PHOTOSHOP TIPS TOOL

1. Zoom in and out by using Ctrl+Plus ( + ) and Ctrl+Minus ( - ), respectively: have the window
resize to fit by also holding down the Alt key (Ctrl+Alt+Plus and Ctrl+Alt+Minus). Very Useful!
Note: You may also have the document window zoom to fit while using the Zoom tool [Z] by
enabling "Resize Windows to Fit" in the Options palette.
2. Increase / decrease the brush size for the current paint tool using the left / right square
bracket keys ( [ / ] ), respectively.
3. To draw a straight line with any paint tool, click on the image, move the mouse, and then Shiftclick– Photoshop will join the two points with a straight line using the current tool.
4. Hold down the Ctrl key at any time to access the Move tool [V]. Use Ctrl+Alt to drag a duplicate
of the current layer or selection.
5. Press the Space Bar to access the Hand tool [H] at any time.
6. Access the Zoom tool [Z] at any time by holding Ctrl+Space to zoom in, and Alt+Space to
zoom out.
7. Hold down the Alt key when selecting a color with the Eyedropper tool [ I ] to define a
background color.
8. Use the Color Sampler tool [Shift+I ] with the help of the Info palette [F8] (Window » Show Info) to monitor color changes in the current image. The before / after color values are displayed nextto their respective color sampler number (i.e. # 1). Specify the sampler color mode via the pop-upmenu on the Info palette [F8] (Window » Show Info).
To add a new color sampler simply click anywhere on the canvas (with the Color Sampler tool
[Shift+I ]). Remove a sampler by Alt-clicking on it.
Note: You may only have a maximum of four color samplers per image.
Tip: To use the Color Sampler tool from within a dialog window (such as Levels, Curves, etc.),
hold down the Shift key. Alt+Shift-click on a sampler to delete it.
9. While the Measure tool [U] is pretty handy for measuring distances (especially on a diagonal),
you can also use it to measure angles (like a protractor). Make sure the Info palette [F8] (Window
» Show Info) is visible. Select the Measure tool [U]: click and drag to draw a line. Hold down the
Alt key and drag a second line out from one of the end nodes (note the angle and lengths of the
two lines in the Info palette).
Tip: Move a measure line by dragging it with the Measure tool [U] (you may even reposition the
endpoints independently). Delete a measure line (or protractor) by dragging it off the canvas.
10. Ctrl-click a tool icon in the toolbar to reset the tool to its default settings.