5 Practical Tips for Mastering the New Photoshop 2023 Features

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 21 June 2023 7 min read

Adobe Photoshop 2023 brings a plethora of exciting new features that will help you elevate your design projects to new heights. In this blog, we'll dive into five practical tips for mastering the latest photoshop 2023 new features. Let's kick things off by exploring the 3D Transform Tool.

1. Explore the 3D Transform Tool

The 3D Transform Tool in Photoshop 2023 allows you to manipulate objects in three-dimensional space, providing a new level of depth to your designs. Here are three key aspects to help you make the most of this powerful tool:

Selecting Objects

To start using the 3D Transform Tool, you first need to select the objects you want to work with. Simply choose the Move Tool (V) from the toolbar, and then click on the 3D Transform icon in the options bar. With the tool active, you can click on any object in your workspace to select it.

Manipulating 3D Space

Once you have an object selected, you can move, rotate, and scale it within the 3D space. Use the on-screen widgets to perform these actions:

Move: Click and drag the arrows along the X, Y, or Z-axis to move the object.
Rotate: Click and drag the circular handles to rotate the object.
Scale: Click and drag the square handles to scale the object proportionally.

Using Camera Tools

Photoshop 2023 also includes camera tools that allow you to change your viewing perspective of the 3D scene. To access these tools, click on the Camera icon in the options bar. You can choose from several options, such as Orbit, Pan, and Dolly, to navigate the 3D space and achieve the perfect view of your design.

With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to mastering the 3D Transform Tool and unlocking the full potential of photoshop 2023 new features. But that's just the beginning—let's move on to our next tip: mastering object selection.

2. Master Object Selection

Efficient object selection is crucial for working with photoshop 2023 new features, allowing you to manipulate specific elements within your design quickly. Here are three techniques to enhance your object selection skills:

Object Selection Tool

The Object Selection Tool (W) is a powerful feature that automatically selects objects based on their shape and color. Click and drag a marquee around the object you want to select, and Photoshop will detect the object's boundaries. You can also use the Lasso option within the tool to make freeform selections. Remember to adjust the settings in the options bar for even better results.

Select Subject

Select Subject is a one-click solution to select the main subject of an image automatically. Go to Select > Subject, and Photoshop will analyze the image and create a selection around the primary focus. This feature is particularly useful for selecting people, animals, or other distinct objects.

Select and Mask

For more complex selections, the Select and Mask workspace offers a range of tools to refine your selection. You can access it by clicking the Select and Mask button in the options bar or going to Select > Select and Mask. Use the different tools, such as the Quick Selection Tool, Refine Edge Brush, and Global Refinements, to fine-tune your selection and achieve professional results.

Now that you've learned how to master object selection in Photoshop 2023, you're ready to tackle the next tip: harnessing the power of neural filters.

3. Harness the Power of Neural Filters

Neural filters in Photoshop 2023 are AI-powered tools that can help you achieve stunning effects in your designs with just a few clicks. Let's explore three of the most useful neural filters:

Smart Portrait

Smart Portrait allows you to make facial adjustments and even change expressions in your portraits. To access this feature, go to Filter > Neural Filters, and click on the Smart Portrait tab. You can adjust sliders for various attributes, such as happiness, age, and gaze direction, to achieve the desired effect. It's a fantastic tool for creating unique portraits or enhancing existing ones.

Style Transfer

Style Transfer enables you to apply the artistic style of one image to another. In the Neural Filters panel, click on the Style Transfer tab and browse through the available styles, or upload an image to use as a reference. Adjust the strength, focus, and other settings to create a visually appealing result. This filter is perfect for transforming ordinary photos into unique works of art.

Skin Smoothing

Skin Smoothing is a quick and easy way to enhance portraits by reducing skin imperfections. In the Neural Filters panel, click on the Skin Smoothing tab and adjust the Smoothness slider to achieve the desired level of effect. This filter can help you create flawless portraits without spending hours on manual retouching.

With these powerful neural filters at your disposal, you'll be able to create eye-catching designs in no time. But there's more to learn! Let's move on to refining your masking techniques in Photoshop 2023.

4. Refine Masking Techniques

Masking is an essential skill for creating seamless designs in Photoshop 2023. By mastering various masking techniques, you can control the visibility of layers, make precise selections, and blend multiple images seamlessly. Let's dive into three powerful masking techniques:

Channel Masking

Channel masking is great for isolating complex objects from their backgrounds, such as hair or fur. To create a channel mask:

Open the Channels panel (Window > Channels).
Select the channel with the most contrast between the object and its background (usually Red, Green, or Blue).
Duplicate the selected channel by dragging it to the "New Channel" icon at the bottom of the panel.
Use the Levels or Curves adjustment (Image > Adjustments) to increase the contrast between the object and background.
With a black or white brush, paint over the object and background to refine the mask.
Ctrl+click (or Command+click on Mac) the duplicated channel thumbnail to load the selection, and switch back to the Layers panel.
Click the "Add layer mask" icon at the bottom of the panel to apply the mask to the active layer.

Channel masking enables you to create precise masks, even for complex subjects.

Vector Masking

Vector masking is perfect for creating sharp-edged masks using vector shapes. To create a vector mask:

Select the layer you want to mask in the Layers panel.
Choose a shape tool (such as the Rectangle Tool or Ellipse Tool) from the toolbar.
Draw the desired shape on the canvas. This will create a new shape layer.
With the shape layer selected, go to Layer > Create Clipping Mask. This will apply the shape as a mask to the layer below.

Vector masks are non-destructive and easily editable, making them ideal for masking geometric objects and designs.

Luminance Masking

Luminance masking allows you to create masks based on the brightness values of an image. This technique is useful for blending exposures, adjusting specific tonal ranges, and creating smooth transitions. To create a luminance mask:

Add an adjustment layer (such as Curves or Levels) in the Layers panel.
Alt+click (or Option+click on Mac) the layer mask thumbnail to enter the mask editing mode.
Go to Image > Apply Image. In the dialog box, choose the appropriate channel (usually RGB) and blending mode (usually Multiply or Screen) to create a mask based on the luminance values.
Adjust the mask using Levels or Curves if necessary, and click OK.
Paint with black or white on the layer mask to refine the mask as needed.

Luminance masking provides precise control over the visibility of layers based on their brightness values.

By refining your masking techniques, you'll be well-equipped to tackle the most challenging projects in Photoshop 2023. Now, let's optimize your workflow to make your design process even more efficient!

5. Optimize Your Workflow

Efficiency is key when working with Photoshop 2023, and optimizing your workflow can save you valuable time. Here are three practical tips to help you work faster, smarter, and more efficiently:

Using Actions

Actions automate repetitive tasks, enabling you to perform complex operations with a single click. To create and use actions:

Open the Actions panel (Window > Actions).
Click the "Create new action" icon at the bottom of the panel, and give your action a name.
Click the "Record" button to start recording your steps.
Perform the tasks you want to automate, such as applying adjustments, resizing an image, or adding a watermark.
Click the "Stop" button to finish recording the action.
Select the action in the Actions panel, and click the "Play" button to apply the action to your current image or a batch of images via File > Automate > Batch.

Actions can significantly speed up your workflow, especially when working with multiple images or performing repetitive tasks.

Customizing Shortcuts

Shortcuts enable you to access frequently used tools and commands quickly. Customize your shortcuts to make your most-used functions even more accessible:

Go to Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts (or press Alt+Shift+Ctrl+K / Option+Shift+Command+K on Mac).
Choose the desired category, such as "Tools" or "Layer."
Click the current shortcut or command you want to change, and press the new key combination.
Click "Accept" to save your changes, and close the dialog box.

Customizing shortcuts will help you work more efficiently and minimize the time spent navigating menus and panels.

Efficient Layer Management

Managing layers effectively can make your Photoshop 2023 projects much easier to navigate and edit. Here are some tips for better layer management:

Use layer groups (Layer > Group Layers) to organize similar layers and keep your Layers panel tidy.
Name your layers and groups for easy identification.
Use color labels (right-click a layer and choose a color) to visually categorize your layers.
Lock layers (Layer > Lock Layers) to prevent accidental edits.
Use layer search (at the top of the Layers panel) to quickly find specific layers by name, attribute, or label.

Effective layer management will help you maintain a clean and organized workspace, making it easier to locate and edit specific elements in your projects.

By optimizing your workflow, you'll be able to work more efficiently and focus on the creative aspects of your Photoshop 2023 projects. With these practical tips and the new features at your fingertips, you're well on your way to mastering Photoshop 2023!

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