Grade 10 – Abdulhamit Bolat

Create New layer

MAC: Shift+Cmd+N
WINDOWS: Shift+Ctrl+N

Get started on your latest project in next to no time with this handy shortcut that instantly whips up a new layer and dialog box.

Temporary Hand Tool

Space

Fill a layer

MAC: Alt+Backspace (foreground) or Cmd+Backspace (background)
WINDOWS: Alt+Backspace(foreground) or Ctrl+Backspace(background)

This command will fill an empty later with the current foreground or background colour.

Create clipping mask

MAC: Cmd+Opt+G
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Alt+G

A great way to keep shadows and shading where they belong, the clipping mask tool is a basic but useful tool.

Change image size

MAC: Cmd+Opt+i
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Alt+i

Set up your image sizes with ease with this quick and simple shortcut.

Zoom in

MAC: Cmd+plus(+)
WINDOWS: Ctrl+plus(+)

If you want to get down to the nitty gritty of your image, zoom right in with this shortcut command.

Temporary Ctrl+space

Zoom out

MAC: Cmd+Minus(–)
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Minus(–)

Get an insight into how your work will look from afar with this zoom out command.

Temporary Ctrl+Alt+space

Free Transform

MAC: Cmd+T
WINDOWS: Cmd+T

This command opens the free transform tool for resizing, rotating, and skewing the image using a draggable outline.

Flatten layers

MAC: Cmd+Alt+Shift+E
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E

Add a new, empty layer to the top of your stack, select it and use the above command to flatten the layers in an image to sharpen the result. This adds a flattened version of the image to the new layer but leaves the layers intact too.

Merge visible layers

MAC: Cmd+Shift+E
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Shift+E

This command will allow you merge all your existing layers in order to create one new layer. Beware! Once merged, they are extremely difficult to seperate.

New layer via copy

MAC: Cmd+J
WINDOWS: Ctrl+J

Use this command to create a new layer from an existing one. Sound complicated? Give it a go!

New layer via cut

MAC: Cmd+Shift+J
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Shift+J

Like creating a new layer via copy, this command will create a new layer with the selected image area in it, the only difference via cut is that it will remove the selected image portion from the original image.

Bring layer to top of stack

MAC: Cmd+Shift+]
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Shift+]

Here, you can move your preferred layer to the top of the stack of images you’re working with in Photoshop.

Send layer to bottom of stack

MAC: Cmd+Shift+[
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Shift+[

This is plenty self-explanatory in that it does exactly the same as the command above but in the opposite direction.

Bring layer forward

MAC: Cmd+]
WINDOWS: Ctrl+]

This will allow you to bring any selected image to the front.

Send layer back

MAC: Cmd+[
WINDOWS: Ctrl+[

If you decide to change your mind, you can always select the image and send it to the back of the pile!

Copy multiple layers

MAC: Shift+Cmd+C
WINDOWS: Shift+Ctrl+C

Draw a selection, then use this command to take every layer into the clippig, rather than just the current layer selection.

Invert selection

MAC: Cmd+Shift+I
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Shift+I

Select objects around an already pre-selected image. This way, you’ll be able to work around your main focus without losing it!

Select all layers

MAC: Cmd+Opt+A
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Alt+A

A perfect command for those times when you need to get everything in sync.

Select bottom layer

MAC: Opt+Comma(,)
WINDOWS: Alt+Comma(,)

This will select the bottom layer in the layers panel.

Select top layer

MAC: Opt+Period(.)
WINDOWS: Alt+Period(.)

This will select the top layer in the layers panel.

Deselect from the selection area

MAC: Opt+drag
WINDOWS: Alt+drag

If you need to deselect a certain area sharpish, then hit these keys.

Deselect the entire image

MAC: Cmd+D
WINDOWS: Ctrl+D

If you need to get away from the image, use this shortcut to deselect anything that you’ve clicked on.

Move a selection

MAC: Spacebar+Marquee Tool
WINDOWS: Spacebar+Marquee Tool

Want to move a selection easily? Simple press and hold the Spacebar and continue to do so until the selection is in the correct place.

Select individual channels

MAC: Cmd+3(red),4(green),5(blue)
WINDOWS: Ctrl+3(red),4(green),5(blue)

Selecting with Photoshop Channels makes removing a complex object from the background much easier than with other tools. And using this shortcut makes it even simpler.