Are you learning how to do photoshop? If you are, you should also remember to avoid top photoshop mistakes that most beginners do. 

Photo-editing is fun but at the same time confusing and challenging, especially for beginners. If you are trying to learn how to use a Photoshop tool, either from Adobe software or Free Photoshop editor online, you should understand that mistakes in photo edits are inevitable; however, you can try to avoid them.

Here are the top 5 Photoshop mistakes that beginners often do and how you can avoid them:

#1: Forgetting to use ‘Layers’

Creating a layer on a photo you want to edit is one of the most crucial parts of any form of photo editing. And in Photoshop, creating layers help keep track of every edit you make, making Photoshop a lot easier.

To avoid this type of photo-editing mistake, keep in mind that layering should be one of the first few steps in Photoshopping that you need to do.

#2: Using the wrong image mode

If the colors of the image you have uploaded to the Photoshop software do not look right or the menus on the selection bar are graded out, it is probably because you are using the wrong image mode. This means that you are using the wrong color mode.

The color mode or the image mode determines how the colors are combined, based on the number of color channels in the color model. It can be one of these forms:

  • RGB color mode
  • CMYK color mode
  • Lab color mode
  • Grayscale color mode
  • Duotone mode
  • Bitmap mode
  • Multi-channel mode
  • Indexed color mode

To find out, select ‘Image Mode’ at the taskbar and check if the image is in the correct mode. However, if you are unable to determine what mode the image should be, it is recommended that you use RGB mode over CMYK.

  • CMYK is subtractive, where different colors are combined, the darker it will look.
  • RGB mode is additive, where lights and colors get brighter when combined.

#3: Setting the wrong DPI

Are you wondering why the image isn’t at the right size?

Photoshop’s default resolution is at 72 DPI or Dots per Inch or at 300 DPI, which is, in several cases good for web use and printing, respectively. However, setting the wrong sizes of the photo that you are editing will make the image look pixilated.

To avoid this, you should set the resolution correctly.

#4: You are overdoing it

After familiarizing several techniques in Photoshop, you’ll feel overzealous about using a lot of filters, making a lot of adjustments, and more, causing disastrous photo edits. If you want to enhance the photo through Photoshop, you should learn how to use it well. Never overdo it. Keep the edits simple, but appealing.

#5: Forgetting to save the master file

One of the biggest mistakes that you should avoid is forgetting to save the master file with layers. There are struggles in editing the photos along the way. And keeping a master file with layers and other edits you have made separately will make Photoshop edits easy for you.