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Windows 10

Hidden Features of Windows 11 That You Most Likely Have Not Yet Experimented With

Hidden Features of Windows 11 That You Most Likely Have Not Yet Experimented With

An updated design, better animations, and enhanced productivity tools are some of the new features that have been added in Windows 11. However, underneath its glossy appearance lurks a collection of hidden features that the majority of users fail to see. In the event that you are aware of where to locate these lesser-known tools, they have the potential to make your system more effective, customized, and pleasurable to employ. As you read on, we will discuss the hidden features of Windows 11 that you have most likely not yet experienced, as well as the practical methods in which you may incorporate these capabilities into your everyday routine.

1. The Hidden Start Menu, which includes Power Tools

When you hit the Win key as well as the X key, you may enter a hidden menu that contains shortcuts by right-clicking the Start button. You may access the Device Manager, Task Manager, and Disk Management from this location. Additionally, you can access options for a rapid shutdown or restart. across the use of this menu, you may navigate across many windows in a more expedient manner.

2. History of the Clipboard Being Built-in

If you press the Win key and the V key simultaneously, Windows 11 will enable you to see a whole history of the clipboard, rather than copying one thing at a time. Whenever you copy anything, including text, links, and photos, this function will remember it and allow you to paste it at a later time. The fact that it allows cloud synchronization across several devices makes it an ideal solution for people who work between a personal computer and a laptop.

3. Desktops that are dynamic and come with virtual desktops

Windows 11 makes Virtual Desktops more helpful than they have ever been before, although many users are unaware of this fact. Utilize the Win key, the Ctrl key, and the D key to create a new desktop and arrange several processes. An example of this would be having one desktop dedicated to work, another for gaming, and a third for creative endeavors, each of which would have its own set of applications and windows.

4. Quick Snap Layouts That Are Hidden for Productivity

You may access Snap Layouts by moving your mouse pointer over the maximize button on any window using the mouse. Using this secret feature, you may easily arrange several windows into grids, columns, or split views without having to manually resize them. It is particularly helpful for ultrawide displays or for multitasking between different tools, such as those used for research, writing, and communication.

5. The Top-Secret Report on the Battery

You may produce a comprehensive report on the health of your laptop’s battery by entering the following command into the Command Prompt that is located on your computer:

powercfg’s battery report command

By doing so, an HTML file is generated that displays the capacity of the battery, charging patterns, and general health. When it comes to determining the cause of poor battery performance or making plans for a replacement, it is a hidden treasure.

6. A Storage Sense that Allows for Automatic Pickup

Storage Sense is a function that can be found tucked away inside the Settings app. It is specifically designed to manage system cache, erase temporary files, and clean the Recycle Bin automatically. In order to make your system work more smoothly without requiring any user involvement, you may schedule cleanups.

7. Clock app’s Focus Sessions, number seven

Windows 11 conceals a powerful Focus Sessions feature inside the Clock app, with the majority of users using it for the sole purpose of checking the time. The purpose of this program is to assist you in maintaining your concentration while you are working or studying by providing you with a timer, task integration with Microsoft To Do, and support for Spotify.

8. Utilizing Hotkeys to Access Hidden Commands in File Explorer

There are shortcuts located inside the File Explorer of Windows 11 that are not immediately evident. Take, for example:

  • To display or conceal the preview window, use Alt + P.
  • A new folder is created instantaneously when you press Ctrl, Shift, and N.
  • To rapidly access the file properties, use Alt and Enter.
    Utilizing these simple shortcuts allows for much quicker file handling.

9. Give Things a Shake to Reduce Distractions

When you hold a window by its title bar and shake it, all of the other windows will immediately minimize, leaving just the window that is now active visible. This simple yet unobtrusive motion is ideal for times when you have an excessive number of applications open at the same time.

10. The folder titled “God Mode”

God Mode, which organizes all of the system settings into a single folder for convenience, is still available in Windows 11, which is designed for power users. In order to activate it:

On your desktop, create a new folder for your files.

Alter its name to:

E7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C is the GodMode configuration.

This changes the folder into a central location that contains hundreds of different configuration choices and settings for the system.

11. Shortcut Code for the Hidden Audio Troubleshooter

Select Troubleshoot sound issues from the context menu that appears when you right-click the sound icon in the taskbar after your sound stops functioning. It is not necessary to navigate through menus since Windows 11 will automatically detect and repair the majority of problems.

12. Emoji and Symbol Panel with a Kept Secret

The emoji picker, which also includes symbols, punctuation, and even GIFs, may be opened by pressing the Win key in conjunction with either the period (.) or the semicolon (;). This is particularly helpful for when you are posting on social media or sending informal messages.

13: The Dark Mode A timetable

Using the Task Scheduler, you may automate the process of switching between light and dark themes, which avoids the need to manually move between them. Windows will automatically alter its theme to correspond with your working hours or nighttime browsing if you configure triggers for particular times of the day with the appropriate settings.

14. Searching using Natural Language for Advanced Results

Natural language queries are supported by Windows Search, which means that you may input phrases such as “documents I edited last week” or “photos from April” to retrieve files in a more logical manner. As opposed to manually traversing directories, this saves a significant amount of time.

The redesigned version of Windows 11 is more than just a clean facelift; it is filled with hidden features that improve speed, customization, and productivity. These tools may assist you in unlocking the full power of your system, whether it is via the use of virtual desktops for organization, the generation of a hidden battery report, or the activation of God Mode. You will be able to transform your Windows 11 experience into a more streamlined and intelligent workflow if you just take the time to investigate these hidden jewels.

Categories
Photoshop

Stunning Effects Can Be Created Through Mastery of Photoshop Layer Styles

Stunning Effects Can Be Created Through Mastery of Photoshop Layer Styles

Despite the fact that Adobe Photoshop is well-known for its strong editing capabilities, one feature that novice users sometimes fail to take use of is the Layer Styles function. The look of any text, shape, or picture layer may be rapidly improved by applying these built-in effects, which can be applied to any of these layers. With the help of layer styles, you can give your drawings a polished and professional appearance without having to resort to laborious manual editing. Layer styles may add everything from subtle shadows to shimmering edges and metallic textures.

As part of this tutorial, we will walk you through the fundamentals of layer styles and demonstrate how to become proficient with them so that you can create spectacular effects for your projects.

What Constitutes Layer Styles?

These preset effects in Photoshop are known as layer styles, and they may be applied to any layer in order to modify its look in a way that is not disruptive. They add visual effects such as shadows, strokes, glows, and textures despite the fact that they do not change the layer that was first applied. Because of this, they are quite helpful for creating designs, experimenting with them, and making adjustments to them without permanently altering your work.

Getting Access to the Layer Styles

When it comes to applying layer styles in Photoshop, there are two primary methods:

  • Blending Options may be selected by right-clicking on the layer and selecting the Layer Panel Method.
  • The Quick Access Button may be used by clicking the fx symbol located at the bottom of the Layers panel and selecting an effect.
  • This opens the Layer Style dialog box, which contains all of the customization choices that are accessible to you.

1. Drop Shadow is the most important of the layer style effects.

The Drop Shadow effect simulates light dropping on your item, which gives it a sense of depth. By adjusting the distance, spread, and size, it is possible to produce a wide range of effects, from a gentle glow to a vibrant shadow. When it comes to making text or icons stand out, it is perfect.

2. A stroke

When you use the Stroke effect, an outline will be added around your layer. To meet the requirements of your design, you have the ability to alter the size, location (inside, center, or outside), and color. The usage of this technique is typical for creating strong text effects or highlighted icons.

3. The Internal Glow and the Outer Glow

As a result of these effects, your design will have a glowing edge. Inner Glow enhances light inside the item, while Outer Glow stretches outward to create a brilliant appearance when applied to an object. Such effects as luminous buttons, neon writing, and magical effects are a fantastic fit for them.

4. Embossed and bevelled edges

Due to the fact that it simulates highlights and shadows, this effect gives your item the appearance of being 3-dimensional. Utilizing the appropriate settings, you are able to produce surfaces that are metallic, plastic, or embossed. The use of this technique is very useful for typography and logos.

5. An Overlay of Gradients

You may apply a gradient blend to your layer by using the Gradient Overlay tool. The ability to offer seamless color transitions to designs that are contemporary and elegant is one of its many configurable features.

6. Overlay of the Pattern

When you use Pattern Overlay, you have the ability to cover your layer with a variety of textures, including metal, cloth, and abstract patterns. Creating one-of-a-kind appearances may be accomplished without the need to manually place textures by adjusting size and mixing.

7. Innovative Approaches to Utilizing Layer Styles

To produce luminous font in the manner of neon, combine Outer Glow with a brilliant stroke to create the Neon Text Effect effects.

  • Bevel and emboss, together with a gradient overlay, may be used to create a metallic look by simulating lettering that is gold, silver, or chrome.
  • You can create buttons that stand out from your design by adding an inner shadow and a bevel to your 3D buttons.
  • Use Drop Shadows and Pattern Overlays in Poster Effects to get the desired effect of adding drama and texture to advertising visuals.

Guide to Acquiring Expertise in Layer Styles

In order to avoid making a design seem cluttered, it is important to avoid overloading it with an excessive number of effects.

  • To get a more realistic appearance, you may use blending options such as Multiply, Overlay, or Screen to achieve the desired effect.
  • You should save your custom effect as a style when you have finished creating it so that you may easily reuse it in other projects in the future.
  • You may get some of the greatest results by experimenting with different methods to combine numerous effects; here is where you will find the best results.

What Makes Layer Styles Such a Game-Changing Tool

One of the most significant benefits of layer styles is their quickness. You may obtain effects that are on par with those produced by professionals in a matter of seconds, rather than spending hours manually shading or highlighting. In addition, they are adaptable, which means that you may return to them at any point and make adjustments to them as your design develops.

Mastering the layer styles in Photoshop enables one to explore an infinite number of creative options. The use of these tools enables you to improve your work in a rapid and efficient manner, regardless of whether you are designing a logo, generating graphics for social media, or experimenting with other forms of digital art. Your designs may be transformed from flat and conventional to dynamic and eye-catching via the use of layer styles, which can be accomplished with experience and ingenuity.

Categories
Photoshop

What You Need to Know to Make the Most of the Pen Tool in Photoshop

What You Need to Know to Make the Most of the Pen Tool in Photoshop

For those who are just starting out with Photoshop, the Pen Tool is one of the most powerful tools, but it can also be somewhat daunting. At first sight, it does not seem to be as user-friendly as a brush or selection tool; but, after you have learned it, it will become your closest friend when it comes to working with accuracy. When it comes to generating smooth selections, tracing objects, drawing unique shapes, or developing sophisticated pathways for vector editing, the Pen Tool provides you with an unprecedented level of freedom. When compared to rapid selections or magic wands, which are dependent on pixel colors, the Pen Tool generates clean, scalable pathways that may be modified indefinitely without compromising the quality of the image. If you have ever wondered how experienced designers are able to cut out pictures with precise margins or make logos that scale well, the Pen Tool is probably what they are using.

Why the Pen Tool Is So Important

The majority of Photoshop’s features are dependent on pixel data, which may be a messy process. However, the Pen Tool is capable of working with vectors, which means that it can generate lines and curves that are mathematically flawless. By virtue of this, it is necessary for:

  • removing things from backgrounds with a high degree of accuracy.
  • Creating smooth contours and routes to follow.
  • Developing visuals that are scalable for both print and online use.

What is the Location of the Pen Tool?

The Pen Tool, which is symbolized by an icon of a fountain pen, may be found on the toolbar where Photoshop is located. It is possible to access other tools, such as the Freeform Pen, the Curvature Pen, and the Add/Delete Anchor Point tools, by right-clicking on it. Even though each one serves a unique function, they are all centered on the process of route construction.

Mastering the Concept of Anchor Points

  • Positioning anchor points on your painting is how the Pen Tool does its function.
  • The formation of straight lines occurs when you click once and then click again in a different location.
  • By clicking and dragging, you may create curves, which in turn creates direction handles.
  • The way in which your route bends and links is determined by these anchor points and handles.

Constructing Your Very First Straight Path

For the Pen Tool, choose it.

To position your initial anchor, you will need to click once on your canvas.

You may link them with a straight line by clicking once more at a different location.

Carry on clicking in order to construct shapes.

You will be able to form a closed shape after you have returned to the originating position.

An Expertise in Curves

Curves are the most difficult aspect of using the Pen Tool for novices, but mastering them is essential to becoming an expert user.

During the process of setting an anchor point, click and drag.

The slope of the curve may be controlled using the direction handles that emerge.

Adjust the handles so that the curvature is more refined.

Stronger curves are produced by handles that are longer in length. Shorter handles result in bends that are less abrupt.

Make Changes to the Anchor Points

  1. Even though mistakes are inevitable, the Pen Tool is quite forgiving.
  2. To relocate anchor points, make use of the Direct Selection Tool, specifically the white arrow.
  3. You may tweak curves by dragging each handle independently.
  4. Making straight points into curves and vice versa may be accomplished with the help of the Convert Point Tool.

Utilizing Closed Paths as Opposed to Open Paths

forms that are beneficial for cuttings and selections are called closed pathways. These forms are formed when the start and finish points coincide.

Outlines and design strokes often make use of open pathways, which are lines that do not link to one another.

What is the Curvature Pen Tool?

Additionally, Photoshop has the Curvature Pen Tool, which simplifies the process of route sketching by automatically curving between points. This tool is useful for those who find standard anchor points to be difficult to work with. If you just click around the borders of the form, Photoshop will automatically smooth it out for you.

Using the Pen Tool to Combine Different Shapes

  • Through the usage of pathways, it is possible to form intricate shapes by merging a number of closed routes.
  • After drawing one form, begin drawing another.
  • To combine, intersect, or subtract them, use the Path Operations option to do the operation.
  • Creating icons or designing logos is a particularly good usage for this in particular.

The Transformation of Routes into Choices

One of the most significant advantages of the Pen Tool is its capacity to generate options that are really clean:

  • Utilize the Pen Tool to draw a circle around your topic.
  • If you right-click on the path, choose the Make Selection option.
  • If you want softer edges, adjust the feathering.
  • Compared to the Lasso or Magic Wand, this will provide you with cuts that are more precise and precise.

Keeping and Reusing Previous Paths

Within the Paths Panel, each and every route that you build is saved. At any point, you have the ability to rename, save, or load these routes. The use of this comes in particularly helpful for undertakings that need modifications to be made repeatedly.

Applying a Masking Effect using the Pen Tool

Instead of cutting things in a permanent manner, you may turn pathways into layer masks, which will allow you to maintain your flexibility. Due to the fact that it enables non-destructive editing, this process is considered to be professional.

Keyboard shortcuts that increase speed

Ctrl/Cmd + Click allows you to move points.

  • You may adjust one handle without moving the other by pressing Alt/Option and dragging.
  • Keep anchor points aligned by pressing Shift and clicking.
  • By becoming familiar with these shortcuts, you will be able to use the Pen Tool much more quickly.

Errors that are often made by novices

  • This causes curves to be difficult to manage because the handles are dragged too far.
  • Creating forms without remembering to close pathways while doing so.
  • using solely rapid choices rather than vector-based precision as the only method of operation.

When to Avoid Making Use of the Pen Tool

There are times when the Pen Tool is the best option, but it is not always the quickest. Tools such as Select and Mask are more effective when it comes to making intricate and precise choices of hair or fur. When precise edges are essential, the Pen Tool should be used.

Putting in the Work Is Crucial

The Pen Tool is not something that can be understood in a single day. It is recommended that you begin by tracing basic items such as a piece of fruit, a logo, or a coffee mug. As time goes on, you will acquire muscle memory that will allow you to place points in the appropriate locations.

Understanding How to Become an Expert with Pen Tools

With Photoshop, the Pen Tool is the key to unlocking editing capabilities at a professional level. The ability to generate clean routes, flawless curves, and reusable choices makes it worthwhile to put in the effort to learn it, despite the fact that it may first appear scary. By consistently practicing it and combining it with the selection and masking tools that Photoshop provides, you will soon be able to manage it with the same level of confidence as any professional designer.