PhotoShop.txt. Notes on using Adobe PhotoShop CS5.  Last modified  2/12/2015       

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KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS:
 
Layers
 Duplicate Layer              Ctl-j
 New Layer (no message box)   Ctl-Alt-Shift-n  (Transparent. Changes below show.)
 Merge Copy of Visible Layers Ctl-Alt-Shift-e  (Changes below do not show) 
 Open Black Layer Mask        Alt-click mask

 Copy selection to layer      Ctl-j
 Cut selection to layer       Ctl-Shift-j
 
 Blend Mode Overlay           Alt-Shift-o
 Blend Mode Soft Light        Alt-Shift-f 
 Blend Mode Difference        Alt-Shift-e
 Blend Mode Luminosity        Alt-Shift-y  
 
General
 Numbers                      set opacity  0=100  2=20  25=25

 Temporary hand navigation    Spacebar
 Display 100%                 Ctrl-1 
 Pan multiple images          Shift-drag
 Zoom to location             Click on location, then Ctl-drag
  
 Clone/Pattern Stamp          s    Shift-s to switch among clone tools
                                   (Sample all layers for new transparent layer)
 Healing tools                j    etc. 
 Hand                         h
 Move Tool                    v  (or Ctl-click for temporary move)
 Straighten (rotate) image    i  (Ruler option under eyedropper tool)
  
 Arrange-Tile                 Ctl-/   *  (custom)
 Shadows and Highlights       Ctl-F9  *  (* for custom Action that includes new
 High Pass Filter Action      Ctl-F8  *    merged layer and smart object. 
 Smart Sharpen                Ctl-F7  *    Ctl so works after Curves.)
 Neat Image Noise Reduction   Ctl-F5  *
 Compare Difference 2 Images  Ctl-F4  *
 Save as JPEG                 Ctrl-F10*
 Panasonic FZ200 Curves       F9      * (curves presets for images from Camera Raw)

 Invert Color                 Ctl-i
    
 Free Transform Tool          Ctl-t
   Options                    Right click
   Commit transform           Enter
   Cancel transform           Esc

 Save                         Ctl-s
 Save As                      Ctl-Alt-s
 
Brush
 Default Black/White color    d
 Toggle brush color           x
 smaller brush                [
 larger brush                 ]
 smaller/larger brush         Alt-right click-drag horizontally
 softer/harder brush          Alt-right click-drag vertically

Select 
 Magnetic Lasso/Lasso         l   (Shift-l to switch)
 Deselect                     Ctl-d
 Last Selection               Clt-Shift-d
 Invert Selectin              Ctl-Shift-i
 Quick Mask                   q
 
 
METHODS:

Copy adjustment layer to different image. Duplicate selected layer(s) (right click) 
   to different destination.

Content Aware Fill (to remove objects).  Roughly select outside object and then hit backspace.

White frame for insert photo. Make selection, then Edit> Stroke. 
   Set to about 11 pixels inside. This will be copied with selection.

Selections:  Usually feather about 2 pixels (1-3).
  
  Quick Selection (w) Selects edge beyond cursor and expands as cursor moves.
    Alt-click with cursor outside selection to move selection line back to reduce selected area.

  Magnetic Lasso (l)  Makes selections on edges.  For reasonably precise work, hit Caps Lock to 
    show circle, set contrast to 10% and frequency to 100.
    Can use [ and ] to descrease or increase pixels for edge selection.
    Hold down space bar to temporarily get Hand and navigate.  
    To delete individual anchor points, hit Delete or Backspace.
    Hold Alt to shift to regular Lasso that selects where you click.

  Modify Selection.  Any change made outside current selection must be made with Add to 
    Selection options.  Any change inside current selection must be made with Subtract from 
    Selection.  Can use Shift (add) or Alt (subtract) with Selection Tools or use buttons.  
    Select closed loop and anything outside current selection is added. Anything inside current 
    is removed.  May or may not be contiguous with edge of current selection.
 
  Move Selection (not content).  Have any selection tool active, click inside selection and 
   drag to move. 
  Move Selection with content.  Usual Move (v) or Clt-drag.  
  Move Selection with content to new layer, Ctl-j.
  Move Selection with content to another document. Usual Ctl-c and Ctl-v.
    Or drag layer from the first document into the image of the other document.
 
  Transform Selection. Ctl-t.  For Scale, Shift while dragging CORNER maintains
   aspect ratio. Skew moves one side only.
 
  Refine Selection.  Set view to black and white, turn on smart radius, and then slide radius 
    slider to right until you see the expected changes appear. Can also use Overlay view.  
    For problem areas, click on Redifine Radius tool and paint over problem area.  Can undo 
    with Erase tool (e to toggle). For edge modifications, better to use Quickmask options 
    since they can be viewed and reversed more easily. Good output is New Layer with Mask.
 
  Quickmask (q) specifically for adjusting selections. Equivalent actions (CS3)
    Feather   Filter> Blur > Gaussian Blur  (pixel setting mean same for all)
    Smooth    Filter> Noise> Median
    Expand    Filter> Other> Maximum
    Contract  Filter> Other> Minimum
    Can also refine edges with Gaussian Blur and Curves (lighter or darker)
   
  Save Selections as Alpha Channel under Selections drop down.
  To copy mask to new layer, Alt-drag from old to new layer mask icon.  
  To invert mask, click on mask icon and then Ctrl-i.

 Clippping Mask from layer makes mask black where transparent and rest white.

SETTINGS:

 Curves>Options   Enhance Per Channel Contrast; Snap Midtones; Clip .01% 
 
PROBLEM CASE
 Sometimes Photoshop stops handling copy and paste from clipboard from another program such 
 as Word. In this case, copy the image and close Word--say yes when it asks if you want to 
 keep the file in the clipboard. Photoshop should be able to see the clipboard then.