Photoshop Ninja » Shortcuts – Other

Quickly deleting Photoshop presets

Photoshop Ninja — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:00:49 +0000

Sometimes you want to delete Photoshop presets quickly, without having to visit the preset manager.

Simply hold down alt and hover over the preset you want to delete (eg brush preset) – you will notice that your cursor has changed to a little pair of scissors. Now just click your mouse whilst holding down the alt key and you will delete the preset!

This is especially useful if you are building custom sets of shapes or brushes – just remember to save the preset – then you can load and re-use your customised set over and over again!

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Collapse multiple layer sets keyboard shortcut updated!

Photoshop Ninja — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:25:33 +0000

As you build complex Photoshop layered documents, you will no-doubt start using layer sets. These are basically convenient folders that hold sets of layers together, and also have masks applied to them that mask all the layers contained in them.

However, with very complex documents you can end up with loads of layer sets, some open/expanded (showing their contents), others closed/collapsed. Sometimes you just want to expand or collapse all the layer sets in one document, and this can take some time trawling up and down the layers palette.

If you simply hold down the Apple/Command key when you click on any layer set it will expand or collapse ALL the layer sets in your document, which is a little trick I often use in Photoshop and I think it saves me a-lot of time for a one button shortcut… and hope it will do for you too!

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Photoshop troubleshooting – opening Photoshop layered files as merged files

Photoshop Ninja — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:29:00 +0000

Complex, high resolution files can take a long time to open in Photoshop – but sometimes you just need to open it to check the file out or show it to someone… and as they say, time is money!

Simply hold down shift+alt (option) as you open a file and you will be asked if you want to read the composite data. Click ok and your layered file will open as a merged file (no layers) – and much quicker too!

I’m pretty sure this shortcut only works if you have the ‘maximise compatibility’ option selected when you save your PSD file, I will check this out and update this post.

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Creating overlapping text layers

Photoshop Ninja — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:35:42 +0000

It can be frustrating working with text in Photoshop – especially when you want to create a new text layer that overlaps an existing text layer. With the type tool selected, Photoshop will edit an existing text layer, rather than create a new one.

There is a simple way around this though, rather than having to create the text in another area of your canvas and then moving it!

Simply hold down shift with the type tool selected, and Photoshop will ignore text layers below your cursor and create a new text layer – nice and simple!

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Moving selections whilst drawing them

Photoshop Ninja — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:17:06 +0000

Sometimes you will want to make a marquee selection, and move it whilst still drawing it (you still with me!). So rather than draw it and then move it, this technique allows you to draw it AND move it AND THEN still keep resizing your selection.

Simply draw you selection as normal with the marquee tool, DONT release your mose button you are holding down to draw the selection and simply hold down space. When you move your mouse, your marquee selection will now move in your image, letting go of space restores the usual functionality of the marquee tool.

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