Remove.pics – Photoshop is a powerful and versatile tool for creating stunning graphics and editing photos. However, it can also be overwhelming and time-consuming if you don’t know how to use it efficiently. In this blog post, I will share with you top 5 hand-on Photoshop Tips and Tricks that will help you optimize your Photoshop workflow and save you time and frustration. 

Tip 1: Use Smart Objects

Smart objects are layers that preserve the original quality and data of your images, even when you transform, resize, or apply effects to them. This way, you can avoid pixelation, blurring, or distortion that can happen when you edit normal layers. Smart objects also allow you to edit the contents of the layer separately, without affecting the rest of your document. In the Layers panel, right-click on a layer or group of layers. After that select Convert to Smart Object to turn them into smart objects. To edit the contents of a smart object, double-click on its thumbnail in the Layers panel and make your changes in the new window that opens. 

Use smart objects

Use smart objects – Left: Resizing a smart object to 50% then again to 100% gives you the same initial quality; Right: Resizing a normal layer to 50% then to 100% again will give you a blurry result

Tip 2: Use Layer Masks 

Layer masks are a convenient way to hide or reveal parts of your layer without deleting or erasing the pixels. Layer masks work with black and white colors: anything that is black on the mask will be hidden, and anything that is white will be visible. You can use brushes, gradients, selections, or any other tools to paint on the mask and create different effects. 

Follow these steps to create a layer or vector mask over the Background layer:

  • Go to Layer > New > Layer from Background to turn your Background layer into a standard layer.
  • To add a Layer Mask, use the Add layer mask icon located at the end of the Layers panel.

5 Hand-on Photoshop Tips and Tricks 2023 updated-Remove.pics

  • To modify your composite, use the sliders for density and feathering.

5 Hand-on Photoshop Tips and Tricks 2023 updated-Remove.pics

In the Properties panel, Layer Mask

Vector Mask within the Properties window

A layer mask can have its masked region expanded or contracted through editing. A grayscale image is a layer mask. Where you paint in white, it’s visible, where you paint in black is hidden, and where you paint in shades of

5 Hand-on Photoshop Tips and Tricks 2023 updated-Remove.pics

A vector mask is helpful if you want to add a design element with crisp, defined boundaries since it draws a sharp form on a layer. A functional button, panel, or other web-design element can be created instantaneously after applying one or more-layer styles to a layer that has been created with a vector mask and editing them as necessary.

Tip 3: Use Keyboard Shortcuts 

Keyboard shortcuts are a great way to speed up your workflow and access different tools and commands quickly. Photoshop has hundreds of keyboard shortcuts for different functions, such as changing tools, zooming, undoing, cropping, and more. You can also customize your own keyboard shortcuts by going to Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts and choosing the commands you want to assign.

5 Hand-on Photoshop Tips and Tricks 2023 updated-Remove.pics

Tip 4: Use Adjustment Layers

You can make color and tone modifications to your image using adjustment layers without changing the original pixels. Since adjustment layers are non-destructive, their quality won’t be lost if you decide to edit, remove, or conceal them at any moment.
. Adjustment layers also have their own layer masks, so you can control where the adjustment affects your image. To add an adjustment layer, click on the Add Adjustment Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel and choose the type of adjustment you want, such as Levels, Curves, Hue/Saturation, etc. To edit the adjustment, double-click on its icon in the Layers panel and use the sliders or options that appear. 

Decide which parts of your picture are changed by your adjustment layer By default, when you add an adjustment layer, it changes all the layers below it in the Layers panel. Let’s say you have a picture with two layers, and you want to make it black and white. You can use a special layer called Hue/Saturation to do this.

Use adjustment layer

Use adjustment layer

Tip 5: Use actions

Actions are a series of recorded steps that you can play back on any image with a single click. Actions can help you automate repetitive tasks, such as resizing, cropping, sharpening, adding effects, and more. You can create your own actions by using the Actions panel. Beside that you can download and install actions from other sources. To create an action, click on the Create New Action icon at the bottom of the Actions panel and give it a name and a keyboard shortcut. Then, click on the Record button and perform the steps you want to include in your action. When you are done, click on the Stop button. To play an action, select it in the Actions panel and click on the Play button, or use the keyboard shortcut you assigned. 

We hope you found these tips and tricks useful and that they will help you optimize your Photoshop workflow. You can use remove.pics to help you save your time and efford in these steps: remove background, remove objects, remove text and enhance image.