One of the most common design techniques in Photoshop is to utilize layer styles to create drop shadows, gradient overlays, strokes, etc. One thing I often run into is that I need to “finalize” or “apply” that style into the layer as pixels. Basically make it so that the style is no longer applied to the layer but it’s effect is still there to allow me to erase bits, do a new blend, etc.
Here is the complicated process I use to accomplish this.
- Create a new empty layer and place it underneath the layer you want to “finalize.”
- Right click on the layer you want to finalize and choose ‘merge down.’
That’s it. I told you it was complicated 
Brad
P.S. If you have a blending mode on the layer you want to “finalize” you should set it to Normal before doing the merge down. Then, once you have done the merge, set the new “style free” layer to the original blending mode.
Swardson Studios was hired to do the redesign of a Claire Sanderson Hanna’s family law firm website and brochure.
http://www.nmdivorce.com
Considerable work was done in coming up with a look and design that matched the philosophy’s of Ms. Hanna as well as fit the medium and content she wished to portray.
Among the normal layout and styling done with CSS, HTML, Javascript and PHP the site also includes a simple user submission form to gain access to materials. It not only allows them access but automatically emails the information to Ms. Hanna to allow her to follow up them. Another unique feature of this site is the addition of a header bar that gets included when anyone links to an external site from Ms. Hanna’s site. This way users are always presented with a way back to the CSH site from wherever they go.
In addition to the website I adapted the content to a tri-fold brochure format to go with it.
This project took about 3 weeks to complete and I think it came out rather well. If you have any comments or suggestions please leave me a note by commenting below.
All the best,
Brad Swardson
Here is a list of useful default hotkeys/shortcuts that are extremely useful, but you may not know them. Of course you can override current hotkeys with your own or setup a fully customizable set. These are some of the more useful and highly used default ones.
- [ and ] – will increase or decrease your brush size of the current tool.
- Cmd +/- to zoom in and out of your canvas.
- x – will swap the background and foreground colors.
- d – will reset your background and foreground colors to black and white.
- Shift + Cmd + n – will create a new layer.
- Cmd + Clicking a layer – will select that layers transparency.
- Shift + any tool hotkey will toggle the tools options.
- Here are some of them
- w – magic wand
- v – move tool
- g – fill/gradient
- b – brush
- m – marquee
- l – laso
- Cmd + / – will increase and decrease zoom levels.
- Tab – will hide your tool pallets
- f – will toggle the canvas mode (open window, gray frame, gray frame free, black)
http://www.newlifecity.org
This project is the largest and most ambitious of my web design and development projects. I joined with New Life City as their web developer and designer in 2005. Since then the site has evolved through 3 different iterations starting with a static site moving to the completely dynamic and customizable drupal CMS site.
I have found drupal to be an extremely adept and versatile solution to web based CMS needs. With its fully customizable interface and add on selection, quick changes and additions are much faster than coding them manually. However, even with its ease of use the site still presented some major challenges such as multiple node based audio setups including itunes validated RSS feeds, and a semi-fluid design structure that maximized the screen real-estate and optimized the image and text fluidity.
This is an evolving project that is changing as the needs and desires of the NLC staff require. I expect new and more awesome things to come from the site, but definitely am confident and happy with it now.
-Brad
http://www.swardson.com
This site was a personal project completed for my final portfolio class in my masters degree program at the Savannah College of Art and Design. I was tasked to create a site that reflected other portfolio and business design elements. The overall concept was the idea of authenticity and longevity. The logo with the signature represents a pact between me and my clients that what they ask for they will get. The earthy tones reflect the level of authenticity I portray in all areas of business.
The site was initially designed to be expandable to add tutorials, blogs, content and products for my various projects but was sercumvented by this site as it fit my business models better.
This project turned out fairly well in my opinion and may utilize it’s look in the future.
-Brad
http://www.bestrentalever.com
I created this site as a host for my rental property. I wanted to create a site that was both stylish and informative that would increase the interest in the home while allowing possible tenants the ability to tour the room photos and gather information easily.
This site featured the lightbox image gallery system which is really awesome and easy to use.
I also explored some more non-traditional design to make it feel somewhat like a flyer, but enough like a website so as to not make it confusing.
I had a lot of fun with this site and it ended up paying off.
-Brad
