Ramblings of a Grouch

A slight diversion from the normal stuff this week, but a diversion which can make life so much easier whether you are editing photos, typing a letter or creating a spreadsheet. In fact anything you do on your computer will benefit from using a couple of tips from DigitalMemoriesonline:

USE YOUR BEST FRIEND

Rest your right elbow on your computer desk with your forearm vertical and your fist clenched. Then extend your longest finger straight up. You are now looking at your Best Friend.

It just so happens that it is also the finger you use to right click the mouse on a PC. Mac users need not read on as their mice have only one button. (Serves them right for smugly asserting the Mac is better than the PC). The right click menu (or context menu) is much underused but can save no end of time. The right click menu changes depending on the application being used and the task being performed. For instance, in Photoshop with the paintbrush tool selected, the right click menu allows the brush properties to be altered, with the lasso tool selected the options relate to the lasso tool, and so on. Similarly, in other applications the right click menu provides useful options relating to the task you are performing at the time.

Wonderful! Not only can we easily find the command we want but we may also discover a new command which we find useful. The Hand tool in Photoshop is a good example. Normally we choose this tool, click on the image and drag it around the screen to see parts that are hidden off the edge of the monitor. Select the Hand tool and right click on the image and the menu shows 3 different 'preset' ways of viewing the image - fit the whole image on screen, view the image at the size it will be printed or view it at the actual pixel size. So what could be better than that?

Well, you could keep your left hand busy, too.

Shortcut keys are quick, easy to learn and save an awful lot of mouse-travel. Some shortcuts are common to all programs running under Windows (Ctrl + X always cuts a selection). Others are specific to the application being used ('V' selects the Move tool in Photoshop). And this is where you can really speed up your work, leaving more time for the bits which require more thought.

For example, when I am restoring a photo it is useful to copy the part of the image I am working on and restore that separately. Then if something goes wrong (and believe me, it will at some time) I can delete the copy and revert to the previous stage. This is how I would do that:

• Press 'L' (select the Lasso tool)
• Make selection
• Alt + Ctrl + D, Enter (feather the edges of the selection)
• Ctrl + C (copy the selection)
• Ctrl + V (paste the selection to a new layer)
• Press 'S' (select the Clone tool) and carry on working

How long did that take? Around 3 seconds. If you have Photoshop then try doing it using the mouse and the menus. I would be surprised if you got less than 8 or 9 seconds. Big deal, you may say. But remember those 5 or 6 seconds add up during a full restoration.

More importantly, shortcuts allow the work to flow by minimising interruptions and getting on with the important parts. A comprehensive list of Windows-based shortcuts can be found here - just pick the ones that are most useful to you.

So never forget your Best Friend. And always keep your left hand busy.

Until next time ...

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