File saving options (HTML) Optimize web graphics (HTML) Optimize your prints (HTML), CS4-CS5. Refine edges (HTML) Combine multiple images with layer masks (HTML), CS4-CS5. Keep the layer count down as much as possible goes a long way, and not using Photoshop’s built-in Navigation panel with its giant thumbnail is a great idea as well. Match, replace, and mix colors (HTML) Selecting and masking. You can also limit the number of files Photoshop remembers in the File menu list (adjust in the Photoshop preferences). Limiting the number of fonts installed and active is huge. There are numerous other tips that can help speed up Photoshop. You can also turn those layer thumbnails off completely if you’re really organized with layer naming. Just make a quick trip to the Layers panel flyout menu and choose the Panel Options… menu item.
The smaller the icon, the less memory Photoshop needs to redraw those thumbnails every time you make a change to a layer. To place the selected pixels on a new layer and remove them from the original layer, right-click in the document and choose Layer via Cut or press Ctrl-Shift-J/Cmd-Shift-J. After simplification, you wont be able to modify: Type layers with the Type tool. The other layer types, go to Layer > Simplify Layer. If you work with a lot of layers in your Photoshop document, you can reduce the size of the individual icon layer thumbnails. To simplify: A layer made with a Shape tool, click Simplify in options bar/Tool Options. I don’t do any 3D work, so I can’t tell you how well this works or not, but I keep it set to the max anyway. All the workflows have been fine-tuned to take advantage of the new features in Photoshop CS5. This ground-breaking 5th release of Photoshop Secrets for Digital Photographers, will blow your socks off Colin has pulled out all the stops. If you’re running Photoshop CS5 Extended, you can also check the 3D preferences and up the VRAM (video RAM) use to the max amount. Photoshop CS5 for Digital Photographers New DVD by Colin Smith. It doesn't get used all that often but it's quite a powerful and fun color correction tool which can produce some pretty nice results. The layer will become completely transparent or invisible if the opacity is set to 0. As you move the slider, you’ll see the layer’s opacity change in the document window. The opacity can be adjusted by clicking and dragging the slider. Because I tend to use my laptop for web or other low-resolution work, the settings have worked superbly. Using The Gradient Map Adjustment Layer in Photoshop CS5 In Photoshop the Gradient Map effect maps the colors of a gradient (defined by you) to the luminance values of an image. To view Opacity on a selected layer, click the drop-down arrow next to it in the Layers panel.
Only my laptop, I use the settings you see in the screenshot above. You can use the preset buttons (hover over them for a brief description of which you should use). The next thing to adjust is your History & Cache settings. Memory use and cache settings improves performance History & Cache