Common Photoshop Shortcuts to Know for Intro to Photoshop

Mastering common shortcuts in Photoshop can significantly speed up your workflow and enhance your creativity. These essential commands help you navigate, edit, and organize your projects efficiently, making your experience in Photoshop and Illustrator smoother and more enjoyable.

1. Ctrl/Cmd + Z: Undo

   • Reverses the last action taken in your project.
   • Can be used multiple times to step back through your history.
   • Essential for correcting mistakes quickly.

2. Ctrl/Cmd + S: Save

   • Saves the current document to prevent data loss.
   • Use frequently to ensure your work is up-to-date.
   • Can also prompt for a new file name if saving for the first time.

3. Ctrl/Cmd + C: Copy

   • Copies the selected area or layer to the clipboard.
   • Allows for easy duplication of elements within your project.
   • Works with text, images, and other layers.

4. Ctrl/Cmd + V: Paste

   • Pastes the copied content from the clipboard into your document.
   • Can be used to place elements in a new location or layer.
   • Maintains the original formatting and properties of the copied item.

5. Ctrl/Cmd + T: Free Transform

   • Activates the transform controls for resizing, rotating, and skewing.
   • Allows for precise adjustments to the selected layer or object.
   • Hold Shift while dragging to maintain aspect ratio.

6. Ctrl/Cmd + D: Deselect

   • Deselects any active selection in your document.
   • Useful for clearing selections after making edits.
   • Helps to avoid accidental modifications to selected areas.

7. Ctrl/Cmd + J: Duplicate Layer

   • Creates a copy of the selected layer.
   • Useful for creating variations or backups of elements.
   • Duplicated layers can be edited independently.

8. Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N: New Layer

   • Opens a dialog to create a new layer in your project.
   • Essential for organizing different elements and effects.
   • Helps maintain a non-destructive workflow.

9. Ctrl/Cmd + +/-: Zoom In/Out

   • Zooms in or out of the document for detailed editing or overview.
   • Allows for better precision when working on small details.
   • Use Ctrl/Cmd + 0 to fit the document to the screen.

10. Spacebar: Temporarily activate Hand Tool

    • Allows you to pan around the canvas without changing tools.
    • Useful for navigating large documents while editing.
    • Release the spacebar to return to the previous tool.

11. B: Brush Tool

    • Activates the Brush Tool for painting and drawing.
    • Offers various brush settings for different effects.
    • Essential for creating custom artwork and textures.

12. E: Eraser Tool

    • Activates the Eraser Tool to remove parts of layers.
    • Can be adjusted for size and hardness for different effects.
    • Useful for refining edges and correcting mistakes.

13. M: Marquee Tool

    • Activates the Marquee Tool for making rectangular or elliptical selections.
    • Essential for isolating specific areas for editing.
    • Can be combined with other tools for advanced selections.

14. L: Lasso Tool

    • Activates the Lasso Tool for freehand selections.
    • Allows for more complex and irregular selections.
    • Useful for isolating specific shapes or areas.

15. W: Quick Selection Tool

    • Activates the Quick Selection Tool for fast selections based on color and texture.
    • Automatically detects edges for efficient selection.
    • Ideal for selecting complex subjects quickly.