Photoshop Ninja » Techniques – Layer

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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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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Collapse multiple layer sets keyboard shortcut

Photoshop Ninja — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:00:19 +0000

When you are working with lots of layers, it makes sense to use layer groups so you don’t end up with just a huge list of unorganised layers in the palette. However, as you are building more complex files in Photoshop, the problem you can get is too many layer groups!! I’ve experienced this with very complex compositions and in-particular when I’m designing website visuals.

It is useful to be able to expand a number of layer groups so you can quickly get at individual layers, then collapse down those layer groups to make it quick to move around the layers palette.

To do this, hold down Command/Apple and click on the layer group you wish to control. Then hold down Command+Shift and click on the arrow (that collapses a layer group) to the left of any of the highlighted layer groups.

Worth noting however, is that you can highlight multiple layer groups by Command/Apple clicking on the name, but if there are layer groups that are not highlighted in-between others that are highlighted, they will also expand and collapse.

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Creating a solid background – the sensible way!

Photoshop Ninja — Sat, 24 May 2008 15:47:59 +0000

I often see Photoshop files where the background is filled with a flat colour. The simple way to do this is to simply select all and fill with the desired colour – but what if you change your canvas size… back to step one because your left with a rectangle filled with one colour surrounded by your background colour! There is a simpler, more flexible way of-course!

This is an easy little tip to remember – instead of the long winded way detailed above, simply create a solid fill layer – its on the adjustment layers menu at the bottom of the layers palette. Once in place, get rid of the layer mask that is automatically created.

You have now created a flexible background that will fill any dimension of canvas (if you remove the layer mask as detailed above). It is much quicker to edit the colour – just double click on the colour chip in the layers palette. It also takes up less memory, and applies much quicker than selecting a large canvas and filling it with colour. The final advantage is that it takes up less memory, which is always an good news when you are working in Photoshop!

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Move layer order Photoshop keyboard shortcuts

Photoshop Ninja — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:33:35 +0000

Being able to control layer order in Photoshop is fundamental to working quicker. Rather than keep on taking a trip over to the layers palette, now you can keep you eyes on your image composition!

This is a real golden tip for Photoshop in my opinion, it’s one of those ‘every day’ shortcuts that not a-lot of people know! Simply hold down Apple + [ or Apple + ] and your current active layer will move up and down the layer order in the layers palette.

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