Taking the time to work on streamlining your workflow in Photoshop CC might seem like a contradiction. Free time is a luxury most designers simply don't have. However, in some ways we can be our own worst enemies – sticking to performing certain tasks in a familiar way, even if it's not the most efficient one.
The aim is to let the software do most of the work for you. This guide will look at streamlining the manual tasks for your average print job. I'll focus on the time-swallowing tasks that Adobe has recognised as imperative but fiddly, and for which it has given us some great time-saving tools.
01. Keyboard shortcuts
You can find Keyboard Shortcuts under the Edit menu, but get in the habit of hitting Cmd/Ctrl+Option/Alt+Shift K to bring up the options instead. From here navigate to Image, click the triangle to reveal the options and scroll down to CMYK. Now assign a key to it.
02. Standardise your standards
For RGB/CMYK conversions, you can turn a chain of adjustments to an action that you can export as a 'catch-all' conversion droplet. The first stage is the change to CMYK mode, then use Levels to focus on the image's tonal values by dragging the Black and White points in slightly on the histogram.
03. Curves settings
Make Curves appear when batch processing – even if you don't apply it each time. Before you make your action, change the default Curves settings. Open an image and go to Curves. Double-click the Black point sample tool. In colour picker options, HSB Brightness, add a value of 5%.
04. Curves continued
Repeat the process for the White point sample tool, but change the HSB Brightness from 100 to 95. Hit yes to the dialog asking you if you want to save these target colours as default. These settings will help you draw out details when using the Black, Mid-point and White sample tools.
05. Smartly sharpened images
Seeing as the print process is notorious for softening images, it's key to sharpen them in Photoshop. Using Smart Sharpen, start out by dragging the Amount percentage up – the higher the resolution, the larger the values – whilst previewing a high contrast edge that sits in the focal zone.
06. Masking out using Quick Selection
Invariably you will need to isolate part of an image to make targeted alterations. Used in combination with a Wacom tablet, the Quick Selection tool can shave off valuable time. Plus, the Refine Edge option can output your selection directly as a Layer Mask that you can assign to an adjustment layer.
07. The Quick Selection tool
Hit W to go to the Quick Selection Tool. Paint over the areas you're targeting and hold Opt/Alt down to subtract unwanted pixels. Hit the F key multiple times to shuffle through preview modes. Click the Smart Radius option under Edge Detection, and clean the edges by painting along them.
08. Stroke of genius
This is a trick for cloning out an unwanted element in a CMYK image. Plot out an open-ended path along the item, select the Spot Healing Brush tool and set the brush size so that it will cover the diameter of the item. Now, in the Path panel click the 'Stroke path with brush' icon.
09. Smart Layers
If you're manipulating multiple designs onto the same source image you need to convert your design into a single Smart Layer. To do this, select all the layers then Ctrl+right-click and select Convert to Smart Object. Drag the Smart Layer into your base photo file, then create a Layer Mask.
Paul is a former ImagineFX art editor with over 15 years publishing design experience. He now works as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator. This article originally appeared in Computer Arts issue 228.
In the following steps you will learn how to create an alphabet blocks text effect in Adobe Illustrator.
For starters, you will learn how to set up a simple grid and how to save a set of symbols. Using the 3D Extrude & Bevel effect along with your saved symbols, you will learn how to create the starting cube shapes.
Moving on, you will learn how to add color, shading and highlights using the Appearance panel, the Stroke panel and basic blending techniques. Finally, you will learn how to add subtle shadows and a simple background.
For more inspiration on how to adjust or improve your final text effect, you can find plenty of resources at Envato Market.
1. Create a New Document & Set Up a Grid
Hit Control-N to create a new document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 850 in the width box and 620 in the height box, and then click the Advanced button. Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and make sure that the Align New Objects to Pixel Grid box is unchecked before you click OK.
Enable the Grid (View > Show Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). You will need a grid every5 px, so simply go to Edit > Preferences > Guides > Grid, and enter 5 in the Gridline every box and 1 in theSubdivisions box. Try not to get discouraged by all that grid—it will make your work easier, and keep in mind that you can easily enable or disable it using the Control-" keyboard shortcut.
You should also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Don't forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Units > General. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.
2. Create and Save a Set of Symbols
Step 1
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and focus on your toolbar. Remove the color from the stroke and then select the fill and set its color to R=63 G=169 B=245. Move to your artboard and simply create a 50 px square—the grid and the Snap to Grid feature should make your work easier.
Step 2
Using the same tool, create a 40 px square, fill it with a darker blue, and place it as shown in the following image. Make sure that this new shape stays selected and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a5 px Radius, click the OK button, and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.
Step 3
Reselect both shapes made so far, open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder), and click the Minus Front button. Make sure that the resulting shape is selected and replace the existing fill color with a simple black (R=0 G=0 B=0).
Step 4
Pick the Type Tool (T) and open the Character panel (Window > Type > Character). Select the Consolasfont, make it Bold, and set the size to 40 px. Then simply click on your artboard.
Add a capital "A" and set its color to black. Make sure that your piece of text is still selected and go to Type > Create Outlines (Shift-Control-O) to turn your piece of text into an editable path.
Step 5
Using the Selection Tool (V), select the two shapes made so far and open the Align panel (Window > Align). Simply click on the larger shape (which will emphasise it) and then click the Horizontal Align Center and Vertical Align Center buttons from the Align panel.
In the end, things should look like in the second image. Make sure that both shapes are still selected and turn them into a compound path using the Control-8 keyboard shortcut.
Step 6
Duplicate your larger, black shape (Control-C > Control-V), select the copy, and place it roughly as shown in the first image. Using the Type Tool (T), add a "B" and use the same font attributes. Turn this piece of text into an editable path (Shift-Control-O) and then place it in the center of that new black shape.
Finally, don't forget to turn these two shapes into a new compound path using that same Control-8keyboard shortcut.
Step 7
Repeat the techniques mentioned in the last steps and add the remaining letters from the alphabet.
Step 8
Select your "A" compound path, open the Symbols panel (Window > Symbols), and simply click the New Symbol button to turn your selected shape into a symbol. Name this new symbol "A" and click OK.
Move to the rest of the shapes and save them as symbols using the same technique. Once you have all your symbols inside the Symbols panel, feel free to remove them from your artboard.
3. Create the 3D Blocks
Step 1
Disable the Grid (Control-") and the Snap to Grid (Shift-Control-").
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and simply click on your artboard to open the Rectangle window. Enter 50 pxin both boxes and then click the OK button. Make sure that your newly made shape is selected and set the fill color to R=179 G=179 B=179.
Step 2
Make sure that your grey square is still selected and go to Effect > 3D > Extrude & Bevel. Click the More Options button and enter all the attributes shown below. Don't forget to check the Draw Hidden Faces box and then click the Map Art button.
Open the Symbols drop-down menu and add your "W" symbol, and then move to the Surface section. Use those arrow buttons to switch from Surface 1 to Surface 5, and add the same symbol, but rotate it -90 degrees. Move to Surface 6, add the same symbol, and then click the OK button. In the end, things should look like in the following image.
Step 3
Multiply your 3D shape, spread the copies roughly as shown in the following images, and replace the existing symbols with the ones that you need. You can easily adjust the attributes of an applied 3D Extrude & Bevel effect from the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance).
Step 4
Add another four cubes as shown below, replace the symbols, and adjust the Angle attributes as indicated in the following image.
4. Adjust and Color a Block
Step 1
Focus on one of your cubes, select it, and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Make sure that the resulting group of shapes is selected and hit the Shift-Control-G keyboard shortcut twice to quickly Ungroup it.
Keep focusing on the resulting set of shapes and go to the Layers panel. Here you should find three clip groups. Select all three groups and go to Object > Clipping Mask > Release (or hit Alt-Control-7) to release the clipping masks.
Keep focusing on the Layers panel and simply get rid of the three shapes that used to make up the clipping masks (the three shapes that do not have fill or stroke color). Also, delete the two shapes that make up the back walls of your cube (highlighted in the third image).
Step 2
Select your three compound paths and focus on the Appearance panel. Make sure that the color is set to black and then click that "Opacity" piece of text to open the Transparency fly-out panel. Change theBlending Mode to Overlay and lower the Opacity to 50%.
Step 3
Select the shape that makes up the top wall of your cube and replace the existing fill color with the linear gradient shown below.
Step 4
Select the shape that makes up the right wall of your cube and replace the existing fill color with the linear gradient shown below.
Step 5
Select the shape that makes up the left wall of your cube and replace the existing fill color with the linear gradient shown below.
Step 6
Enable the Smart Guides (Control-U), pick the Line Segment Tool (\), and focus on the right wall of your cube. Move the cursor around the top right corner of that shape until you get to see the "anchor" smart guide. Click and hold and then drag the cursor around the top left anchor point. Release the mouse cursor once you get to see that "anchor" smart guide again to create your line. Add a 1 px white stroke for this path, and things should look like in the second image.
Step 7
With the Smart Guides and the Line Tool still active, add another two white paths as shown in the following image. Don't forget to add that slim white stroke. Also, disable the Smart Guides (Control-U) once you're done.
Step 8
Reselect your three white paths and focus on the Appearance panel. Lower the Opacity to 70%, change theBlending Mode to Soft Light, and then click that "Stroke" piece of text to open the Stroke fly-out panel. Go to the Profile section and select Width Profile 4 from that drop-down menu.
Step 9
Reselect the three shapes that make up the walls of your cube and add copies in front (Control-C > Control-F). Select only these copies and click the Unite button from the Pathfinder panel. Bring the resulting shape below your three compound paths and then focus on the Appearance panel. Select the existing fill, change its Blending Mode to Color, and replace the existing color with R=147 G=39 B=143.
Step 10
Make sure that your purple shape is still selected, keep focusing on the Appearance panel, and add a second fill using the Add New Fill button. Select this new fill, make it black, and then lower its Opacity to20% and change the Blending Mode to Overlay.
5. Add a Simple Shadow
Step 1
Focus on the Layers panel, select the shape that makes up the base of your cube, and make a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Focus on this copy and pick the Direct Selection Tool (A). Select the top anchor points (highlighted in the first image) and drag them about 20 px to the left, as shown in the second image.
Make sure that your newly added shape remains selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill, replace the color with the linear gradient shown below, lower its Opacity to 20%, and then go to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a 5 px Radius and then click that OK button. Keep in mind that the yellow zero from the Gradient image stands for Opacity percentage while the blue number stands for Locationpercentage.
Step 2
Make sure that the shape added in the previous step is still selected and keep focusing on the Appearancepanel. Select the existing fill and duplicate it using the Duplicate Selected Item button. Select the newly added fill, lower its Opacity to 15%, and get rid of that Gaussian Blur effect.
Step 3
Focus on the Layers panel, reselect the shape that makes up the base of your cube, and make a new copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Focus on this copy and pick the Direct Selection Tool (A). Again, select the top anchor points and this time drag them about 10 px to the left as shown in the second image.
Make sure that your newly added shape remains selected and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill, replace the color with the linear gradient shown below, and then lower its Opacity to 30%.
Step 4
Focus on the Layers panel, reselect the shape that makes up the base of your cube, and focus on theAppearance panel. Remove the color from the fill and then select the stroke. Set the color to black, lower its Opacity to 5%, and open the Stroke fly-out panel. Make sure that the Weight is set to 1 px and then check the Round Join and Align Stroke to Outside buttons.
Step 5
Reselect all the shapes that make up your purple cube and Group them (Control-G).
6. Color the Rest of Your Blocks
Step 1
Focus on one of your other cubes, select it, and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Ungroup the resulting group (Shift-Control-G), and don't forget to release the three clipping masks (Alt-Control-7).
Now, keep those three black compound paths and delete the rest of the shapes that make up your cube. In the end, things should look like in the third image. Select the remaining compound paths, click the Unitebutton from the Pathfinder panel, and then turn the resulting shapes into one compound path (Control-8).
Step 2
Select your purple cube and make a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Select this copy along with the black compound path made in the previous step and make sure that the Selection Tool (V) is active. Click on your black compound path and then hit the Vertical Align Bottom and the Horizontal Align Rightbuttons from the Align panel. This should bring your group copy right behind the black compound path made in the previous step.
Step 3
Keep focusing on your newest purple cube and go to the Layers panel.
First, remove the three black compounds from the group and select the compound path that lies in front of your group. Lower its Opacity to 50%, change the Blending Mode to Overlay, and don't forget to drag it inside the new group, above the rest of the shapes.
From that same group, select the shape with the purple fill, focus on the Appearance panel, and replace that purple with R=147 G=39 B=143.
Step 4
Focus on the rest of the cubes with similar rotation angles, and expand and color them using the same techniques mentioned in the last three steps. For the cubes with different rotation angles, you will have to repeat the techniques used for the first cube, the purple one.
7. Add Subtle Shading and a Background
Step 1
Enable the Smart Guides (Control-U) and pick the Pen Tool (P). Draw a bunch of black shapes roughly as shown in the following image. Lower the Opacity of these new shapes to 75% and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
Step 2
Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create an 870 x 640 px shape and send it to back using the Shift-Control-[keyboard shortcut. Make sure that this new shape covers your entire artboard and fill it with R=210 G=220 B=240.
Step 3
Make sure that your background rectangle is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel, and add a second fill using that same Add New Fill button. Select this new fill and add the radial gradient shown below.
Use the Gradient Tool (G) to stretch your gradient as shown in the following image, and don't forget that the yellow zero from the Gradient image stands for Opacity percentage.
Congratulations! You're Done!
Here is how it should look. I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future projects.
Feel free to adjust the final design and make it your own. You can find some great sources of inspiration at Envato Market with interesting solutions to improve your design.
Create this spring-inspired abstract photo manipulation by Jenny Le! This tutorial will show you how to combine stock photos and splatter brushes together, apply textures, and more.
Preview of Final Results
Step 1
Create a new document and fill it with white. I use the size with 1200×800 but feel free to make your own. Open paper 1 stock, move it into our white canvas then rotate it (choose Edit-Transform-Rotate 90 CCW) . Right click this layer, choose Convert to Smart Objects. Then choose Flip Horizontal:
Lower opacity to 30%:
Step 2
Open paper 2 stock, use Rectangular Marquee Tool to make a selection on the top left of it and use Move Tool (V) to drag it into our picture and lower opacity to 30%:
Step 3
I use an adjustment layer to change color of the picture. Go to Layer-New Adjustment Layer-Hue/Saturation:
Step 4
Extract model and place her at the center section then I use layer mask to remove hard edges and blend her with background:
Step 5
I use some adjustment layers (Hue/Saturation, Color Balance, Curves) with Clipping Mask for model to reduce saturation and brighten her:
Then I use soft black brush with opacity 100% and 20-30% to erase some parts on Curves layer mask. You can see how I did it on the mask and result on picture:
Step 6
Drag watercolor 1 into top of our picture, place it under model layer. Convert it to Smart Objects and change the mode to Multiply 100% then remove some hard edges with layer mask:
Duplicate this layer and move it to the right after flipping it horizontally. Use layer mask to create the look below:
Step 7
Take watercolor 2 and set it under model layer then clear unwanted parts with layer mask:
Duplicate this layer and flip it horizontally. I use layer mask to remove some parts and now we have nice shoulder-like effect:
Step 8
Isolate branches 1 and place it on the top of model head after converting it to Smart Objects and downsizing it (still under model layer). Add layer mask to this one and use Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) to make a selection at the edge of the branches then use hard black brush (don’t use soft brush) to remove the bottom and some branches as shown:
Step 9
I add a Curves layer (Clipping Mask) to brighten the branches a bit:
Step 10
Open branches 2 stock. I take a part from this pic and situate it at the top right of model head, then duplicate it twice, name them from 1 to 3. I flip 2nd horizontally, then position them around model head part. I use layer mask to erase the bottom of the third:
Step 11
These branches look darker from background so I want to brighten them together. To do it, make these layers selected then hit Cmd/Ctrl+G to make group for them. Change the mode of this group from Pass Through (default group mode) to Normal 100%. On 3 layer, go to Layer-New Adjustment Layer-Curves:
Because the mode changed to Normal 100% so this Curves layer only affects the layers inside this group (branches 2 ones).
Step 12
Make a new layer on the top. Set foreground and background to #a8ba81 and #012955. Use Rectangular Marquee Tool to make a square on the pic then go to Filter-Render-Clouds. After applying Clouds filter, choose Filter-Pixelate-Mosaic:
Filter-Distort-Polar Coordinates:
Step 13
Convert this result to Smart Object then downsize it and change the mode to Hard Light 100%. Use Cmd/Ctrl+T to rotate it and move it to the right cheek of model and erase unwanted parts with layer mask:
Duplicate this layer and move to left cheek under the eye, hide the left part of it with black brush and layer mask:
I use a Color Balance layer (Clipping Mask) to change color of this effect:
Step 14
Make a new layer and use hard brush with color #012955 to make some dots under the left eye. Before spotting, press F5 to change settings for this brush:
Double click this layer and apply Gradient Overlay for these dots:
Step 15
Create a new layer and make selection for the lips, fill it with color #779370 then change the mode to Hard Light 100%:
I name it “color lips”.
Step 16
I use a new layer, change brush to splatter ones and set foreground to #83192d. Take brush number 681 with size about 100 px to spot over the lips. Hold Cmd/Ctrl while clicking “color lips” layer to load it selection then click Add layer mask button. After it, change the mode to Overlay 100%:
Make a new layer and use splatter brush, number 481 to spot on lips and chin, transform it and set the mode to Overlay 100%:
Step 17
Take watercolor 3 and paste into the right eyes after rotating and resizing. Change the mode to Multiply 100% and use layer mask to get a faded effect:
Step 18
I use Curves and Color Balance layers (Clipping Mask) to change color of this watercolor effect:
Step 19
Take watercolor 4 and paste into our picture and change the mode to Multiply 100%.
Right click it, choose Blending Options. Hold the Alt/Option key while dragging white sliding button of This Layer to reduce this effect. Then use layer mask to remove the effect on the face and around model:
Step 20
Add a Curves layer to this layer (Clipping Mask):
Step 21
Open watercolor 5 (pack). I choose this one to work with and move it above the top right of model head, warp it:
Change the mode to Multiply 100% and use layer mask to erase the part on model face:
Step 22
I use another watercolor image to add to the left of model head, set the mode to Multiply 100% and mask unwanted part:
I use a Hue/Saturation layer to change color of this effect:
Step 23
I add another colorful watercolor texture to the left of model head, in a lower position, change the mode to Multiply 100% and hide unwanted parts with layer mask:
Duplicate this layer and move it to the center of model forehead, use layer mask for it:
Step 24
Make group for this layer as done with branches 2 and change the mode of this group to Multiply 100%. I reduce saturation of them with a Hue/Saturation layer within this group:
Step 25
Open flowers stock. Use Move Tool to drag it onto model forehead. Then on a new layer under flowers one I use soft black brush with opacity about 40-50% to paint under flowers to make shadow for them:
Step 26
I change color of the flowers with a Hue/Saturation layer:
Step 27
Open halftone images pack. I choose one to position at the left of model head, change the mode to Soft Light 100% and hide some parts with layer mask:
I choose a colorful halftone image to situate at the middle of the flowers. I put the mode to Multiply 100% and erase its bottom:
Step 28
I use one from wire frames pack to put to the right of model head and set the mode to Soft Light 100%:
Step 29
Make a new layer on the top. I use soft brush with color #b4ad92 to brighten the top of model head and blend elements there together. Change the mode to Overlay 100%:
Step 30
Open butterflies pack. I choose 3 from them to move into our picture, arrange them as shown below:
Make group for these butterflies and change the mode of this group to Normal 100%. Create a Curves layer within this group to brighten and alter color of butterflies a little:
Step 31
Create some adjustment layers on the top.
Gradient Map:
Set this Gradient Map layer to Soft Light mode 100%. Color Balance and Levels:
Final Results
Tutorial how Jenny Le
Thank you for reading this tutorial, I’d love to hear your feedback. If you want to read my other tutorials, you can visit my website. Enjoy photoshopping!
![watercolor31-final[1]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_v7A2VgpTmmSHvVDot9Vk8afl3wtzRbXV_0IjQphBr2aIhPc9vAPaQ0k1wx7YLwMEdJBgqNBwdSraRHk6L7V7jXEYg2e5vSwgvjCPcPR_6UzPnCpVJyPbt1xwdIGfcLmHc8hVWGB1kXUK-fM7mlAP-Nei0gYPc=s0-d "watercolor31-final[1]")
Thank you for reading this tutorial, I’d love to hear your feedback. If you want to read my other tutorials, you can visit