This article was originally published by RenderPlan as "9 Powerful Photoshop Tips for an Effective Workflow."

This article was originally published by RenderPlan as "9 Powerful Photoshop Tips for an Effective Workflow."A powerful software like Photoshop can turn an average looking image or drawing into a stellar asset for a project. The trick is to learn to use some of its best features and optimize your workflow for maximum efficiency.Over the years Photoshop has become the go-to tool for architects for any kind of image-based editing. The software has become indispensible thanks to its versatile features. It is a powerful tool for tweaking renderings or create them from scratch. Some of the most renowned visualization artists rely heavily on Photoshop and use very crude masses done in 3d programs as a starting point. From photorealistic renderings to editing photographs of built projects and beautifying line work, Photoshop can be an architect?s best friend.1. Non-Destructive WorkflowAs with any type of software, it is important to maintain control of a project and allow yourself to go back and forth between steps without losing work. A non-destructive workflow can save you a lot of time and headache. Use masks and adjustment layers to preserve flexibility, reduce the number of layers in the layers palette so you can experiment and tweak specific things and see how they interact. Masks allow you to cut out parts of different layers and a...