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Lesson 6:   06-A   06-B   06-C   06-D

​Lesson 6 - Objectives 6-7 (Wednesday)

B06-06 Layer shortcuts you can use to speed up your workflow

PC users, press CTRL for Command, ALT for Option in the commands below...

• To unlock the background layer without getting a dialog, double-click the word background in the layer while holding the Option key down. Also you can just click on the lock to unlock the layer in Photoshop CC.
• To duplicate an entire layer (or just what is selected on a layer) to a new layer - press Command-J
• To cycle through the blend modes for a selected layer, first make sure you've chosen a non-brush tool, such as the Move tool (V is the shortcut key for the Move tool). Then press Shift and the + or - keys.

Video: Top Photoshop LAYERS Keyboard Shortcuts

• Create a new layer - Command-Shift-N. To skip the dialog box while creating a new layer - Command-Option-Shift-N (CTRL-Shift-N and CTRL-ALT-Shift-N on PC)
• To fill a layer with the foreground color - press Option-Delete (ALT-Backspace on a PC)
• To fill a layer with the background color - press Command-Delete (CTRL-Delete on a PC)
• To change the opacity of a selected layer, first make sure you are in a non-brush tool such as the Move tool (V). Then you can press a number to change the opacity in 10% increments. 1=10%  2=20%  3=30%, etc.  0=100%  00=0% Pressing 2 numbers in quick succession will give you a specific percentage. Pressing 56 quickly will give you 56%. You can control the selected layer's fill the same way, but you need to hold the Shift key down while pressing a number.
• To change the selected layer, you can repeatedly press Option-[ or Option-]. Each time you press Option-[ you'll select the next layer down the in the stack. Each time you press Option-] you'll select the next layer up in the stack. 
• If you want to actually move the selected layer it works just like changing the selected layer, only you use Command-[ or Command-].
• To merge a selected layer into the layer underneath, press Command-E
• To take a composite snapshot of all the visible layers as a separate layer, press Command-Option-Shift-E.

B06-07 Understanding color and color theory

You have an assigned reading - The Basics of Color Design in the lesson 6 module in Canvas. You will also find the following helpful to read.

• Color Theory for Designers, Part 1: The Meaning of Color

• Color Theory For Designers, Part 2: Understanding Concepts And Terminology

• Color Theory For Designers: Creating Your Own Color Palettes

There is also a section on color in the resources of this site. I have also created a Pinterest Board - Design - Color.

Canva.com also has a great section on color!  

The gallery below has examples of several color harmony schemes. The images were found on Pinterest.com.

Optional resources to share with you! (Not required)