Understanding The Photoshop Workspace Setup For Beginners In Detail – In this Photoshop tutorial for beginners, we will focus on the Photoshop workspace. Workspace is a broad term used to refer to all the elements that appear on the Photoshop screen or user interface. If you’re relatively new to Photoshop, you may find the number of windows and menus overwhelming even before you start editing. It’s important to understand that you don’t need to know or use every tool, menu item, or panel when you get started. In fact, there are some tools you’ll never need to use, so don’t let them beat you to the punch. As you develop your skills and style, you can organize your workspace to prioritize your favorite and most frequently used tools.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the elements of the Photoshop workspace, highlight the most important, and offer some time-saving tips.
Understanding The Photoshop Workspace Setup For Beginners In Detail
We encourage you to take notes as you read, or come back and review this article with Photoshop open and try out all of the tips we’ve suggested.
Pixels In Photoshop: Building Digital Images
The first time you open Photoshop, you may see a splash screen (depending on version and settings). This view can be configured to display a number of different elements, from Adobe tips to your recently used photos. Note that you can view your most recent photos in list or thumbnail view and change how they’re organized.
You can close the home screen by opening/creating a new icon or by pressing the Esc key. You can return to the home screen at any time by selecting Help > Home page from the top menu.
See menu for options for each option. As you become a more frequent user of Photoshop, start to remember the shortcuts for the most frequently repeated tasks, the menu items on the right.
Advice. Each week, write down and use shortcuts for the three most frequently used menu items. Try to implement them wisely and reduce the time spent clicking on menu items.
How To Arrange Your Photoshop Workspace For Faster Editing
The toolbar is usually located on the right side of the Photoshop workspace. You will see several icons representing various editing tools that allow you to select, paint, zoom, crop, etc.
These tools have hotkeys for easy access. Remembering the keyboard shortcuts for the most frequently used tools increases your editing power.
Advice. Place your mouse cursor over the tool icon and after a few seconds its shortcut icon will appear. To access this tool, press a character on the keyboard.
Some of the icons in this toolbar have a small triangle in the lower right corner. Indicates that additional tools are grouped under this icon. Click and hold to see these other options appear in the context menu.
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Remember, if you feel you are not using the “correct” version of the tool because some icons have similar icons, click and hold to return to the top tool (default).
ADVICE. If you know the tool’s hotkey symbol, you can toggle through all the alternate tool options by holding down the Shift key and clicking the hotkey.
With Photoshop open, hold down the Shift key and type M once. The area selection tool is activated. While holding down the Shift key, type M again. The shape of the Tent tool changes between a rectangle and an oval (oval) selection with each “M” while the transformation takes place. Try it with other toolbar shortcuts as well.
As you click to select different tools in the left toolbar, notice that the options bar at the top of the Photoshop workspace changes depending on the active tool. The bar has variables that can be customized for each device. For example, drawing tools display opacity and flow values; Typing tool with display character options; And so on.
Adobe Photoshop Cc 2022 Preferences And Workspace Set Up
Give it a try and explore the options in this settings bar for each device. When editing, it is important to be aware of these options, to know what is available and where it can be controlled. This is another place where you should check if the tool is not delivering the expected result.
Advice. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the device’s capabilities. To return to default settings, select Reset Tools from the drop-down arrow next to the tool icon in the settings bar.
On the right side of the Photoshop workspace are several panels, sometimes called palettes or windows. This panel gives you control over some of Photoshop’s most powerful editing features, such as layers, adjustments, markers, actions, history, and more. If they are not currently displayed, you can view these panels by selecting them from the Windows (top) menu. Show it using the same method.
Photoshop offers many of these panels—more than you’ll need in most editing sessions. Again, don’t get confused by the number of panels. Instead, focus on what you use the most.
Digital Painting In Photoshop
These dashboard columns can be collapsed to show only their images or expanded to show the full details. Here’s a space-saving tip to help keep your Photoshop workspace as clutter-free as possible. Click the double arrow icons << to expand or collapse each panel as needed.
Advice. Arrange the panels in two columns. Place the one you work with most often in one column and the other panels you use more often in another. This allows you to expand and collapse one set at a time to increase image visibility.
Notice that each of these panels has a “tab” like a folder tab that displays its name. Rearrange panels by clicking and dragging a tab to move it to another location. The panels can be moved by free floating from the sticky posts. Take a look at the switch panel in the example below. They can also be moved to other columns.
A “tab group” consists of several panels with similar functions for ease of use. In the previous example, levels and channels are in a tab group.
Chapter 3, Section 1
Advice. Drag and drop panels from their tabs to rearrange the panels. Place additional panels in groups. For example, activities and history; brand and song etc.
In the upper right corner of each panel is a menu icon (3 horizontal lines, also called a hamburger menu). Click to display the panel settings menu. The menu contains options specific to each panel. This shortcut menu is valuable when working with special panels such as layers and actions.
Over time, you’ll learn which of these panels you rely on regularly, and you’ll be able to create your own best settings for displaying them. But if you’re not ready yet, Adobe has created a set of shared workspaces that you can use.
From the Window menu, select Workspace, and then select one of the predefined options. For photographers, we recommend basic photography or photography. Your interface will be rearranged to align you with the most frequently used panels on the right and the tools on the left toolbar that best suit your chosen theme and are neatly organized.
Tutorial Question {2207}
Tip: Set up your workspace in the order you want to work, then choose Window > Workspace > New Workspace to save your personal workspace.
We believe the best way to learn Photoshop is through play. Eat this substance in bite-sized pieces. If you haven’t already, open up Photoshop and try the tips listed for the fastest ways to work.
If you want to take it a step further, we’ve found this article with simple instructions on changing colors in Photoshop.
For more help learning Photoshop editing, check out Kelly Brown’s editing tutorial series in the store.
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