PhotoShop Shortcuts -- the Ultimate Guide

Using PhotoShop? Skip the click, and speed up your work with these shortcuts. The list contains the shortcuts most commonly used by our Community members, but if you'd like to add to this resource, email us.

Yes! There is a quicker way to:

    * Access menus when in full screen mode
    * Apply Last Used Filter
    * Change Blending Modes without using the Layers palette
    * Change brushes without using the Brush palette
    * Change the background outside an image
    * Change the opacity of a brush or layer
    * Close the working window
    * Copy a layer
    * Copy Layer as new image
    * Create a clipping path without knowing how to use paths
    * Create new Layers without using the Layers palette
    * Fill layers or selections without the Paint Bucket
    * Free up space on the scratch disk
    * Hide palettes and rulers
    * Hide the effects of a Mask layer
    * Hide the marching ants
    * Interact with Layers without using the Layers palette
    * Invert a selection
    * Invert an image's colours
    * Load channels without using the Channels palette
    * Make 2 images the same size
    * Make Free Transform appear
    * Make layers appear and disappear
    * Make selections without using the Magic Wand
    * Open an image file
    * Paste images into a Layer Mask
    * Preserve Transparency
    * Quit
    * Sharpen with Blur Tool
    * Select All Text
    * Turn off Palettes -- except Tools
    * Use one-keystroke actions
    * View image and canvas size
    * Working with Images
    * Zoom

Access menus when in full screen mode

Press SHIFT + F and the file menu will appear at the top of the screen.

Additionally, notice that in full screen mode, the Tools palette has a tiny addition to it: in the top right corner of the palette is a small arrow. Click this arrow and you can also gain access to the File menu.

Apply Last Used Filter

To apply the last-used filter:
Press CTRL + F

Apply the last-used filter with new settings:
CTRL + ALT + F

Change Blending Modes without using the Layers palette

Select the marquee tool, and you can use these commands:

    * Move to the next Blending Mode: ALT + SHIFT + "+"
    * Move to the previous Blending Mode: ALT + SHIFT + "-"
    * Jump to Dissolve: ALT + SHIFT + I
    * Jump to Multiply: ALT + SHIFT + M
    * Jump to Screen: ALT + SHIFT + S
    * Jump to Overlay: ALT + SHIFT + O
    * Jump to Soft Light: ALT + SHIFT + F
    * Jump to Hard Light: ALT + SHIFT + H
    * Jump to Colour Dodge: ALT + SHIFT + D
    * Jump to Colour Burn: ALT + SHIFT + B
    * Jump to Darken: ALT + SHIFT + R
    * Jump to Lighten: ALT + SHIFT + G
    * Jump to Difference: ALT + SHIFT + E
    * Jump to Exclusion: ALT + SHIFT + X
    * Jump to Hue: ALT + SHIFT + U
    * Jump to Saturation: ALT + SHIFT + T
    * Jump to Colour: ALT + SHIFT + C
    * Jump to Luminosity: ALT + SHIFT + Y
    * And of course the most important one...
    * Jump to Normal: ALT + SHIFT + N

Note: This works on any tool that offers Blending Modes. Those tools are Airbrush, Paintbrush, Pencil, Clone Stamp, Pattern Stamp, History Brush, Gradient, Blur, Sharpen, Smudge, Dodge, Burn, Sponge and the Vector Objects tool.

Also, Adobe has a nasty tendency to change these various shortcuts with each new release. Don't be surprised if these are slightly different in newer versions of PhotoShop.


Change brushes without using the Brush palette

This is a good one if you're working in full screen mode, with all the palettes hidden.

To change the brush to the next/previous option, simply use the '[' or ']' keys.

Build up a comprehensive set of brushes, and save them for future reference.

Change background outside an image

   1. Select the Paint Bucket tool (G).

   2. Select the colour you want to change the background to.

   3. Move your cursor outside the bounds of the image, then press SHIFT + left click.

Change the opacity of a brush or layer

How's it done? Simply use the number keys. For example, 1 will give you 10% opactiy, while 9 will give you 90% opacity (0 gives you 100%!).

Also, if you type the number quickly, you can get increments, e.g. 56%. This works with brushes, rubber stamp -- even layers.

Close a working window

Press CTRL + W

Copy a layer

Hold ALT and click/drag on your canvas.

If you've got a selection, then CTRL + ALT and drag (within that selection) will copy and float the contents.

With no selection active, CTRL + ALT and drag will copy the contents of that layer to a new layer and drag it.

Copy Layer as new image

Layer > Duplicate Layer > Document: New

Create a clipping path without knowing how to use paths

   1. Create two layers, one with a simple shape (a circle, for instance) and one with a picture.

   2. Place the layer with the picture above the layer with the circle.

   3. Holding down the ALT button, click the line that separates the two layers. You'll know you've got it right when the cursor changes to a left-facing arrow with two circles.

This tip allows you to create a clipping path based on the lower object's transparency. This means that if you have an object that's feathered at the edges, the picture will be feathered as well.

Create new Layers without using the Layers palette

You can do this in a number of ways:

    * Press CTRL + SHIFT + N to open the "new layer" dialog box. This will allow you to name the layer at the same time you create it.
    * Copy the current layer to a new layer: CTRL + J
    * Copy the current layer to a new layer and name the layer: CTRL + ALT + J
    * Copy the current selection to a new layer: CTRL + J
    * Copy the current selection to a new layer and name the layer: CTRL + ALT