Photoshop ... Tuesday...

So I am now officially running just 4 days behind. That’s pretty good, right? :) Hoping to be caught up by the end of the week. :)

Today’s tip is one I use ALL the time, because it speeds up my scrapping and designing. The best part about it is how simple it is!

One Step Copy/Paste for Layers

Here’s the sample layout:

I love the little flowers, and I knew I wanted a bunch of them on my layout. Rather than locating the layer in my layers palette, right-clicking and choosing Duplicate from the flyout menu, there’s an easier way to get copies of each flower after you have the first ones in your document (a matter of opening them and dragging them in).

1. Select your Move tool.

2. Target one of the flowers on your document.

3. Hold down your Alt key. Your cursor will turn into a sort of double arrow, with a white arrow below the black arrow. This indicates that if you drag and drop your flower, you’ll make a copy.

4. With your Alt key held down, click and drag on your flower layer. Photoshop makes a new copy of this layer for you.

BONUS:

If you also hold down Shift while you drag your new layer, Photoshop will constrain the copy to 45 and 90 degree angles. Perfect if you’re making patterns of things (like polka-dots, etc).

So easy, but SO useful! :D

Here’s my layout a little larger:

 
Click for Larger

Supply list (Everything but the flowers is from DesignerDigitals):

• White paper: Cabana White by Katie Pertiet
• Blue paper: Teen Closet by Leora Sanford 
• Scallop mask: Border Templates (cut apart) by Katie Pertiet 
• Journaling spot: Curled Journal Spots No. 4 by Katie Pertiet 
• Flowers: from free Echoes of Asia kit by Jessica Sprague 

Back with more in just a few days! Have a Super Photoshop.. uh.. Tuesday! :D 

Comments

[Leslie]

I wish I'd known this handy little trick on Sunday, but I'm ever-so-glad to know it now! Thanks so much for PSF (and Tuesdays, too ;)). You can't possibly know how much I've learned and leaned on your tutorials.

[Joscelyne]

I love this tidbit!!! It is little tips like this that have made my learning pse so much faster. and made my time so much more productive.
Jessica, You are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cathy Pascual]

Great tip!
I knew about the ALT trick (from you!!! LOL)
but not the SHIFT key (could have used that yesterday!)

Thanks!

[Jen]

Oh, this is beautiful! I can't wait to try it!! Thanks Jessica!

[Kayla Lamoreaux]

Great tip - know I will be using this one just about everyday - thanks so much for your tutorials - I really look forward to them! :)

[lauren]

jessica! this is dabomdiggity! you have just saved me much future time! thank you! woo hoo!

[pam]

Thanks for the new trick. BTW, did I miss the coupon from Katie?

[Sharon Manning]

Well this one is going to be put to good use!
Thanks Jessica.

[Heather M.]

What a gorgeous layout! Can't wait to try this!

[Liz Ness]

Beautiful page! Plus, I have one word for you: ENABLER! (Heh-heh, no one made me do it...but, thanks for that coupon!!!)

Seriously, always love what you have goin' on here...awesome stuff!

[MN Carol]

Magical! the way the light is shining on Rowen and how you put the "Red Light" by her hand. Love it!

[Sinead]

Cool tip! Thanks!!

[Maria in Columbus]

This is the best tip! I just tried it out...thank you so much!

[sarebear]

oooh, THANK you! this will be much used by me!

[Michelle Filo]

oh my God... keep the simple tips coming, I never knew :) thank you!!! :)

[scrapinthyme]

Simple and easy... how cool!!! thanks from the bottom of my heart for all the work you do in putting these here for us to learn how to use these wonderful ideas and short cuts... It takes me for ever to source things in Help... So totally loving your blog and classes xx

happy scrapping xx

[kristi b]

How do you get the scallops? Beautiful layout!

[Debra]

The most superfantistico tip yet! :)

[grambie]

Nice little tid-bit to know that will speed along scrapping abilities. Thanks for your wonderful quick takes.

[Sheila (pianomama7)]

I knew about both these tips - they ARE timesavers!!! I use them ALL the time. Good stuff!