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.
The "Blend If" sliders in Photoshop
Not an everyday function, but very useful sometimes.
The Pen Tool
What it's for, and what it's not
Curved box method
How to make a wave-shaped box in Photoshop
Alt/Option key tricks
How many of these do you use in your editing workflow?
Histogram identification test 2: Raw files
Can you match these raw photos to their histograms?
Straightening horizons
How to fix crooked photos
Photoshop’s "Arrange" functions
View multiple photos on your screen at once.
Creating an animated GIF in Photoshop
To show people a before-and-after of your edit.
Brush Tool – difference between opacity and flow
It's a matter of personal taste.
Making PDFs from Photoshop
How to ensure the highest quality.
Itty bitty tips for PS on PC
Small shortcuts for time saving.
A tour of the Actions panel
Learn what all the little buttons and icons do.
Some alternatives to cloning
The Clone Stamp Tool is very useful, but sometimes unnecessary.
Adjustment layers – strength vs opacity
Lowering layer opacity isn't always the same as lowering adjustment strength.
Opacity shortcuts
Speed up your workflow.
Comparing Curves and Levels
They do a lot of the same things, but slightly differently
The overrated adjustment brush
Put it down, and learn from your photos
Shift while brushing
Your best friend for careful masking