Photoshop is a powerful, but complex, graphics program that can be difficult to learn and frustrating to use. We have published many articles about tips and tricks for using Photoshop and how to fix annoying issues you may encounter.
This article compiles 30 of the best tips and tricks we have documented to help you get the most out of Photoshop.
10 Common Photoshop Frustrations (and How to Fix Them in Five Minutes)
Do your cursor or panels in Photoshop keep disappearing? Are your important image files no longer associated with Photoshop? Have you lost control over the automatic “Smart Quotes?” You may have encounter these frustrating issues and can’t figure out how to fix them. The following article lists 10 of the most common Photoshop frustrations and simple solutions to fix them.Remove Backgrounds Automatically with a Free Photoshop Action
Photoshop actions are recordable programs you can create and save without any knowledge of programming. There are many ways to isolate an object in an image or remove a background in Photoshop. The following article shows you a very easy, one-button method using an action file you can download.How to Make Hundreds of Complex Photo Edits in Seconds With Photoshop Actions
The previous tip provided you with a ready-made, downloadable Action file for removing backgrounds automatically. You can create Photoshop Actions to perform just about any task very quickly and easily. Do you need to make tweaks to a large number of images? The following article shows you to use Photoshop Actions to perform some complicated tweaks to many images at one time automatically.How to Save, Share, Download, and Install Custom Photoshop Actions
We’ve shown you how to tweak many images at once using Photoshop Actions and provided you with a downloadable Action file for removing backgrounds automatically. You can export Actions you create to share or archive, and even download actions you find on the internet. However, exporting, sharing, and installing downloaded actions can be confusing. The following article provides simple instructions on how to do all three.50+ Tools & Techniques to Remove Image Backgrounds in Photoshop
We showed you earlier in this article how to remove image backgrounds easily using an action. However, there are many other ways to remove backgrounds and isolate objects in Photoshop. The following three-part article shows you more than 50 ways backgrounds can be deleted, erased, masked, hidden, and removed.How to Use Layer Masks and Vector Masks to Remove Complex Backgrounds in Photoshop
Layer Masks and Vector Masks were discussed briefly in the article about 50+ ways to remove image backgrounds in Photoshop. You can use these tools to remove a background and allow yourself to use parts of the removed background later, if you decide. The following article explains what a Layer Mask is and shows you two methods to use them that works in almost any version of Photoshop. One method is a simpler example for less experienced Photoshop users, and the other is for users with more experience and who are comfortable using the Pen tool and vectors.3 Easy Tips to Fix Ugly Edges When Removing Backgrounds
We’ve shown you many ways to remove backgrounds. However, what do you do when you’ve removed the background or cut out objects from photographs and end up with some rough, ugly looking edges? The following article shows you three different scenarios for fixing the ugly edges and make your image look great on any background.Learn How to Make HDR Images in Photoshop or GIMP With a Simple Trick
High Dynamic Range (HDR) is a post-processing method of drawing out a lot of details from a series of exposures of an image, using many techniques to create images you could not obtain from normal cameras. The following article shows you how to apply your image editing skills and some manual settings in Photoshop to create some amazing HDR photographs.How to Make Faux HDR Photos With Stylized Shadows and Details
Now, that you’ve learned how to make HDR images in Photoshop, we’ll show you how to get an effect on your photos similar to the heavy, stylized shadows of HDR photography. The following article shows a beginner method using Photoshop and a more advanced method using a freeware program called Raw Therapee to use stylized shadows and details to make faux HDR photos.My Photos Look Different on the Internet! How Can I Fix Them?
It’s very frustrating to spend a long time getting a photo to look just right, only to find it looks completely different in your browser once you’ve uploaded it to your site. You may have thought it was just the way the browser displays photos and it couldn’t be fixed. We explain why this happens in the following article and how you can easily fix the problem.How to Fix the Dark Shadows that Ruin Great Photos
If you’ve taken a photo that turned out great, except for those annoying shadows that ruin it, we can help you salvage that photo. The following article shows you how to use Photoshop and GIMP to quickly turn those photos from “almost perfect” to great, bringing the detail back out of the shadows.How to Make Classic Red/Cyan 3D Photos Out of Any Image
Have you ever thought it would be fun to create your own 3D photos, you can easily do so using Photoshop. The following article shows you how to create classic Red/Cyan 3D photos from any image using simple trick image editing. There’s a simple method for beginner users of Photoshop, and an optional second part that adds a “little more oomph” to your photos.What is a Histogram, and How Can I Use it to Improve My Photos?
A Histogram is an important and powerful tool in the digital imagemaker’s toolbox. An in-camera histogram can help improve your photographs as you take them. However, you can also use histograms in Photoshop to improve camera raw photos. The following article shows you how to correctly read a histogram and teaches you a few simple rules that can make you a better image editor and also allow you to shoot better photographs in the first place.Create Instagram Style Photo Effects with GIMP or Photoshop
Have you ever wanted to create your own vintage photo effects? There are special programs that help you create vintage effects, like Instagram. However, these effects can easily be replicated in Photoshop, or even GIMP. The following article shows you how to easily approximate or reverse engineer vintage effects like those generated by Instagram.The Best HTG Photoshop Effects in One Free Download: Action Pack #1
Now, that you’ve learned how to apply some fun Photoshop effects manually, you can also apply them quickly and automatically using Actions. We explained Actions earlier in this article as recordable programs you can create and save without any knowledge of programming. We have created the free How-To Geek Photoshop Action Pack to allow you to easily apply great effects to your images with the touch of a button. The following article provides the link to the download and lists the effects available in the pack. The “How to Save, Share, Download, and Install Custom Photoshop Actions” tip earlier in this article describes how to install downloaded Actions.HTG Explains: Cameras, Lenses, and How Photography Works
Have you bought a digital SLR (single-lens reflex) camera and gotten totally confused once you started to try to learn the photography jargon and how to use the different features of the camera? The following article explains photography basics and how your camera works. Learning the basics can help you take better pictures whether you are using a digital SLR camera or a cell phone camera.RGB? CMYK? Alpha? What Are Image Channels and What Do They Mean?
Have you ever wondered what image channels are? And what about RGB and CMYK? The channels panel in Photoshop is one of the least used and misunderstood features of the program. But, all images have image channels, whether you are using Photoshop or another image editor. The following article explains what color channels are, what RGB and CMYK are, and teaches you how image files work. The more you understand about image files, the better image editor you’ll become.How to Use Clipping Masks (And Not Layer Masks) in Photoshop
Earlier in this article we talked about using Layer Masks to remove complex backgrounds. The following article shows you how to use Clipping Masks to dynamically transform text, brush strokes, vectors, or any sort of layer with ease and explains the difference between Layer Masks and Clipping Masks. The article also provides a video tutorial about using Clipping Masks.How to Create an Easy Pixel Art Avatar in Photoshop or GIMP
Do you like pixel art? Do you want to create a pixel art avatar for yourself? You can do so easily using a few simple filters in Photoshop or GIMP. We have covered different methods of creating pixel art from ordinary images, but this method uses a different technique. The following article shows you two examples of turning ordinary photographs into pixel art using both Photoshop and GIMP.How to Create Your Own Custom ASCII Art from Any Image
This may be a useless task, but creating pictures from monospaced ASCII characters can be fun. They’re used sometimes in text-based FAQs and monospaced email signatures. If you’ve wondered how they were made, the following article shows you how to do it using a free tool you can download.How to Get Amazing Color from Photos in Photoshop, GIMP, and Paint.NET
If the color in some of your digital photos didn’t turn out the way you wanted, Photoshop and GIMP (and even Paint.NET) have excellent color correction tools. These tools allow you to change color problems in your photos that may have been caused by the environment, lighting, or maybe settings on the camera when you took the picture. The following article shows you the tools that can help you adjust the color in your images for each of the three programs listed.What Can Super Mario Teach Us About Graphics Technology?
You may think that Super Mario Brothers or Mario Galaxy are only games played for fun. However, they can teach you lessons about graphics and the concepts behind them. The following article will help you learn from Mario about pixels, polygons, computers, and math.Inspire Geek Love with These Hilarious Geek Valentines
It may only be Thanksgiving next week, but Valentine’s Day is not that far away. How would you like to send people the old elementary school-style, but geeky, valentines? The following article shows you how to make your own custom Valentine’s Day cards and provides a link to download the How-To Geek ready-made, geeky Valentine’s Day cards.How to Colorize Black and White Vintage Photographs in Photoshop
Have you scanned in old black and white vintage photographs and wished you could add color to them. The following article shows you how easy it is to use Photoshop to quickly add color to any black and white photograph.How to Process Camera Raw Without Paying for Adobe Photoshop
If you need to process Camera RAW, or what can be thought of a digital negative, you may think you need an expensive program like Photoshop, or even a more modestly priced program like Lightroom. However, there is a freeware option that can help you achieve professional results without the prohibitive costs. The following article shows you a great freeware option, called Raw Therapee, and how to use it properly.How to Use and Master the Notoriously Difficult Pen Tool in Photoshop
If you’ve been scared off by the notorious Pen Tool in Photoshop, don’t give up hope yet. It may seem intimidating, but you can master it. The following article provides tips and videos to help you learn to use the complex, but easy, Pen Tool.HTG Projects: Create a Pop Art Sci-Fi Poster with an Inkjet Printer
Would you like to create your own cool artwork to decorate your house? You can easily create a Pop Art style poster in minutes using some Sci-Fi pictures and simple tools. The following article shows how to use a simple process called “posterization” to easily create a cool poster on your inkjet printer.How to Make Photos Look Like Pencil Drawings in About One Minute
Have you ever watched someone at a mall photobooth create a “pencil drawing” from a photo and wished you could do that? The following article shows you some smart adjustments and an easy technique suitable for beginners that will allow you to turn your favorite photos into tonal, pencil art style images.How to Make a YouTube Video Into an Animated GIF
Animated GIFs may not be very useful, but they can be fun to make and turn out funny. The following article shows you how to quickly turn your favorite YouTube videos into animated GIFs using Photoshop.How to Remove People and Objects From Photographs in Photoshop
Earlier in this article we discussed removing backgrounds from photographs. Photoshop also makes it easy to remove people and objects from your photographs. If you have some photographs where one person in the photo managed to ruin an otherwise good photo, the following article shows you how you can easily remove that person from the photo.
These tips and tricks should help you to create some awesome images and not be so intimidated by Photoshop. But, wait! We’re not done yet. Here is a bonus that will save you time when using the Photoshop tools we’ve discussed here and more.
The Send To context menu in Windows 7 can be a very handy tool. It provides quick access to files, folders, and programs. There are items available on the Send To menu that are not obvious at first. They are hidden items that can be revealed by pressing Shift as you right-click on a file.
Do you like to keep your Start menu organized? It’s easy to do once you gain access to the Start menu folder. You can create folders and move shortcuts around to categorize the Start menu items. However, accessing the Start menu folder is not as straightforward as it was in Windows XP. The following article shows you the very easy method of accessing your personal, user-specific Start menu folder and the system-wide Start menu folder.
In Windows 7 and Vista, Microsoft decided to make the Search feature in Windows 7 more convenient by adding a Search box on the Start menu so you can quickly and easily search the files and folders on your computer. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could search the Internet from the Start menu as well? The following article shows you how to do this.
If you run many programs at once in Windows 7 your desktop can get cluttered with many open windows. If you want to tile or cascade only a few of the open windows, it’s a pain to minimize all the windows, re-open only the ones you want to tile or cascade, then choose Tile or Cascade from the Taskbar context menu.
The Aero Peek feature in Windows 7 temporarily makes open windows transparent so you can see what’s on your desktop behind the windows. If you don’t want to use this feature, it is very easy to turn it off.
If you use the command prompt a lot in Windows, we have a easy trick that you can do in Windows 7 and Vista to quickly open a command prompt window without having to search for it on the Start menu or navigate the Start menu to find the shortcut.
The previous stupid geek trick showed you how to open a command prompt window to the directory currently open in Windows Explorer. You can also go the other way.
If you prefer using the keyboard than the mouse, you will like this stupid geek trick. You can use the keyboard to navigate the File Open or File Save dialog box.
At one point or another, you’ve probably accidentally deleted the wrong file, or duplicated files while trying to actually selecting them using the mouse. Mistakes like this can be very annoying, but there’s a very simple way to reverse them.
If you use Windows Explorer often, it would be useful if you could start your favorite programs right from the Explorer window.
If you like the way you switched among programs in Windows XP, you can get back the XP-Style Alt-Tab switcher in Windows 7 that does not use thumbnails like the Windows 7 version does.
There are several ways to close an application in Windows. You can select the Close or Exit option from the File menu (if there is a menu bar available). You can click the X button in the upper, right corner of the application’s window. You can even right-click on the application’s icon on the Taskbar and select Close window.
There are all kinds of ways of protecting your data. One of the many ways is to hide data in a text file so it can’t be seen by anyone else unless they know what you named your secret compartment.
Sometimes a virus can disable the key combination, Ctrl + Alt + Del, for opening the Task Manager. However, there are other methods for opening the Task Manager, and the following article shows you six different ways to do this.
If some of your programs have really ugly or boring icons, you can change these icons to something more pleasing, while also improving your geek skills. The following article shows you how to change the icon for an application.
Some programs use the Windows Experience Index to enable or disable functionality. If you score is too low, some parts of programs may have limited functionality or even be completely disabled. There is a way to hack the Windows Experience Index to increase your score without buying a new PC and unlock functionality in some programs that was limited or disabled before.
Hack the Firefox Profile Data Storage
Make Zip Files with the Same Name as a Selected File
If you don’t like the file browsing experience in Windows Explorer, you have a free, powerful file browser available to you. We found it to be less buggy and slow than Windows Explorer and the viewing mode doesn’t revert back to a view you didn’t select. The following article shows you how to get the most out of 7-Zip as a file browser.
If you want to randomize some pictures when running them in a slideshow or in a digital picture frame, you can easily randomly rename every file in a directory using a batch script provided in the following article.