Change Photoshop's Undo shortcut to match other Adobe programs

Most of the Adobe creative applications feature unlimited undos. And to access these multiple undos, you can use the command-z (Mac) and ctrl-z (Windows) shortcuts. To redo, use command-shift-z (Mac) and ctrl-shift-z (Windows). However, Photoshop is different. Photoshop offers only a single undo. But, in its place, it features a History Panel, allowing you to move forward and back in history. But you can change Photoshop's keyboard shortcuts so that undo works like you'd expect it to. Here's how:

1. Choose Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts

2. In the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box, click on the triangle to the left of the word Edit to spin the Edit category open. 

3. Click in the Shortcut field to the right of Undo/Redo, and press the delete key to remove the keyboard shortcut assigned to Undo/Redo.

4. Click in the Shortcut field to the right of Step Backward, and press command-z (Mac) or ctrl-z (Windows)

5. Click the Accept button.

6. Click on the Save icon at the top of the dialog box, give your shortcut set a name and click the Save button.

Now, command-z (Mac) or ctrl-z (Windows) will step backward through the History panel, giving you multiple Undo capability. Add the shift key to step forward through the History panel.

Non-square, high-res DPS Table of Contents icons

When you use Adobe Digital Publishing Suite to create a tablet app, a table of contents is automatically built for the app, with one entry in the table of contents for each "article", or InDesign file, in the folio.

An icon image for each entry in the table of contents is automatically created by DPS. This automatic icon is just a shrunk-down version of a square region of the first screen of the article…usually not attractive and what you want. You can customize this icon by creating a 70 x 70 pixel PNG image. Then select the article in the Folio Builder panel and choose Article Properties. In the dialog box that appears, click the folder icon under Table of Contents Preview, and navigate to the PNG image that you saved. 

Here are 2 cool tips:

1. The PNG image can include a transparent background. This allows you to create thumbnails that appear in the table of contents as non-square icons. Be sure to save the icon as a PNG-24 image. Here are a couple examples of this:

 

2. A 70 x 70 pixel image looks fine on non-retina displays. But to make the icon look even better on high-resolution displays such as the iPad 3 and 4, create a 140 x 140 pixel image. This is particularly useful if the icon includes type or line art. When you include an icon higher than 70 pixel resolution, you'll receive the error message pictured below, but it still works. Proceed with caution and test your app to make sure performance is acceptable.

How to make "Paste Into State" easier

If you do a lot of work with Adobe Digital Publishing Suite, you will inevitably create a lot of "multi-state objects". And, you will find yourself frequently using the "Paste Into State" command found in the Object States panel menu. After choosing this command 50 or 60 times, you'll find yourself thinking "there's got to be a better way!" Here are 3 ways to make this much easier:

1. Use the Paste Into State button at the bottom of the Object States panel.

2. Assign a keyboard shortcut to the Paste Into State command.

a. Choose Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts

b. Select Panel Menus for the Product Area

c. Select Object States: Paste Into State from the list of commands

d. Click in the New Shortcut field, and press your desired shortcut (I use option-v)

e. Click the Assign button

f. Click the OK button

3. Try the Digital Publishing Pack 1 set of handy scripts. One of these scripts automates the process of pasting selected objects into multiple states at once!

Webinar invite: The Publishing Process with DPS

Adobe has set up a free four-part webinar series covering some of the more technical aspects of Adobe Digital Publishing Suite, Enterprise Edition. On September 19 I'm presenting the second session, entitled The Publishing Process with DPS. These sessions will be tailored for people working in higher education, but open to all.

My session, applicable to both Professional and Enterprise customers of DPS, will focus on how to build build an app. In other words, beyond creating folio content, how to you build the actual app and submit it to an app store? We'll look at creating the required assets, optaining security certificates, entering marketing information, and much more.

Register for this free seminar here.

Twin Cities InDesign User Group meeting

I just scheduled the next meeting of the Twin Cities InDesign User Group for Wednesday evening, September 25 at 7pm. These meetings are free, fun, and a chance to geek out with like-minded InDesign users. At this meeting, I'm going to reassemble a real-life project I recently completed, and use this as a way to showcase and explain several new, not-so-new, and advanced InDesign features. Everyone is sure to pick up at least a tip or two! Click here for meeting details, and to register to attend. I hope to see you there!