Photoshop Shortcuts: Boost Your Productivity With These Precious Tips and Tricks!

Adobe Photoshop is one of the most popular image editing software used by professionals and amateurs alike. It is a powerful tool for creating stunning digital designs and graphics, photo retouching, and other related tasks. However, using Photoshop can be time-consuming, especially when performing repetitive tasks. Knowing and mastering keyboard shortcuts can greatly improve your workflow and productivity, making you more efficient and allowing you to complete tasks in a shorter amount of time. In this topic, we will be discussing 25 of the most popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts that every user should know and use to enhance their work in the program.
A List of 25 Most Popular Adobe Photoshop Shortcuts_
here is a list of 25 popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts:
1.Ctrl + N (Windows) or Command + N (Mac): Create a new document.
2.Ctrl + O (Windows) or Command + O (Mac): Open an existing document.
3.Ctrl + S (Windows) or Command + S (Mac): Save the current document.
4.Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S (Windows) or Command + Shift + Option + S (Mac): Save for web and devices.
5.Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Command + Z (Mac): Undo the last action.
6.Ctrl + Shift + Z (Windows) or Command + Shift + Z (Mac): Redo the last action.
7.Ctrl + Alt + Z (Windows) or Command + Option + Z (Mac): Step backward through history.
8.Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Z (Windows) or Command + Shift + Option + Z (Mac): Step forward through history.
9.Ctrl + X (Windows) or Command + X (Mac): Cut the selected area or layer.
10.Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac): Copy the selected area or layer.
11.Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac): Paste the contents of the clipboard.
12.Ctrl + T (Windows) or Command + T (Mac): Free Transform.
13.Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) or Command + Shift + T (Mac): Transform Again.
14.Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T (Windows) or Command + Option + Shift + T (Mac): Transform Again, but vertically or horizontally flipped.
15.Ctrl + E (Windows) or Command + E (Mac): Merge Layers.
16.Ctrl + J (Windows) or Command + J (Mac): Duplicate the selected layer.
17.Ctrl + Shift + J (Windows) or Command + Shift + J (Mac): Cut the selected area or layer to a new layer.
18.Ctrl + Shift + Alt + N (Windows) or Command + Shift + Option + N (Mac): Create a new layer.
19.Ctrl + Alt + G (Windows) or Command + Option + G (Mac): Create a clipping mask.
20.Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E (Windows) or Command + Option + Shift + E (Mac): Create a new layer from visible.
21.Ctrl + G (Windows) or Command + G (Mac): Group layers.
22.Ctrl + Shift + G (Windows) or Command + Shift + G (Mac): Ungroup layers.
23.Ctrl + ; (Windows) or Command + ; (Mac): Show or hide the grid.
24.Ctrl + ‘ (Windows) or Command + ‘ (Mac): Show or hide the guides.
25.Ctrl + Shift + ; (Windows) or Command + Shift + ; (Mac): Lock or unlock the guides.
Shortcut 1: Ctrl + N (Windows) or Command + N (Mac): Create a new document
Number 1 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + N” on Windows or “Command + N” on Mac, which allows you to create a new document. This shortcut can save you time and help you stay organized by quickly creating a new document without having to navigate through the menus.
When you press “Ctrl + N” or “Command + N,” a new document dialog box will appear. In this dialog box, you can specify the size, resolution, and other settings for your new document. You can also choose from pre-defined presets or create your own custom presets for future use.
Using this shortcut can be especially helpful if you frequently create documents with the same size and settings, as you can save time by creating a custom preset and then using the shortcut to quickly create a new document with those settings. Additionally, if you have multiple documents open at once, you can use this shortcut to quickly create a new document without having to close or switch to another document first.
Overall, “Ctrl + N” or “Command + N” is a useful shortcut for quickly creating a new document in Adobe Photoshop, saving you time and streamlining your workflow.
Shortcut 2: Ctrl + O (Windows) or Command + O (Mac): Open an existing document
Number 2 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + O” on Windows or “Command + O” on Mac, which allows you to open an existing document. This shortcut can save you time and help you stay organized by quickly opening a file without having to navigate through the menus.
When you press “Ctrl + O” or “Command + O,” a dialog box will appear where you can navigate to the location where the file you want to open is saved. Once you locate the file, you can select it and click “Open” to open it in Photoshop.
Using this shortcut can be especially helpful if you work with multiple files and need to switch between them frequently. You can quickly open a new file without having to close the current one or navigate through the menus. Additionally, if you have a large number of files to work with, you can use this shortcut to quickly access the files you need.
Overall, “Ctrl + O” or “Command + O” is a useful shortcut for quickly opening an existing document in Adobe Photoshop, saving you time and streamlining your workflow.
Shortcut 3: Ctrl + S (Windows) or Command + S (Mac): Save the current document
Shortcut 3 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + S” on Windows or “Command + S” on Mac, which allows you to save the current document. This shortcut can save you time and help you avoid losing work by quickly saving changes without having to navigate through the menus.
When you press “Ctrl + S” or “Command + S,” Photoshop will save the current document using the previously selected file name and location. If this is the first time you are saving the document, the Save As dialog box will appear, allowing you to choose a name and location for the file.
Using this shortcut frequently as you work on a project can help ensure that your work is saved regularly and prevent you from losing progress in the event of a software or system crash. Additionally, if you work with multiple documents at once, you can quickly save changes to each one without having to navigate through the menus for each document.
Overall, “Ctrl + S” or “Command + S” is a useful shortcut for quickly saving the current document in Adobe Photoshop, saving you time and helping you avoid losing work.
Shortcut 4: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S (Windows) or Command + Shift + Option + S (Mac): Save for web and devices
Shortcut 4 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S” on Windows or “Command + Shift + Option + S” on Mac, which allows you to save an image for the web and devices. This shortcut can save you time and help you optimize your images for online use without having to navigate through the menus.
When you press “Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S” or “Command + Shift + Option + S,” the Save for Web dialog box will appear. This dialog box allows you to optimize your image for web use by adjusting settings such as file format, image size, and quality. You can preview the optimized image in real-time and compare it to the original to ensure that it looks good and meets your needs.
Using this shortcut can be especially helpful if you frequently need to optimize images for use on the web, as you can save time by quickly accessing the Save for Web dialog box without having to navigate through the menus. Additionally, if you work with a large number of images, you can use this shortcut to quickly optimize each one without having to open and save each image individually.
Overall, “Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S” or “Command + Shift + Option + S” is a useful shortcut for quickly optimizing and saving images for the web and devices in Adobe Photoshop, saving you time and streamlining your workflow.
Shortcut 5: Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Command + Z (Mac): Undo the last action
Shortcut 5 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + Z” on Windows or “Command + Z” on Mac, which allows you to undo the last action you performed in Photoshop. This shortcut can save you time and help you avoid mistakes by quickly reversing changes without having to navigate through the menus.
When you press “Ctrl + Z” or “Command + Z,” Photoshop will undo the last action you performed. If you want to undo multiple actions, you can press the shortcut multiple times to undo each action in the reverse order in which they were performed.
Using this shortcut frequently as you work on a project can help you avoid mistakes and correct errors quickly. Additionally, if you are experimenting with different effects or adjustments, you can use this shortcut to quickly undo changes that don’t work as intended and try something else.
Overall, “Ctrl + Z” or “Command + Z” is a useful shortcut for quickly undoing the last action you performed in Adobe Photoshop, saving you time and helping you avoid mistakes.
Shortcut 6: Ctrl + Shift + Z (Windows) or Command + Shift + Z (Mac): Redo the last action
Shortcut 6 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + Shift + Z” on Windows or “Command + Shift + Z” on Mac, which allows you to redo the last action you performed in Photoshop. This shortcut can save you time and help you backtrack after undoing a change without having to navigate through the menus.
When you press “Ctrl + Shift + Z” or “Command + Shift + Z,” Photoshop will redo the last action you undid using the “Ctrl + Z” or “Command + Z” shortcut. If you want to redo multiple actions, you can press the shortcut multiple times to redo each action in the reverse order in which they were undone.
Using this shortcut frequently as you work on a project can help you backtrack after undoing a change and try different effects or adjustments without having to navigate through the menus. Additionally, if you accidentally undo a change you didn’t mean to undo, you can use this shortcut to quickly redo it without having to manually repeat the action.
Overall, “Ctrl + Shift + Z” or “Command + Shift + Z” is a useful shortcut for quickly redoing the last action you undid in Adobe Photoshop, saving you time and helping you backtrack after making a mistake.
Shortcut 7: Ctrl + Alt + Z (Windows) or Command + Option + Z (Mac): Step backward through history
Shortcut 7 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + Alt + Z” on Windows or “Command + Option + Z” on Mac, which allows you to step backward through the history of your Photoshop document. This shortcut can save you time and help you easily undo multiple actions without having to navigate through the menus.
When you press “Ctrl + Alt + Z” or “Command + Option + Z,” Photoshop will step backward through the history of your document, undoing each action in reverse order from the most recent change. You can continue to use the shortcut to step backward through the history, undoing each action until you reach the desired point.
Using this shortcut frequently as you work on a project can help you experiment with different effects or adjustments and easily backtrack if something doesn’t work out. Additionally, if you make multiple changes and want to undo them all at once, you can use this shortcut to quickly step backward through the history and undo them all at once.
Overall, “Ctrl + Alt + Z” or “Command + Option + Z” is a useful shortcut for quickly stepping backward through the history of your document in Adobe Photoshop, saving you time and helping you easily undo multiple actions.
Shortcut 8: Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Z (Windows) or Command + Shift + Option + Z (Mac): Step forward through history
Shortcut 8 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Z” on Windows or “Command + Shift + Option + Z” on Mac, which allows you to step forward through the history of your Photoshop document. This shortcut can save you time and help you easily redo multiple actions without having to navigate through the menus.
When you press “Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Z” or “Command + Shift + Option + Z,” Photoshop will step forward through the history of your document, redoing each action in the same order in which they were undone using the “Ctrl + Alt + Z” or “Command + Option + Z” shortcut. You can continue to use the shortcut to step forward through the history, redoing each action until you reach the desired point.
Using this shortcut frequently as you work on a project can help you experiment with different effects or adjustments and easily backtrack if something doesn’t work out. Additionally, if you undo multiple changes and want to redo them all at once, you can use this shortcut to quickly step forward through the history and redo them all at once.
Overall, “Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Z” or “Command + Shift + Option + Z” is a useful shortcut for quickly stepping forward through the history of your document in Adobe Photoshop, saving you time and helping you easily redo multiple actions.
Shortcut 9: Ctrl + X (Windows) or Command + X (Mac): Cut the selected area or layer
Shortcut 9 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + X” on Windows or “Command + X” on Mac, which allows you to cut the selected area or layer in your Photoshop document. This shortcut can save you time and help you quickly remove or move parts of your image.
When you press “Ctrl + X” or “Command + X,” Photoshop will cut the selected area or layer, removing it from the document and storing it on the clipboard. You can then paste the cut item in another part of the document or in a different file. If you cut a layer, Photoshop will also remove it from the Layers panel.
Using this shortcut frequently as you work on a project can help you quickly remove or move parts of your image without having to navigate through the menus. Additionally, if you need to move a part of your image to a different location, you can use this shortcut to cut it and then paste it where you want it.
Overall, “Ctrl + X” or “Command + X” is a useful shortcut for quickly cutting the selected area or layer in your Photoshop document, saving you time and helping you quickly remove or move parts of your image.
Shortcut 10: Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac): Copy the selected area or layer
Shortcut 10 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + C” on Windows or “Command + C” on Mac, which allows you to copy the selected area or layer in your Photoshop document. This shortcut can save you time and help you duplicate parts of your image.
When you press “Ctrl + C” or “Command + C,” Photoshop will copy the selected area or layer to the clipboard, without removing it from the document. You can then paste the copied item in another part of the document or in a different file.
Using this shortcut frequently as you work on a project can help you quickly duplicate parts of your image without having to navigate through the menus. Additionally, if you need to copy a layer to apply the same effect or adjustments to another layer, you can use this shortcut to copy it and then paste it where you want it.
Overall, “Ctrl + C” or “Command + C” is a useful shortcut for quickly copying the selected area or layer in your Photoshop document, saving you time and helping you duplicate parts of your image.
Shortcut 11: Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac): Paste the contents of the clipboard
Shortcut 11 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + V” on Windows or “Command + V” on Mac, which allows you to paste the contents of the clipboard in your Photoshop document. This shortcut can save you time and help you quickly insert copied or cut parts of your image.
When you press “Ctrl + V” or “Command + V,” Photoshop will paste the contents of the clipboard at the current location in the document. You can use this shortcut to insert a copied or cut item in a different part of the document or in a different file.
Using this shortcut frequently as you work on a project can help you quickly insert copied or cut parts of your image without having to navigate through the menus. Additionally, if you need to move a part of your image to a different location or insert a duplicate of a layer, you can use this shortcut to paste it where you want it.
Overall, “Ctrl + V” or “Command + V” is a useful shortcut for quickly pasting the contents of the clipboard in your Photoshop document, saving you time and helping you quickly insert copied or cut parts of your image.
Shortcut 12: Ctrl + T (Windows) or Command + T (Mac): Free Transform
Shortcut 12 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + T” on Windows or “Command + T” on Mac, which activates the Free Transform tool in Photoshop. This shortcut allows you to transform and manipulate the selected layer or area in various ways, including scaling, rotating, skewing, and more.
When you press “Ctrl + T” or “Command + T,” a bounding box will appear around the selected layer or area, indicating that the Free Transform tool is active. You can use the handles on the bounding box to transform the layer or area in various ways, such as scaling it up or down, rotating it, or skewing it.
Using this shortcut frequently as you work on a project can help you quickly transform and manipulate layers or areas without having to navigate through the menus. Additionally, the Free Transform tool is a powerful tool for adjusting and refining your image, so becoming familiar with this shortcut and tool can help you create better designs and artwork.
Overall, “Ctrl + T” or “Command + T” is a useful shortcut for activating the Free Transform tool in Photoshop, allowing you to transform and manipulate layers or areas in various ways, and helping you create better designs and artwork.
Shortcut 13: Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) or Command + Shift + T (Mac): Transform Again
Shortcut 13 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + Shift + T” on Windows or “Command + Shift + T” on Mac, which allows you to perform the Transform Again command in Photoshop. This shortcut can save you time and help you quickly repeat a transformation on the selected layer or area.
When you perform a transformation on a layer or area using the Free Transform tool (shortcut 12), you can use “Ctrl + Shift + T” or “Command + Shift + T” to repeat the same transformation on the layer or area again. This can be useful if you need to apply the same transformation to multiple layers or areas in your document.
Using this shortcut frequently as you work on a project can help you quickly repeat transformations on layers or areas without having to navigate through the menus. Additionally, it can help you maintain consistency in your design or artwork by applying the same transformation to multiple layers or areas.
Overall, “Ctrl + Shift + T” or “Command + Shift + T” is a useful shortcut for quickly repeating a transformation on a selected layer or area using the Transform Again command in Photoshop, saving you time and helping you maintain consistency in your design or artwork.
Shortcut 14: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T (Windows) or Command + Option + Shift + T (Mac): Transform Again, but vertically or horizontally flipped
Shortcut 14 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T” on Windows or “Command + Option + Shift + T” on Mac, which allows you to perform the Transform Again command, but with the layer or area flipped vertically or horizontally in Photoshop.
When you perform a transformation on a layer or area using the Free Transform tool (shortcut 12), you can use “Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T” or “Command + Option + Shift + T” to repeat the same transformation on the layer or area again, but with the layer or area flipped vertically or horizontally. This can be useful if you need to create a mirrored image or flip an element to create a symmetrical design.
Using this shortcut frequently as you work on a project can help you quickly create mirrored or symmetrical designs without having to navigate through the menus. Additionally, it can help you maintain consistency in your design or artwork by applying the same transformation to multiple layers or areas.
Shortcut 15 on the list is “Ctrl + E” on Windows or “Command + E” on Mac, which allows you to merge selected layers in Photoshop. When you select multiple layers in the Layers panel, you can use this shortcut to merge them into a single layer. This can be useful if you want to simplify your Layers panel and reduce the number of layers in your document.
Using this shortcut frequently as you work on a project can help you quickly merge layers and simplify your Layers panel without having to navigate through the menus. Additionally, it can help you keep your document organized and easier to work with.
Overall, “Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T” or “Command + Option + Shift + T” is a useful shortcut for quickly repeating a transformation on a selected layer or area with a vertical or horizontal flip in Photoshop, while “Ctrl + E” or “Command + E” is a useful shortcut for merging selected layers into a single layer. Both shortcuts can save you time and help you work more efficiently in Photoshop.
Shortcut 16: Ctrl + J (Windows) or Command + J (Mac): Duplicate the selected layer
Shortcut 16 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + J” on Windows or “Command + J” on Mac, which allows you to duplicate the selected layer in Photoshop.
Duplicating a layer can be useful in many different scenarios, such as when you want to make a copy of a layer before making changes to it, or when you want to use the same layer multiple times in a design. Instead of manually creating a new layer and copying the contents of the original layer to it, you can use this shortcut to quickly create a duplicate of the selected layer.
To use this shortcut, simply select the layer you want to duplicate in the Layers panel, and then press “Ctrl + J” on Windows or “Command + J” on Mac. Photoshop will create a new layer with the same content as the original layer, positioned above the original layer in the Layers panel.
Using this shortcut frequently as you work on a project can help you quickly create duplicates of layers without having to navigate through the menus or manually create new layers. Additionally, it can help you keep your Layers panel organized by keeping duplicates of a layer in close proximity to the original layer.
Overall, “Ctrl + J” or “Command + J” is a useful shortcut for quickly duplicating a selected layer in Photoshop. It can save you time and help you work more efficiently in your projects.
Shortcut 17: Ctrl + Shift + J (Windows) or Command + Shift + J (Mac): Cut the selected area or layer to a new layer
Shortcut 17 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + Shift + J” on Windows or “Command + Shift + J” on Mac, which allows you to cut the selected area or layer to a new layer.
This shortcut is similar to the “Ctrl + J” or “Command + J” shortcut we just discussed, but instead of creating a duplicate of the selected layer, it cuts it out and creates a new layer with the cut content. This can be useful when you want to remove an area of an image from one layer and place it on a separate layer for further editing or manipulation.
To use this shortcut, simply select the area or layer you want to cut in the Layers panel or on the canvas, and then press “Ctrl + Shift + J” on Windows or “Command + Shift + J” on Mac. Photoshop will remove the selected area from its original location and create a new layer with the cut content.
Using this shortcut can save you time by eliminating the need to manually create a new layer and copy/paste the cut content to it. It can also help you keep your Layers panel organized by creating a new layer specifically for the cut content.
Overall, “Ctrl + Shift + J” or “Command + Shift + J” is a useful shortcut for cutting the selected area or layer to a new layer in Photoshop. It can help you work more efficiently and effectively in your projects.
Shortcut 18: Ctrl + Shift + Alt + N (Windows) or Command + Shift + Option + N (Mac): Create a new layer
Shortcut 18 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + Shift + Alt + N” on Windows or “Command + Shift + Option + N” on Mac, which allows you to quickly create a new layer.
Creating new layers is a fundamental aspect of working in Photoshop, and this shortcut can save you time and effort in doing so. Instead of manually navigating through the Layers panel or using the menus to create a new layer, you can use this shortcut to create a new layer instantly.
To use this shortcut, simply press “Ctrl + Shift + Alt + N” on Windows or “Command + Shift + Option + N” on Mac, and a new layer will be created in the Layers panel. The new layer will be added above the currently selected layer or at the top of the layer stack if no layer is selected.
Using this shortcut can help you work more efficiently in Photoshop by reducing the amount of time and clicks needed to create a new layer. It’s especially useful when you need to create multiple layers quickly, such as when working on complex compositions or designs.
Overall, “Ctrl + Shift + Alt + N” or “Command + Shift + Option + N” is a simple yet powerful shortcut that can save you time and effort in creating new layers in Photoshop.
Shortcut 19: Ctrl + Alt + G (Windows) or Command + Option + G (Mac): Create a clipping mask
Shortcut 19 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + Alt + G” on Windows or “Command + Option + G” on Mac, which allows you to create a clipping mask.
A clipping mask is a powerful tool in Photoshop that allows you to create complex and creative effects by applying an adjustment or a layer to a specific area of an underlying layer. Clipping masks are often used in photo editing, graphic design, and digital art to create unique and interesting effects.
To create a clipping mask using this shortcut, you first need to have two layers in your document. The layer you want to apply the adjustment or layer to should be on top, while the underlying layer serves as the mask. Select the layer you want to apply the adjustment to and press “Ctrl + Alt + G” on Windows or “Command + Option + G” on Mac.
When you create a clipping mask, the layer you want to apply the adjustment to is clipped to the underlying layer, and the adjustment is only applied to the area where the two layers intersect. The result is a unique effect that can be further adjusted and customized using other tools and features in Photoshop.
Using the “Ctrl + Alt + G” or “Command + Option + G” shortcut can save you time and effort in creating complex and creative effects using clipping masks. It’s a useful tool to have in your Photoshop toolbox and can be used in a variety of projects and designs.
Shortcut 20: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E (Windows) or Command + Option + Shift + E (Mac): Create a new layer from visible
Shortcut 20 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E” on Windows or “Command + Option + Shift + E” on Mac, which allows you to create a new layer from visible.
This shortcut is useful when you want to create a new layer that contains a merged copy of all visible layers in your document. It’s a quick way to create a composite layer that you can use for further editing or export.
To use this shortcut, make sure that all the layers you want to merge are visible. Then press “Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E” on Windows or “Command + Option + Shift + E” on Mac. Photoshop will create a new layer on top of all the other layers in your document, which contains a merged copy of all visible layers.
This shortcut is especially useful when you’re working with a large number of layers and want to simplify your document by merging some of the layers. It can also be helpful when you want to export a single layer or selection from your document without having to merge all the layers manually.
By using the “Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E” or “Command + Option + Shift + E” shortcut, you can save time and streamline your workflow when working with complex Photoshop documents.
Shortcut 21: Ctrl + G (Windows) or Command + G (Mac): Group layers
Shortcut 21 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + G” on Windows or “Command + G” on Mac, which allows you to group layers.
Grouping layers is a way to organize your document by creating a folder that contains multiple layers. This can help you keep track of different elements of your design and make it easier to work with them as a single unit.
To use this shortcut, select the layers you want to group and press “Ctrl + G” on Windows or “Command + G” on Mac. This will create a new group layer containing the selected layers.
You can also create a new group layer by clicking on the “New Group” button at the bottom of the Layers panel or by going to Layer > New > Group from the menu bar.
Once you’ve created a group layer, you can rename it by double-clicking on the name in the Layers panel, or you can drag and drop layers into or out of the group to reorganize your document.
Grouping layers is particularly useful when working with complex designs or illustrations with many layers. By organizing your layers into groups, you can easily hide or show different parts of your design, adjust the opacity or blending mode of an entire group, or move and transform the group as a single unit.
Overall, using the “Ctrl + G” or “Command + G” shortcut to group layers can save you time and help you work more efficiently in Adobe Photoshop.
Shortcut 22: Ctrl + Shift + G (Windows) or Command + Shift + G (Mac): Ungroup layers
Shortcut 22 on the list of popular Adobe Photoshop shortcuts is “Ctrl + Shift + G” on Windows or “Command + Shift + G” on Mac, which allows you to ungroup layers.
When you have grouped layers using the “Ctrl + G” or “Command + G” shortcut, you can use the “Ctrl + Shift + G” or “Command + Shift + G” shortcut to ungroup them.
To ungroup a group layer, select the group layer in the Layers panel and press “Ctrl + Shift + G” on Windows or “Command + Shift + G” on Mac. This will remove the group layer and turn the contained layers into separate layers in the Layers panel.
You can also ungroup layers by right-clicking on the group layer in the Layers panel and selecting “Ungroup Layers” from the context menu.
Ungrouping layers is useful when you want to make changes to individual layers that were previously grouped, or when you want to remove a group from your document altogether. Once you’ve ungrouped a group layer, you can move, transform, and edit the individual layers as needed.
Overall, using the “Ctrl + Shift + G” or “Command + Shift + G” shortcut to ungroup layers can save you time and help you work more efficiently in Adobe Photoshop, especially when you’re working with complex designs with many layers.
Shortcut 23: Ctrl + ; (Windows) or Command + ; (Mac): Show or hide the grid
Shortcut 23: Ctrl + ; (Windows) or Command + ; (Mac) is used to show or hide the grid in Adobe Photoshop. The grid is a set of non-printing lines or dots that can be superimposed on an image to help with layout and composition. The grid is particularly useful when aligning and arranging elements on a design or when working with precise measurements.
Pressing the shortcut key combination Ctrl + ; (Windows) or Command + ; (Mac) will toggle the grid on and off. If the grid is already visible, pressing the same key combination will hide it.
In addition to showing or hiding the grid, Photoshop also provides the option to customize the grid settings. Users can change the spacing, color, style, and other properties of the grid to suit their needs. This can be done by going to the “View” menu and selecting “Show” and then “Grid” or by using the keyboard shortcut mentioned above. From there, users can adjust the grid settings using the “Preferences” option in the “Edit” menu.
Shortcut 24: Ctrl + ‘ (Windows) or Command + ‘ (Mac): Show or hide the guides
Shortcut 24: Ctrl + ‘ (Windows) or Command + ‘ (Mac) is used to show or hide the guides in Adobe Photoshop. Guides are non-printing lines that can be added to an image to help with layout and composition. They are particularly useful when aligning and arranging elements on a design or when working with precise measurements.
Pressing the shortcut key combination Ctrl + ‘ (Windows) or Command + ‘ (Mac) will toggle the visibility of the guides on and off. If the guides are already visible, pressing the same key combination will hide them.
Guides can be added to an image by dragging from the rulers or by going to the “View” menu and selecting “New Guide.” From there, users can choose to add a horizontal or vertical guide and specify its position. Guides can also be moved, deleted, or cleared from the “View” menu or by using the Move tool.
In addition to showing or hiding the guides, Photoshop provides the option to customize the guide settings. Users can change the color and style of the guides or enable snapping to guides to help with precise positioning of elements. These options can be accessed by going to the “Preferences” option in the “Edit” menu.
Shortcut 25: Ctrl + Shift + ; (Windows) or Command + Shift + ; (Mac): Lock or unlock the guides
Shortcut 25: Ctrl + Shift + ; (Windows) or Command + Shift + ; (Mac): Lock or unlock the guides.
This keyboard shortcut is used to lock or unlock the guides in Adobe Photoshop. Guides are non-printing lines that are used to help align objects in your design. By default, guides are not locked, which means that they can be accidentally moved or deleted. Locking guides helps prevent this from happening.
To lock or unlock guides using this shortcut, you can simply press Ctrl + Shift + ; on Windows or Command + Shift + ; on Mac. This will toggle the lock status of the guides. When the guides are locked, a padlock icon will appear next to them in the Layers panel.
Locking the guides is a useful feature when you need to make sure that the guides stay in place while you work on your design. It can be especially helpful when you’re working with multiple layers and need to keep the alignment consistent across all of them.
Overall, this is a simple but useful keyboard shortcut that can help you work more efficiently in Adobe Photoshop.
In conclusion, knowing and mastering Adobe Photoshop shortcuts can greatly improve your workflow and productivity. These 25 popular shortcuts cover a wide range of actions, from basic tasks such as saving and undoing to more advanced functions like layer manipulation and transforming. Learning and using these shortcuts can save you time and effort, allowing you to focus on creating amazing designs and artwork. Additionally, it is worth noting that these shortcuts can vary depending on your version of Photoshop and operating system, so it’s always a good idea to check your software’s documentation for a full list of available shortcuts.
