Quick Handy Photoshop Shortcuts
I am sure everyone that reads Inspiredology probably has Photoshop installed and probably uses it on a daily basis. Keyboard shortcuts can push your productivity through the roof. Here we provide some of our favorite shortcuts and tricks that we use on a regular basis.
Note: this article is written in Mac Photoshop format. If you are using PC, Cmd = Ctrl and Opt = Alt.
Workspace
Shift through different views – F
Clear all menu’s for full workspace view – Tab
Deselect – Ctrl+D
Make your project fit the screen vertically – Cmd + 0
Foreground & Background Colour Palette
Background – Cmd+Delete
Foreground – Opt+Delete
Toggle through colours – X
Clear Colour Selections back to Default- D
Quickly toggle between blending modes
Windows users can simply toggle using the cursor keys, Mac users however can use the Shift key along with the plus and minus keys while the direct selection tool is active. Using this command while another tool is selected will change the blending mode option for that specific tool.
Load the selection of a layer
Press Cmd while clicking the layer thumbnail to load a selection of the layer contents.
Copy multiple layers
Draw a selection, then use the shortcut Shift+CMD+C to Copy Merged. This takes every layer into the clipping, rather than just the current layer selection.
Duplicate layers within the layers palette
Duplicate the active layer – Cmd+J or Hold down Opt + drag within the Layers palette.
Nudge 10px at a time
The cursor keys will nudge an object by 1px by default. Hold Shift while nudging to increase this to 10px. Especially handy when designing web layouts for consistent spacing.
Drag Selection
With your Marquee tool, create your selection, DO NOT release your mouse, now hold down Spacebar to move your undefined selection.
Navigate in your document
We all now it’s easy to scroll vertically, but what about when you have a horizontal proportioned project, here’s a quick tip… just hold down the Cmd key, and scroll up or down.
Toggle through tool lists
Trying to get to a tool within a list (these are labeled by a small bottom left arrow), just hold down shift then press the appropriate tool command to toggle through the different tools. For example the Brush List – shift + B
Scale proportionally from center
You can scale proportionally by just holding down shift when you drag your transform tool, but if you hold down Opt + Shift, you can scale from the center.
Extra Resources
Photoshop Secret Shortcuts – WebDesignerWall.com
18 Exceptionally Useful Photoshop Shortcuts – DigitalPhotographySchool.com
Join the discussion
i really like your post the shot cuts that you tell us are very help full for us i saw your website its to good…….
Thanks for the great set of shortcuts, definitely something for me to show off with around work mates!
I found your website perfect for my needs. It contains wonderful and helpful posts. I have read most of them and got a lot from them.
Right below the color selection area in the Tools box is two small icons that look like cameras. The one on the right is Edit in Quick Mask Mode, click on this one and everything you have not selected will turn red. Then you can use the eraser tool to add to your selection, and the paint brush tool to remove from your selection.
I really love using photoshop keyboard shortcuts … makes life a hell lot easier … especially when you can remember the most common one like the transform , resize image and save for web & devices.
Thanks a lot for the tut,
Chad, this is a very simple and thorough tutorial – thanks!
I am not that much expert in photoshop and was looking for such shortcuts since long and this is it !!!
you saved my time…really helpful
really like th ps shortcuts, helped me with doing my design for printing.
like it
Thanks for the great set of shortcuts, definitely something for me to show off with around work mates!
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Chad, this is a very simple and thorough tutorial – thanks! I am going to share this with some newbies I know who are just getting their feet wet.
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Shortcuts in Photoshop can really help to speed up how fast you work and also your design capability. It can be a pain trying to remember them, but once you get used to it, shortcuts become second nature.