Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts...

posted on 1st of november, 2009

Do I love these shortcut keys in Photoshop (CS4)...

Yes I do! There are a couple of keyboard shortcuts I have been recently introduced to. Better late than never!

To undo an effect I used to use the Ctrl Z key combination and get that one undo. Now I use Ctrl-Shift-Z (PC) or Cmd-Option-Z (MAC) for multiple undos! Just keep clicking and you now have multiple undos. You don't have to go into your history palette!

My second favorite key combo is to flatten all the layers in your image to enable you to work on the composite as a whole. You may not want to flatten your layered work as you may need to tweak it. I used to select all the layers involved in the composite, duplicate and then flatten and move to the top of the layer stack. This may seem like a simple task but if you work with many, many, many, (did I mention many?) layers of which some don't apply to a particular finished product, it is a daunting task.

The keyboard combination is: Shift-Ctrl-Alt-E (PC) and Command-Option-Shift-E (Mac). This creates what is referred to as 'stamp visible' layer of all the layers you would like to work on. You now have a flattened version of all visible layers. All of your previous layers are untouched.

A tip here when using stamp visible, be on a layer close to the top of the stack. This will put the complete layer at the very top.

Here is a link to a nice site with a easy view of keyboard shortcuts.

Keyboard shortcuts

Enjoy!

Tags: cut keyboard photoshop short tips

Comments (14)

	Posted by Littlemacproductions on November 08, 2009 It work great and very simple. Thanks!!!
	Posted by F9photos on November 08, 2009 I found one more interesting shortcut today, just would like to share! Works with brush tool - on windows hold down ctrl+alt+right mouse button - and you will be able to change the brush size by moving your mouse, alt+shift+right mouse button - hardness. And what differs this from pressing [ or ] - you can see the preview of your brush!
	Posted by Sergieiev on November 06, 2009 Thanks!
	Posted by Littlemacproductions on November 05, 2009 Thanks for the kudos Sophieso. Sorry your mac crashed and glad this blog helped get you back on track. Thanks for the tutorial site too! I always welcome a new tutorial discovery.
	Posted by Sophieso on November 04, 2009 Thanks!!! My Mac crashed and I switched back to a PC because of the price. My fingers are making a mess of everything I touched because they're still trying to do Mac shortcuts. The site you posted is going to be very, very helpful. Awesome portfolio, by the way. Your PS skills are incredible. For those looking for more PS tutorials, www.bestphotoshoptutorials.net is a really cool site. But it still takes a lot of skill and practice to achieve the level of excellence Littlemac has. It takes years. Congrats on sticking with it and doing just fantastic work.
	Posted by Onime on November 02, 2009 but becareful, your history palette has limitation. use save history palette for each step of your project.
	Posted by Littlemacproductions on November 02, 2009 Yea, the Julia gal looks like me! I've got a few years on her! Never the less thanks for the comp. :-)
	Posted by Pixeled on November 01, 2009 Julia or something, know her ;)? Any good PS books you know about compositing?
	Posted by Maigi on November 01, 2009 Wow, super-hyper!! This Shift-Ctrl-Alt-E key works on PSE5 too!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!!
	Posted by Littlemacproductions on November 01, 2009 I picked up many techniques on the way 'here'. It helps to toss all rules out the window! From there try to capture what your mind sees. My best thoughts are while driving.. not good. I am trying to use a recorder or I won't forget the idea. Who is Ms. Roberts? Maybe she looks like me!! ;)
	Posted by Pixeled on November 01, 2009 Super useful blog. I would also like to know where you learnt those awesome compositing techniques. BTW, in the profile picture the woman looks like Ms Roberts. Is that you?
	Posted by Marilyngould on November 01, 2009 Very helpful, thanks!
	Posted by Mani33 on November 01, 2009 Nice tips! I don't have CS4 still but the site is really useful! Thanks for sharing... Cheers ;)
	Posted by smartview27 on November 01, 2009 Great shortcuts and tips!