Photoshop Architectural Rendering is a necessary rite of passage for all architects. It’s the best tool for creating and editing images, hands down. But to an architect just starting out, it can be hard to navigate. What makes the task even more daunting are the hours upon hours of photoshop tutorials on the internet. Some of them might contain pertinent information, while others might not. Since everyone is using Adobe Photoshop, from graphic designers and photo retouchers to architects, it’s hard to find focused photoshop tutorials.
There are entire youtube channels dedicated to photoshop architectural rendering, and luckily, we’ve compiled all the essential tips and tutorials that every young architect needs to know to make the most of this multipurpose photo-editing application.
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Photoshop Architectural Rendering: 10 Photoshop Channels For Architects & Designers
Photoshop Architectural Rendering: Photoshop Tutorials and Tips:
1- Use Layer Masks
Layer masks are the A-B-C’s of Photoshop. It’s necessary for all photoshop users to perform edits without actually doing anything destructive to the main layer itself. This allows the workflow to be seamless and easy. Layer masks allow you to change the color of an object in a layer or make parts of a layer visible or invisible. There are plenty of photoshop tutorials that cover the subject, so be sure to check them first thing.
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2- Be Sure to Save a Temp File
This should be a no-brainer but having a temporary file of your work is essential. In an age where everything is digital, nothing is truly safe unless you have a backup. Having a temp file will save you loads of trouble as files can become corrupt. Plus, having an old file as a reference can be useful to look at for further designs.
3- Batch Process
Sometimes, you’ll find that you have to perform tasks in bulk, and this can be tedious, especially, if you have to reformat or resize images. Luckily Photoshop’s Image Processor can be used to speed up the process: (access via File > Scripts > Image Processor). All you need to do is specify the source, select the task you want to implement, and then specify a destination file for the output.
4- Make Actions
Now Actions (access via Window> Actions) go further than batch processing. This is because what actions can do is allow you to perform your own specific adjustments on several files. You start by recording all the adjustments you’re doing to one image. Then, you stop the recording and allow Photoshop to make the same adjustments to the files in bulk. This particular hack is a lifesaver when you have a bunch of files to edit all at once.
5- Shortcuts upon Shortcuts
It goes without saying that learning Photoshop’s shortcuts should be on the top of your list. Accessing everything from the toolbar can get cumbersome, but knowing your way around the application’s shortcuts will save you a lot of time. Besides, with practice, using shortcuts will be second nature to you. Photoshop tutorials usually make a point to mention them for reference. Furthermore, if you just can’t get the hang of them, there are keyboard covers that are specially made to denote the shortcut commands until you learn them fully. When you get those down, you’ll be able to create architecture presentations with ease. Just to get you started, check out: 10 Tips for Creating Stunning Architecture Project Presentation
6- Name Your Layers but Isolate them too
When you’re working on a file for hours, eventually, you’ll find that your workflow is a series of layers. The only way around this is to organize your layers and name them. This way you won’t have to endlessly fish for them every time you have to perform an adjustment. Another thing worth doing is to isolate your layers. To bring your focus to one layer and hide the others, click on the eye (or layer visibility) icon, within the layer box, while holding the Alt key. Hiding all the layers except for the one you’re working on will definitely make your workflow less hectic.
7- Use Adjustment Layers
Adjustment layers allow you to perform edits to a layer without affecting the original image. Adjustment layers can alter colors, hue, saturation, and several other aspects of an image. To make sure that an adjustment layer is affecting only one layer and not all of them, simply hold down the alt key and click on the layer below. That way only this one layer below will undergo the adjustment. There are loads of Photoshop tutorials on what you can do with Adjustment layers so be sure to cover the ins and outs of this function at length.
8- Rotate the Canvas
Sometimes while working on an image, you may need to view it from different angles and perspectives. By holding on the R key and rotating with the mouse, you can quickly rotate the canvas. Holding on the R key again and clicking on reset view allows you to return back to the original state.
9- Use Groups/folders
This is another important organizational choice for the layers panel. For the stack to be easier to navigate, grouping layers together can be quite handy. It is an easy way to make sure that your layers are sorted and organized; you know, exactly, what goes where.
10-Open and Extend Your History
By accessing the history panel in your toolbar, you can see the list of changes you made to the file. Photoshop also allows you to return to a particular, previous state by clicking on any item in the list. Also, if you’re prone to undoing a lot, you can extend your history up to 1000 actions. Go to Edit>Preferences>Performance, but beware of the effect of this process on memory usage and performance.
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How to Turn Your Architectural Drawings and Images into “Blueprints” on Photoshop? – Check the Video
