The 5 Greatest Tools in Photoshop + How to Use Them

So, I'm sort of into making book covers right now.  I mostly use Photoshop, which is a fantastic tool for making them, among other fun things such as blogging graphics, and fun pictures!  (If Photoshop isn't an option for you, try GIMP, which is free, and does the same things with a very similar layout.)  Here are some of my favorite tools in Photoshop!

If you are new to Photoshop (or GIMP) and freaking out because it looks daunting and WHAT DOES ANYTHING DO, I have written a sort of introductory post here.

Okay, so you've made it this far.  Here's a bowl of virtual ice cream.  Here are some of my favorite (and most used) Photoshop tools.

Fonts from Dafont.com and misprintedtype.com

1. Blending Modes

The blending mode changes the look of the current layer in relation to the layers below it.  For example...........

Instead of this...

Click any of the photos to enlarge them.

You can change the blending mode so it looks like this:

Or this...

You don't just have to use this with text layers.  Try it with pictures, shapes, and with the brush tool!  Try using it to add more color to a sunset!  One thing to make sure of, however, is that your text is ALWAYS readable.

2. Surface Blur Tool

This is a really neat effect to make a picture look a bit like a digital painting.

3. Pressing "Control" "Shift" "ALT" "E"

This is a tool I use ALL THE TIME.  When you press "control" "shift" "ALT" and "e" at the same time, it will flatten the image into a new layer.  So, basically, you get a flat layer of what you are creating, plus you keep the layers of the image below it!

4. Magic Eraser Tool

The Magic Eraser takes away all of one color in a layer.  This is very handy for taking out a white background.

5. The Tool That Lets You Change the Shape of Text.

Yeah, I don't really know what it's actually called.  For this demonstration, I will be using a cover I made for Aimee Meester's Pariah.  (P.S. Aimee is awesome and you should TOTALLY check out her blog!)  (Also P.S. I made this cover because I wanted to.  I haven't read her book, but I did look at her Pinterest board.)

Step 1 - Make sure the text layer is rasterized.  You can do this by right-clicking on the text layer, and selecting the "Rasterize Layer" option.

Step 2 - Make sure are on the transform tool.  Then, click on your text on one of the little corner dot things.

Step 3 - Click on the icon I highlighted for you.

More dots should appear on the outline.  Now you can twist your text around to fit a shape or do whatever you want!

This is just an example of what you can do.  I promise
I didn't twist the text around this much on the actual
cover.

Here's my finished cover for Pariah.  :)

I know, it's not the greatest...but I tried. ;)

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Have you ever used Photoshop?  What are some of your favorite tools?