Erik's Photoshop Tip #015 My Fav. Keyboard Shortcuts

[Erik]

Everytime I read a "How To" writeup about Photoshop it seems like someone at Adobe is paying the writer per keyboard shortcut that's gets in there . . .

Well, I'll tell you there are a TON of them. I was looking at a compiled list today and I know of at least one key comb that wasn't included in the two page list!
I thought the whole point of keyboard shortcuts was to make the workflow faster. But everytime I use ctrl+alt+shift+N+E it does take a pause in the work session. -So I guess keyboard shortcuts are to make things convenient too!

Here are some of the PS CS2 (PC) keyboard shortcuts I use most often:


ctrl+n = opens a new document. I have my default set to the dimentions of whatever is in the clipboard.

ctrl+w = closes the current window (image file)

ctrl+s = invokes save or save as command

Tools:
v = Move tool
With move tool activated, shift+click & drag to other image window copies the layer to the other image file.
t = Text tool
b = Brush tool
w = Magic Wand tool


Some of these are are universal to Windows apps! (XP is more like MAC OS than ever before, finally getting wize!)
Edit functions
ctrl+c = copy to clipboard ("c" for copy)
ctrl+x = cut to clipboard ("x" reminds me of sissors)
ctrl+v = paste [to new layer] ("v" reminds me of a down-arrow as in, "put it down here."
cntrl+z = undo last step, or all the "step backs"
ctrl+alt+z = step back one step undo

Selections:ctrl+a = select all [in current layer]
ctrl+shift+i = invert current selection
ctrl+d = deselect [turn off marching ants]
With an active selection:
alt+click subtracts from selection
shift+click adds to the selection

Brush tool:
] = increases brush size
[ = decreases brush size
shift+] = increases brush hardness
shift+[ = decreases brush hardness

x = swaps foreground/bkgnd colors

tab = hides tools, palettes and options bar
shift tab = hides just palettes
ctrl+tab = cycles (forward) through open image windows
shift+ctrl+tab = cycles (backward) through open image windows

f = cycles through screen modes


So there's my main set off of the top of my head. Please notice that many of the items in the drop down menus will have their keyboard shortcuts labled there for you to learn.

I experimented with assigning my own keyboard shortcuts but I found that it's a PITA because Photoshop should just tell us whats NOT used yet instead of telling you that the combo you wish to use will no longer work for "xyz". If you are like me, then you don't want to necessarily take away from what's there. I just want to add a shortcut to what I have by default. The way it is now PS leaves us to guess at combos until we find a keyboard shortcut that swaps the desired function for one that you don't use very often . . . yeah, well that's fine for some people I guess . . .

-E!

Feel free to post-up keyboard short cuts you like!

By the way . . . ctrl+alt+shift+N+E = combines all active layers into a new layer
**this is very convenient, but it's actually a better practice to combine all the active layers you want into a Smart Object! (ctrl+alt+shift+H) -there's a previous tip on this one . . .

[Bartimaeus]

Thats a very useful set of shortcuts - there is also a complete listing of shortcuts in the help file under the heading Keyboard Shortcuts (F1 then third from the bottom of the list in CS2. each page is printable as well which can be handy.)
Richard