) active, press-and-hold the Command (PC: Ctrl) key and click on that layer in the image.

December 23rd, 2009 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Change layer content

If you have an adjustment layer and you’ve spent some time painting on the layer mask, the last thing you want to do is start all over again if you decide you should have used a different adjustment layer. Instead, go to the Layer menu and from the Change Layer Content submenu, choose the adjustment layer you want to use. The adjustment layer will change, but the layer mask will be preserved.

December 22nd, 2009 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (1)

Select Similar layers

Here’s a quick way to select multiple layers of the same kind—meaning multiple shape layers, type layers, or adjustment layers. Just click on one of the layers, and then from the Select menu, choose Similar Layers.

December 21st, 2009 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Change the Fill Opacity on the fly

You probably know that (with a non-painting tool selected) you can press a number to change the opacity of a layer (1 for 10%, 2 for 20%, etc.). But what if you want to change the Fill opacity rather than the opacity? Add in the Shift key, pressing Shift-1 for 10%, Shift-2 for 20%, etc.

December 18th, 2009 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Copy & Paste blend modes and opacity

Not only can you copy-and-paste layer styles from one layer to another, but you can also use the same method to copy blend modes and opacity to multiple layers. Just pick the layer that has the blend mode and/or opacity setting you want, and Control-click (PC: Right-click) on it and choose Copy Layer Style. Then select all the other layers you want to share the same setting, Control-click again, and this time choose Paste Layer Styles.

December 17th, 2009 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Duplicating Smart Objects

When you use the standard shortcut Command-J (PC: Ctrl-J) to duplicate a Smart Object, changes you make to the Smart Object will affect both copies. To avoid this, Control-click (PC: Right-click) on the Smart Object and choose New Smart Object Via Copy. Now the two Smart Objects can be edited separately—ideal for making two Camera Raw edits of the same RAW file.

December 16th, 2009 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Add a second stroke with Smart Objects

Here’s a cool way to be able to add more than one layer style to a layer: add a layer style and then convert the layer to a Smart Object. Then you can apply an additional layer style, giving you two strokes, for example.

December 15th, 2009 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Smart Object warp

If you have a Smart Object made from a Photoshop document or object on a layer, you can warp it any way you like. However, if the Smart Object is a Vector Smart Object from Illustrator, you cannot warp it. The solution is simple, yet odd: convert the Vector Smart Object to a Smart Object (from the Layers panel’s flyout menu) and then it can be warped. If you need to edit the original Illustrator artwork, you’ll have to double-click on the Smart Object’s layer thumbnail to open a Photoshop document that contains the Vector Smart Object. Double-click on its layer
thumbnail to open it in Illustrator. (It’s easier than it sounds.)

December 14th, 2009 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

Deleting a layer Mask without a Prompt

This is a tip that doesn’t just apply to layer masks, but to anything that gives you a confirmation prompt. Whenever you try to do something in Photoshop (let’s say delete a layer mask, for now) it will prompt you with a warning dialog asking if you’re sure this is something that you want to do. Most of the time, it is a good idea to have this on, but if you want to bypass this dialog, press-and-hold the Option (PC: Alt) key as you drag the layer mask into the trash. The dialog doesn’t even appear.

December 11th, 2009 | Web Editor | Tip of the Day | Comments (0)

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Photoshop Tutorials

3D Light Beams
This effect was discovered by a 'happy accident' and uses the 3D features inside of Photoshop CS4 Extended.
More Texture Effects
Further experiments into what you can do with texture images in Photoshop.
Reverse Restoration
Corey shows you how to make a new photo look damaged by blending in some unusual textures.
Rain Drops
In this tutorial, Corey not only creates the raindrops, but also the splashes that are formed with the raindrops hit the hands.

Light From 3D Shapes

Corey shares another way to get a cool 3D light beam effect.
Olympic Graphics, Part 2

Corey finishes up the Olympic-inspired design that he began last week in Part 1.
Olympic Graphics, Part 1

The Olympic-inspired tutorial will be coming in two parts. Stop by next week for the conclusion to this video.
Masking with Channels

This week’s tutorial deals with creating masks for complicated images by using channels.

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.
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Open in Camera Raw from Bridge

You can open RAW images in Camera Raw right from Bridge in Photoshop CS3. This frees up Photoshop to continue working on your files while they’re being processed in Camera Raw. Just select one or more images in Bridge, Control-click (PC: Right-click) on them, and choose Open in Camera Raw. This will open the image(s) in Bridge’s Camera Raw rather than Photoshop. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command-R (PC: Ctrl-R).