If you’re new to Photoshop (or Photoshop Elements), or if you’ve recently upgraded to a newer version, there are a few settings you’re going to want to look at before you get started.
Some are settings you set and forgot so long ago you don’t remember what you did, and others are newer options that make the program work differently than before. Either way, it can be confusing and frustrating when your settings aren’t set the way you’re accustomed to.
Here are the things that I always have new students check and change:
Photoshop
In the Menu Bar, go to Edit> Preferences> General.
- Check the Zoom with Scroll Wheel box (if you have a mouse with a scroll wheel). This is my favorite thing; it makes getting around on layouts so much easier and faster.
- Check the Zoom Clicked Point to Center box. This will make it zoom in to whatever you last clicked on. Very handy and less scrolling around!
- UN-Check the Place or Drag Raster Images as Smart Objects. Smart Objects are useful when you are going to resize them up or down a lot, as they maintain a good look. But there are a lot of things you can’t do with a Smart Object, like erase part of it. For that reason, I un-check this box, and if I want to make something a Smart Object, I can right-click on the layer in the Layers panel and choose Convert to Smart Object.
Now click on Interface in the menu at the left of the Preferences window.
- UN-Check the Open Documents as Tabs box. This will open files each in their own window, like the program used to do. Of course, if you like tabbed windows, keep this checked.
- UN-Check the Enable Floating Document Window Docking box. This will keep you from inadvertently re-tabbing your windows when you drag them around.
Now click on Type in the menu at the left of the Preferences window.
- At the bottom where it says Font Preview Size, choose a size that’s comfortable for you. I prefer Large, but I know people who want Extra Large or even Huge. This will change the size of the font names when you pull down the font menu to choose a font. The older I get, the larger I make my font previews.
Photoshop Elements
Go to Edit> Preferences> General.
- UN-Check the Allow Floating Documents in Full Edit Mode box.
- Check the Zoom with Scroll Wheel box.
Now click on Type in the menu at the left of the Preferences window.
- Click on the pull down menu by Font Preview Size and choose the size that works for you.
What settings do you prefer? Is there something you know that would make my life better? Share in the comments!