Navigating inside Photoshop - Part III

Move Layers Between Two Open Documents

Supposedly, you have a group picture with your family and you don't like the background, so you erase it. You open a new document where your new background is then you copy and paste it to your active window. Simple, isn't it? But you know that there is a simpler way to do this. Photoshop has the ability to move layers between open documents. Here's how:

Step 1. Open two or more documents.
Step 2. Click on the document that contains the layer you want to move.
Step 3. Select the Move tool on the toolbox. (or just press the "V" shortcut key)
Step 4. Drag the layer you want to move from the open window to the second document. Note: If the document you're moving a layer into contains more than one layer, Photoshop replaces the layer you're moving directly above the active layer in the second document. If the layer is in the wrong stacking order, drag it up and down in the Layers palette until it is correctly positioned.

Tip #9: So as not to be confused on what layer you are moving when working with multiple layers, simply go to the Layers palette then drag the layer thumbnail to the document window of the second document. Aight!?


Using the Info Palette

Photoshop's Info palette tells you so many information about your image such as the color values in RGB, as well as CMYK, the x & y position of your mouse cursor, the width and the height of the image. In Photoshop CS3, they added a note in the footer section of the Info palette which tells us on how to use the current selected tool. Anyway, one of the elements of good design is through color. By creating color markers, you help identify the location of specific color points within an image.

Let's try these exercises.

Creating a Specific Size Object

Step 1. Select the Info palette. If you're using a default workspace, Info palette usually goes with Navigator and Histogram palette. Just click on the Info palette tab.
Step 2. Next, select a drawing tool on the toolbox, such as a Rectangle tool (or simply press "U" shortcut key).
Step 3. Drag in the document window to create a rectangular shape.
Step 4. Release the mouse when the Info palette displays the correct dimensions.


Creating a Color Marker

Step 1. Select the Info palette.
Step 2. Select the Eyedropper tool on the toolbox (or simply press "I" shortcut key).
Step 3. Move the Eyedropper tool into the document, hold down the Shift key, and then click once to create a color marker. Notice the mark sign with a number below it.

Tip #10: Photoshop allows you to create up to 4 color markers. Simply hold down again the Shift key then click somewhere on the image.

Tip #11: If you want to move a color marker, hold down the Shift key then place your mouse cursor above the color marker. Your mouse cursor should change to an arrowhead. Click on the color marker and you can start dragging it anywhere inside the image.

Tip #12: If you want to delete these color markers, simply hold down Shift+Alt keys (notice that your mouse cursor changes into a scissor), then click a color marker.

Have fun with this tutorial. The last part of this tutorial is about creating ruler guides and putting notes in your document and will be released next week.