I came across another portfolio site that offers some before and after images exhibiting the power of Photoshop (mouse over the images to see the magic). What I like about this page is its author, Greg Apodaca, has presented a nice range of imagery, from model photography to product re-touching and image compositing. A few of his images include a clever re-creation of Photoshop's layers palette, and mousing over each layer will deconstruct the image to that particular element. Nice.

Here's a simple yet handy tip for both transforming and copying an object/layer at the same time in Photoshop. When using the keyboard shortcut of cmd t (ctrl t) for your transform work, why not add (what else?) the option key into the mix? You won't receive any feedback in the comp window or the layers pallet that anything is different until you actually move or transform the object; a new layer will suddenly appear in the palette, containing a duplicate of the object you're working with. Just one more tiny way to speed up your day.

On a semi-related note: just like most other minor tips like this, I have no idea how far back in Photoshop a shortcut like this works. I'm using CS2, but this version-checking situation prompted (what I think is) a good idea: wouldn't it be great if there was some kind of Photoshop keyboard shortcut resource that could break down which shortcuts like this work in which version? I envision some kind of a wiki chart system that can customize its view based on which version you specify.

*sigh* Oh well. A Photoshop nerd can dream,  cant he? Just in case this actually might be a new idea that hasn't been done anywhere: I accept donations at JustGivingEmAway@BrokeStudent.com.

In the latest episode of Photoshop TV, they mention a book you can pre-order, written by their own Scott Kelby, Editor of Photoshop User magazine. The book's title is, unassumingly, The Photoshop CS2 Channels Book, and its Amazon description sounds like it brings a fresh, project-based perspective to the somewhat abstract concept of channels. Practices of using channels for selections, masking, color correcting and more are all covered. I'm not sure when the book is available, although it should be soon.