The Basics of Photoshop: A Simple Starting Point
If you’re new to Photoshop, it can feel overwhelming at first. There are panels, tools, layers, and menus everywhere. But once you understand a few core ideas, everything starts to make sense.
1. Everything Happens in Layers
Think of Photoshop like stacking transparent sheets of paper.
Each “layer” holds something:
An image
Text
Shapes
Adjustments
You can move, hide, or edit each layer without affecting the others.
If you learn nothing else, learn this:
Layers are the foundation of everything in Photoshop.
2. The Move Tool (Your Default Tool)
The Move Tool lets you click and drag things around your canvas.
Shortcut: V
Use it to:
Reposition images
Align elements
Build layouts
You’ll use this constantly.
3. Selection Tools (Choosing What to Edit)
Selections tell Photoshop where to work.
Common tools:
Marquee Tool (simple shapes)
Lasso Tool (freehand selection)
Object Selection Tool (auto-detect subjects)
Once something is selected, edits only affect that area.
4. The Brush Tool (Creative Control)
Shortcut: B
Use the brush to:
Paint color
Mask areas
Retouch images
Pro tip:
Lower the opacity for softer, more natural effects.
5. Adjustment Layers (Non-Destructive Editing)
Instead of changing your image directly, use adjustment layers.
Examples:
Brightness/Contrast
Hue/Saturation
Color Balance
These let you tweak your image without damaging the original.
6. Text Tool (Adding Words)
Shortcut: T
Click anywhere and start typing.
You can change:
Font
Size
Color
Alignment
Each text block becomes its own layer.
7. Save Your Work Properly
Use:
PSD → keeps everything editable (your working file)
PNG/JPG → for sharing/exporting
Always keep your PSD file.
Final Thought
Photoshop isn’t about memorizing every tool.
It’s about understanding how a few core concepts work together:
Layers + Selections + Adjustments = Control
Start simple. Experiment often.
That’s how you get good.
— Tree Water Studio