10 Genius Photoshop Features You Didn’t Know Existed
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Jump to a step in the video (10)
Click a time to play the video from there.
- 0:00 01 - Eyedropper Tool Outside of Photoshop
- 0:26 02 - Fade Command
- 1:11 03 - Reconstruct with Liquify
- 1:42 04 - Open the Same Document in Two Windows
- 2:43 05 - Math in Photoshop Input Boxes
- 3:13 06 - Step and Repeat Transform
- 4:18 07 - Resizing To An Open Document
- 5:17 08 - Tracking your actions with the History Log
- 6:50 09 - Blending Mode Tip for Compositions
- 7:56 10 - Converting Images to Different File Types
Your choices stick across every tutorial on this device.
These ten genius Photoshop features will revolutionize your photo editing experience.
Are you ready to take your Photoshop skills to the next level? Whether you’re an aspiring artist or a seasoned pro, Photoshop always has more to offer.
These Photoshop Tips will help you work more efficiently and creatively. So, let’s dive right in!
Note: The video was recorded in Photoshop 2023 (version 24.7). Every feature in this article still works the same way in the current version of Photoshop.
Key Takeaways
- The Eyedropper Tool can sample color from any app on your screen, not just your Photoshop canvas.
- Fade only works immediately after your last edit. Saving your file or applying another change locks it out.
- Brush Reconstruct removes the ghosting effect that Fade leaves behind in Liquify.
- Photoshop’s input boxes accept math, so you can type an equation like 360/15 instead of calculating it yourself.
- A group’s default Pass Through blending mode lets adjustments inside it affect every layer below it. Switching to Normal traps that effect inside the group.
- The History Log can export your edit history as a separate text file, not just metadata inside the image.
Table of contents
- What You Will Learn
- Requirements
- Genius Photoshop Features Keyboard Shortcuts
- 1. Eyedropper Tool Magic
- 2. The Fade Command
- 3. Precise Liquify Adjustments
- 4. Open The Same Document In Two Windows
- 5. Math Input Boxes: Let Photoshop Do the Math
- 6. Transform Repeat for Efficiency
- 7. Precisely match dimensions using the Crop Tool
- 8. Keep a Detailed History Log
- 9. Master Group Blending Modes
- 10. The Image Processing Machine
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
- Related Links
What You Will Learn
- How to sample color from outside Photoshop with the Eyedropper Tool
- How to fade or reconstruct an adjustment without leaving a ghosting effect
- How to view and edit the same document in two windows at once
- How to use math and step-and-repeat transforms to space duplicates evenly
- How to match one document’s size to another with the Crop Tool
- How to record a written step-by-step history of your edits
Requirements
Before you start
- Photoshop 2023 (version 24.7) or the current version.
Genius Photoshop Features Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Fade the last edit | Ctrl Shift F | Command Shift F |
| Free Transform | Ctrl T | Command T |
| Repeat last transform | Ctrl Shift T | Command Shift T |
| Duplicate layer and repeat transform | Ctrl Alt Shift T | Command Option Shift T |
| Open Preferences to enable the History Log | Ctrl K | Command K |
1. Eyedropper Tool Magic
Everyone knows you can use the Eyedropper Tool to select a color from a photo.
But did you know you can do much more with it?
By minimizing the Photoshop frame, clicking inside the canvas, and dragging outside of it, you can use the Eyedropper Tool to select colors from any other app or website!
This is a game-changer for matching colors from various sources.
2. The Fade Command
Don’t settle for irreversible changes in Photoshop.
After using most tools, filters, and adjustments, you can fade the change you just made. Go to Edit > Fade, or press CtrlShiftF (Windows) or CommandShiftF (macOS). The menu label is generated from your last action. It reads Fade Burn Tool right after you use the Burn Tool, or Fade Gaussian Blur right after you run that filter.
From the Fade window, you can reduce the Opacity and, in some cases, change the Blending Mode of the last adjustment.
This is fantastic for retouching, allowing you to achieve a more natural look.
3. Precise Liquify Adjustments
When using the Liquify filter, it’s easy to go overboard.
Instead of settling for a ghosting effect when you “Fade” the result, try the “Brush Reconstruct” option.
Click on the Reconstruct button under Brush Reconstruct Options, then reduce the intensity to achieve a realistic effect without the ghosting.
Then under the Revert Reconstruction button, use the slider to reduce the intensity of the Liquify adjustment.
4. Open The Same Document In Two Windows
To efficiently work with intricate details in your images, you can open the same document in another window in Photoshop.
Simply go to Window > Arrange > and choose “New Window for [your document name].”
Then go to Window > Arrange > 2-up Vertical to place them side-by-side.
Now when you make changes to one window they will display in another. This feature is perfect for zooming in on one window to focus on details while keeping the entire image visible in the second window.
5. Math Input Boxes: Let Photoshop Do the Math
You don’t need to be a math whiz to use Photoshop’s math input boxes.
Whether you need to adjust canvas size or resize text, Photoshop can do the math for you.
Enter equations like *4/3 (times four divided by 3) or /2 (divide by two) in the appropriate input boxes, and Photoshop will handle the calculations for you.
6. Transform Repeat for Efficiency
Streamline repetitive transformations with ease.
Press CtrlT (Windows) or CommandT (macOS) to apply a transformation, and Photoshop will remember your actions.
You can then press CtrlShiftT (Windows) or CommandShiftT (macOS) to repeat those steps on the same or different layers.
Add Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) to duplicate the layer and apply the transformation simultaneously, saving you time and effort.
Duplicate elements evenly around an object with precision.
Combine math input boxes with transformation repeats for even more power.
For example, if you want to duplicate an element around an object 15 times evenly, enter 360/15 in the Angle input box.
Then press CtrlAltShiftT (Windows) or CommandOptionShiftT (macOS) 14 times to create perfectly spaced duplicates around the coin.
7. Precisely match dimensions using the Crop Tool
To resize a document to match another open document’s dimensions, enable the Crop Tool.
From the Crop Size drop-down menu, choose “Front Image.”
When you go to the second document, the Crop Tool will be active with the dimensions of the first image.
It’s a quick way to ensure your images have the same size, no matter how small or large you cropped them.
8. Keep a Detailed History Log
Automatically create step-by-step tutorials with ease.
Enable the History Log by going to Preferences or by pressing CtrlK (Windows) or CommandK (macOS), selecting the “History Log” checkbox, and choosing where to save the log.
This feature records all your edits, including settings used, allowing you to export detailed step-by-step tutorials or track changes for clients and legal purposes.
9. Master Group Blending Modes
Turn groups into powerful compositing tools.
Change the Blending Mode of a group to “Normal” to treat it as a single flat layer.
This lets you create adjustment layers that affect only the contents inside the group, providing greater flexibility without the need for layer masks or clipping masks.
10. The Image Processing Machine
Effortlessly convert multiple images into different file types.
The Image Processor, found under File > Scripts > Image Processor, is a cool feature for batch conversions.
Select the folder containing the images you want to convert, choose the location to save processed images and the destination file format (JPEG, PSD, or TIFF).
You can even resize or run actions on each image.
Click Run, and Photoshop will automatically process and save all your images according to your settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
This tutorial covers ten genius Photoshop features, including the Eyedropper Tool, the Fade command, Liquify reconstruction, and the History Log. It also covers Free Transform repeats, math in input boxes, the Crop Tool, group blending modes, and the Image Processor.
Yes. Minimize the Photoshop application frame, click inside the canvas with the Eyedropper Tool, and drag onto any other app or website. Photoshop updates the sampled color in real time as you drag.
The Fade command, found under Edit > Fade, reduces the opacity and sometimes the blending mode of your last edit. It only works immediately after you apply a change, before you do anything else.
Fading a Liquify edit creates a ghosting effect between the original and edited pixels. The Brush Reconstruct option removes that ghosting while still reducing how strong the adjustment looks.
Apply a transformation with CtrlT (Windows) or CommandT (macOS). Press CtrlShiftT (Windows) or CommandShiftT (macOS) to repeat it on the same or a different layer. Add Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) to duplicate the layer at the same time.
Enable the Crop Tool, then choose Front Image from the Crop Size menu while your first document is active. Switch to the second document, and the Crop Tool loads with the first image’s exact dimensions.
The History Log, enabled in Preferences, records every edit you make along with the settings you used. You can save it as a text file, as metadata, or both, which turns your session into a written step-by-step tutorial.
Setting a group’s Blending Mode to Normal makes Photoshop treat it as one flattened layer. Any adjustment layer placed inside then affects only the contents of that group, not the layers below it.
Conclusion
These ten genius Photoshop features cover shortcuts most people never find on their own, from Eyedropper tricks to a fully automated History Log.
Try one feature at a time in your own files, then build up to combining a few of them, like pairing Free Transform repeats with the math input boxes.
Comment on the video if you have a question about any of these features.
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