Most people use Photoshop the same way they used it 10 years ago.
They know how to crop an image, remove a background, maybe add some text, and that’s about it.
The funny thing is Photoshop is packed with tools that can save hours of work, but most people never bother learning them. They keep doing things the hard way simply because they don’t know a better method exists.
Here are 10 Photoshop tricks that can instantly improve your workflow.
When using Levels or Curves, hold Alt while dragging the black or white point sliders.
Photoshop will show exactly which parts of the image are clipping.
Instead of guessing where the highlights and shadows should be, you’ll know.
It’s one of the easiest ways to get better contrast.
Most people use Content-Aware Fill to delete unwanted objects.
What many don’t realize is that it can also expand backgrounds.
Need extra space around a subject for a YouTube thumbnail?
Extend the canvas and use Content-Aware Fill.
Photoshop often does a surprisingly good job.
This is probably one of Photoshop’s most underrated features.
Double-click a layer and look for Blend If.
It lets you blend layers together based on brightness values without making complicated masks.
The results can look incredibly natural.
Most users never touch it.
Before resizing, warping, or applying filters, convert your layer into a Smart Object.
Why?
Because Photoshop keeps the original image data intact.
You can resize a layer multiple times without permanently destroying image quality.
It’s a simple habit that prevents a lot of headaches later.
Many people still spend ages making selections manually.
Photoshop’s Select Subject tool has become surprisingly accurate.
Is it perfect?
No.
But it can often get you 90% of the way there in a few seconds.
That alone can save a huge amount of time.
See a font in an image and want to know what it is?
Use Photoshop’s Match Font feature.
Photoshop will analyze the text and suggest similar fonts from your system.
It’s not magic, but it’s often close enough.
A lot of people think Camera Raw is only for photographers.
Not true.
You can open regular JPEGs, PNGs, and even some graphic designs inside Camera Raw.
The masking tools, color grading, and adjustment controls are often faster than traditional Photoshop methods.
If you’re making multiple versions of a design, Layer Comps can save you a ridiculous amount of time.
Instead of creating dozens of PSD files, you can save different layer states inside one document.
Perfect for client revisions.
Almost nobody uses it.
Generative Fill has changed the game.
Need to remove a power line, trash can, photobomber, or random object?
Select it and let Photoshop generate replacements.
It’s not perfect every time, but when it works, it can replace minutes or even hours of manual retouching.
If you find yourself repeating the same process every day, record an Action.
Resize images.
Add watermarks.
Sharpen photos.
Export files.
Photoshop can perform the entire sequence with one click.
A few minutes spent creating Actions can save hundreds of clicks every week.
The biggest mistake Photoshop users make is assuming they already know enough.
The software is constantly evolving.
New features appear every year, while older features sit hidden in menus that most people never open.
Learning just one or two of these tricks can speed up your workflow more than buying a faster computer.
And the best part is they’re already built into Photoshop. You’re probably paying for them whether you use them or not.
If you enjoyed this article and want more Photoshop tips, editing tutorials, and ways to work faster, consider subscribing to my YouTube channel. I regularly share practical tricks that help you spend less time clicking and more time creating.