photoshopping
 

suggested in [squiggle]db[squiggle]'s thread, by dmichan, a thread for posting useful photoshop/psp/gimp tricks due to lost manuals etc.

my meagre contribution:

ctrl+clicking a layer selects everything in the layer

shift+arrow (using move tool) moves layer 10 pixels

alt+arrow (move tool) creates a layer and moves that layer 1px in the direction of the arrow (useful for animations, or quickly duplicating a layer)

ctrl+e merge down (merges selected layer with the one below it)

ctrl+shift+c copy merged

tap shift when you are making a square/circle selection, it makes it circular/square.
also hold shift to make straight/ 45 degree lines

when free transforming a layer, hold alt+shift+ctrl to be able to change the width between the points you are moving, instead of between all opposite points.

that's all i can think of at the moment. add yours below or i will hunt you down and eat you.

ctrl+shit+i inverts ur selection, useful for some stuff

ctrl+f repeats ur last filter

forgot ctrl+i inverts the colours of the selection (can't be bothered, need to get my postcount up)

for psp-ppl (like me):



you can mask selected areas in a layer very easy, don't have to do it manually.



layer menu -> mask (?)-> mask selected (or so),



don't know the shortcut.



Mask appears in the Channels.



BTW, is it possible to turn alpha layers into masks? Copy and paste is painful and I'm not sure whether it works properly...



other very useful quick features:

- you can align grouped layers (left/right/center) (layer menu)

- you can always open a new View of your image if you're working with a high zoom factor

PSP - when using most 'drawing' tools, like the "paintbrush", press and hold Ctrl to temporarily switch to the "dropper", or 'colour-grabber' tool.


PhotoShop and Paint Shop Pro people:

As I've written in the tips and tricks thread, my tute will consist of separate chapters. Hopefully including a chapter on PS tips and a chapter on PSP tips. However, I'm not familiar enough with either of them to be responsible for these two chapters. I'm looking for two people - one PS user and one PSP user to be responsible for selecting and compiling these tips into a coherent little "chapter" - and if possible, filling in the blanks where people have left them out (eg. when they can't remember the shortcut). Anyone interested?

if i had the knowledge i would help, but it seems others know way more then i do.

hehe ok, the elaboration on the fading or "to invisible" gradient" thing - assuming the repeating sections will go together (and if they don, can use it on them as well), in PS, grab the color of the problematic edge, in the gradient options, there's one that simply fades that color into nothing, so if you select a small rectangular area on the edge that has to "match" up to it and use the gradient, the edge will match and fade into the color that's already there; can also be used on the edges of the repeating sections to have a fade in/fade out effect if you want something different than a solid color clear across without an obvious division where the sections meet :p (And was how I faded the bottom of the playlist pink graphic into the yellow of the playlist) Of course, there's probably a shorter way since I seem to have a knack for finding the longest way to do anything!

i'll be more than happy to harvest ps tricks from this thread and 'around' db.

and the dropper trick works if you press alt when you are using a painting tool. damn useful.

Photieshop: (that's the Scottish version ;-)

When you're using the rectangle or ellipse marquee tool to select an area you often don't quite start it at the right place and have to have another go. Get round this by holding down the space bar after you've started to draw the marquee. This lets you move the origin point (where you started drawing it from) to where you want it, then let go the space bar and finish drawing the shape. Does that make sense? :)

My other thing is using Photoshop Actions to change a batch of BMP files (16 to 32bit or vice versa). You use the Actions palette to 'record' you changing one file and closing it. Then just load however many files you want to alter and make the change with one click. What computers should be for in my view - giving you more time to have cups of tea! :D

aaah! Thaks dekt :) :) :)

I knew that that is possible but I just couldn't find out how - all cominations of ctrl/alt/shift didn't work, LOL :o

BTW, my tips above were referring to ps

Done. :)

Now, any volunteers for PSP?

Glad to be of service. :) Makes life easier doesn't it?

OK,

Binary Hero is in charge of compiling PS tips.

Atmo is in charge of compiling PSP tips (Gimp, anyone?)

BH and Atmo, I'm thinking that I'll write this tute this week or next week. Hopefully we'll have some more good tips by then. The PS tips will form one 'chapter' of the tute. The PSP will form another 'chapter'. There will be about 4 more chapters (common mistakes, tips & tricks, skin sites, mbinner/html.....).

I'll let you know when I start writing the tute. It would be good if you guys could give me a compiled and coherent list of tips around that time. :)