Things I have learnt while on the job

Photoshop

Never underestimate how much masking and using the right blending can make your life so much easier when you're working to a tight deadline.

• Quick mask mode
• Layer masks
• Vector masks
• Blending modes

Layer Mask hides effect

Under Advanced Options, there are two options - Layer mask hides effect and Vector mask hides effect - this means that if you have a layer mask with a gradient that is getting some unintended fx rather than blending nicely, you can just make the layer mask override the effect.