Photoshop Workshop - Essential Shortcuts
Photoshop has many keyboard shortcuts -- some are "documented" on menu drop-downs but many are not. This is not an exhaustive list; you can see more shortcuts on the Photoshop 7 Reference Guide (pdf).
Right-click almost anything in the working window to active a context-sensitive menu; one-button Macs need to Control-Click.
In the following table:
C* = control key on a PC and command (apple key) on a Mac
A* = alt key on a PC and option key on a Mac
A* = alt key on a PC and option key on a Mac
| Name | Shortcut | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Commands | ||
| Copy | C*-C | Copies the selected area of the currently active layer. |
| Copy Merged | C*-shift +C | Copies everything that is visible within the selection, incorporating all (visible, lower) layers. |
| New File | C*-N | Create a new Photoshop document. |
| Open File | C*-0 | That's the letter O not zero. |
| C*-P | ||
| Save File | C*-S | |
| Save As | C*-shift-S | Allows you to change file name, file type or folder. |
| Paste | C*-V | Pastes the contents of clipboard. |
| Cut | C*-X | Deletes the selected area of the currently active layer. |
| Undo | C*-Z | Reverses the current action. Toggle (pressing again will "redo"). |
| Multiple Undo | C*-A*-Z | Steps you backward through multiple changes. You can reconfigure C*-Z to have this functionality (instead of toggle) in preferences. |
| Tools | ||
| D | Foreground/background | Reset foreground/background to default B/W. |
| E | Eraser | Set size (diameter) of the eraser in brushes palette. |
| I | Eyedropper | Use to select color from existing document. |
| M | Marquee | This is the "selection" tool in the upper right of the tool bar. It allows you to select all or part of an image.
To add to the current selection, hold down the Shift key as you select. To subtract, hold down the Alt/Opt key. |
| T | Text | Activates text tool. |
| V | Move tool | This is the "arrow" tool in the upper right of the tool bar. It allows you to drag or nudge (move) the selection. |
| X | Switch foreground/background colors | For example, B/W becomes W/B. |
| Z | Zoom | Also possible by using C*-+. |
| Actions | ||
| A*-Delete | Fills with foreground color | To limit the fill to only non-transparent pixels, add shift key. |
| C*-Delete | Fills with background color | To limit the fill to only non-transparent pixels, add shift key. |
| C*-T | Free Transform | To make the same transformation again, Transform Again, press C*-shift-T. To duplicate and transform the copy, press C*-A*-T |
| C*-+ | Zoom | Enlarge view of current image. C*-- will reduce the view. |
| Palettes | ||
| F6 | Color Palette | Toggles view |
| F7 | Layers Palette | Toggles view |
| F8 | Info Palette | Toggles view |
| Tab | Hide Open Palettes | Toggles view; shift-tab will retain toolbox |
