Adobe Photoshop Secrets

Pixeden Excellent Free PSD Resource

2013-05-18T07:57:00.002+02:00

Pixeden site is an excellent resource with lot of highest quality PSD files. They are very clear in their licensing which ships with files: you can use free files for personal and commercial projects, attribution is appreciated but not required. In order to start downloading free files you will need to create free account. After creating free account just navigate to Free section and start downloading what you need. There isn't any prompts like pay with tweet or similar poor taste requirements.

Files are high quality with well naming conventions and layers organization, the only imperfection is that author does not supply any help files with instructions and explanation - he (or they) probably assumes that everyone in this World know how to use provided files.

Check out and other Absolutely Free PSD Files.

Floor Covering Seamless Tiling Patterns for Adobe Photoshop

2013-05-16T07:55:00.000+02:00

Floor Covering Seamless Tiling Patterns for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements is today freebie. Patterns are created with Filter Forge - probably best Photoshop plugin. Patterns size is 512x512px and you can use them for personal and commercial projects as and everything else listed in freebies section.

Download Floor Covering Patterns (Google Docs).

If you have problem to install patterns read this tutorial: How to install Photoshop patterns on Windows. You may also be interested in: How to Manage and Work with Presets in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.

Floor Covering Patterns Preview:

If you are interested in premium package with Wood patterns see below what you can buy for $3. For more premium patterns please visit Photoshop Plus > Patterns page.

Show Page Numbers on Top of Background Image in InDesign

2013-05-14T10:06:00.000+02:00

While writing help files for my new set of Photoshop seamless tiling patterns, I came in following situation: page numbers does not appears, actually page numbers are hidden under background image on each page. To complicate situation little more, I am not using exactly same background image on each page. After searching for help I found solution: create new layer for page numbers and bring it to the top. Yes, that's solution, I did it. To help you solve this problem I created screenshots which can be very useful for most of users which will meet this problem for the first time but also and reminder in case you forget how it works (like me for example).

With Master page view active and new layer created (I will recommend you to name it: page numbers), you need to draw text frame on master page then go to: Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number.

Basically layer page numbers should be above layer on which lies background image and that's it. On screenshot below I named layer on which lies background image (selected) with name: content.

Reference:
InDesign Help / Add basic page numbering

Product used in this tutorial: Adobe InDesign CS6

Selecting Layers and Groups in Photoshop Using Move Tool

2013-05-09T07:06:00.000+02:00

Most of time we are dealing with layers and groups in Photoshop. It is pretty easy to select layer or group in Layers panel: just click on it. Photoshop CS6 offers easy way to search and display (filter) layers by name, effect, attribute, kind… but what about selecting layers and groups and moving them around without to make that big effort to navigate cursor over Layers panel? It is possible off course and that's what I will present in this post.

Method 1 Using Auto Select from options bar
First method to quick and easy select layer(s) and group(s) without to even move cursor over Layers panel is using Auto Select in options bar which is just below menus. Requirement for this method is Move Tool selected and option Auto Select turned on. You must also decide what to auto select: Layer or Group from drop-down list on the right side of Auto Select:. Note that you must manually uncheck Auto Select option, it will remain selected and valid even after restarting Photoshop. It works nice all the time, set up settings, navigate cursor over image and click. Photoshop will automatically highlight (select) layer or group in Layers panel. Which layer or group will be selected depends on where you clicked or in other words on which layer or inside which group is clicked content. When selecting layer, If you have layers organized into groups and nested groups, Photoshop will expand group(s) so you can visually confirm that intended layer is selected.

To select multiple layers (or groups) actually to add to selection hold down Shift key and click again on image to add layer or group to selection. To deselect (subtract) layer or group from selection, Shift + click as when adding to selection.This method will fail only if you have nested groups, with Auto Select > Group settings it will always select top most or parent group, never child or nested one.

Method 2 Using right click or context menu
This method works always and requirements are: Move Tool selected or active and layers and groups properly named. If you are not naming your layers and groups this is best time to start. Once you make naming convention your habit you will start celebrate it. Here is how this works: navigate Move Tool icon over content which lays on layer or inside group you want to select, right click (Cmd + click) and select layer or group name. What is listed in context menu depends also on clicked point.

To add to selection, hold down Shift key and right click one more time then select layer or group name from context menu.

Lets say you have selected layer or group you didn't want to select. Is there any way to deselect using this method? Off course, here is how:

To subtract form selection repeat same steps: hold down Shift key, right click over content which lays on layer or inside group you want to deselect and choose that layer or group name from context menu.

There are also and keyboard shortcuts to work with layers if you prefer that method: Cycling through and moving layers in layers stack from keyboard.

Reference:
Photoshop / Selecting, grouping, and linking layers

Product used in this tutorial: Adobe Photoshop CS6

Spiral Wallpaper Seamless Tiling Patterns for Adobe Photoshop

2013-05-07T06:48:00.000+02:00

Spiral Wallpaper Seamless Tiling Patterns for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements is today freebie. Patterns are created with Filter Forge - probably best Photoshop plugin. Patterns size is 512x512px and you can use them for personal and commercial projects as and everything else listed in freebies section.

Download Spiral Wallpaper Patterns (Google Docs).

Where to Sell Online Digital Content for Adobe Products

2013-05-04T08:55:00.000+02:00

In this post I will list 3+3 options to sell digital content for Adobe products like Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator... Adobe products are not limitation to sell digital content online but I will keep my recommendation in my field based on my personal experience and few months researches. There are 2 ways to sell your digital content: through communities (marketplaces) and on your own. When selling on your own keep in mind that you should have long time presentation and trust from potential buyers, otherwise it may not work as expected. When selling through communities it works better because buyers have trust and most of markets have approval process to ensure buyers will get expected and quality content.

In my judgment and recommendation I am taking in account: amount of community members which are potential buyers, marketplace or company trust among buyers, approval process, responsibility of marketplace staff and willing to help, flexibility and finally my personal experience.

Adobe Exchange
This is the number one place to sell digital content directly to Adobe users. Community is largest possible especially to sell content and extensions for Adobe products. Company have highest possible amount of trust among buyers and people are willing to buy from Adobe marketplaces. Packaging content for Adobe Exchange is extremely easy what I will describe in some of the next posts. Approval process is pretty quick: usually within 48 hours. If your product is not ready for Adobe Exchange you will receive email with detailed description of required changes. Developer also receives email notifications about uploaded and approved products. Staff is very friendly, responsive and very willing to help you to get started and get the most of your products. There isn't any limitation beside 2GB file size and minimum price which is $5. Payments will be processed by FastSpring and fee is: $1 + 5% of product price. You can upload paid and free products, change price, offer discounts, bundled products and even to create group and invite members who are willing to test your beta product and give you feedback. One of the other key benefits of Groups is to be able to distribute your products to organizations, or internally within a corporation, and take advantage of using Exchange to manage updates.

Plans: with basic free account you can upload up to 10 products from which 2 are paid. You can also apply for commercial products with no limitation and 1 year contract. Read more from here.

Creative Market
This is very nice community and marketplace which works with invitation only. You can apply to Open a Shop immediately after joining community. There isn't any approval process and you are free to set and change price for your product which will be handled and delivered to customer by Creative Market. Pricing is 30% from each sale. Very nice, growing place to sell your products with large number of community members and recently developed extension for Photoshop similar to Adobe Exchange panel.

Graphic River
This is another marketplace to sell your digital content for Adobe (and other) products online. Graphic River is a part of Envato and have large community but also and many limitations unfortunately. Approval process is 5-15 days depend on kind of product and you are not allowed to set your price. Reviewer is the one who will decide and judge if product is ready for marketplace and what should be the price. If product is not approved you will receive email with: sorry, product is rejected. Sometimes they have strange judgment and I start thinking that they are judging with meter and scales for weighing in hands. After product is published you are allowed to delete it, request price change what is pretty painful process and to upload new assets or product revision. It is excellent community to get started and to sell only certain products due to their pretty uniform pricing method.

Plans starts with 50% from each sale for exclusive authors what means you are not allowed to sale same product on different marketplace. For non exclusive products you will get 33% from each sale.

RegNow
This is one excellent way to sell your digital content on your own. RegNow will host your files without limitation in size. The only limitation is one main and one trial file per product. Delivery method can be set to download, license, custom email or self-fulfillment. You will pay only when selling products: $1 + 5% from each sale. Another advantage of this service is large affiliate network (RegNow is a part of Digital River) and there are good chances that you will have affiliates. You are the one who decides about affiliate commision either in percentages or currency like $ or €. You will get paid in scheduled intervals with lot of options to receive money: check, paypal, wire transfer...

FastSpring
Very similar service provider to RegNow. Fast Spring have modern user interface, easy to understand and navigate. Options are pretty much the same as on RegNow but without affiliate network. Highly responsive staff willing to help with almost immediate responses.

Getonic
This is one very interesting option to sell your digital content online. Limitation with Getonic is 200 000 MB per file, PayPal account and nothing else. You can set affiliate commision for anyone who is willing to share on social networks and get commision which is controlled by seller (you). Here is link to Getonic home page and below example with one of my products. Price for this service is $5/mo. It works as expected, owner is receiving notifications for each sale and resellers are receiving notifications about their affiliate connection with shared product. Both: owner of product and affiliates are receiving payments at the end of month.

Other options
There are and some other options you may want to check:

Sellfy (unlimited products, storage and bandwidth, fee: 5% from each sale)
PayLoadz ($14.95/mo, 5% + 49 cents)
Shopify (free trial, pricing starts with $30/mo)

If you know about and have good or bad experience with solutions not listed, please leave a comment.

3 Cool Filter Forge Tips

2013-04-29T05:49:00.000+02:00

In this post I will give you 3 coll and my favorite tips when working with Filter Forge - probably best Photoshop plugin. Filter Forge is fantastic software and beside more than 9000 unique filters which you can download for free, there are always and controls to quick and easy tweak and modify provided preset for particular filter. This means that you can create unique filters in no time. Even better there is and Filter Editor to modify or add components or even to start from scratch and create your unique and awesome filter. For those not familiar with this fantastic software or Photoshop plugin just quick explanation that word filter want to say: pattern, effect, frame, texture, tonal and color enhancement and so on. Pretty similar with Photoshop filters but more powerful tool. Lets go to my tips.

Tip 1 Save preset
As already mentioned every filter have some controls, usually sliders, which you can use to tweak filter settings. Once you are satisfied go and save settings as new preset.

Tip 2 Work non-destructively on separate layer
Filter Forge filters can not be applied to Smart Objects but this does not mean you can not work non-destructively. Many of filters (textures, frames, old photo look...) can be applied to blank layer. So, create blank layer, apply filter like Old paper effect for example, then use Photoshop blending modes to blend layer with filter with layer with image.

Tip 3 Apply filter to selection
If you want to apply filter only to certain portion of image, make first your selection then run Filter Forge (this does not works when Smart Object layer is active layer in Layers panel).

Circles, Rounded Rectangles and Hexagon Layouts Photoshop Actions

2013-04-25T06:05:00.000+02:00

My new set of Photoshop actions: Circles, Rounded Rectangles and Hexagon Layouts are created to help you in design tasks which requires images inside or clipped to circle, rounded rectangle or hexagon. Actions are amazingly flexible and easy to use. User is the one who will determine number of images (or any document that Photoshop supports), size, resolution, bit depth of document.. In addition there are actions included in package to group Smart Object layers with images and vector placeholders to which Smart Object layers are clipped for easier alignment and distribution. Last option I want to mention for introduction is to rasterize grouped Smart Object and vector placeholders to minimize number of layers and file size.

How actions works
Every set of actions: Circles, Rounded Rectangles* and Hexagons have multiple actions to create layouts or 2-100 images clipped to vector placeholders. Every action have 2 parts or steps which will run continuously without interruptions with pop-up message between to explain you what is the next task to accomplish. In first part you will define document dimensions, resolution, color mode, bit depth and color profile. After that action will create template with 2-100 Smart Object layers for images and vector placeholders to which images are clipped.

Second part in action will open Place dialogs to replace each Smart Object dummy content with images or documents of your choice. You can use any type of document that Photoshop supports including JPEG, PNG, PSD, Ai, PDF... formats. Immediately after placing image or document Photoshop will turn Smart Object layer into free transform mode so you can scale and reposition it.

At the beginning of action you will define document size what will affect size and proportions of circles, rounded rectangles and hexagon shapes to which images are clipped. It is easy to calculate (multiply) desired size with number of shapes and images in layout. For example: Circles layout 2x2 means that layout contains 2 images and circle shapes in first and second row. If you want circles 100x100px then set document size to 200x200px or in other words multiply first number in layout name with desired shape width and second number in layout name with desired height. To not forget to mention that *Rounded Rectangles comes in multiple sets with corner radius of 10, 20, 30 and 50px.

My intent and purpose of this package with actions
As earlier at the beginning of post mentioned, main purpose of actions is to help you in design tasks where images clipped to circles, rounded rectangles and hexagons are required. This set of actions should be useful for designers and photographers to create: brochures, product catalogs, photo books, photo albums, cover pages, business cards, flyers and so on.

I expect from most users to use actions to quick and easy create required design elements in separate document. That's why action Group Images and Placeholders is provided. By default action will group all Smart Object layers with images and vector placeholders into images and placeholders group so it is easy to move it into another document (right click > Duplicate Group).

In addition when Smart Object layers are grouped with vector placeholders to which are clipped it is easy to move, align and distribute as you want and need them in your project.

Try and buy links
You can try and test actions before buying them. Download test files and user guide from Google Drive. Price for this set is only $4 and you can buy it from RegNow (you will be able to download product immediately after placing order).

User guide which ships with package

Circles, Rounded Rectangles and Hexagon User Guide by Bojan Živković

Free Water Colour Paper Seamless Tiling Patterns

2013-04-23T06:08:00.000+02:00

Water Colour Paper Seamless Tiling Patterns for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements is today freebie. Patterns are created with Filter Forge - probably best Photoshop plugin. Patterns size is 512x512px and you can use them for personal and commercial projects as and everything else listed in freebies section.

Download Water Colour Paper Patterns (Google Docs).

If you need more paper seamless tiling patterns visit this link for premium package ($2 only) with 30 different patterns + JPG images in two sizes 512x512px and 1024x1024px.

Chevron Fabric Seamless Tiling Patterns

2013-04-20T06:21:00.000+02:00

Today I will introduce you my new set with 34 Chevron Fabric Seamless Tiling Patterns. Every pattern is available in 5 sizes: 128x128px, 256x256px, 512x512px, 1024x1024 and 2048x2048px. You can use patterns with Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements and GIMP. Patterns are useful for backgrounds, design elements, as overlay or to create layer styles.

Test and buy patterns
To test quality of patterns please download test file with 3 patterns in all available sizes from Google Docs. Price for this set is $4 and you can buy it from RegNow site using this link (download available immediately after completing order and email link will be sent to you).

Purchased version contains 2 PDF files in help folder with preview of all available patterns and tutorial How to Manage and Work with Presets in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Tutorial will come handy in case you want to separate patterns by size or by most used and save them as new sets.

Preview of Chevron Fabric Seamless Tiling Patterns:

Chevron Fabric Seamless Tiling Patterns from Bojan Živković

Unlimited Layouts PSD Templates

2013-04-15T05:37:00.001+02:00

Today I am very excited to present you my new product: Unlimited Layouts PSD Templates available as usually from Web but also on New Adobe Exchange which allows you to search for free and buy premium files you need for your project without leaving Photoshop. This is great moment for me and I believe for many Photoshop users. This set of templates will open the eyes to many of you who are not using amazingly powerful and flexible Variables and Data Sets. This amazing feature allows you to place hundreds of images or files from once resized on the fly to fit in your layout exactly as you want without to worry about size, color mode, bit depth... This powerful feature allows you to create multipage documents like product catalogs, photobooks, contact sheets, photo templates in a minutes.

About Unlimited Layouts PSD Templates
PSD templates are extremely flexible and easy to use. You can resize (resample) provided layout to just any size and aspect ratio. All PSD templates have variables attached to file so you do not need to deal with Variables and to learn how to create them. The real power with Variables is that you can generate unlimited number of files with the same layout and design but different JPG images placed in defined placeholders (up to 225 per file) in a minutes. JPG images are not limitation, you can use any supported file format. To use PSD templates you will need first to select and batch rename files you want to use in Adobe Bridge, it will take only a minute. All you have to do is to choose layout, resize it then to load Data Sets text file which is also provided along with PSD files. After loading txt file you can export (with files provided in this package what is not limitation) 20 PSD files in chosen layout with up to 4500 images.

Lets say you have 4500 images on your hard drive and you want to arrange them in 15x15 grid layout which will require 20 different files. First step is to batch rename all files using Adobe Bridge. It is matter just to select files then to evoke Batch Rename command. After renaming files open 15x15 template PSD file and resize it to just any size. You can also change resolution and color mode by the way. Since PSD files have defined variables you will need just to load Data Sets text files which you will copy and paste in folder with images. After previewing layouts with images and how all final files will be exported, you can add stroke between images in any desired width. Last step is to export 20 PSD files using File > Export > Data Sets as Files command. Done! You have 20 PSD files with 4500 different images arranged in 15x15 grids. It will literally take 5-15 minutes. Number of images I have described is not limitation, you can extend Data Sets on your own and to process more images from once. Best of all you do not have to worry about images sizes, resolutions—if you do not want to, because everything will be adjusted on the fly to fill available space for image. Last thing I want to mention for this short description is that you have 31 different template as choice with 2x1 to 15x15 grid layouts (2x1, 2x2,2x3, 2x4, 3x3...15x15). That's not all, actually that can be all you need or only beginning suitable for introduction. You can customize every layout. If you need 15x6 layout for example which is not provided as template, just delete placeholders you do not need then load proper text file with Data Sets. By the way placeholders I am referring are actually grouped pixel layers clipped to vector shapes. You got it? It is easy to change size, orientation and to distribute them as you want. Exactly what you need to create product catalogs, photo books, photo templates, contact sheets... For more details please see embedded file below which is user guide and ships with product.

Try and buy links
Price for Unlimited Layouts PSD Templates is $8. You can buy templates from RegNow but also and directly from Photoshop CS6 using Adobe Exchange panel. By the way Photoshop CS6 is not limitation, you can use templates with previous versions. To try templates and ensure in quality of files and power of Variables and Data Sets in Adobe Photoshop please follow this link.

Unlimited Grid Layouts User Guide by Bojan Živković

Grin Inc. Seamless Tiling Patterns for Adobe Photoshop

2013-04-09T07:07:00.000+02:00

Grin Inc. Seamless Tiling Patterns for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements is today freebie. Patterns are created with Filter Forge - probably best Photoshop plugin. Patterns size is 512x512px and you can use them for personal and commercial projects as and everything else listed in freebies section.

Download Grin Inc Patterns (Google Docs).

Thousands of Free Photoshop Actions

2013-04-06T05:40:00.000+02:00

One of most powerful features in Photoshop are actions. Actions are useful for repetitive tasks but not only. Many of actions available for free can help you in common tasks like: color corrections, retouching, sharpening, B&W conversion, file format conversion, pattern creation, layout creation and off course to create special effects. Here is my ultimate collection of sites from where you can download many outstanding, extremely useful and free actions:

Photoshop Exchange
Adobe launched New Adobe Exchange recently and that's your first option to browse and download freebies including actions. Requirement for Exchange panel is Photoshop CS6. That's not all when we speak about actions and Adobe sites. Photoshop Exchange Classic is best available resource with no more, no less but 5060 free actions. Many of available actions are top quality, you won't believe what you have missed if you are not visiting this site. Just go there and filter: Actions, License type: Freeware. After few minutes you will be amazed what is available for free, I can hear you saying: Eureka, America! Requirement to download free actions is to sign in with Adobe ID.

Creativeblog collection

This is one very nice collection: 50 free Photoshop actions to create stunning effects from various resources. Check it out.

Panosfx

This is a must visit site. Beside Free Downloads section, this most popular Photoshop Exchange contributor provides Trial Version or test actions for almost every premium product available, please visit http://www.panosfx.com/faqs/terms-of-use for terms of use. Requirement is to create free account.

Reference:

Photoshop / About actions and the Actions panel

Photoshop / Playing and managing actions

Free Webinar: Adobe Creative Cloud for Designers

2013-04-03T05:52:00.000+02:00

In this post I want to draw your attention on free webinar: Adobe Creative Cloud for Designers on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT. Registration is absolutely free and one of easiest I know about. After registering you will receive confirmation and link to webinar in your inbox. Host Terry White is quaranty for plenty of informations, tips, tricks and lot of fun.

Registration link:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/575124112

Free Abstract Dreams Seamless Tiling Patterns

2013-03-30T05:13:00.000+01:00

Abstract Dreams Seamless Tiling Patterns for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements is today freebie. Patterns are created with Filter Forge - probably best Photoshop plugin. Patterns size is 512x512px and you can use them for personal and commercial projects as and everything else listed in freebies section.

Download Abstract Dreams Patterns (Google Docs).

30 Paper Tileable Textures (Patterns)

2013-03-27T05:25:00.002+01:00

Today I want to present you my new set with 30 tileable paper textures or patterns useful for web but also for print designers and photographers. Patterns can be used as overlays for continuous tone images, for backgrounds, design elements or to create layer styles. Every of 30 patterns comes as Photoshop and Photoshop Elements seamless tiiling pattern (.pat) in two sizes: 512x512px and 1024x1024px. In addition set contains and 60 JPG images with same pixel size: 512x512px and 1024x1024px.

Price and buy link
Price for this set is only $2 and you can buy it from Graphic River. There is Screenshots link below cover image to preview in full size all patterns 512x512px included in set.

3o Paper Tileable Textures preview:

30 Tileable Paper Textures by Bojan Živković

Grid+ Layouts Photoshop Actions

2013-03-22T05:38:00.001+01:00

In this post I will present you my new and most flexible set of actions with Layout in title. This set of actions gives you most flexibility in process of creating just any grid layout. Grid+ actions are must have for every web, print designer and certainly photographers can not live without grid layouts, esspecialy when presenting their work as web gallery or photo book. Grids are actually everywhere around us including Graphic Design. Here is one nice article A Brief History of Grids.

The power of Grid+ Layouts Actions
The true power of this set is in amazing flexibility and independency of size, resolution, bit depth, color mode. You can type just any size, resolution and choose any of available options in New dialog which will open at the beginning of action. The result will be always as expected, no surprises, no mistakes. Grid in title does not mean square, ratio will be defined by user in New dialog. For example: when playing 4x2 Template action you can specify Width=800px and Height=800px to get template with 8 placeholders 200x400px or 1:2 ratio. Specifying W=800px and H=560px will deliver to you layout with 8 placeholders 200x280px or 5:7 ratio. Once again, numbers mention are not limitation, there isn't actually any limitation and you can specify just any size with any ratio up to maximum available file size in Photoshop (300.000x300.000px).

Few real World examples
Here are few examples of grid layouts in web and print design. Screenshots used in collage: 99designs Facebook page, Flickr home page, Slavery Book cover, FREE Celebrating Cycle Touring E-Book.

What is included in set
Recorded actions provides you easy creation of 27 layouts : 2x2, 2x3, 2x4, 3x2, 3x3, 3x4, 3x5, 4x2, 4x3, 4x4, 4x5, 4x6, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5x6, 5x7, 6x2, 6x3, 6x4, 6x5, 6x6, 7x7, 8x8, 9x9, 10x10. That’s not all off course, it is very easy to combine two layouts in one single as explained in PDF user guide (see it below in post) which ships with actions.

Basically package contains set with 27 actions which will create chosen layout, guide you through steps to place images or files in any supported format and allow you to set stroke width which will separate images. Every layout is created from Smart Object which are clipped to vector placeholders. In addition to this basic set you can use Grid Layouts Kit to separately create template, place images or add stroke. Advantage of Layout Kit is that you can modify template before placing images or files and skip actions to add stroke between images. Perhaps you do not want separation stroke or you want see through separation. Here is infographic like one example how to use actions to create layout which is downloaded from stockindesign.

Try and buy links
As always you have chance to try one of actions included in set. Test action is 5x3 layout as basic action but also as part of Layout Kit. Download test actions from here (File > Download) and watch video below how to combine two 5x3 layouts to get one 10x3 which is very popular for Facebook covers.
Price for this set is $4 and you can buy it from here. Actions are unique and exclusively available from my portfolio page on Graphic River.

Video How to Use Grid+ Layout Actions

Grid+ Layouts User Guide

Grid+ Layouts User Guide by Bojan Živković

If you have any question or suggestion feel free to call or to chat with me.

Wood Lattice Seamless Tiling Patterns for Adobe Photoshop

2013-03-19T05:22:00.000+01:00

Wood Lattice Seamless Tiling Patterns for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements is today freebie. Patterns are created with Filter Forge - probably best Photoshop plugin. Patterns size is 512x512px and you can use them for personal and commercial projects as and everything else listed in freebies section. All patterns in this set have transparent background.

Download Wood Lattice Patterns (Google Docs).

Precisely Position Guides in Adobe Photoshop

2013-03-16T05:01:00.000+01:00

When it comes to work with guides Adobe Photoshop provides wonderful command New Guide located in View menu. This command opens small pop-up window with the same name where you can set exact position of your guide. It works perfect regardless of level of magnification or document size. Options that you have are Orientation and Position. Orientation can be set to Horizontal where 0 point is top of your document and Vertical where 0 point is left side of document. In Position text field you can type number followed with any allowed measurement unit in Photoshop: pixels, inches, centimeters, millimeters, points, picas or percentages.

Precisely move guides
Can I change position precisely after setting guides you may ask. Yes you can. Select Move Tool and navigate over guide. When it turns into double-sided arrows press Shift key and drag. Shift key will give command to Photoshop to snap to first available Ruler increment. First available increment can be any measurement unit set for ruler what you can easily change on right click on Ruler (Ctrl/Cmd + R). Depend on measurement unit set for Ruler you will probably need to change magnification level to higher (300% for example) because in low magnification levels Photoshop will snap to 12, 10, 5 or 2 points, pixels, millimeters from current.

Guides and Snap
Guides in combination with Snap from View menu really rocks and allows you to quickly and precisely position existing or draw new objects. Beside allowing Snap option from View menu you can check and what is set in Snap To > option.

Excellent and free plugin to create guides
Lastly to not forget excellent and free Photoshop plugin to create guides: guideguide which I am using all the time.

Reference:
Photoshop / Grid and guides

Product used in this tutorial: Adobe Photoshop CS6

Speed Up Photoshop On The Fly

2013-03-14T06:03:00.001+01:00

Recently I was asked from one of my friends: is there any way to speed up Photoshop? Yes, there are many ways described on two official pages: Photoshop Help / Optimize performance | Photoshop CS4, CS5, CS6 and How to tune Photoshop CS6 for peak performance. We passed through many recommended options to tweak settings for speed and efficiency and I gave him one tip how to speed up Photoshop on the fly, feature described in official help but usually overlooked. That feature or command is Purge located in Edit menu. Purge allows you to purge or delete undo, history states, clipboard content and video cache. Best of all it works immediately, no restart is required. So whenever you have problem with speed and performance, ussualy caused with low available memory, remember this option and note that this operation can not be undone or in other words you will lose permanently undo, history states, clipboard content or video cache.

Reference:
Photoshop Help / Optimize performance | Photoshop CS4, CS5, CS6

Product used in this tutorial: Adobe Photoshop CS6

Abstract Seamless Tiling Patterns for Adobe Photoshop

2013-03-09T04:59:00.000+01:00

Abstract Seamless Tiling Patterns for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements is today freebie. Patterns are created with Filter Forge - probably best Photoshop plugin. Patterns size is 256x256px and you can use them for personal and commercial projects as and everything else listed in freebies section.

Download Abstract Patterns (Google Docs).

Lucky Winners of Page Layouts Vol 2 Actions

2013-03-06T11:13:00.000+01:00

In one of my previous posts readers of this blog was able to download action layout 51 from Page Layouts Vol 2 Actions. There was and my promise to give away at least 3 sets of actions for those who have time to complete short survey with questions about quality, features and price for final product. There was responses on my survey and off course and free sets for some of the responders. Three lucky winners are:

Anita Horsley
Bo Markovich
Dave Bench

From the first two winners listed I get feedback about receiving package. I do not have feedback from Dave Bench, so please mister Bench if you are reading this post, check your email and confirm that you received package with actions sent and delivered to email address specified in survey.

Page Layouts Vol 2 Photoshop Actions

2013-03-05T05:53:00.000+01:00

Page Layouts Vol 2 is my new set of actions which creates every of defined 51 layouts with great precision regardless of size, resolution, orientation and ratio. Every action in this set will create template with placeholders for 3-13 images or any other file format that Photoshop supports. Since actions are using percentages to draw placeholders for images you can type just any pixel dimension followed with any resolution and action will always deliver exactly what you expect. For more details about layouts included in set please see embedded file below in post.

How actions works
Page Layouts Vol 2 is extremely easy to use set of actions. You will get quick reference guide with preview of all layouts included. You choose layout, select action name and hit Play button. Next task is to set document size and resolution. Photoshop will draw perfect layout and create template with placeholders and smart object layers clipped to them. Further action will open several Place dialogs to choose images you want to use. After placing each image in layout you will be able to change image size and position. Last step in action is to type number for stroke width which serves to separate images. Thats it, perfect layouts with 3-13 images in at most 2 minutes. Best of all you can change your mind and replace any image with some other from your hard drive after creating layout. Additional actions for this job are recorded and seats at the bottom of set in Actions panel.

Customization
Every layout can be customized at 100% level. You choose dimensions, resolution, images, stroke width... but that's not all. You can really easy modify layout. Since images will always be placed in their 100%, all you need to do is to modify vector placeholder to which images are clipped. This can be done very easy in 4 simple steps explained in Help files in details.

Try and buy links
I am always providing test files for all my products. You have ability to test layout 51 included in set which contains placeholders for 13 images. Here is a link to test action. Buy it from Graphic River following this link. Price is only $4. Do not forget to visit Photoshop Plus for more cool Photoshop stuff.

Help files included in set with step by step guide, customization and troubleshooting tips:

Page Layouts Vol 2 Photoshop Actions by Bojan Živković

Vertical Lace Seamless Tiling Patterns for Adobe Photoshop

2013-03-03T08:38:00.000+01:00

Vertical Lace Seamless Tiling Patterns for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements is today freebie. Patterns are created with Filter Forge - probably best Photoshop plugin. Patterns size is 256x256px and you can use them for personal and commercial projects as and everything else listed in freebies section. All patterns comes with transparent background.

Download Vertical Lace (Google Docs).

How to Never Delete Important Layer in Adobe Photoshop

2013-03-01T16:46:00.001+01:00

Adobe Photoshop allows you to delete any layer including and Background. Padlock on the right side of Background layer does not mean you can not delete it, it just mean you can not move it around or in another open document. To protect any layer including Background from accidental deletion you must use Lock all feature which is represented with padlock icon and seats on top of layer stack. When layer is fully locked you can not delete it in any case even if you try to delete group of layers with locked layer inside it. To lock any layer you must first select it then to click Lock all icon in Layers panel. To lock fully Background layer you must first convert it to normal layer.

Lastly how to recognize if layer is Background protected or fully locked? Beside you won't probably name your layer Background, fully locked layer in CS6 is represented with normal padlock icon (at least for my money) and Background with inverted. In previous versions fully locked padlock is darker. Another indicator is padlock on top of layers stack in Layers panel highlighted when Background layer is selected. Same recognitions are applicable to recognize if any of layers is fully locked or it have locked only pixels, transparency or position.

Questions you may have:
Can I lock any layer? Yes.
Can I lock group of layers? Yes you can. Select group then click Lock all.

Reference:
Photoshop / Moving, stacking, and locking layers

Product used in this tutorial: Adobe Photoshop CS6