Articles: Photoshop Tools and Functions
A wide range of technical advice for Photoshop and Elements.
Cropping in the workflow
Don't do it during editing!
Histogram identification test
Can you match these photos to their histograms?
What nobody tells you about Curves
They're powerful, but also damaging if misused.
Smart Objects: What they’re for, and what they’re NOT
Let's separate fact from fiction.
Raw noise removal
Never forget this important step in raw editing.
Alt/Option key tricks
How many of these do you use in your editing workflow?
Straightening horizons
How to fix crooked photos
The Pen Tool
What it's for, and what it's not
Some alternatives to cloning
The Clone Stamp Tool is very useful, but sometimes unnecessary.
The overrated adjustment brush
Put it down, and learn from your photos
Creating an animated GIF in Photoshop
To show people a before-and-after of your edit.
Histogram identification test 2: Raw files
Can you match these raw photos to their histograms?
Opacity shortcuts
Speed up your workflow.
A tour of the Actions panel
Learn what all the little buttons and icons do.
Brush Tool – difference between opacity and flow
It's a matter of personal taste.
Itty bitty tips for PS on PC
Small shortcuts for time saving.
Photoshop’s "Arrange" functions
View multiple photos on your screen at once.
Shift while brushing
Your best friend for careful masking
Adjustment layers – strength vs opacity
Lowering layer opacity isn't always the same as lowering adjustment strength.
Comparing Curves and Levels
They do a lot of the same things, but slightly differently
The "Blend If" sliders in Photoshop
Not an everyday function, but very useful sometimes.
Curved box method
How to make a wave-shaped box in Photoshop
Making PDFs from Photoshop
How to ensure the highest quality.