1. Whenever you see a Cancel button in any dialog box, hold the Option key down on a Mac or Alt on a PC to change the Cancel button to Reset.
2. Save your layer styles in the Styles palette by dragging the layer from the Layers palette into the Styles palette.
3. Hold Command key down on Mac or Control on PC while clicking on a layer in the Layers palette to select everything on that layer.
4. Record an action while performing a task and play it back on other images.
5. If you create a color you like, click at the bottom of the Swatches palette to save it.
6. Got a layer style you like? Choose Copy Layer Style from the Layers submenu and you can Paste Layer Style into another document or another layer.
7. Purchase a two-button mouse and use the right-mouse button to get a context-sensitive menu with the most popular menu commands.
8. After you’ve selected an object or person, choose Select > Save Selection. It will be saved as a channel. The next time you need the object or person selected, just choose Select > Load Selection.
9. Save your duotones, levels, and curves by clicking on the Save button in the dialog box. Next time you want it, click on the Load button.
10. Create an adjustment layer. Click on the Adjustment Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette (version 6) or choose Layer > New > Adjustment Layer and then alter the levels, curves, or hue/saturation. Later, if you don’t like your adjustment, just drag the Adjustment Layer to the Trash.
11. Save your brush. Got a design, selection, logo or signature that you’d like to save as a brush? Make sure it’s on a separate layer and then choose Edit > Define Brush. Your new brush will be saved in the Brushes styles on the Options bar.
12. Save your pattern. Got a design, selection, or pattern that you’d like to use as a pattern? Make sure it’s selected on a separate layer and then choose Edit > Define Pattern. Your new pattern will be saved with the other patterns. Create a new layer and choose Edit > Fill. Use Pattern and select your custom pattern.
13. Make a Snapshot. Once you get your image to a certain stage, make a snapshot Later, if you want to go back to that stage, just choose it in the History palette, and your document will revert back to that stage.
14. Change your scratch disk. If you choose Edit > Preferences > Plug-Ins & Scratch Disks, a dialog box will appear. If the First Scratch Disk is your Startup hard drive, you can change the Second and Third to an external hard drive or Zip drive that is hooked up.
15. Change your photos to the size required for a publication instantly. Choose Edit > Preferences > Units & Rulers. Change the Column Size and Gutter Width to your publication’s size. Click OK. Now, choose Image > Image Size. Change the Width from Inches to Columns and type in the number of columns you want the image to be.
16. Do you have to crop or feather several photos the same size? When you select a Marquee tool, change the Style from Normal to Fixed Size in the Options bar and type in the desired size. Now, just click on an image, and the selection will be the desired size.
17. If you need to add the same action to several images, choose File > Automate > Batch. The action you choose will be applied to every image in the Folder.
18. Need to repeat a line or logo that’s on a separate layer? On Mac, hold down the Option + Command keys and drag your mouse. On PC, hold down the Control + Alt keys and drag your mouse. Let go of the mouse first.
19. Learn keyboard shortcuts so you can perform tasks faster.
20. Make a contact sheet f you have several images on a CD or in a folder. The thumbnail images of your photos will help you identify your photos.
Adapted from the Photoshop: one step at a time book, copyright 2001 by Barbara A. Fanson.