13 Photoshop Blunders Beginners Keep Making – And How to Fix Them!

PiXimperfect・2 minutes read

Create a stamp visible layer before resizing in Photoshop, use shortcuts for precise pasting, stick to the regular version to avoid crashes, adjust retouching opacity, utilize layer masks, use adjustment layers, create new layers for edits, convert layers to smart objects, convert to sRGB when exporting, enable autosave, start with high resolution, and save designs in PSD format for flexibility.

Insights

  • Creating a stamp visible layer in Photoshop by pressing control/command alt shift and E allows for resizing without distortion, maintaining gradient integrity.
  • Utilizing adjustment layers in Photoshop instead of applying adjustments directly on layers provides flexibility to adjust settings and masks easily, enhancing the editing process.

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Recent questions

  • How can I prevent distortion when resizing layers in Photoshop?

    To prevent distortion when resizing layers in Photoshop, create a stamp visible layer by pressing control alt shift and E to merge all visible elements. This will maintain the integrity of gradients and prevent any unwanted changes in the appearance of your design.

  • What is the best way to paste items precisely in Photoshop?

    The best way to paste items precisely in Photoshop is to use the keyboard shortcut control/command shift V. This will paste the item in the exact same position, ensuring accuracy and saving you time from manually adjusting the placement.

  • How can I avoid crashes and instability while working in Photoshop?

    To avoid crashes and instability while working in Photoshop, it is recommended to stick to the regular version of the software for important projects. Using the beta version may pose risks of crashes and instability, potentially leading to data loss or project setbacks.

  • How can I maintain a natural look while retouching images in Photoshop?

    To maintain a natural look while retouching images in Photoshop, adjust the retouching opacity to avoid overdoing it. This will help prevent an unnatural appearance, especially when using automatic plugins like Retouch for Me. Finding the right balance in retouching opacity is key to achieving a realistic result.

  • What is the best practice for non-destructive editing in Photoshop?

    The best practice for non-destructive editing in Photoshop is to utilize layer masks with black to hide and white to reveal areas. This allows you to make changes without permanently altering the original image, providing flexibility and the ability to easily revert back to previous states. Avoid using the Eraser tool and opt for layer masks to maintain the integrity of your edits.

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Summary

00:00

Photoshop Mistakes and Solutions for Beginners

  • Mistake: Not flattening all layers as a separate layer or stamp visible layer to maintain gradient integrity during resizing.
  • Solution: Create a stamp visible layer by pressing contrl alt shift and E to merge all visible elements for resizing without distortion.
  • Mistake: Not using the keyboard shortcut control/command shift V to paste an item in the exact same position in Photoshop.
  • Solution: Use control/command shift V to paste items precisely in Photoshop documents.
  • Mistake: Using the Photoshop beta version for main work, risking crashes and instability.
  • Solution: Stick to the regular version of Photoshop for important projects to avoid issues.
  • Mistake: Overdoing retouching, resulting in an unnatural look.
  • Solution: Adjust retouching opacity to maintain a natural appearance, even with automatic plugins like Retouch for Me.
  • Mistake: Using the Eraser tool instead of layer masks, leading to irreversible changes.
  • Solution: Utilize layer masks with black to hide and white to reveal areas for non-destructive editing.
  • Mistake: Applying adjustments directly on layers instead of using adjustment layers for flexibility.
  • Solution: Use adjustment layers to apply changes with the ability to adjust settings and masks.
  • Mistake: Doing all edits on the same layer or background layer, limiting flexibility and reversibility.
  • Solution: Create new layers for edits, enabling selective changes, opacity adjustments, and easy reversals.
  • Mistake: Not converting important image layers into smart objects to maintain resolution during resizing.
  • Solution: Convert layers to smart objects to preserve image quality when resizing without losing details.
  • Mistake: Not converting to sRGB when exporting for the web, leading to color discrepancies on social media platforms.
  • Solution: Convert to sRGB when exporting to ensure accurate colors when uploading to platforms like Instagram or Facebook.
  • Mistake: Not enabling autosave in Photoshop settings, risking loss of work in case of crashes.
  • Solution: Turn on autosave in Photoshop settings to automatically save recovery information every few minutes and manually save work regularly to prevent data loss.

14:20

Optimize Image Resolution for Future Flexibility

  • Start with a higher resolution when creating images to avoid pixelation issues later on, as it's easier to reduce image quality than to increase it; also, remember to save designs in the PSD format along with exporting as JPEG to retain flexibility for future edits.
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