my keyboard shortcuts won't work when i am in photoshop?

[camshill]

my keyboard shortcuts wont work, how do i fix it.

[jjvera00]

What short cuts are you trying to do?

[Jeff Perry]

Camshill, I read your other post and sense your frustration.

Let's start with basic questions.

I assume since you are posting in the "Mac-Specific Elements" section you are using Photoshop Elements (and not Photoshop CS) on a Mac, correct? Version 6?

Additionally, since some of us use Windows, and lurk around in the other sections on the Forum, and perhaps never/seldom venture into Mac-filled waters (this section), if you have general Elements questions, or problems, you might wan tot post them in one of the other forum areas. If it is a problem/question that you think is specific to Elements for Macs, then you are in the right place.

Jeff

[camshill]

yea im using PSE 6 for mac


when i watch a tutorial of other photoshops it is clearly different, like layer mask for instance there is no button on mine. just wondering if there is a specific site that i can see tutorials for the program i use!

[jjvera00]

Photoshop Elements DOES NOT have Layer Masks. Only Photoshop does. There are work-arounds and actions that can be added to have Layer Masks like Photoshop, but there is not Layer Mask button. The tutorials you may be trying are probably for Photoshop.

Now when you said keyboard shortcuts, were you meaning pressing keys like Ctrl+J (Cmd+J on a Mac) to make a layer copy, or other missing buttons like the Create Layer Mask button?

[Diana]

Hi Camshill,

Perhaps some of your frustration with the tutorials you are using not working with your PSE6 is that the tutorials are written for the professional version of Photoshop, rather than for Photoshop Elements, the home version of Adobe's photo editing software. Photoshop Elements does not have all of the features that Photoshop has, some of the menu commands are located in different places, and some of the keyboard shortcuts are different.

You mention the layer mask, for example. Photoshop Elements does not come with a layer mask. There are ways around this, though.

One way is to "hijack" a mask from an adjustment layer. Here's an example of this technique:
http://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/elements/fake-layer-mask/

There are also several add-on layers masks available for download.

Grant's Tools (http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/Challenge/Tools/Files.html) is a popular free action set that includes a Layer Mask.

Another free Layer Mask can be found at About.com (http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/qt/layermasktool.htm), along with installation instructions.

Graffi has a set of Handy Actions & Handy Actions Lite (http://www.graficalicus.com/graffishop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=64), although not free, include quite a few useful tools, and his product support is excellent.

Hope this helps.

Diana

[Wendy]

Hi Camshill ...

When you are learning Elements it is much easier if you do tutorials that are specific to Elements ... lots of them around are for Photoshop and things quite different in Photoshop.

Wendy :)

[camshill]

thank you thank you all! i knew there were "ways around" just not exactly how, and knowing that the layer mask is out i wont fret that i can't find it anymore! thanks for the tips