Quick Zoom; and the Color Dropper Tool

Oh, I have not been faithfully updating this! :)
K. I promise to get better!
I am determined to share my Photoshop knowledge with you all!

SO, to make up for it; Here is a couple of tips in one post :) YEAH!
They are just small, but they can be mighty helpful..

1st Tip:
If you are working on a layout and you need to zoom to view it at 100% a quick and easy way to do that is to double click on the zoom tool. This zooms your image to view it at 100% instead of the measly 15-25% that you normally view at. Then just hold down the space bar and your move tool becomes the hand tool and you can drag your layout to see whatever area of it you'd like to. To zoom back out again, just double click on the zoom tool again.

2nd Tip:
Kind of similar to the first tip, but not..
If you want to zoom your layout to fit as large as your screen size will allow. Double click on the hand tool. This is also a helpful short cut for when your layouts get away from you and you have accidentally moved your layout too high up on your screen to be able to resize or minimize it. This shortcut has really saved me a couple of times! :)

Last tip!
Ok. And this one is one of my FAVORITE TIPS!!
Did you know that your eye dropper tool can be used to sample color anywhere on your screen? You can even sample colors online!! WOOHOO!! To use this little trick. Reduce your Photoshop window so you can see a part of your screen, but still technically be in Photoshop. Click on the eyedropper tool and then click anywhere inside your open photo/layout. Then, without letting go of your mouse; you can drag your eyedropper tool to anywhere else on your screen and sample color anywhere. Pretty Slick.

Woohoo! The sky is the limit! Have Fun!

Tip #1 Clipping Paths

K. So I realize it has been over two weeks since I said I would start posting tips in here! :) So I guess I had better live up to my word! ;)

The first tip that I want to talk about is using Clipping Paths. Now this may be fairly obvious to some of you; but for those that have not unleashed the power of the clipping path, well my friend you just do not know what you are missing!!

So what is a clipping path? Technically; A clipping path is a vector path which allows part of an image to show while hiding the rest of the image, effectively rendering part of the image transparent. Say WHAT?

Well, it breaks down like this : )

Let's say you have some word art, and you want to either change it's color, or maybe apply some paper to it. Well, you could just make a brush out of it and then go from there; but.. If you apply a clipping path to it.. Well, the possiblilites are just about endless ;)

MINI TUT TIME:
1. First start by downloading this word art. Open it up in Photoshop, and then chose one of your favorite papers.

2. Next drag your paper over the top of your word art.

3. Now there are several ways to create a clipping path. (like all things Photoshop!) You can;

Use your keyboard short cuts:

In CS2 = Ctrl+Alt+G
CS or lower = Ctrl + G

Or Hold down your ALT button while you click between the two layers in your layers palette; (When you do this your mouse pointer changes into the little Clipping Path Icon)


You may not realize yet what a cool little trick this is. This is a great way to paint shapes and word art. Load your favorite grungy brushes; create a new layer on top of your shape or word art layer; Create your clipping path and now start painting. Your brushes will only paint inside the path. That is how I created these little rub on images from My Gypsy Rose Kit.



I also used a clipping path to layer paper and paint over this custom shape from my Chelsey's Dream kit to create a collaged effect:



Clipping paths are also a fast and easy way to wrap ribbon. Drag your ribbon on top of the photo or paper you want to wrap; Create a clipping path and Viola; No erasing required ;) Finish your ribbon off with just a little burning; Load a soft edge brush into your Burn tool; change the range to Highlights with the exposure around 20-25 and just lightly burn in some shadow on the egdes.

So play around with Clipping Paths, you will be happy you did! :)

Photoshop Tips to Come..

So I must be a little crazy tonight because I created 2 new sub-blogs from my Original Blog.. Glutton for Blog punishment?? I am hoping that this will help me better organize my posts. I've been wanting to start posting regular tips for Photoshop, but I don't want them to get lost between my other posts, so this is my solution.. A mini blog dedicated to all things Photoshop. Woohoo!! So.. I've got it all set up, Now, Um.. Give me a week or so to get some actual tips in here! :)