Three Photoshop Tips For Beginners

May 12, 2020

Dani DiamondWe asked NYC Fashion and Portrait Photographer (and dear Wacom friend, style icon, and person who always makes us smile), Dani Diamond, to share his tips for new photographers. As always, he shared thoughtful, smart and practical ideas. Read on for more from Dani Diamond and follow Dani on Instagram while you’re at it. Dani uses a Mobile Studio Pro 13 and an Intuos Pro

When I first tried to use Photoshop, every time I opened it to edit an image, I found myself overwhelmed and closed the program down. While there was a fundamental understanding for what makes an edit great, I could not figure out how to put the knowledge to use to deliver a great photo. Over time, there were three things I learned that helped me become more proficient in using the platform. I thought I would share them, because surely, I am not alone.

Tip 1: Avoid the Clutter

It is important to have a clear mental headspace and a physically decluttered workspace. While a clear headspace is self-explanatory, some clarification for a physical workspace is warranted. The actual desk must be clear, but more importantly, an unloaded Photoshop desktop window is key. This happens by getting rid of all the unnecessary windows. As you can see in the screenshot below, Photoshop, by default, has many windows that, as a photo editor, will never be used. To close the unwanted windows follow these instructions:

  • Right click on the tab of the unwanted window and close it.
  • Go to the window tab in the main toolbar and select the windows that will be used.
  • Organize those windows to one side of the screen by dragging and letting them lock in place.

DaniDiamondPhotoshop

 

As you can see in the second screenshot below, my Photoshop desktop is much cleaner than the default setting of the program.

DaniDiamondPhotoshophowto

Tip 2: Efficiency. It is important to find a workflow that works, and then consistently repeat it. Developing a workflow can be as simple as finding one that another photographer uses, or creating your own by putting different steps together you learned from YouTube videos and tutorials. A workflow consists of a clear order of steps used each and every time you sit to retouch an image. Once that workflow is established and used a few times, the process will become second nature and editing becomes less overwhelming and more calming.  Personally, my workflow consists of: skin cleaning, frequency separation, dodging and burning, and lastly, I take care of overall image toning. I built an action for my workflow, and have been doing the same exact process for 8 years now. You can see it on the screenshot below; the action is circled in red.

DaniDiamondPhotoshopworkflow

Tip 3: Keyboard Shortcuts.  Oftentimes, when people hear I use shortcuts to change things like brush sizes and opacity, they laugh and argue that using the toolbar is easier. However, I invested a small amount of time in creating shortcuts, and now, I never have to bother with a mouse or tablet for tool selection and adjustments. After creating shortcuts, one hand will sit on the keyboard while the other hand holds the tablet pen. Eventually, you will find yourself flying through an edit. Again, this is about removing all the unnecessary steps and thought-processes related to editing to make the editing process a smooth and somewhat mindless process.

While there are other tips and suggestions I could make, these three are the easiest of the bunch, and also have the most impact in image editing. There is no question that Photoshop, at first, can be intimidating and stressful. Like any other complex platform, there is a learning curve. However, taking the time to learn it well can change the way a person approaches image editing in astounding ways. You can use this article as a starting point. Google and YouTube can afford a plethora of information to become more proficient in Photoshop use.

Related posts:

11 reasons traditional artists should give digital art a try

11 reasons traditional artists should give digital art a try

More benefits to infusing creativity into classroom routines

More benefits to infusing creativity into classroom routines

How to start animating your characters: The four principles

How to start animating your characters: The four principles

3 ways to embed digital ink in Education: The norm for efficient and effective learning

3 ways to embed digital ink in Education: The norm for efficient and effective learning

Shop the Wacom eStore*

When you shop on the Wacom eStore you get access to discounts, financing, extended warranties, and our industry-leading customer support team.

Connect with Wacom on Social

A sleek, minimalistic #WacomWorkspace by @si_oux where amazing works of art are created on their Wacom Intuos Pro! 🖤✍️⁣
⁣
#Wacom #homeoffice #photography #wfh #aesthetic #deskgoals
274 3
Multidisciplinary artist @choirstaidhiona.jpeg uses a combination of traditional and digital techniques to achieve fantastic printmaking pieces! ✨⁣
⁣
The combination of these methods allows Kirsty to enjoy the process of creating her work with the convenience of digital tools and organic effects of traditional art. ✏️🖌️⁣
⁣
#MadewithWacom #digitalart #art #printmaking #mixedmedia
299 4
We are so excited to be part of the upcoming Mifa Campus session during the Annecy festival in France in June (11th – 17th) @annecyfestival 🙌

This year our Wacom Ambassador and 3D character artist @mrnunez will give an inspiring workshop on ‘Sculpting a realistic face inside Zbrush with Wacom Cintiq Pro 27.’ 🚀

Looking forward to connect with top creative professionals during this year’s edition.

#annecyfestival #annecy2023 #WacomEvents
198 1
What looking into the face of a new week feels like. 🐲⁣
Deadly looking art by illustrator @kalmahul, with the Wacom Cintiq as their art weapon of choice! ⚔️🖊️⁣
#MadewithWacom #digitalart #art #fantasy #dragons #MondayMotivation
686 0
Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 gives you something priceless: space. There’ll be less zooming in and out too. You can save time and take control of your creativity, for a more efficient, controlled workspace 🚀

Create directly on a large canvas with premium color performance and virtually no parallax. 

Also the Wacom Pro Pen 2 provides state-of-the-art creative pen technology, meaning every stroke, every move of your hand is followed with unerring accuracy 🙌

Discover all the features on the link in bio.

#CintiqPro24 #CreativeProfessionals #CintiqPro
719 21
We're proud and unstoppable together. Here's to you, to us, and everyone we love, from @felolira 🤩 #madewithwacom with #pride🌈 #pridemonth
617 3
Beautifully sweet illustration by artist @ahoi_artist. 🤍🐇⁣
⁣
Ahoi specializes in this charming stylized art that looks almost like a real watercolor painting. 🎨🖌️⁣
⁣
#MadewithWacom #digitalart #art #anime #manga
768 4
Armed with a Cintiq, embroidery machine, and copious amount of talent @toboggany creates amazing illustrations that get brought to life as embroidery masterpieces! 🧵✍️ ⁣
⁣
Please check out more of their incredible work on their page! 👆⁣
⁣
#MadewithWacom #digitalart #art #embroidery #cintiq #fanart
9650 47