Photoshop® CS3 Layers Bible

Appendix B. Shortcuts for Working with Layers

One of the keys —pun intended — to becoming super-efficient with Photoshop is its wide range of keyboard and mouse shortcuts. Sure, you can get by with using just the mouse (or graphics tablet) and the menu options to do practically everything. However, most professionals quickly learn that the best way to get the job done quickly is to use shortcuts whenever possible. And time is money, as they say.

For example, after you've memorized it, it's so much quicker to press Ctrl+G (

In this appendix, we give you a list of shortcuts that you may find useful when working with layers. We've organized them into separate tables, for ease of reference. They're roughly in the order of the chapters in the book: managing layers, transforming layers, type layers, shape layers, adjustment and fill layers, layer blending modes, Smart Objects and Smart Filters, masks, layer effects and styles, and layer comps. We also include a few miscellaneous shortcuts that, while not directly related to layers, are nonetheless useful to know when working with layers.

Note

Just to clarify: by shortcut we mean using the mouse, keyboard, or a combination of the two to do something the quick way — for example, Shift+clicking something rather than selecting a menu option. Occasionally in this appendix, we bend the rules a little and include a mouse or keyboard action even if ...