Let's Learn Photoshop!

The fastest way to delete a layer (Photoshop CS/CS2/CS3/CS4)

Your time is precious and you’re always looking for ways to increase your productivity in Photoshop. It’s only natural then, that you want to know how to do things as quickly as possible.

Learning keyboard shortcuts is one way to do this, but there currently isn’t a keyboard command for deleting a layer. You could set one up, but why go through the hassle, when there is a hidden shortcut you can use instead?

First you’ll need to select the layer you want to delete from the Layers palette—there’s no getting around that part. Then press V to select the Move tool and press [delete] ([Backspace] in Windows) to delete the layer. It’s that quick!

Save JPEGs as PSDs to preserve quality (Photoshop CS/CS2/CS3/CS4)

If you start with a JPEG image, perhaps from a digital camera, and alter it, don't save it again as a JPEG; you'll lose image quality every time you re-save an image in JPEG format. Instead, save the altered image as a PSD file and make a JPEG copy if you need to post the image to the web, for example. In the meantime, you'll have a good copy of your altered image in PSD format for use in other applications, such as for printing photos or using them in a printed brochure.

Create a shape on a new layer (Photoshop CS/CS2/CS3/CS4)

Photoshop automatically fills a shape layer, which you can make with any Shape, Line, or Pen tool, with the foreground color. You can also apply a gradient or pattern via layer styles. To create a shape layer, select one of the Shape tools, and be sure to click the Create New Shape Layer button on the tool Options bar. Photoshop stores the shape outline as a vector mask that appears in the Paths panel.

Today's Tip: Open a flat version of a layered file (Photoshop CS/CS2/CS3/CS4)

When you want to open a layered file as a flat composite instead, hold down [shift][option] ([Shift][Alt] in Windows) as you open the selected file. Photoshop displays an Adobe Photoshop dialog box that asks, "Read the composite data instead?" Just click OK and your file appears as a flattened version of the layered file.