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Photoshop is a versatile tool and designers still use it to create web page layouts. It is often preferred over ‘drag and drop’ builders as it lets you create and customize web pages just the way you imagined it. However, it can take designers a long time to create websites using this tool, especially when compared to other tools in the marketplace. We have gathered some free resources, plugins, tips, and tricks to improve your photoshop workflow and boost your efficiency so you can focus on the actual work.
This collection of resources and plugins can transform your photoshop experience as it opens up new possibilities for font choices, colors, and other design elements.
1. Page Layers
Convert web pages into layered PSD files with this tool. This software is especially helpful when you want to redesign a web page layout. Take a screenshot of the app or the web page you have meaning to rework and use this tool to rearrange different elements in the site to create a new design that works for your business. You can use their free trial version or purchase the premium version which costs about $34.99 – It is compatible with MAC OSX.
2. Bjango Actions
This tool is embedded with a variety of photoshop actions that can speed up your Photoshop workflow. Improve the efficiency of your work by choosing an action from their collection of actions and scripts. Cropping an image, changing colorways and scaling imagery has never been easier.
3. Renamy
Tired of manually renaming every file in your photoshop document? Download renamy and use it to rename multiple documents with a click of a button. You can rename up to 5 documents with the demo version. If you are a long-term photoshop user and work with more than 5 layers at a time, then we highly recommend downloading the premium version.
4. Size marks
This script converts the rectangular marquee tool to labeled measurement marks. This functionality helps a great deal when placing images and text on the page layout.
5. PS Pen Tool
This plugin helps you switch between different pen tools without having to open preferences menu and switching the “Snap Vector Tools” setting on/off. This plugin lets designers easily create icons on photoshop instead of Adobe Illustrator.
6. AI2CANVAS
This plugin eliminates the need of having to export SVGs and coding them into canvas elements. It lets you create vector graphics and export them into HTML Canvas code.
7. Guideguide
Convert your selections into guides with this tool. You can also choose from the many guide templates that come with the purchase of this tool. This is especially helpful when creating different page structures and layouts.
8. Subtle Patterns
If you are looking to add textures to your websites, subtle patterns offer a collection of different patterns and textures that let you download. pat files that can be imported directly to photoshop.
9. Ink
This is a great tool for designers who create website mockups on photoshop. It generates all the necessary information you need to build your next web page. It is important to examine layers, font size, element size and position against other elements. Download Ink to generate this information easily.
10. HTML Block
This is another plugin that renders HTML code and places it on a special section/block in your photoshop file. Install this plugin and use it to generate code and preview it like you would in a live browser.
11. Magic Wand
This is a versatile pre-built tool that is great for creating slices, centering layers and groups and can even be used to count the number of pixels in the selection when used with the histogram panel.
12. Pictura
Pictura lets you add images to your photoshop project without leaving your workspace. This is an incredibly useful tool for graphic designers. Once you install this tool, it automatically adds a panel to your Photoshop document. You are able to search for images through this panel and insert them into your documents easily.
13. Shutterstock
Download this plugin and access a collection of thousands of images without leaving your Photoshop workspace. Search for an image, edit it as needed and license the content all through photoshop application.
14. Composer
Composer is a great plugin to download if you are a regular photoshop user. It helps you condense your files with just one click. Instead of having separate files with individual layer properties and blend modes, composer lets you save all of them into one single file. With this plugin installed, you can edit and update similar layer comps with a single action. Let us say you have to move an artwork across the screen for 5 different layer comps, instead of dragging it and moving it individually. With this tool selected, you can select all 5 layers and drag it to move all the components simultaneously.
15. Long Shadow generator
Drop shadows is an important trend that has evolved over time. Long shadows create a similar effect — it makes your buttons, toggles and other UI components pop. Long shadow generator plugin creates shadows with just one click. By selecting the shadow length, color, opacity and direction, designers can edit and apply this effect to enhance their UI.
16. Fontea
Typography is an important aspect of web design. Fontea was built to give web designers the flexibility to choose from thousands of free google web fonts without having to download anything. This allows designers to craft beautiful typefaces without having to rely on default font types.
17. Layrs control 2
This is a great tool if you are a regular photoshop user. With this plugin installed, you are able to manage multiple files, optimize layers by flattening your layers and removing unnecessary effects and merging and deleting empty layers.
We hope you enjoyed reading through this list of resources, plugins, and scripts. Using them in conjunction with photoshop can really save you a lot of time, improve your productivity and supercharge your workflow. If we have missed any, write to us and let us know!
Very useful tools! Thank you :)