PhotoShop Shortcuts At A Glance

Make 2 images the same size

1. Select one image.


2. Then select the Image Size dialogue box from the Image menu as normal. You'll notice that the Window menu as well as others (dependent on whether you're using a Mac or a PC) will still be available.


3. Select the Window menu and click the name of the second image from the bottom of the menu.


4. The dimensions in the Image Size dialogue box will now be identical to the second image.

Make Free Transform appear

Press Ctrl+T

Make layers appear

• You can click in the eye and drag down the list, or
• Option-click (Mac OS) or Alt-click (Windows) a layer's eye icon to display only that layer, or
• Option-click (Mac OS) or Alt-click (Windows) in the eye column again to redisplay all the layers.

Make selections without the Magic Wand

Select and then CTRL + click the layer that contains the element to automatically surround everything on that layer with marching ants.

An easy way to open an image file

A double-click on the working area (grey area on most users' copies of PhotoShop) will open the dialog box.

Paste images into a layer mask

On the image to be inserted:

1. Hit CTRL + A


2. Then press CRTL + C


3. Go to the layer where image will be inserted and ALT + click on its Mask


4. Then press CTRL + V


5. ALT + click on Mask again, to stop viewing the Mask

Also, click on the little link icon between the layer and its mask. You can now move the mask without moving the layer (and vice versa).

Preserve Transparency

Select the layer or layer group and press "/".

Quit

CTRL + Q

Sharpen with Blur Tool

Hold down ALT + Left Click and drag

Select All Text

Press CTRL + A

Turn off Palettes -- except Tools

Press SHIFT + TAB

Use one-keystroke actions
Download these actions, contributed by SitePoint Advisor Creole, and use the following keystrokes with them (with Photoshop v6 up).

F2 - Crop
Create a rectangular selection and press F2. Useful for cropping out "big data": the information outside the bounds of the image that bulks up your file size. Use with caution.

F3 - Stroke
Create a selection of any shape and press F3.

A dialog box opens allowing you to change thickness, colour, location and blending.

This takes the default foreground colour as the initial colour. Careful: this tool uses the last selected painting tool (and brush) as the "brush" with which to create the stroke. This means that it the Pencil tool is the last tool you used, the stroke will be aliased.

F5 - Expand Selection
Create a selection of any shape and press F5.

This opens the Expand dialog box and allows you to enter a value between 1 and 100.

F6 - Contract Selection
Create a selection of any shape and press F6.

This opens the Contract dialog box and allows you to enter a value between 1 and 100.

F7 - Gaussian Blur
Create a selection of any shape and press F7.

This opens the GB dialog box and allows you to enter a value. The default value is 3 pixels.

F8 - Rotate Canvas
Opens the Rotate Canvas dialog box and allows you enter a value, as well as choose clockwise or counter-clockwise.

View image and canvas size

Yes (on the PC): right click on the title bar of an image and you'll get a series of options including Duplicate, Image Size, Canvas Size, etc.

Zoom

• Ctrl + Alt + + = zoom in (expanding window size)
• Ctrl + Alt + - = zoom out (shrinking window size)
• Ctrl + + = zoom in (retains window size)
• Ctrl + - = zoom out (retains window size)