How To Be Faster Using Photoshop

Everybody knows that the Photoshop is the favorite software for graphic designers. But this software can be a little slow when you're trying to perform simple tasks, like choosing a tool. So, I’m going to show you some tips that will help you speed up the creation process in photoshop.

1. Hiding only the Palettes. You probably know that if you press "Tab" the Palettes and the toolbar hide. But if you press Shift+Tab you can hide only Palettes, leaving the toolbar visible.
2. Showing image properties. Click on “Doc: Image size” (Bottom of the page) while holding "Alt" down to show details of the image, like resolution and channels.
3. Changing the Gray background. You can change the color of the back of the image in Photoshop. You know that gray background? To change the color, just pick the Paint Bucket Tool (or press G), and, while holding "SHIFT", click on the gray part.

   Tip: To turn it back to the normal color, use these color configurations: R: 192, G: 192, B: 192 and click on the background again.

4. How to make the tools more precise. Press "Caps Lock" to transform the cursor of any tool into a more precise cursor. This is very good when dealing with the Paint Bucket!
5. Change the Screen Mode. You can change the Screen Modes by pressing "F".
6. Open an image. If you click twice on the gray background, the "open file" window will appear automatically.
7. New colors in the Swatches Palette. You can add a new color in this palette (Window > Swatches) if you click on a empty space (gray) of the palette, and choose the name of your color. The color that you want to put in this palette must be in the foreground color. To remove any color, you need to click on it while pressing "Ctrl".
8. Changing the open files. If you want to change between the open files, just press "Ctrl" + "Tab" or "Ctrl" + "F6".
9. Perfect line, square or circle. By holding "Shift" you can draw a perfect line, a square with the same dimensions or a perfect circle.
   
10. Using the Move tool anytime. By holding “Ctrl” you can use the “Move tool” without changing the tool that you are using at the moment. And when you are using the Move tool, press "Ctrl"+"Alt" to move the layer.
11. Using the Hand tool anytime. By holding the "space bar" you can use the “hand tool” without changing the tool that you are using at the moment.
12. Use the same tip for Zoom in and Zoom out. By pressing "Ctrl"+"space bar" you can zoom in, and by pressing "Alt"+"space bar" you can zoom out, without changing the tool that you are using at the moment.
13. Choosing a background color. While using the Eyedropper tool, hold "Alt" and choose a color to change the background color quickly.
14. Increase and reduce the brush size. To increase or reduce the size of a Brush press “[” (Reduce) and “]”(Increase).
15. Applying the last filter used. To apply the last used filter, with the same configuration, press "Ctrl" + "F" (or Filter > Last Filter). And "Alt" + "Ctrl" + "F" to choose new configurations for the last filter.
16. Step back and step forward in the History. Press "Ctrl" + "Shift" + "Z" and "Ctrl" + "Alt" + "Z" to “step back” or “step forward” in your History Palette.
17. Making your last selection again. Holding "Ctrl" + "Shift" + "D" (or Select > Reselect) you can make your last selection again.
18. Changing the Opacity of the Layers. To change the Opacity of a Layer, just press the numbers of your keyboard. 1= 10%, 2= 20%, 3= 30%, 4= 40%, 5= 50%, 6=60%, 7= 70%, 8= 80%, 9= 90% and 0= 100%. If you press 8 and 5, for example, the Opacity will be 85%.

Using these tips you can finish your work in Photoshop much faster.