Editing multiple layers of type together
Here is a very rarely documented feature-when you are working with text in Photoshop, you often have lots of different layers containing it. It’s always a hassle if you want to change some or all of them to update a design or try out new design options quickly, you also might miss one layer out - which could be disastrous if you are working on something at the 11th hour with a big hairy courier breathing down your neck!
Well, worry not, you don’t have to edit them individually any more, or scribble down figures and settings to use on other layers! First, link the layers you want to change together. Then simply click in the layers palette to select one of the linked layers, hold down shift and change the font, size, colour and other all other attributes. As long as you keep that shift key down, the rest of the linked layers will take on the altered attributes of the layer you are editing!
Note that when you change the colour of the type, you have to have the shift button held down, as usual, but you can let go of it whilst the colour picker is open - you can hold it down, but whatever you do only the active layer takes on the colour change until you hit OK. You have to shift down again before you click OK to confirm your colour choice and apply it to the linked layers.
This is also a quick way to make different styles of type on different layers all the same as another layer of type. Just link them all up, select the layer with the desired type style in, hold down shift and change a single attribute, a colour change is simple as it retains type formatting - they will then all take on the characteristics of the selected layer of type. You can then change the colour back to the original.
Simple and fast - just right for any Photoshop Ninja! This one is useful for anyone, but I think my web developer friends may particularly like this one - I’m sure they will find it very useful when building visuals in Photoshop to quickly be able to try out new typefaces and colourways, change navigation design and it would be good for visualising stylesheets.