Did you realize that the wonder of Photoshop has been with us for 26 years? You can’t deny the influence that photo-editing software has had on our lives, even if you’ve never used it. After all, the phrase Photoshop has become so ingrained in our digital lives that we’ve transformed it into a verb to describe any picture manipulations… even if the results can be a little absurd at times.
Previously thought to be a complex hidden weapon exclusively available to graphic artists, practically anybody with access to a computer can now grasp this tool with the same simplicity as developing a code-free website.
Anyone can master the fundamentals of Photoshop, from removing blemishes to adding eye-catching design features. Here are a few of our favorite Photoshop beginning tips and tricks:
Note: This article’s shortcuts are written for PC users. You Mac users know what to do.
1. Change the Unit of Measurement
To quickly swap between units of measurement, set your mouse on one of the rulers on your grid (key Ctrl + R to display or hide the rulers), right-click, and select a new unit from the context menu. There are a multitude of units to choose from, including centimeters, pixels, millimeters, points, and even percents.
2. Magnetic Lasso Tool
The Lasso tool, which may be found in plain sight on your Photoshop toolbar, is essentially man’s gift to picture editing.
This simple selection tool allows you to trace and highlight the precise section of a picture you want to alter, then split it from the rest of the image to conduct certain operations. You may choose and isolate a product from its backdrop, for example. The magnetic lasso tool recognizes the boundaries of an item and is nearly foolproof. It works best when there is a strong contrast between an object and its backdrop and well-defined edges.
Click and hold your mouse button on the Lasso tool until a fly-out menu opens to access the Magnetic Lasso. The last one is the Magnetic Lasso, which has a little magnet on its symbol. Select it, then navigate to your image and click on the edge of the portion you wish to change. Simply move over the boundaries of the item you wish to pick with your cursor once, then release (just like you do with scissors when you cut something out).
3. Magic Wand Tool
Another selecting tool is the Magic Wand, which is useful when dealing with a more monotone and uniform backdrop (like a solid color or clear blue sky).
Most people use the Magic Wand tool to change backgrounds or huge color blocks. To use it, go to the tools panel and pick the Magic Wand tool, then click on the section of the image you wish to select. To proceed with changing the colors and tones of your selection, make sure the “add to selection” option on the top bar (icon of two squares) is toggled on.
4. Custom Shape Tool
Did you know that you can simply add shapes and design elements to your Photoshop works in addition to picture editing? The Tool Panel has all of the fundamental forms you’ll need, such as square, line, circle, and ellipse, as well as a host of other possibilities. The Custom Shape tool is easily identifiable in the Options Bar by an icon that resembles a jigsaw piece.
By clicking on the little arrow on the right side of the panel again, you may access even more forms. This is the tool to use if you need banners, speech bubbles, or other types of arrows.
5. Adjustment Layers
There’s usually more to a genuinely magnificent photograph than meets the eye. That is why the Adjustment Layers tool is so crucial. By adding a top layer to your image, the Adjustment Layers tool allows you to change the color and hue. The nicest aspect about this function is that you can completely undo your edits while keeping the rest of your image intact by adding that extra layer. Adjustment Layers are located at the bottom of the Layers Panel (a black and white circle icon).
6. Layer Styles
This is a quick and easy method to spice up your image. Layer Styles are a type of special effect that may be applied to specific layers of a picture rapidly. All you have to do is double-click a layer and select the desired effect.
With a single click of the mouse, you may choose from a number of characteristics, add a stroke or a glow, drop a shadow, and much more. Take cautious not to overdo it. When utilized in excess, these effects have a tendency to seem cheap.
7. Spot Healing Brush
This is perhaps the most well-known tool in Photoshop, and it was intended to eliminate life’s little flaws. The spot header brush is that magical tool we wish we had in our awkward adolescent years to make pimples vanish from every photograph. Simply lay the brush over the area you wish to “repair,” making sure it is slightly larger than the imperfection, and click. To color match your image to perfection, Photoshop takes samples from around the edited area.
8. Dodge Tool
Wherever you use the Dodge Tool, it lightens pixels. In other words, it’s the ideal Photoshop tool for getting rid of “tired eyes.” Set the Dodge Tool to a soft brush, pick Highlights from the Range option in the menu bar’s pull-down menu, and set Exposure to roughly 20%. Then go over the eye region with a soft brush. Don’t go overboard, otherwise your model may start to resemble an alien. A few of easy strokes should enough.
9. Blur Tool
Sometimes all you need is a little help from Photoshop to get rid of some small wrinkles. The Blur tool comes in handy here. By slightly blurring minor wrinkles, this basic gadget works wonders in removing them. Use the Blur tool to smooth out minor flaws such as wrinkles around the eyes or lips and blend them into the backdrop. Again, be delicate and remember not to overdo it, or you may wind up ruining your image rather than enhancing it.
10. Change the size, rotation, flip, or distortion of a picture by transforming it!
Select the desired action by clicking Edit > then Transform >.
To make things even simpler, use these shortcuts:
When you press Ctrl + T on your keyboard, a bounding box appears around the image, indicating that it is being transformed. It’s now possible to resize your image. Placing the cursor on one of the box’s rectangular corners and dragging the corner while holding the Shift key is the best approach to accomplish it. When you’re finished, simply press Enter to exit.
Ctrl + T and then right click your mouse to flip your image vertically or horizontally. A pop-up window will open with a few rotation and flipping choices for the picture. Choose the action you wish to take and then hit Enter.
To distort or skew a picture, hold down Ctrl + T and then move the cursor to the desired corner. Press Ctrl while holding your mouse down on the corner of the picture you want to morph, then drag it down to the desired spot before pressing Enter to activate.
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