When working in Photoshop, simple tasks can become a hindrance to your workflow.

So to help out, we've got a great selection of Photoshop shortcuts right here, all
guaranteed to speed up your workflow once you get the hang of them.

We've also got free Photoshop actions to create stunning effects and some brilliant
Photoshop tutorials to help you put them into practise.

Whether you want to change the size of your text, deselect a layer or merge a
series of layers we've got it covered! There are also some handy hints for brushes,
saving and closing, and viewing options. So if you're using an old version of CS or
the latest Creative Cloud, these shortcuts will speed up your workflow.

Layers

Manipulating and arranging layers is simple with these great shortcuts!

Create New layer

MAC: Shift+Cmd+N

WINDOWS: Shift+Ctrl+N

Get started on your latest project in next to no time with this handy shortcut that
instantly whips up a new layer and dialog box.

Create new layer behind selected layer

MAC: Ctrl+New Layer icon

WINDOWS: Cmd+New Layer Icon

Mastering the new layer shortcut is a doddle, so once your ready to drop in a layer
behind it, be sure to use this shortcut.

Fill a layer

MAC: Alt+Backspace (foreground) or Cmd+Backspace (background)

WINDOWS: Alt+Delete (foreground) or Ctrl+Delete (background)

This command will fill an empty later with the current foreground or background
colour.

Flatten layers

MAC: Cmd+Alt+Shift+E

WINDOWS: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E

Add a new, empty layer to the top of your stack, select it and use the above
command to flatten the layers in an image to sharpen the result. This adds a
flattened version of the image to the new layer but leaves the layers intact too.

Merge visible layers

MAC: Cmd+Shift+E

WINDOWS: Ctrl+Shift+E

This command will allow you merge all your existing layers in order to create one
new layer. Beware! Once merged, they are extremely difficult to seperate.

Stamp down selected layers

MAC: Cmd+Alt+E

WINDOWS: Ctrl+Alt+E

Once you've selected your layers, use this command to merge them into just one
layer. To see them merged as a new layer, simply add in the Shift modifier. This is
useful if you need to make adjustments later on.

New layer via copy

MAC: Cmd+J

WINDOWS: Ctrl+J

Use this command to create a new layer from an existing one. Sound complicated?
Give it a go!

New layer via cut

MAC: Cmd+Shift+J

WINDOWS: Ctrl+Shift+J

Like creating a new layer via copy, this command will create a new layer with the
selected image area in it, the only difference via cut is that it will remove the
selected image portion from the original image.

Bring layer to top of stack

MAC: Cmd+Shift+]

WINDOWS: Ctrl+Shift+]

Here, you can move your preferred layer to the top of the stack of images you're
working with in Photoshop.

Send layer to bottom of stack

MAC: Cmd+Shift+[

WINDOWS: Ctrl+Shift+[

This is plenty self-explanatory in that it does exactly the same as the command
above but in the opposite direction.

Bring layer forward

MAC: Cmd+]

WINDOWS: Ctrl+]

This will allow you to bring any selected image to the front.

Send layer back

MAC: Cmd+[

WINDOWS: Ctrl+[

If you decide to change your mind, you can always select the image and send it to
the back of the pile!

Copy multiple layers

MAC: Shift+Cmd+C

WINDOWS: Shift+Ctrl+C

Draw a selection, then use this command to take every layer into the clippig, rather
than just the current layer selection.

Selecting
Adding, subtracting, inverting! Getting selections right has never been easier.

Reselect

MAC: Cmd+Shift+D

WINDOWS: Ctrl+Shift+D

This is a great command for any of you that accidentally click away from a section.
Pressing these buttons will have that section reselected in no time.

Invert selection

MAC: Cmd+Shift+I

WINDOWS: Ctrl+Shift+I

Select objects around an already pre-selected image. This way, you'll be able to
work around your main focus without losing it!

Select all layers

MAC: Cmd+Opt+A

WINDOWS: Ctrl+Alt+A

A perfect command for those times when you need to get everything in sync.

Select bottom layer

MAC: Opt+Comma(,)
WINDOWS: Alt+Comma(,)

This will select the bottom layer in the layers panel.

Select top layer

MAC: Opt+Period(.)

WINDOWS: Alt+Period(.)

This will select the top layer in the layers panel.

Deselect from the selection area

MAC: Opt+drag

WINDOWS: Alt+drag

If you need to deselect a certain area sharpish, then hit these keys.

Deselect all but the intersected area

MAC: Shift+Opt+drag

WINDOWS: Shift+Alt+drag

If you don't want to deselect an area, you can use this shortcut to ensure you're
clicking on what you want.

Deselect the entire image

MAC: Cmd+D

WINDOWS: Ctrl+D
If you need to get away from the image, use this shortcut to deselect anything that
you've clicked on.

Find the sizing handles

MAC: Cmd+T, Cmd+0

WINDOWS: Ctrl+T, then Ctrl+0

When pasting a layer or selection into a Photoshop image and it's bigger than the
current image, it can be difficult to find the sizing handles. This command selects
Transform and sizes the image inside the window so you can see the sizing handles.

Move a selection

MAC: Spacebar+Marquee Tool

WINDOWS: Spacebar+Marquee Tool

Want to move a selection easily? Simple press and hold the Spacebar and continue
to do so until the selection is in the correct place.

Select individual channels

MAC: Cmd+3(red),4(green),5(blue)

WINDOWS: Ctrl+3(red),4(green),5(blue)

Selecting with Photoshop Channels makes removing a complex object from the
background much easier than with other tools. And using this shortcut makes it
even simpler.

Select a colour from an image

MAC: Opt+Brush Tool

 WINDOWS: Alt+Brush Tool

When working with a Photoshop brush, if you want to sample a colour from an
image, instead of clicking the Eyedropper tool, simply hold the Alt or Option key to
switch temporarily. Then let go to return to the Brush tool.

Next page: more Photoshop shortcuts

Increase/decrease brush size

MAC: ]/[
WINDOWS: ]/[
Getting your brush size just right is one of the most important aspects of Photoshop. Do
it with this command.

Fill
MAC: Shift+F5
WINDOWS: Shift+F5
Whether you want to fill the selection with the foreground colour or with a selected
pattern, use this shortcut to get the job done quickly.

Increase/decrease brush hardness

MAC: }/{
WINDOWS: }/{
Brush hardness is just as important, so get it right with this shortcut.

Previous/next brush
MAC: ,/.
WINDOWS: ,/.
Save time and distractions by using these simple commands to swiftly move through the
various brushes on offer.

First/last brush
MAC: </>
WINDOWS: </>
If you don't want to have go through the entire array of Brushes on offer, hit these
commands to go back to the start or end.
 Toggle airbrush option
MAC: Shift+Alt+P
WINDOWS: Shift+Alt+P
Simulate spraying painting with Photoshop's airbrush tool using this helpful shortcut.

Saving and closing

You'll save most things. So these should come in handy.

Save for web & devices
Pretty self-explanatory but if you prefer not to drag your mouse onto a number of
options, use this shortcut on your keyboard.

MAC: Cmd+Shift+Opt+S
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Shift+Alt+S
Close & go to bridge
As the name implies, this will close your document and then open up Adobe Bridge
where you can select the next file you wish to work on.

MAC: Cmd+Shift+W
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Shift+W
Working with your images
 We love Clipping Masks. Does that make us weird? DOES IT?! OK. Fair enough.
Levels
MAC: Command+L
WINDOWS: Ctrl+L
When editing your images, you'll be using the levels box regularly. Save yourself some
time with this Photoshop shortcut.

Free Transform
MAC: Cmd+T
WINDOWS: Cmd+T
This command opens the free transform tool for resizing, rotating, and skewing the
image using a draggable outline.

Curves
MAC: Cmd+M
WINDOWS: Ctrl+M
This will allow you to quickly edit the Curves on your image.

Colour Balance
MAC: Cmd+B
WINDOWS: Ctrl+B
This is a perfect Photoshop shortcut to edit the Colour Balance of your images.
 Hue/Saturation
MAC: Cmd+U
WINDOWS: Ctrl+U
These two powerful Photoshop tools will aid you in the colour balance battle, and will
decrease the amount of crossover.

Desaturate
MAC: Cmd+Shift+U
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Shift+U
Convert your colour image to grayscale values, leaving the image in the same colour
mode.

Quick image fixes

Auto Tone
MAC: Shift+Cmd+L
WINDOWS: Shift+Ctrl+L
Auto Contrast
MAC: Opt+Shift+Cmd+L
WINDOWS: Alt+Shift+Ctrl+L
Auto Color
MAC: Shift+Cmd+B
WINDOWS: Shift+Ctrl+B
After a quick fix for a photo? While they're not reliable cure-alls, these tools are usually
worth a go for automatically improving your images.

Lens correction
MAC: Shift+Cmd+R
WINDOWS: Shift+Ctrl+R
The camera always lies, particularly where lens distortion is involved. Use the lens
correction filter to reduce the effect of barrel distortion, pincushion distortion and
vignetting.

Adaptive Wide Angle

MAC: Opt+Shift+Cmd+A
WINDOWS: Opt+Shift+Ctrl+A
Wide angle lenses can bring their own particular distortions, and Photoshop has a filter
for this. The Adaptive Wide Angle filter can quickly straighten lines that appear curved in
panoramas, or photos taken with fish-eye and wide angle lenses.
 Camera Raw Filter
MAC: Shift+Cmd+A
WINDOWS: Shift+Ctrl+A
With older versions of Photoshop you have to run Adobe Camera Raw as a separate
program, but in Photoshop CC it's available as a filter, enabling you to non-destructively
apply sophisticated adjustments to any image type.

Content aware scale

MAC: Cmd+Shift+Opt+C
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Shift+Alt+C
Scale your image to your preferred state with this super quick shortcut.

Content-Aware Move
MAC & WINDOWS: Shift+J
The latest content-aware tool in Photoshop CC enables you to move objects around in
a photograph, and it'll intelligently fill in the gaps where they used to be.
Create clipping mask
MAC: Cmd+Opt+G
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Alt+G
A great way to keep shadows and shading where they belong, the clipping mask tool is
a basic but useful tool.

Blending modes
MAC: Shift+plus(+) or minus(-)
WINDOWS: Shift+plus(+) or minus(-)
Photoshop has a variety of blending modes to create cool effects. Use this command to
cycle through each.

Black and white dialog box

MAC: Shift+Cmd+Alt+B
WINDOWS: Shift+Ctrl+Alt+B
Speed up the process of converting colour photos to black and white with this shortcut,
which opens the black and white adjustment dialog box.

Change image size

 MAC: Cmd+Opt+i
WINDOWS: Ctrl+Alt+i
Set up your image sizes with ease with this quick and simple shortcut.