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Photoshop Technique

Long-form writing on how Photoshop works and how to use it well. Blending modes, smart objects, color grading, selections, and the design thinking behind the toolset.

  • Photoshop layers panel showing multiple blending modes on overlapping color layers
    Techniques

    Blending Modes, Explained: What Photoshop Is Actually Doing to Your Pixels

    Most designers use blending modes by feel, cycling through the list until something looks right. That works up to a point. Knowing the math behind them is what lets you predict the result before you try it.

    March 5, 2026
  • Photoshop smart object badge on a layer thumbnail with transform handles visible
    Workflow

    Smart Objects and Why You Should Never Rasterize Anything You Might Change

    Rasterizing a layer collapses its edit history and makes the change permanent. Smart objects keep that history open. The difference matters more than most designers realize until they've had to rebuild something from scratch.

    February 8, 2026
  • Photoshop Curves adjustment panel showing an S-curve on a portrait photograph
    Photo Editing

    Color Grading a Flat Photo: What Works and What Doesn't

    A flat, well-exposed photo is easier to grade than one that's already been processed. The work is in understanding what you're changing and in what order, not in finding the right preset.

    January 12, 2026
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