Guide to Photoshop Shortcuts

Sometimes the boss or customer has given you a real time crunch to get a graphics or photo project done. Instead of using the menu selections in Photoshop you can use key combinations on your keyboard called keyboard shortcuts to get things done in less time. Compiled here are a few of the perhaps lesser known time saving Photoshop keyboard shortcuts.

1. Paint Brush Size Shortcut
You may want a shortcut or timesaver to change the diameter of your brush. With the brush option selected hit the right bracket key ] on your keyboard to enlarge your paint brush. Make your paint brush in Photoshop smaller by using the left bracket key [ . The two work together to toggle the size of your paint brush.

2. Clone Stamp Size Shortcut
A shortcut to change the size of your clone stamp is almost the same as the paintbrush. Hold the 'S' (for stamp!) key on your keyboard down while you hit the left or right bracket [ ] keys. Voilà!

3. Flip from one layer to the next Shortcut
If your project includes several layers here is a handy way to switch from one layer to the next. Again using the left or right bracket [ ] keys on your keyboard . With a layer from your project selected on the layers palette, hold down the alt key (option key on Mac) and hit the left or right bracket [ ] keys to go up or down the list of layers in your project. This one is a real time saver for graphic artists.

4. Nudge a cut of your project Shortcut
If you want a shortcut or timesaver to move a selected part of your project in small increments you can use the control and arrow keys. After selecting your item with the marquee tool, hold down the control key (crtl) on a PC or the command (open apple) key on Mac keyboard and hit the up or down or sideways arrows. This will cut a part out of your projec and move it slowly.

5. Shortcut to move a cut of your project.
If you want to move a selected part of your project quickly you can use the control and mouse. After selecting your item with the marquee or selection tool, hold down the control key (crtl) on a PC or the command (open apple) key on Mac keyboard and drag the selected part where you want it. If you want it to move in a straight line, hold down the shift key and the control key while you drag your selection.

6. Make a copy of your layer Shortcut
A time saver to copy a layer is to hold down the alt key while hitting the down arrow. This will duplicate your currently selected layer and automatically number it. (Cannot be used to duplicate the background).

7. Shortcut to Magnify the view of your project. (Zoom in or zoom out)
A shortcut to zooming in without using the magnifying glass option is to use the plus + or minus - keys. Hold down the control (crtl) key or command (open apple) key on Mac and hit the plus sign key or the dash / minus key. The view will quickly zoom in or out. (the wheel on a PC mouse can be used to zoom in Photoshop also)

8. Deselect Shortcut
After selecting something in your project by using the marquee or magic wand or other means you can deselect it easily. Hold down the control key (crtl) and hit the letter 'D'. To reselect it use the shift key on your keyboard along with the crtl and 'D'.

9. Drag a Layer Shortcut
You can easily add a layer from one project to another by clicking on a layer on the layers palette and dragging in over to the canvas of another project. Using the mouse click on the layer of your choice, hold down the mouse button, (you will see the 'grab hand' looking like a fist) drag the layer over to another open project. This layer will now also be a layer in the second open document.

10. Close it all up Shortcut
To close all your open projects or photos at the same time and go to lunch, hit the shift, control and 'W' keys. If you'd rather close them up one at a time just use the control and 'W' keys.

There you have it, some real handy shortcuts for Photoshop. All of these work fine in Adobe Photoshop 6 or up, if you have an older version of Adobe Photoshop most of the key combinations will probably be the same. Try it and see.