Photoshop is a powerful, but complex, graphics program that can be difficult to learn and frustrating to use. We have published many articles about tips and tricks for using Photoshop and how to fix annoying issues you may encounter.
This article compiles 30 of the best tips and tricks we have documented to help you get the most out of Photoshop.
10 Common Photoshop Frustrations (and How to Fix Them in Five Minutes)
Do
your cursor or panels in Photoshop keep disappearing? Are your
important image files no longer associated with Photoshop? Have you lost
control over the automatic “Smart Quotes?” You may have encounter these
frustrating issues and can’t figure out how to fix them. The following
article lists 10 of the most common Photoshop frustrations and simple
solutions to fix them.10 Common Photoshop Frustrations (and How to Fix Them in Five Minutes)
Remove Backgrounds Automatically with a Free Photoshop Action
Photoshop
actions are recordable programs you can create and save without any
knowledge of programming. There are many ways to isolate an object in an
image or remove a background in Photoshop. The following article shows
you a very easy, one-button method using an action file you can
download.Remove Backgrounds Automatically with a Free Photoshop Action
How to Make Hundreds of Complex Photo Edits in Seconds With Photoshop Actions
The
previous tip provided you with a ready-made, downloadable Action file
for removing backgrounds automatically. You can create Photoshop Actions
to perform just about any task very quickly and easily. Do you need to
make tweaks to a large number of images? The following article shows you
to use Photoshop Actions to perform some complicated tweaks to many
images at one time automatically.How To Make Hundreds of Complex Photo Edits in Seconds With Photoshop Actions
How to Save, Share, Download, and Install Custom Photoshop Actions
We’ve
shown you how to tweak many images at once using Photoshop Actions and
provided you with a downloadable Action file for removing backgrounds
automatically. You can export Actions you create to share or archive,
and even download actions you find on the internet. However, exporting,
sharing, and installing downloaded actions can be confusing. The
following article provides simple instructions on how to do all three.How To Save, Share, Download, and Install Custom Photoshop Actions
50+ Tools & Techniques to Remove Image Backgrounds in Photoshop
We
showed you earlier in this article how to remove image backgrounds
easily using an action. However, there are many other ways to remove
backgrounds and isolate objects in Photoshop. The following three-part
article shows you more than 50 ways backgrounds can be deleted, erased,
masked, hidden, and removed.50+ Tools & Techniques to Remove Image Backgrounds in Photoshop, pt 1
50+ Tools & Techniques to Remove Image Backgrounds in Photoshop, pt 2
50+ Tools & Techniques to Remove Image Backgrounds in Photoshop, pt 3
How to Use Layer Masks and Vector Masks to Remove Complex Backgrounds in Photoshop
Layer
Masks and Vector Masks were discussed briefly in the article about 50+
ways to remove image backgrounds in Photoshop. You can use these tools
to remove a background and allow yourself to use parts of the removed
background later, if you decide. The following article explains what a
Layer Mask is and shows you two methods to use them that works in almost
any version of Photoshop. One method is a simpler example for less
experienced Photoshop users, and the other is for users with more
experience and who are comfortable using the Pen tool and vectors.How To Use Layer Masks and Vector Masks to Remove Complex Backgrounds in Photoshop
3 Easy Tips to Fix Ugly Edges When Removing Backgrounds
We’ve
shown you many ways to remove backgrounds. However, what do you do when
you’ve removed the background or cut out objects from photographs and
end up with some rough, ugly looking edges? The following article shows
you three different scenarios for fixing the ugly edges and make your
image look great on any background.3 Easy Tips to Fix Ugly Edges When Removing Backgrounds
Learn How to Make HDR Images in Photoshop or GIMP With a Simple Trick
High
Dynamic Range (HDR) is a post-processing method of drawing out a lot of
details from a series of exposures of an image, using many techniques
to create images you could not obtain from normal cameras. The following
article shows you how to apply your image editing skills and some
manual settings in Photoshop to create some amazing HDR photographs.Learn How to Make HDR Images in Photoshop or GIMP With a Simple Trick
How to Make Faux HDR Photos With Stylized Shadows and Details
Now,
that you’ve learned how to make HDR images in Photoshop, we’ll show you
how to get an effect on your photos similar to the heavy, stylized
shadows of HDR photography. The following article shows a beginner
method using Photoshop and a more advanced method using a freeware
program called Raw Therapee to use stylized shadows and details to make
faux HDR photos.How to Make Faux HDR Photos With Stylized Shadows and Details
My Photos Look Different on the Internet! How Can I Fix Them?
It’s
very frustrating to spend a long time getting a photo to look just
right, only to find it looks completely different in your browser once
you’ve uploaded it to your site. You may have thought it was just the
way the browser displays photos and it couldn’t be fixed. We explain why
this happens in the following article and how you can easily fix the
problem.My Photos Look Different on the Internet! How Can I Fix Them?
How to Fix the Dark Shadows that Ruin Great Photos
If
you’ve taken a photo that turned out great, except for those annoying
shadows that ruin it, we can help you salvage that photo. The following
article shows you how to use Photoshop and GIMP to quickly turn those
photos from “almost perfect” to great, bringing the detail back out of
the shadows.How To Fix the Dark Shadows that Ruin Great Photos
How to Make Classic Red/Cyan 3D Photos Out of Any Image
Have
you ever thought it would be fun to create your own 3D photos, you can
easily do so using Photoshop. The following article shows you how to
create classic Red/Cyan 3D photos from any image using simple trick
image editing. There’s a simple method for beginner users of Photoshop,
and an optional second part that adds a “little more oomph” to your
photos.How To Make Classic Red/Cyan 3D Photos Out of Any Image
What is a Histogram, and How Can I Use it to Improve My Photos?
A
Histogram is an important and powerful tool in the digital imagemaker’s
toolbox. An in-camera histogram can help improve your photographs as
you take them. However, you can also use histograms in Photoshop to
improve camera raw photos. The following article shows you how to
correctly read a histogram and teaches you a few simple rules that can
make you a better image editor and also allow you to shoot better
photographs in the first place.What is a Histogram, and How Can I Use it to Improve My Photos?
Create Instagram Style Photo Effects with GIMP or Photoshop
Have
you ever wanted to create your own vintage photo effects? There are
special programs that help you create vintage effects, like Instagram.
However, these effects can easily be replicated in Photoshop, or even
GIMP. The following article shows you how to easily approximate or
reverse engineer vintage effects like those generated by Instagram.Create Instagram Style Photo Effects with GIMP or Photoshop
The Best HTG Photoshop Effects in One Free Download: Action Pack #1
Now,
that you’ve learned how to apply some fun Photoshop effects manually,
you can also apply them quickly and automatically using Actions. We
explained Actions earlier in this article as recordable programs you can
create and save without any knowledge of programming. We have created
the free How-To Geek Photoshop Action Pack to allow you to easily apply
great effects to your images with the touch of a button. The following
article provides the link to the download and lists the effects
available in the pack. The “How to Save, Share, Download, and Install
Custom Photoshop Actions” tip earlier in this article describes how to
install downloaded Actions.The Best HTG Photoshop Effects in One Free Download: Action Pack #1
HTG Explains: Cameras, Lenses, and How Photography Works
Have
you bought a digital SLR (single-lens reflex) camera and gotten totally
confused once you started to try to learn the photography jargon and
how to use the different features of the camera? The following article
explains photography basics and how your camera works. Learning the
basics can help you take better pictures whether you are using a digital
SLR camera or a cell phone camera.HTG Explains: Cameras, Lenses, and How Photography Works
RGB? CMYK? Alpha? What Are Image Channels and What Do They Mean?
Have
you ever wondered what image channels are? And what about RGB and CMYK?
The channels panel in Photoshop is one of the least used and
misunderstood features of the program. But, all images have image
channels, whether you are using Photoshop or another image editor. The
following article explains what color channels are, what RGB and CMYK
are, and teaches you how image files work. The more you understand about
image files, the better image editor you’ll become.RGB? CMYK? Alpha? What Are Image Channels and What Do They Mean?
How to Use Clipping Masks (And Not Layer Masks) in Photoshop
Earlier
in this article we talked about using Layer Masks to remove complex
backgrounds. The following article shows you how to use Clipping Masks
to dynamically transform text, brush strokes, vectors, or any sort of
layer with ease and explains the difference between Layer Masks and
Clipping Masks. The article also provides a video tutorial about using
Clipping Masks.How To Use Clipping Masks (And Not Layer Masks) in Photoshop
How to Create an Easy Pixel Art Avatar in Photoshop or GIMP
Do
you like pixel art? Do you want to create a pixel art avatar for
yourself? You can do so easily using a few simple filters in Photoshop
or GIMP. We have covered different methods of creating pixel art from
ordinary images, but this method uses a different technique. The
following article shows you two examples of turning ordinary photographs
into pixel art using both Photoshop and GIMP.How to Create an Easy Pixel Art Avatar in Photoshop or GIMP
How to Create Your Own Custom ASCII Art from Any Image
This
may be a useless task, but creating pictures from monospaced ASCII
characters can be fun. They’re used sometimes in text-based FAQs and
monospaced email signatures. If you’ve wondered how they were made, the
following article shows you how to do it using a free tool you can
download.How To Create Your Own Custom ASCII Art from Any Image – How-To Geek
How to Get Amazing Color from Photos in Photoshop, GIMP, and Paint.NET
If
the color in some of your digital photos didn’t turn out the way you
wanted, Photoshop and GIMP (and even Paint.NET) have excellent color
correction tools. These tools allow you to change color problems in your
photos that may have been caused by the environment, lighting, or maybe
settings on the camera when you took the picture. The following article
shows you the tools that can help you adjust the color in your images
for each of the three programs listed.How to Get Amazing Color from Photos in Photoshop, GIMP, and Paint.NET
What Can Super Mario Teach Us About Graphics Technology?
You
may think that Super Mario Brothers or Mario Galaxy are only games
played for fun. However, they can teach you lessons about graphics and
the concepts behind them. The following article will help you learn from
Mario about pixels, polygons, computers, and math.What Can Super Mario Teach Us About Graphics Technology?
Inspire Geek Love with These Hilarious Geek Valentines
It
may only be Thanksgiving next week, but Valentine’s Day is not that far
away. How would you like to send people the old elementary
school-style, but geeky, valentines? The following article shows you how
to make your own custom Valentine’s Day cards and provides a link to
download the How-To Geek ready-made, geeky Valentine’s Day cards.Inspire Geek Love with These Hilarious Geek Valentines
How to Colorize Black and White Vintage Photographs in Photoshop
Have
you scanned in old black and white vintage photographs and wished you
could add color to them. The following article shows you how easy it is
to use Photoshop to quickly add color to any black and white photograph.How To Colorize Black and White Vintage Photographs in Photoshop
How to Process Camera Raw Without Paying for Adobe Photoshop
If
you need to process Camera RAW, or what can be thought of a digital
negative, you may think you need an expensive program like Photoshop, or
even a more modestly priced program like Lightroom. However, there is a
freeware option that can help you achieve professional results without
the prohibitive costs. The following article shows you a great freeware
option, called Raw Therapee, and how to use it properly.How To Process Camera Raw Without Paying for Adobe Photoshop
How to Use and Master the Notoriously Difficult Pen Tool in Photoshop
If
you’ve been scared off by the notorious Pen Tool in Photoshop, don’t
give up hope yet. It may seem intimidating, but you can master it. The
following article provides tips and videos to help you learn to use the
complex, but easy, Pen Tool.How to Use and Master the Notoriously Difficult Pen Tool in Photoshop
HTG Projects: Create a Pop Art Sci-Fi Poster with an Inkjet Printer
Would
you like to create your own cool artwork to decorate your house? You
can easily create a Pop Art style poster in minutes using some Sci-Fi
pictures and simple tools. The following article shows how to use a
simple process called “posterization” to easily create a cool poster on
your inkjet printer.HTG Projects: Create a Pop Art Sci-Fi Poster with an Inkjet Printer
How to Make Photos Look Like Pencil Drawings in About One Minute
Have
you ever watched someone at a mall photobooth create a “pencil drawing”
from a photo and wished you could do that? The following article shows
you some smart adjustments and an easy technique suitable for beginners
that will allow you to turn your favorite photos into tonal, pencil art
style images.How to Make Photos Look Like Pencil Drawings in About One Minute
How to Make a YouTube Video Into an Animated GIF
Animated
GIFs may not be very useful, but they can be fun to make and turn out
funny. The following article shows you how to quickly turn your favorite
YouTube videos into animated GIFs using Photoshop.How To Make a YouTube Video Into an Animated GIF
How to Remove People and Objects From Photographs in Photoshop
Earlier
in this article we discussed removing backgrounds from photographs.
Photoshop also makes it easy to remove people and objects from your
photographs. If you have some photographs where one person in the photo
managed to ruin an otherwise good photo, the following article shows you
how you can easily remove that person from the photo.How To Remove People and Objects From Photographs In Photoshop
These tips and tricks should help you to create some awesome images and not be so intimidated by Photoshop. But, wait! We’re not done yet. Here is a bonus that will save you time when using the Photoshop tools we’ve discussed here and more.
Download the How-To Geek Photoshop CS5 Cheat Sheet
You should add these 2 actions to your list
ReplyDeleteSmooth Edges in Photoshop | Free action
Line Art in Photoshop | Free action