Adobe® Photoshop® CS2 Studio Techniques

The Logic Behind the Keyboard Commands

Did you notice that Adobe limits the keyboard shortcuts you can assign to different commands? That's because there is a general logic to what different keys on your keyboard do within Photoshop. The Command key (Mac) or Ctrl key (Windows) does one of two things. If you press it all by itself, then it will access the Move tool for however long that key is held. If you press it along with another key, then it will replace a menu command. The only exceptions you'll find are ones that involve an F key, which can also replace a menu command (like Shift-F5 to access the Edit > Fill dialog box). Now let's look at what the other modifier keys do in Photoshop so you won't be surprised by the keyboard shortcuts that ...