10 Photoshop Shortcuts Keys Beginners Should Know
Learning Photoshop shortcuts is a fantastic way to navigate Photoshop, a highly versatile piece of software. There are many ways to use photoshop in different situations and for various purposes. The possibilities are endless.
Photoshop has hundreds of shortcut keys that do everything from launching a new window to deleting a selection. The sheer number of them can be overwhelming but remembering the most important ones will make all the difference in your workflow and your ability to use Photoshop effectively.
Here is a list of the most useful Photoshop shortcut keys and their functions.
Top 10 Photoshop Shortcut Keys
1. Ctrl + T, then Ctrl + 0 (zero) or on the Mac – Command + T, then Command + 0 (zero)
This shortcut key combination will transform your selection into a grayscale image. This is a valuable starting point for many digital artists and should be memorized by beginners so they can jump right into Photoshop without having to go through several different menus and features.
2. Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E or on the Mac – Command + Option + Shift + E
This shortcut key combination will merge your layers into one layer, keeping the layer you are working on active. This is another useful feature for beginners and will help them keep their layers organized.
3. Ctrl + D or on the Mac – Command + D
When you use this keyboard shortcut, your selection will be deselected. This is a quick and easy way to deselect any currently selected objects in your document. It’s a handy shortcut that can save you time when working on larger projects.
4. Ctrl + Alt + Shift + U or on the Mac – Command + Option +Shift +U
This keyboard shortcut will give you a new layer in the background and move it higher in the layers list. This is another useful feature for beginners who are working on large projects.
5. Ctrl + Shift + E or on the Mac – Command + Shift +E
This shortcut key will transform your layer into a clipping mask, meaning it will copy your image onto another layer. This is a handy feature for developers who work on digital projects to give their images special effects.
6. Ctrl + Alt + Shift + J or on the Mac – Command +Option +Shift +J
This keyboard shortcut will convert your picture into grayscale and lower its brightness by 50%. It is a useful setting for creatives who want to use grayscale when working on different projects.
7. Ctrl + Shift +L or on the Mac – Command + Option +L
This keyboard shortcut will show/hide the Layer Options menu. This is a common shortcut for beginners, who often use this setting to hide the Layers panel for easy access.
8. Ctrl + Alt + Shift + N or on the Mac – Command +Option +Shift +N
This keyboard shortcut will bring up the New Layer dialogue box when working in Photoshop. It functions as a quick way to access this feature and can be very useful for users who prefer to work with many layers.
9. Ctrl + Alt + Shift + X or on the Mac – Command +Option +Shift +X
This keyboard shortcut will cut your selected object and place it above your layer. It is one of the most popular and useful shortcut keys for beginners because it helps them quickly and easily combine two different parts.
10. Ctrl + Alt + Shift + M or on the Mac – Command +Option +Shift +M
This keyboard shortcut will move your layer above all other layers. This is another useful feature for developers who work on many layers and want to get creative with their work. It can be a quick and easy way to get things started without going through all the menus first.
Conclusion
Learning Photoshop shortcut keys can be a challenging task, but it is a worthwhile one. If you go through this list and try to memorize the most useful ones on your own, then you will have a head start on everyone else. You will be able to use Photoshop with greater skill and less time spent working around menus. These shortcuts should help you get the results you want even faster than usual.
