Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Maximizing productivity with screen modes
Now that you can zoom in and out of your document, as well as reposition it in your image
window, it's time to learn how to take advantage of screen modes. You have a choice of
three screen modes in which to work. Most users start and stay in the default—Standard
Screen mode—unless they accidentally end up in another. Screen modes control how much
space your current image occupies on your screen, and whether you can see other Photoshop
documents as well. The Standard Screen mode is the default screen mode when you open
Photoshop for the i rst time. It displays an image on a neutral gray background for easy and
accurate viewing of color without distractions, and also provides a l exible work area for
dealing with panels.
1
Click on the tab of the ps0201_work.psd image to make that image active.
2
Press the Tab key; the Tools panel and other panels disappear, creating much more
workspace. Press the Tab key again to bring the Tools panel and other panels back.
3
Press Shift+Tab to hide the panel docking area while keeping the rest of the panels
visible. Press Shift+Tab to bring the hidden panels back. Both the Tools panel and the
panel docking area should now be visible.
As you position your cursor over various tools, you see a letter to the right of the tool name in
the tooltip. This letter is the keyboard shortcut that you can use to access that tool. You could, in
fact, work with the Tools panel closed and still have access to all the tools via your keyboard.
You will hide the panels once more so that you can take advantage of a hidden feature
in Photoshop CS6.
4
Press the Tab key to hide the panels. Then position your cursor over the thin gray
strip where the Tools panel had been, and pause. The Tools panel reappears. Note
that the Tools panel appears only while your cursor is in the Tools panel area, and it
disappears if you move your cursor out of that area. Try this with the panel docking
area to the right of the screen, and watch as that also appears and disappears as your
cursor moves over the gray border of to the right.
By changing the screen modes, you can locate over-extended anchor points and select
more accurately up to the edge of your image. Changing modes can also help you
present your image to clients in a clean workspace.
