Top Photoshop hacks for beginners in 2025
Top Photoshop hacks for beginners in 2025
Blog Article
Photoshop is without a doubt one of the most powerful photo editing tools that beginners and professionals across need in order to create high quality images that look stunning. In this content we will discuss photoshop hacks for beginners.
Photoshop Hacks:
The fundamentals of layers and mask
Now before you run off trying to make changes I suggest you take a moment to understand the two basic functions of Photoshop in which all edits build on top of, that is Layers and Masks!
Layers
With layers, you can work on individual elements of an image without disturbing other parts. You can think of them like transparent sheets of paper one on top of the other.
In order to add a new layer click the “Layer” menu from the top bar, and select “New Layer.”
Masks
With masks, you can cover or uncover exact portions of your image. They function like layers and allow for adjustments to specific areas of your photo.
Common Adjustment Layers:
Brightness / Contrast – It lets you more or less manipulate the general exposure and contrast of your image.
Hue/Saturation — Great for adjusting colors in your photo. Alter the hue, saturation, or lightness of particular colors.
Levels – This is what you use to brighten or darken up your picture and balance it out.
Curves– A bit more advanced than Levels, Curves allow for more precise control of the tonal range in your photo.
Retouching Portraits: The clone stamp tool and healing brush
Portrait photo retouching is one of Photoshop’s most common uses. Photoshop makes it simple to work on blemishes or for skin smoothing.
Clone Stamp Tool
The Clone Stamp Tool allows you to sample pixels from one area of your image and paint over imperfections in another area with the same sampled pixels.
Healing Brush Tool
The Healing Brush Tool has the same functionality as the Clone Stamp but will automatically blend the sampled area with surrounding pixels, which is especially powerful for skin smoothing and small blemishes.
Selections 101: Quick Selection Tool
Whether you need to cut out an object, change a background or even add some special effect, making accurate selections is the key to performing many Photoshop tasks successfully.
Quick Selection Tool How to Use It:
In the toolbar, select the Quick Selection Tool
Advance Photoshop Hacks and Photoshop Effects: Filters & Blending Modes.
Using Filters:
You can apply artistic effects through filters or correct some elements of your photo through it. The most commonly used filters include:
Gaussian blur – Applies a slight amount of blurriness to your image, and it gets particularly useful for simulating depth of field.
Motion Blur — Adds the appearance of motion, great for action shots
Lens Flare – Simulates the effect of bright lights reflecting off the optics of a camera lens, such as sunlight.
Blending Modes:
Blending modes are possible combinations of how two layers interact with each other and can be used for creating the impact of interesting lighting, color shifts, etc.
Screen – Makes the image brighter (good for brightening a dark photo).
Overlay – A high-contrast and saturated effect that merges Multiply and Screen.
Using various filters on your images and combining them can impart a professional, creative flair to the images.
How to Cut Objects from Photos: The Pen Tool is a Must.
In Photoshop, removing objects from the background is a common chore, especially for e-commerce and product photography.
How to Use the Pen Tool:
Click on the Pen Tool icon in the toolbar.
Create Anchor Points About the Object You Want to Cut out.
After creating a path, Right click and select “Make Selection” to convert it to a selection!
To clean up the edges and remove any leftover parts of the background, use Refine Edge to further smooth out the silhouette.
The Pen Tool has a learning curve, but when you become comfortable with it offers super sharp and crisp cutouts.
Web Optimization:
Use the Save for Web feature when saving image files for the web. This means less file size but no loss of quality, allowing for faster loading images on websites.
Use the quality slider to find a middle ground between file size and image quality
Print Optimization:
If you are going to use your image for print, then make sure it is in the resolution that you need. Provide the desired resolution which is 300 dots per inch (DPI) for quality print.
For print work, switch to CMYK color mode so printed colors turn out how they are supposed to on paper.
Final Thoughts: Photoshop is Your Playground
It does take some time to learn Photoshop but once you understand their tools and everything it is all up to your imagination. To get more clipping path photoshop hacks, tricks and professional clipping path services, visit UK Clipping Path. Report this page