Click. Learn. Tips.

Hello... Hello all... I hope that the start of 2011 has been fun, happy, and healthy! It's Jenn (jk703) here on this fabulous Wednesday to share some of my recent tip findings! Since I've started Digital Scrapbooking, I found that I like to learn new things to save me time while scrapbooking! Plus, I like to futz around on the internet so it is nice to learn a few tricks that I can share with everyone! So, onto the good stuff!!! :)

2010's Tip of the Decade!

Save, Save, Save! When you are working on one of your digital masterpieces, a great practice to follow is to constantly save your work! To save the file for the first time, press Ctrl+Shift+S (for my fellow Mac users, try this: Cmd+Shift+S) to open the Save As dialog box. If you are working along, and have already saved your layout for the first time, just press Ctrl+S (Mac: Cmd+S) to save the document.

There have been times where I've been working on a layout, and inadvertently something happens. My layout has been lost! It is not fun starting all over again!

Shortcuts Rock!

Every tool that is in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements has a Shortcut! A shortcut is a keyboard function that allows you to quickly access features and functions! It makes life a lot easier! There are many to learn, and you can also program your own in the preferences of the software! Here is a list of some:

V Move M Marquee tools L Lasso tools W Quick Selection, Magic Wand C Crop and Slice Tools I Eyedropper, Color Sampler, Ruler, Note, Count J Spot Healing Brush, Healing Brush, Patch, Red Eye B Brush, Pencil, Color Replacement, Mixer Brush S Clone Stamp, Pattern Stamp Y History Brush, Art History Brush E Eraser tools G Gradient, Paint Bucket O Dodge, Burn, Sponge P Pen tools T Type tools A Path Selection, Direct Selection U Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon, Line, Custom Shape K 3D Tools N 3D Camera Tools H Hand R Rotate View Z Zoom D Default colors X Switch Foreground and Background colors Q Quick Mask Mode

Many tools in the menu have multiple tools within each group. To switch between tools, add the Shift Key to the letters above. So you would click Shift-W to change between the Quick Selection and Magic Wand tools. There are over 600 shortcuts in Photoshop... many are for brushes, blending or painting. The ones listed above only pertain to each tool! That's a lot to learn!!!!

Symmetrical Sizing!

When working on my layouts, I usually bring my photos in last! Many scrappers do different things, but we may all have to re-size our photos when we bring them into our layouts! I used to get so mad when I tried to re-size and it would be all warped and funny looking! So, to make sure you keep the correct proportions on your photo, try this:

Photoshop Users: Hold down the shift key as you are re-sizing and it will stay in the correct proportions.

Paint Shop Pro Users: Hold down the ALT key, and drag a corner out.

What do you do when you add a photo to your layout and you can't find the Transform Handles? No worries! Many times the images can be larger than the canvas you are working on and the handles are hidden in that background area. They are there, you just can see them! To be able to see them, use the shortcut Ctrl+0 (Mac: Cmd+0) to change the view to Fit to Screen. This will make the photoshop screen zoom out just enough so you can see the transform handles!

Color Collector!

What if there is a color that you see on the web, or in a photo that is NOT open in Photoshop!?Grab that color! It is really easy! My screens were sized really small so that I could take the screen prints that I want to share!! My examples below show Chelle's cool new Alphabet, Printers Block Alpha.

1. Click on the Eyedropper Tool.

2. Next click inside your photoshop file, and hold it.

3. Now drag your mouse cursor - the eyedropper - over to the color that you want to sample. You should see a large circle within your photoshop document.

This is what your screen should look similar. See that big circle, that is what you are looking for!

While you are dragging the cursor, the eyedropper returns when outside of photoshop! Unfortunately, my grab function on my Mac does not grab the actual eyedropper, just my arrowed curson! So...I hope you don't mind using your imagination! lol! As you move the eyedropper, the color will change in the foreground color box.

4. When you let go of the mouse, you will have a new foreground color. I had clicked on the "L" in Block and my eyedropper chose a brownish shade.

So… there are some new tips for you to try out! Hope you learned something, and I would love to know a tip from you! Share your favorite one with us!!! I'd love to learn new ones! Happy Wednesday!

Thanks for stopping by,

Jenn (jk703)