I dream in Adobe shortcut keys. I sometimes have trouble remembering that most of these shortcuts don't work in other applications or in real life.
Finding new shortcuts in Adobe programs is much like the secrets codes and shortcuts in video games, like the infinite life code for Contra, new shortcut keys make you feel invincible. So without further ado here are my top five shortcuts for Photoshop and Illustrator.
Photoshop:
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + N (New Layer No Dialog) — Quickly insert a new empty layer on top of the active layer. Get rid of the Alt key to bring up the new layer dialog for more options.
Ctrl + T (Free Transform) — Brings up the free transform tool for resizing, rotating, and skewing the image using a dragable outline.
Ctrl + I (Invert Selection) — Select the opposite of what is already selected. Also a good tool when working with mask creation.
Crtl + Shift + E (Merge Visible) — Merges all visible layers into one. Not recommended practice in typical photo editing because you’ll lose layer information.
X/D (Switch Colors/Default Colors) — Swap your foreground and background colors. Very handy when working with masks. / Reset your foreground and background colors to black and white, respectively.
Illustrator:
Shift+F7 (Brings up the Pathfinder Window) If you aren't using the pathfinder window you need to. It’s a life saver.
Command + G / Command + Shift + G (Group Selected / Ungroup Selected) Enough said.
Command + 2 / Command + Option + 2 (Lock selected / Unlock Selected ) Really nice when trying to navigate through groups.
Comand + ~ (Cycles Through You Open Windows) This also works nearly everywhere else. Note in Photoshop this is Control + Tab.
Command + Option + Shift + S (Save For Web...PNG or GIF) Yes it's still a shortcut key if it's a four key combo. Muck like playing the piano you just have to practice on your Command + Option + Shift chord. This also works in Photoshop.
