Little known features

[blastradius]

It's funny how much we are creatures of habit.

I say this because I don't know how many times I have said I wish adobe/corel/macromedia would create an easier way to do this or that. Only to find out later by accidental discovery or via a fellow designer that there is an easier way of doing it.

for example
In photoshop I would want to start play with some ideas on an image in progress, now I may not like the ideas when implimented and not wanting to take up all the memory on the computer so I can have enough undo's. I would do a save as... and then open the original document. Then I discovered the "create new document from current state" and the "create a snapshot" buttons at the bottom of the history pannel.

For those who don't know about these I will explain what they do:

create new document from current state
this does just what it says it creates duplicate of the extire psd file while leaving the original psd file open. Great for comparing the changes you made to a document to the original.

create a snapshot
this one create an additional begin state in the history pannel. I use this when creating or using complicated actions, so that I have an easy 1 step undo if I don't like the end result.

So what are some of these little features that you have found in graphic programs. The ones that are always missed in the book that teach the basics. No limites on the program just need to be a graphic design program.

[Derald]

I use PhotoShop regularly (everyday) and there are so many features that I have yet to discover. There is a great site and email newsletter by Ben Wilmore of digital mastery.

I use these regularly:

1. Adjusting brush sizes: Use the bracket keys to reduce and increase.

2. Adjusting opacity: Use the key pad to adjust tool and layer opacities using the keypad: 1=10%, 2=20%, etc...If you type in "66" or "37" quickly, you will get the corresponding percentage.

3. Placing vector images: One little known secret to getting good vector files (i.e., FreeHand EPS, Illustrator EPS) such as logos into PhotoShop is to use the "Place" feature. Adjust the bounding box to the size you want (or bigger), THEN double-click it. This keeps the lines and shapes in the EPS file sharp. If you rasterize the EPS and drag it into the file you lose the option to resize.

4. Moving layers: Put layers in a set and link them. This allows you to move all of them to a new document. If you hold down shift, they will be centered in the file or in the same position if both files are the same size.


Derald

[blastradius]

Derald,

Those are some great tips. Thanks you given me a good start to my day. Love it when I get to learn something new.

I use photoshop just about everyday as well and did not know about most of your tips. These will save me alot of time from having to point and click.

[grease]

Thanks Derald!
I bring logos into photoshop quite often; the place function will be most useful. I have a tricky question for you. This has been a problem for me for the longest time: You select a brush or other tool and your circular cursor changes to the crosshairs. Mysteriously it reappears when you least expect it. What causes this and how can you fix it?

Grease

[redcircle]

Originally Posted by grease

Thanks Derald!
I bring logos into photoshop quite often; the place function will be most useful. I have a tricky question for you. This has been a problem for me for the longest time: You select a brush or other tool and your circular cursor changes to the crosshairs. Mysteriously it reappears when you least expect it. What causes this and how can you fix it?

Grease

You can toggle between brush size and crosshairs with the capslock key. Another shortcut that helps a lot is the zoom in/out using ctrl+-(zoom out) or ctrl++ and ctrl+= (zoom in)

[Derald]

Originally Posted by grease

Thanks Derald!
I bring logos into photoshop quite often; the place function will be most useful. I have a tricky question for you. This has been a problem for me for the longest time: You select a brush or other tool and your circular cursor changes to the crosshairs. Mysteriously it reappears when you least expect it. What causes this and how can you fix it?

This occurs when you have the caps lock key on. You should also check your preferences (MAC) properties (PC) and make sure your painting cursors is set to "brush size" and other cursor to "precise". That's how I set mine.

Derald

[neojohn]

hi dudes,
Can u make duplicate of any purticular layer by a short cut key?
Neo J

[grease]

Thanks guys, this has annoyed me for far too long :)

[Derald]

Originally Posted by neojohn

hi dudes,
Can u make duplicate of any purticular layer by a short cut key?
Neo J

You make make an action using the "duplicate layer" function and assign an F-key to it, Then everytime you highlight a layer hit the key.

Derald