13 Rookie Photoshop Fails & Fixes Unveiled!

Avoid These 13 Common Photoshop Mistakes to Elevate Your Design Skills

Stepping into the world of Photoshop can feel a bit like wandering into a maze – exciting, but oh so easy to get lost. Whether you’re a budding designer or someone who’s been dabbling in Photoshop for a while, there’s always something new to learn. And let’s be honest, we’ve all had our fair share of “oops” moments. Today, let’s navigate through some common blunders beginners (and even seasoned pros) make in Photoshop and how to fix them.

1. Not Creating a Stamp Visible Layer

Ever noticed how your gradients or effects go haywire when resizing your final design? That’s Photoshop struggling to maintain the integrity of your design. The solution? Before exporting, create a stamp visible layer by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E (or Cmd+Option+Shift+E on a Mac). This merges everything into one layer, ensuring your design stays consistent, no matter the size.

2. The Special Keyboard Shortcut for Copy and Paste

Want to copy an element to the exact same position in another document? Instead of the usual Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V, use Ctrl+Shift+V (or Cmd+Shift+V on a Mac). This pastes your element precisely where you want it, saving you from the headache of manual adjustments.

3. Avoid Using Photoshop Beta for Main Projects

Photoshop Beta is tempting with its sneak peeks into new features, but it’s not stable. For your main projects, stick to the regular version of Photoshop to avoid unexpected crashes and data loss.

4. Overdoing Retouching

Less is often more when it comes to retouching. Overdone edits can make your images look unrealistic. If you’re using plugins like “retouch for me,” remember to dial down the effect’s intensity for a natural look. Adjusting the opacity can also help achieve that perfect balance.

5. The Misuse of the Eraser Tool

Using the Eraser tool might seem like a straightforward way to remove unwanted parts of a layer, but it’s a one-way ticket. Instead, opt for layer masks. They offer the flexibility to hide and reveal parts of the layer without permanently deleting anything.

6. Direct Adjustments vs. Adjustment Layers

Direct adjustments are permanent and don’t offer much flexibility. Use adjustment layers instead. They not only allow you to tweak your adjustments any time but also come with a built-in mask for selective editing.

7. Doing Everything on the Background Layer

Editing directly on the background layer restricts your ability to undo changes. Always duplicate the layer or create a new layer for edits. This way, you have full control over visibility and opacity, without affecting the original image.

8. Not Using Smart Objects

To retain the quality of your images, especially when resizing, convert your layers into Smart Objects. This preserves the original data, allowing you to scale up or down without losing detail.

9. Converting to sRGB for Web Export

Colors can appear differently on the web if you’re not using the sRGB color space. Ensure you convert your images to sRGB when exporting for the web. This maintains color accuracy across various online platforms.

10. Enabling Autosave

Protect your work from unexpected crashes by turning on Autosave. Set it to save every 5 minutes, and you’ll never have to worry about losing hours of hard work.

11. Watch Out for Repeating Patterns

Removing elements can sometimes create repeating patterns, which can be a dead giveaway of editing. Mix things up by removing or altering these patterns to maintain the natural look of your image.

12. Starting with Low Resolution

Always start with a higher resolution than you think you’ll need. It’s easier to scale down without losing quality than it is to scale up.

13. Saving in the Right Format

While exporting your final image as a JPEG might seem final, always save a PSD version too. This keeps your layers intact for any future edits, giving you the flexibility to make changes without starting from scratch.

Incorporating tools and resources like Luminar Neo, Placeit, Dealjumbo, Envato Elements, and GraphicRiver can significantly enhance your Photoshop experience. These platforms offer a vast array of templates, plugins, and creative assets that can streamline your workflow and inspire your next project.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you’re well on your way to mastering Photoshop. Keep experimenting, learning, and don’t forget to share your tips and tricks with the community. Happy creating!

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:23 1 – Not Merging Before Export
01:45 2 – Not Using Correct “Paste” Shortcut
02:49 3 – Using Photoshop Beta
03:49 4 – Over-Retouching Portraits
05:49 5 – Using Eraser Instead of Masks
07:35 6 – Using Adjustments on Layers
09:00 7 – Doing Everything on the Same Layer
10:19 8 – Not Converting to Smart Objects
11:39 9 – Color Change During Export
12:24 10 – Not Paying Attention to Auto-Save
13:25 11 – Not Looking At Repeating Patterns
14:06 12 – Starting with Low Resolution
14:46 13 – Not Saving in the Right Format

Video source: 13 Photoshop Blunders Beginners Keep Making – And How to Fix Them!