Navigating inside Photoshop - Part II

Changing the Screen Display Mode

Question: Why do we need to do this after all? I'm satisfied now with my current window.
Answer: If you're working on an image, you can see all Photoshop palette's colors and changing the Screen mode gives you a chance to see your image against a solid color background. Some discrepancies are being noticed when switching display modes.

Here's how you do it.

Step 1. Click one of the Screen Mode buttons at the bottom of the toolbox (This is in Photoshop CS. But you can just press "F" key in Photoshop CS3):

Standard Screen Mode. This display the image against a gray background. All menus and palettes are visible.

Full Screen Mode with Menu Bar. This centers the image, and displays it against a gray background.

Full Screen Mode. This centers the image, and displays it against a black background.


Tip #4: You can temporarily hide all of Photoshop's palettes and toolbox by pressing "Tab" key. Try pressing the Tab key in every screen mode and notice what happens in your window.

Tip #5: If you just want to hide Photoshop's palettes, simply hold the Shift key and then press Tab key.


Changing the View with the Zoom Tool

Another way to gain more control in your image is by using the Zoom tool. Just like the Navigator palette discussed in our previous tutorials, the Zoom tool does not alter the active image but it only lets you view the image at different magnifications. The maximum magnification of a Photoshop document is 1600 percent, and the minimum magnification is less than 1 percent of the original image size.

Here's how you do it.

Zoom In the View of an Image

Step 1. Select the Zoom tool on the toolbox.

Step 2. Use one of the following methods:
- Click on the document. The increases in magnification centered on where you clicked.

- Drag to define an area with the Zoom tool. The image increases in magnification based on the boundaries of the area you dragged.


Zoom Out the View of an Image

Step 1. Select the Zoom tool on the toolbox.

Step 2. Hold down the Alt key, and then click on the screen to reduce the zoom of the active document. The zoom reduction centers on where you click on the active document.


Tip #6: Another way to zoom in or out is by using shortcut keys. To zoom in, press Ctrl+Spacebar keys then click or drag to define an area. To zoom out, press Ctrl+Spacebar+Alt keys and click or drag to define an area. Pretty nifty huh?!

Tip #7: Having difficulties in pressing the above buttons? Okay, here's a quick alternative. It's possible to change the zoom of a document without ever leaving the keyboard. Just press and hold the Ctrl key, and then press the plus "+", or minus "-" keys to zoom in or zoom out respectively.

Tip #8: If you have more than one open document and you want to Zoom In or Out on all those open documents, simply click the Zoom tool(one that looks like a magnifying glass) on the toolbox (or just simply press "Z"). Look in the Options menu at the top of the window, and you'll see the "Zoom All Windows" option. Just click on the check box to enable this option. Then you can now Zoom In or Out in all of your documents.


That's it for today. Hope you enjoyed today's lesson. More of Photoshop navigation in our next tutorial. Stay tuned.