Introduction
Adobe Photoshop 2018 (officially Adobe Photoshop CC 2018) revolutionized the digital design landscape with its powerful new features and enhanced capabilities. For both beginners and seasoned professionals, mastering this version can dramatically improve workflow efficiency and creative output. According to Adobe’s 2018 Creative Cloud statistics, over 90% of creative professionals worldwide use Photoshop as their primary image editing software, making proficiency in this tool essential for anyone serious about design. A survey conducted by Design Census revealed that designers who mastered advanced Photoshop techniques earned up to 24% more than their peers with only basic knowledge.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore seven game-changing techniques in Photoshop 2018 that can elevate your design skills to professional levels. From leveraging the newly improved brush management system to utilizing advanced compositing methods, these techniques will help you overcome common design challenges and expand your creative possibilities. Whether you’re looking to enhance your professional portfolio or simply improve your personal projects, these methods will provide substantial value to your design workflow.
1. Mastering the Revamped Brush System in Photoshop 2018
Photoshop 2018 introduced one of the most significant overhauls to the brush system in years, offering designers unprecedented control and flexibility in their creative process.
Key Brush Improvements in the 2018 Release
- Enhanced Brush Preset Organization: The new brush management panel allows for folder creation, making it easier to categorize and access your most-used brushes
- Brush Stroke Smoothing: The revolutionary smoothing algorithm helps create perfect curves and lines, even with an unsteady hand
- Symmetry Mode: Create perfectly symmetrical designs with up to 10 axes of symmetry
- Brush Stroke Preservation: The software now remembers your last-used brush settings between sessions
According to Michael Ninness, Senior Director at Adobe, “The brush enhancements in Photoshop 2018 were designed specifically to address the most common pain points reported by professional illustrators and digital painters.”
Practical Application: Creating Custom Brush Sets
- Open the Brushes panel by going to Window > Brushes
- Click the folder icon to create a new brush set
- Customize brush tip shape, dynamics, and scattering
- Save your custom brushes using the “Save Brushes” option
- Export your brush sets to share with colleagues or use across devices
The smoothing feature alone can reduce the time spent perfecting linework by up to 40%, according to user experience testing conducted by Adobe in 2018.
2. Leveraging Advanced Selection Techniques
Photoshop 2018’s selection tools received significant upgrades, making complex selections faster and more accurate than ever before.
The Select and Mask Workspace Improvements
The Select and Mask workspace in Photoshop 2018 features several critical improvements:
- Enhanced Edge Detection: More accurate identification of complex edges like hair and fur
- Refine Edge Brush Tool: Manually adjust selection edges with greater precision
- Output Options: Expanded options for how to output your selections, including layer masks and new layers
“The improvements to Select and Mask in Photoshop 2018 represent a complete rethinking of how selections should work,” notes professional retoucher Lisa Carney.
Comparison: Selection Methods in Photoshop 2018
| Selection Method | Best For | Processing Time | Accuracy Level | Learning Curve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Selection | Simple objects, high contrast | Very fast | Moderate | Easy |
| Object Selection | Recognizable objects | Fast | High | Easy |
| Select and Mask | Complex edges, hair, fur | Moderate | Very high | Moderate |
| Pen Tool | Precise geometric shapes | Slow | Highest | Difficult |
| Color Range | Color-based selection | Fast | Varies | Moderate |
Step-by-Step: Perfect Hair Selections
- Make a rough selection using the Quick Selection tool
- Click “Select and Mask” in the options bar
- Set View Mode to “On Black” for better visibility
- Use the Refine Edge Brush tool around hair areas
- Adjust Global Refinements (Smooth, Feather, Contrast)
- Output as a Layer Mask for non-destructive editing
Using these advanced selection techniques can reduce complex selection time by up to 60% compared to previous Photoshop versions.
3. Harnessing the Power of Advanced Compositing
Photoshop 2018 offers sophisticated compositing tools that allow designers to combine multiple images seamlessly for stunning visual results.
New Compositing Features in Photoshop 2018
- Enhanced Auto-Blend Layers: Creates seamless color transitions between combined images
- Improved Content-Aware Fill: Intelligently fills in gaps when combining elements
- Advanced Blending Modes: New algorithms for more natural blending between elements
- Group Masking: Apply masks to entire groups for more efficient workflow
Statistical analysis from stock photo provider Shutterstock showed that composite images created with professional techniques received 37% more downloads than standard stock photos.
Expert Compositing Workflow
- Organize source images in logical layer groups
- Match lighting and color tones using Adjustment Layers
- Create precise selections using techniques from section 2
- Use Smart Objects to preserve original image data
- Apply advanced blending modes for realistic integration
- Fine-tune with dodging and burning techniques
- Apply final color grading for cohesive look
“The key to believable composites isn’t just technical skill—it’s understanding how light, perspective, and color interact in the real world,” explains commercial photographer and Photoshop expert Aaron Nace.
4. Optimizing Workflow with Artboards and Libraries
Photoshop 2018 introduced significant improvements to artboards and Creative Cloud Libraries, streamlining the design process for multi-device projects.
Artboard Enhancements
- Multiple Artboard Management: Work on various sizes simultaneously
- Responsive Design Layouts: Test designs across different screen dimensions
- Export Optimization: Export multiple artboards at once in various formats
- Nested Artboards: Create parent-child relationships for organized design systems
Creative Cloud Libraries Integration
Photoshop 2018’s enhanced libraries feature allows teams to:
- Share design assets across the entire Creative Cloud suite
- Maintain brand consistency with centralized color swatches, styles, and assets
- Update shared elements across multiple projects simultaneously
- Track version history of design elements
According to a 2018 workflow efficiency study by InVision, design teams that utilized shared libraries and artboards properly reported a 28% reduction in project completion time.
Implementation Strategy for Teams
- Create a centralized asset library with approved brand elements
- Develop artboard templates for common output formats
- Establish naming conventions for library assets and artboards
- Configure export presets for different delivery requirements
- Implement regular library maintenance and updates
5. Unlocking the Potential of Camera Raw Filter
The Camera Raw Filter in Photoshop 2018 received major upgrades, bringing powerful raw processing capabilities directly into your editing workflow.
Key Camera Raw Enhancements
- Improved Dehaze Algorithm: Reduces atmospheric haze while preserving natural contrast
- Enhanced Noise Reduction: Better luminance and color noise handling for clean images
- Profile Browser: Access to camera-matching color profiles and creative presets
- Range Masking: Apply adjustments to specific color or luminance ranges
Professional landscape photographer Thomas Heaton notes, “The improvements to Camera Raw in Photoshop 2018 brought studio-quality adjustment capabilities into an intuitive interface, dramatically improving both my workflow and final outputs.”
Advanced Editing Technique: HDR-Style Enhancement
- Convert your layer to a Smart Object
- Apply Camera Raw Filter (Filter > Camera Raw Filter)
- Reduce highlights and boost shadows for extended dynamic range
- Use the Clarity slider to enhance mid-tone contrast
- Apply targeted adjustments with the Adjustment Brush
- Fine-tune with HSL adjustments for color accuracy
- Use Split Toning for creative color grading
A 2018 survey of professional retouchers found that using Camera Raw as a smart filter reduced total editing time by up to 35% compared to traditional adjustment layers.
6. Leveraging Advanced Typography and Text Effects
Photoshop 2018 significantly expanded its typography capabilities, offering designers more control and creative options for text-based designs.
New Typography Features
- Variable Fonts Support: Adjust weight, width, and slant along a continuous scale
- Enhanced Character and Paragraph Panels: More precise typographic control
- Improved OpenType Features: Access to advanced typographic elements
- Copy-Paste Formatting: Transfer text attributes between different text elements
Typography expert Jonathan Hoefler commented, “The variable font support in Photoshop 2018 represented a quantum leap in digital typography, giving designers unprecedented flexibility.”
Creating High-Impact Text Effects
- Start with variable fonts to find the perfect weight and width
- Apply layer styles for dimension (shadows, bevels, etc.)
- Use blending modes to integrate text with background elements
- Add texture overlays for unique finishes
- Apply displacement maps for environmental integration
- Finish with subtle motion blur or grain for realistic appearance
According to eye-tracking studies conducted in 2018, professionally styled typography increased viewer engagement by up to 42% compared to basic text.
7. Mastering Non-Destructive Smart Filters
Photoshop 2018’s improved Smart Filters functionality allows for incredibly flexible editing workflows that preserve original image data.
Smart Filter Advantages in the 2018 Release
- Enhanced Filter Performance: Faster processing of complex filter stacks
- Improved Mask Controls: More precise control over filter application areas
- Filter Blending Options: Advanced blending capabilities for each filter
- Multiple Filter Instances: Apply the same filter multiple times with different settings
“The improvements to Smart Filters in Photoshop 2018 fundamentally changed how I approach complex retouching projects,” explains high-end retoucher Pratik Naik.
Professional Retouching Workflow with Smart Filters
- Convert your layer to a Smart Object
- Apply Noise Reduction as a Smart Filter
- Use Camera Raw Filter for global adjustments
- Add Surface Blur for skin smoothing, masked to appropriate areas
- Apply High Pass Filter for edge detail enhancement
- Finish with subtle Gaussian Blur for a polished look
- Adjust opacity and blending mode of each filter as needed
In a comprehensive comparison test of editing workflows, projects using Smart Filters maintained 100% of their original image quality while allowing for unlimited adjustments—a significant advantage over destructive editing methods.
Conclusion
Mastering these seven advanced techniques in Photoshop 2018 can dramatically transform your design capabilities and efficiency. From the revolutionary brush system improvements to the powerful compositing tools, this version offers incredible creative potential for designers at all levels. By implementing these methods into your workflow, you’ll not only save valuable time but also achieve higher quality results that stand out in today’s competitive design landscape.
The statistics speak for themselves—designers who master advanced Photoshop techniques earn more, produce work more efficiently, and create more impactful designs that resonate with audiences. As you continue to explore and practice these techniques, you’ll discover even more ways to push the boundaries of what’s possible with this powerful software.
Ready to take your Photoshop skills to the next level? Start by applying just one of these techniques to your next project, then gradually incorporate the others as you become more comfortable. Your design portfolio—and your clients—will thank you for the investment in mastering these powerful tools.
Call to Action
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