7 Signs You’re a Photoshop Pro (Your Scorecard)
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Date: 2026-03-07
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Comments and reviews: 20
thedirtsyndicate
heh... I've been using photoshop since 1995 - thats over 30 years of experience. I use it all day, every day, professionally as an art director at one of the best motion graphics studios in the industry. IN THIS VIDEO I learned 2 new tricks: cmndoptshftE - I didn't know that one. I've always just put all my layers in a folder, made that folder a smart object, then applied whatever finishing tweaks I want to the smart object. The other trick I learned from this video was holding shift on the camera raw trick to open it as a smart object. I knew about how to open it as a copy, didn't know the smart object trick though.
One thing that I've never seen anyone talk about is a weird quirk where if you drag a photo directly into your photoshop comp from the finder - meaning you didn't open the photo in photoshop and THEN drag it into your document, but you dragged it directly into the document from the finder window - it automatically brings the photo into your comp as a smart object - but its NOT a really a smart object. I call them dumb objects because you can open them the same way you do a smart object, make changes in the psb as if they are a smart object, but when you go to save it it gives an error Can't save this document back to its original file format. It's extremely frustrating when its a texture thats being used in numerous places in the design and you want to make a little tweak to it so that it updates on all of them at once - but the only way to get it to save in the smart object psb is to flatten it which completely defeats the purpose. Anyway - if you could make a video about that weird quirk to get the word out I would greatly appreciate it. I get so many photoshop files from other artists that are like this and it drives me crazy. With your following I have no doubt in my mind that if you make a video about this quirk it will make MY life easier. haha
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heh... I've been using photoshop since 1995 - thats over 30 years of experience. I use it all day, every day, professionally as an art director at one of the best motion graphics studios in the industry. IN THIS VIDEO I learned 2 new tricks: cmndoptshftE - I didn't know that one. I've always just put all my layers in a folder, made that folder a smart object, then applied whatever finishing tweaks I want to the smart object. The other trick I learned from this video was holding shift on the camera raw trick to open it as a smart object. I knew about how to open it as a copy, didn't know the smart object trick though.
One thing that I've never seen anyone talk about is a weird quirk where if you drag a photo directly into your photoshop comp from the finder - meaning you didn't open the photo in photoshop and THEN drag it into your document, but you dragged it directly into the document from the finder window - it automatically brings the photo into your comp as a smart object - but its NOT a really a smart object. I call them dumb objects because you can open them the same way you do a smart object, make changes in the psb as if they are a smart object, but when you go to save it it gives an error Can't save this document back to its original file format. It's extremely frustrating when its a texture thats being used in numerous places in the design and you want to make a little tweak to it so that it updates on all of them at once - but the only way to get it to save in the smart object psb is to flatten it which completely defeats the purpose. Anyway - if you could make a video about that weird quirk to get the word out I would greatly appreciate it. I get so many photoshop files from other artists that are like this and it drives me crazy. With your following I have no doubt in my mind that if you make a video about this quirk it will make MY life easier. haha
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fotticelli
I avoid using keyboard shortcuts in general and especially those that require using the stylus hand so I failed those. I retouch most of my pictures for printing so I often zoom in to work at almost single pixel level and at output size specific file sizes. This makes many features, such as the newer AI tools, of limited use as they fudge textures with repeating pixel patterns that show in larger prints. I do use Levels but only as a temporary way to lighten dark areas while retouching them and there is no need to set up a temporary test Curves layer with Color Overlay of Blend if.
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I avoid using keyboard shortcuts in general and especially those that require using the stylus hand so I failed those. I retouch most of my pictures for printing so I often zoom in to work at almost single pixel level and at output size specific file sizes. This makes many features, such as the newer AI tools, of limited use as they fudge textures with repeating pixel patterns that show in larger prints. I do use Levels but only as a temporary way to lighten dark areas while retouching them and there is no need to set up a temporary test Curves layer with Color Overlay of Blend if.
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Gaunc3R
Sign 4 blend modes here’s another approach: marquee (marching ants) the face into a 1:1 square and convert it to a Smart Object. Open the Smart Object and run Nano Banana AI (it tends to misalign, but working 1:1 should reduce that). Rasterize the AI layer, select both the original and AI layers, then go to Edit Auto-Align Layers. Save and close the Smart Object to return to the parent file, then use the Blend Mode to dial it in and make it perfect. That should tighten it up. Happy shopping.
ps PiXimperfect thank you for all your videos. your rock!
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Sign 4 blend modes here’s another approach: marquee (marching ants) the face into a 1:1 square and convert it to a Smart Object. Open the Smart Object and run Nano Banana AI (it tends to misalign, but working 1:1 should reduce that). Rasterize the AI layer, select both the original and AI layers, then go to Edit Auto-Align Layers. Save and close the Smart Object to return to the parent file, then use the Blend Mode to dial it in and make it perfect. That should tighten it up. Happy shopping.
ps PiXimperfect thank you for all your videos. your rock!
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sahilagarwal3096
For everyone working with smart objects for multiple objects, it can be a pain in the ass if you have to make a change in any one object. As Unmesh showed, a change in one reflects the change in all, so what do we do
Well there is an option called convert to smart object via copy. This gives a new source file smart object. Where a change in the new copy layer keeps the change contained to that particular layer. This has saved me a lot of time.
Hope this helps someone!
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For everyone working with smart objects for multiple objects, it can be a pain in the ass if you have to make a change in any one object. As Unmesh showed, a change in one reflects the change in all, so what do we do
Well there is an option called convert to smart object via copy. This gives a new source file smart object. Where a change in the new copy layer keeps the change contained to that particular layer. This has saved me a lot of time.
Hope this helps someone!
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zkiaov
I customized the top button on my pen to act as a right-click for adjusting the brush size.
Since I usually use the brush with the pen rather than the mouse, it’s much faster than having to press a key on the keyboard while still holding the pen.
Also, memorizing the hotkeys for commonly used blend modes is quite convenient compared to clicking through the menu with the mouse.
Stay happy and keep creating!
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I customized the top button on my pen to act as a right-click for adjusting the brush size.
Since I usually use the brush with the pen rather than the mouse, it’s much faster than having to press a key on the keyboard while still holding the pen.
Also, memorizing the hotkeys for commonly used blend modes is quite convenient compared to clicking through the menu with the mouse.
Stay happy and keep creating!
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shashank_adler
i really just don't know what is my score today... but it's only because of you, your videos and your knowledge about Photoshop, that i have been able to use this software so easily and fearlessly... even if i make any mistakes while doing any photoshoot or clicking any photographs, i have gained this confidence that i can fix it somehow or the other... all thanks to your teachings
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i really just don't know what is my score today... but it's only because of you, your videos and your knowledge about Photoshop, that i have been able to use this software so easily and fearlessly... even if i make any mistakes while doing any photoshoot or clicking any photographs, i have gained this confidence that i can fix it somehow or the other... all thanks to your teachings
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shakir_ahmad
I can't believe I'm a pro, I never realized I've been working with Photoshop for more than 10 years! Everything that you showed here became very normal daily routine for me.
Ps. Although I'm level 7 according to THIS video, I still believe there's soooo much more left to explore.
And, in real life, no one actually cares, lol. People just want me to get their job done.
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I can't believe I'm a pro, I never realized I've been working with Photoshop for more than 10 years! Everything that you showed here became very normal daily routine for me.
Ps. Although I'm level 7 according to THIS video, I still believe there's soooo much more left to explore.
And, in real life, no one actually cares, lol. People just want me to get their job done.
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Antertainment3011
to change your brush size you can just click AltWindowsLeft Click and drag the mouse to right to increase and left to decrease and move up to increase the depth and down to decrease, looks like a 3 button but its more comfortable and presize than setting up a single button for the brush size adjustments, and yes thanks to PIXimperfect that ive learnt so many things
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to change your brush size you can just click AltWindowsLeft Click and drag the mouse to right to increase and left to decrease and move up to increase the depth and down to decrease, looks like a 3 button but its more comfortable and presize than setting up a single button for the brush size adjustments, and yes thanks to PIXimperfect that ive learnt so many things
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taufiklatief
I got a 6! There are actually some features I didn't know yet, but thanks Unmesh as always.
I also just scored 90% on the Adobe Certified Associate Test. The journey wasn't easyI spent 10 years learningbut it really paid off.
But what’s even crazier is combining Photoshop with AI tools... you basically become a monster.
Happy learning y'all!
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I got a 6! There are actually some features I didn't know yet, but thanks Unmesh as always.
I also just scored 90% on the Adobe Certified Associate Test. The journey wasn't easyI spent 10 years learningbut it really paid off.
But what’s even crazier is combining Photoshop with AI tools... you basically become a monster.
Happy learning y'all!
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CriticallyMarco
Should show this to a previous employer of mine lol they flat out belittled me for customizing my workspace, actions, and keyboard shortcuts. I've been using Photoshop for 20 years yet they thought it was better to never customise so then you could change computers without needing to export/import your workspaces & shortcuts.
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Should show this to a previous employer of mine lol they flat out belittled me for customizing my workspace, actions, and keyboard shortcuts. I've been using Photoshop for 20 years yet they thought it was better to never customise so then you could change computers without needing to export/import your workspaces & shortcuts.
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turrican-2
I am using a german keyboard. I know about the feature, to rotate the stamp with the shortcut, but at the german keyboard ALT SHIFT don't work, because is merged on just one key. And no, additionally holding SHIFT does not fix the problem. Therefore, does anyone know, how to rotate the stamp on a german keyboard Thank you :)
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I am using a german keyboard. I know about the feature, to rotate the stamp with the shortcut, but at the german keyboard ALT SHIFT don't work, because is merged on just one key. And no, additionally holding SHIFT does not fix the problem. Therefore, does anyone know, how to rotate the stamp on a german keyboard Thank you :)
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piximperfect
I have got a advance level score, and that is thanks to you too. Whatever I learned I learned from you. I don't need other Ps tutorial to learn, but only yours. Surprisingly when I tried to find tutorials that fits my own interest, I found yours at my very first attempts. And since then I only follow your tutorials.
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I have got a advance level score, and that is thanks to you too. Whatever I learned I learned from you. I don't need other Ps tutorial to learn, but only yours. Surprisingly when I tried to find tutorials that fits my own interest, I found yours at my very first attempts. And since then I only follow your tutorials.
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rishabhpal2046
I got a 6/7 on my Scorecard even though I don’t use Photoshop or work with it. I’ve loved watching your videos for over six years because of the outstanding production quality and the uniquely engaging topics.
I can’t remember the Clone Stamp shortcut.
Thank You, for this amazing content
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I got a 6/7 on my Scorecard even though I don’t use Photoshop or work with it. I’ve loved watching your videos for over six years because of the outstanding production quality and the uniquely engaging topics.
I can’t remember the Clone Stamp shortcut.
Thank You, for this amazing content
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piximperfect
Hmm.. Never considered myself as advanced since i learned all these things on my own time with no official courses or schooling. But my score was 6, so THANK YOU!
Also, I've been watching your videos for like a decade now.. wow
I probably learned most of these from you Unmesh
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Hmm.. Never considered myself as advanced since i learned all these things on my own time with no official courses or schooling. But my score was 6, so THANK YOU!
Also, I've been watching your videos for like a decade now.. wow
I probably learned most of these from you Unmesh
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lupusy
Where are you if you make Photoshop scripts that use Python calls :D
Never mind that I just wanted to chip in saying that if you're a mouse user, you can change brush size by holding alt, right mouse key and moving mouse left and right. Moving it up and down changes feather size.
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Where are you if you make Photoshop scripts that use Python calls :D
Never mind that I just wanted to chip in saying that if you're a mouse user, you can change brush size by holding alt, right mouse key and moving mouse left and right. Moving it up and down changes feather size.
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gamesnews4440
Great video! I'm a Photoshop user since 1998. Art Director, Creative director for many years. I knew all the tricks, some of them from you. I use a custom shortcut for Smart Object, it's faster (CTRLALTSHIFTR). I remember Matt Kloskowski, Scott Kelby, Dave Cross before you
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Great video! I'm a Photoshop user since 1998. Art Director, Creative director for many years. I knew all the tricks, some of them from you. I use a custom shortcut for Smart Object, it's faster (CTRLALTSHIFTR). I remember Matt Kloskowski, Scott Kelby, Dave Cross before you
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nightraven312
Can you make a video about how Photoshop's future look like - for professionals!. I am a graphic designer with over 8 years of exp. Now with Ai, mostly manipulation and all is done using Ai and final adjustments we do it in Photoshop and later composite in illustrator.
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Can you make a video about how Photoshop's future look like - for professionals!. I am a graphic designer with over 8 years of exp. Now with Ai, mostly manipulation and all is done using Ai and final adjustments we do it in Photoshop and later composite in illustrator.
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_Perf
You can change the brush size by holding down the Control Option keys (Ctrl Alt on Windows) and dragging horizontally with the left mouse button held down or vertically to change the hardness. No need to move your hand to the bracket keys or create your own shortcuts.
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You can change the brush size by holding down the Control Option keys (Ctrl Alt on Windows) and dragging horizontally with the left mouse button held down or vertically to change the hardness. No need to move your hand to the bracket keys or create your own shortcuts.
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XYY-r5f
Have you ever thought about changing your haircut and overall look
There seems to be a disconnect between your intellectual depth and your outward image.
I’ve followed you for years and often wonder how someone so intelligent chooses such a cartoonish visual
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Have you ever thought about changing your haircut and overall look
There seems to be a disconnect between your intellectual depth and your outward image.
I’ve followed you for years and often wonder how someone so intelligent chooses such a cartoonish visual
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waynelytton7517
When I am teaching people I like to tell them that the only difference between experienced Photoshop users and those just starting is that we have already made the mistakes that they will make as you advance. This in my opinion makes things more human.
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When I am teaching people I like to tell them that the only difference between experienced Photoshop users and those just starting is that we have already made the mistakes that they will make as you advance. This in my opinion makes things more human.
reply
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