Introduction to the Photoshop Workspace (+ Simple Workflow to Get You Started)

Photoshop Workspace Basics

For first-time users, Photoshop can seem overwhelming.  Unlike some other photo editing programs, it lacks easy-to-use sliders and one-click features.  However, Photoshop is highly customizable and logically organized.  Once you get past the initial impression, you'll quickly harness its powerful capabilities.

• In this article, we'll guide you through the Photoshop workspace, helping you navigate its features and tools. 
• Then, we'll provide a simple workflow to help you get started on your Photoshop editing journey. 

Whether you're a beginner or looking to brush up on your skills, this guide will help you make the most of Photoshop.

When you launch Photoshop, you'll start on the Home page.  Here, you'll see your most recent files, tutorials, and other personalized content.  On the left side, you'll find options to open an existing file or create a new one.

• Open an Existing File: A browsing window will appear, allowing you to search on your computer, the cloud, or other locations.
• Create a New File: A window will open where you can input settings such as size and resolution.

Both of these options will lead you to the same destination: the Photoshop Workspace.  This workspace is where you'll perform your editing tasks and includes panels, toolbars, and windows that allow you to manipulate your images and projects.  This customizable environment helps streamline your workflow and provides access to all the features Photoshop offers.

Choosing a Pre-Set Workspace

Before customizing your workspace, it's helpful to start with a pre-set option.  Photoshop offers a variety of preset workspaces designed to fit different workflows, making it easier to get started.

To access these pre-set workspaces, locate the workspace picker in the top right corner of the screen.  Click on it to open a drop-down menu with various pre-set options.  These presets are tailored to specific tasks, such as photography, painting, and graphic design.  Each preset arranges the panels and tools most relevant to those activities.

At the top of the menu, you'll see any custom workspaces you've created.  If you'd like to create a new custom workspace, there's an option at the bottom of the menu for that.  I'll explain how to customize your workspace later in this article.

Customizing the Toolbar

The Toolbar is where you'll find essential editing tools such as brushes, healing tools, and selection tools.  By default, the toolbar is located on the left side of the workspace, regardless of the workspace you're using.

You can reposition the Toolbar by clicking and holding the top of the bar and then dragging it around the screen.  When a blue line appears, you can release it, and the toolbar will snap into place.  If you prefer not to dock it, simply release it at any position, and it will remain as a floating window.

Clicking the double arrow at the top toggles between single and double columns, allowing you to make the Toolbar wide and short or narrow and long.  Not every tool is visible by default; some are nested under other tools.  Click and hold a tool to reveal additional options in a drop-down menu.

To customize the Toolbar, go to the menu Edit > Toolbar.  Here, you can add or remove tools by dragging them between columns.  Tools in the "Toolbar" column will appear on your Toolbar, while those in the "Extra Tools" column won't.  You can also organize which tools hide under each other by dragging them close together in the Toolbar column.

Options Bar

The next key element of the Photoshop workspace is the Options Bar, also known as the Control Panel.  This menu bar runs horizontally across the top of the screen.

If you prefer to change its location, click and hold on the left side of the bar, then drag it to your desired position.  You can also hide the Options Bar by going to the Window menu and clicking on Options.  Once the check mark disappears, the Options Bar will be hidden.  To bring it back, use the same menu and click on Options again.  If the check mark is present, the Options Bar will be visible.

The Options Bar dynamically updates based on the tool selected from the Toolbar.  It provides various settings and variables for customizing the active tool.  For instance, selection tools offer options to add, subtract, or intersect selections, as well as enable feathering or anti-aliasing.  Brush tools provide options to change brush size, hardness, and other attributes.

To reset a tool to its default settings, right-click on the Options bar and select "Reset Tool" or "Reset All Tools," depending on your needs.

Panels

Panels allow you to access and modify various features while you work, making them one of the most customizable parts of the workspace.  They are located on the right side of the workspace by default but can be moved, stacked, or docked as needed.

To manage which panels are open and showing, open the Window menu and toggle any of the panels on or off.  Active panels are marked with a checkmark.  To hide a panel, simply click on it to remove the checkmark.

Once a panel is open, you can move it around the workspace with a simple click and drag.  If you release it anywhere, it will stay as a floating window.  To dock a panel, drag it to the top or sides of the workspace until you see a blue line, then release the mouse button to attach the panel.

You can also group or stack panels within a single window.  This allows you to move the entire window as a unit, either docking it or leaving it floating for convenience.

Panels are collapsible, so you can expand or collapse them to save space.  Each panel also has a hamburger menu (an icon with three horizontal lines) that reveals more settings and options specific to that panel.

Exploring and customizing these panels will help you tailor the workspace to your specific needs, enhancing your efficiency and workflow in Photoshop.

Saving Your Workspace

Once you've arranged your Photoshop workspace to your liking, it's essential to save it.  This ensures you can easily revert to your customized workspace if changes are made.

To save your workspace, follow these steps:

1. Open the workspace picker menu located in the top right corner of the screen.
2. Select "New Workspace" from the drop-down menu.
3. In the pop-up window, enter a name for your workspace.
4. Choose whether to include keyboard shortcuts, the toolbar, and menus in your saved workspace.
5. Click "Save" to finalize your settings.

Canvas

Now that you're familiar with the layout, let's focus on the Canvas—the central area of the workspace where your photograph or design is displayed.  This is where the magic happens.  The Canvas is highly customizable, allowing you to adjust its size, color, and how it handles multiple files.  Let's explore the most important customization options.

Screen Mode

Photoshop offers three screen modes, each providing a different ratio of tools to canvas.  You can toggle between these modes by pressing the F key on your keyboard, clicking the Screen Mode icon at the bottom of the toolbar, or navigating to View > Screen Mode in the menu.

1. Standard Screen Mode: This mode offers the smallest canvas size, allowing you to see tabs for other open photos, as well as all menus, bars, panels, and guides (if enabled).

2. Full-Screen Mode with Menu Bar: This mode provides a larger canvas size while still displaying the toolbar and panels, giving you more workspace without sacrificing access to essential tools.

3. Full-Screen Mode: This mode maximizes the canvas area by hiding everything except your canvas, offering a distraction-free environment for detailed work.

These screen modes help you customize your workspace to suit your workflow, whether you need quick access to tools or a larger, uncluttered view of your project.

Canvas Color

When you zoom out of your photo in Photoshop, the surrounding canvas area becomes visible.  By default, this canvas is set to dark grey.  If you'd like to change this, right-click anywhere on the canvas to open a menu with a list of preset colors and an option to select a custom color.

You can choose a color from the preset list and see the change immediately.  Alternatively, click on "Select Custom Color" to open the color picker, where you can choose any color you prefer.  Your chosen color will be saved as the custom color.

To reset the canvas color to the default dark grey, simply select the "Default" option at the top of the list.  This flexibility allows you to personalize your workspace to better suit your preferences and workflow.

Rulers

Rulers are a valuable tool for customizing your workspace, especially if you're working on graphic design projects.  They, along with grids and guidelines, are essential for precise work.  However, if you're editing photos, you might find them distracting.  Fortunately, you can easily enable or disable the rulers based on your needs.

To toggle rulers on or off, go to the menu and select View > Rulers.  Simply check or uncheck the option to make them visible or hidden in your workspace.  If you double-click anywhere on the ruler, the Preferences window will open, allowing you to change the measurement units to pixels, centimeters, inches, or other options.

This customization ensures that your workspace suits your specific needs, whether you're focusing on graphic design or photo editing.

Tabs Vs. Floating Windows

The final customization aspect we’ll cover is how Photoshop handles documents.  When you open a file, it appears on the canvas, docked with the rest of the workspace elements.  The file name, zoom level, and other information are displayed in a tab at the top left corner.  Opening additional files will add new tabs, allowing you to switch between documents by clicking their respective tabs.

To view multiple documents simultaneously, go to Window > Arrange.  Here, you can choose to display documents side by side, one above the other, or in other arrangements, accommodating up to six documents.  To revert to the default tabbed view, select Consolidate All to Tabs.

If you prefer, you can undock these tabs, turning each document into a floating window.  Simply drag a tab away from its position, or use the menu options: Window > Arrange > Float Window or Window > Arrange > Float All in Windows.  Once undocked, you can move and arrange these floating windows independently.

When working with floating windows, you need to minimize or close each one individually.  Minimizing Photoshop will only affect the menu, tools, and panels, not the open documents.

You can also organize floating windows using pre-set layouts such as Cascade or Tile.  To reset to the default tabbed position, use the Consolidate All to Tabs feature in the Arrange menu.

This flexibility allows you to customize your workspace layout to best suit your workflow, whether you prefer a tabbed interface or floating windows.

Simple Photoshop Workflow

(To Get You Started)

With your workspace set up, it's time to start editing. Each photograph will have unique requirements, so you may find that your image doesn’t need some of the steps mentioned here or that it needs additional adjustments.

In Photoshop, there are often multiple tools to achieve the same adjustments.  The tools you choose depend on your skill level, the depth of editing you want to achieve, as well as personal preference.  The following is a basic workflow that you can adapt to suit your needs for the best results.

Note that when you open a RAW file in Photoshop, it will first open in the Camera Raw workspace.  Since we're focusing on the Photoshop workspace, I'll skip that part and demonstrate how to edit directly within Photoshop.  This workflow is applicable to any image format.

Step 1. Open Your Image

Start by opening your image file in Photoshop. Go to File > Open and select your image.

Step 2. Duplicate the Layer

Before making any edits, create a copy of the background layer to preserve the original image.  This allows you to revert back to the original if needed.

To duplicate the layer, you have several options.  You can click and drag the background layer to the "New Layer" icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.

Alternatively, right-click on the background layer and select "Duplicate Layer" from the drop-down menu or go to Layer > Duplicate Layer in the top menu bar.

Step 3. Crop & Straighten

You don't always need to crop your image, as this means literally deleting pixels from the edges.  However, if you do need to crop, it's best to do it at the beginning of your editing process.

You can use the Crop tool to adjust the composition of your image.  In the Options bar, select an overlay such as the rule of thirds or golden spiral to help recompose your image to achieve a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing result.

To straighten the horizon, use the Straighten option in the Crop tool.  Click on one side of the horizon line and drag the cursor along the line.  This will serve as a guide for Photoshop to straighten your photo.

Once you release the mouse button, you'll see a preview of the adjustment.  If you're satisfied, click the checkmark in the Options bar to apply the change.  You can choose to delete the cropped pixels, leave them blank, or fill them using the Generative tool or Content-Aware fill.

Step 4. Color Correction

The next step is to remove any color cast from your image by fixing the white balance.  There are several ways to achieve this, but one effective method is using the Neutralize tool from the Match Color feature.

To access this tool, follow these steps:

1. Go to the menu and select Image > Adjustments > Match Color.
2. In the pop-up window, enable the Neutralize option by clicking on the square next to it.

You can further fine-tune the effect using the sliders.  Make sure the Preview option is enabled so you can see how it looks before you apply the adjustments.

Step 5. Adjust Exposure & Contrast

There are several ways to adjust the exposure and contrast in your photo, and it's best to apply these adjustments using Adjustment Layers.  This non-destructive method allows for more flexibility and fine-tuning.  While I prefer to start with Curves, you can also use Levels, Brightness and Contrast, Highlights and Shadows, or Exposure adjustments.

Add a Curves Adjustment Layer:

1. Go to the Layers panel and click on the Adjustment Layer icon, then select Curves.
2. Use the eyedroppers to set the darkest and lightest points of your image.
3. Manipulate the curve to fine-tune the exposure and contrast.  You can adjust the highlights, midtones, and shadows to achieve the desired effect.

Remember that you can make selective edits by adding layer masks.  This technique enables you to target specific areas of your photo without affecting the entire image.

Step 6. Retouching

Often, our images need a bit of "cleaning" to remove unwanted elements.  Whether it's litter in an urban scene, a skin blemish in a portrait, or a spot caused by dirt on the lens or camera sensor, you can effectively remove these imperfections using the Healing tools.  The Spot Healing Brush is particularly useful for most situations.

Before doing any spot healing, add a new layer.  Enable the Spot Healing Brush tool and choose the size of the brush on the Options bar.  Then, enable Sample All Layers.  Now click on any blemishes or unwanted elements in your image.  Photoshop will automatically blend the area with the surrounding pixels, effectively removing the imperfection.

If the Spot Healing Brush doesn't produce the desired results, switch to the Healing Brush tool.  This tool works similarly but allows you to set a specific sample point by holding the Alt key (Option key on Mac) and clicking on a clean area of the image.

Step 7. Sharpening

Most images benefit from slight sharpening during post-processing.  One of the simplest and most effective methods is using the Unsharp Mask.

To apply sharpening, go to Filters > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask.  A pop-up window will appear.  Zoom in on the main focus point of your image, such as the eyes, to better see the effect.  Then, adjust the Amount slider to control the contrast, which directly affects the sharpening.

I usually don't adjust the Radius and Threshold sliders, which determine which pixels are affected by the Unsharp Mask.  If you do use them, keep the values low to maintain a realistic effect—it's easy to overdo it.

Step 8. Applying Presets

Once your image is ready, you can enhance it further by applying your favorite presets from Pretty Presets & Actions.  Here’s how to apply your presets in Photoshop:

1. Save Your Image: Start by saving your image to preserve the changes you've made.

2. Flatten the Image: Right-click on the background layer and choose "Flatten Image" from the options.  This ensures all your edits are consolidated into a single layer.

3. Open Adobe Camera Raw: Go to Filter > Camera Raw Filter.  This will open the Adobe Camera Raw interface.

4. Apply Presets: As long as you are signed into Photoshop, any presets you have installed in Lightroom Classic will be available in Adobe Camera Raw.  To find the presets, click on the two interlocking circles icon on the right side of the Adobe Camera Raw workspace.

By following these steps, you can seamlessly integrate your favorite presets into your Photoshop workflow, adding the final touches to your image with ease.

Conclusion

Photoshop is a powerful tool that you'll want to learn to use.  The best way to do that is to open it and use it regularly.  By familiarizing yourself with the workspace and following a simple workflow, you'll quickly become comfortable with its features.

Don't be intimidated by the vast array of tools and options.  With consistent practice, you'll be surprised at how quickly you learn to use many of its powerful features, enabling you to create stunning images with ease.

Happy editing!

Do you have any questions or comments about the Photoshop Workspace?  Leave us a comment below - we would love to hear from you!  And PLEASE SHARE our tutorial using the social sharing buttons (we really appreciate it)!