Starting a new project in Adobe Photoshop is the first and most essential step for any creative work — whether it's photo editing, digital painting, poster design, or UI mockups. This detailed guide walks you through every option available when creating a new file in Photoshop, ensuring your project starts with the perfect settings.
✅ Why the Right Setup Matters
When creating a new project in Photoshop, setting up the correct resolution, dimensions, color mode, and file type from the beginning is crucial. It saves time and avoids issues later, especially when exporting for print, web, or social media.
🪜 Step-by-Step: How to Create a New Project in Adobe Photoshop
1️⃣ Open Photoshop
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Launch Adobe Photoshop from your desktop or start menu.
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Once it opens, you'll see the Home Screen.
2️⃣ Click “New File”
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Click on “New File” or press
Ctrl + N(Windows) /Cmd + N(Mac). -
The New Document window will appear.
🧰 3️⃣ Configure Your Project Settings
In the New Document window, you can customize:
🔷 Name
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Choose a name like "Website_Banner" or "Portfolio_2025".
📏 Dimensions
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Choose Pixels, Inches, Centimeters, etc.
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Example sizes:
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Instagram Post: 1080 × 1080 px
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YouTube Thumbnail: 1280 × 720 px
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A4 Print: 210 × 297 mm
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🖼️ Resolution
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Web: 72 PPI
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Print: 300 PPI for high quality
🌈 Color Mode
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RGB: For screen-based content (web, social media)
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CMYK: For print (brochures, flyers)
🔳 Background Contents
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White, Transparent, or Custom Color
📦 4️⃣ Use Presets (Optional)
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Photoshop provides templates for:
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Web
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Mobile
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Print
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Film & Video
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You can use these or save your own custom preset.
✅ 5️⃣ Click “Create”
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After choosing your settings, hit Create.
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A blank canvas will open, ready for editing.
💡 Pro Tips
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🔁 Undo Mistakes: Use
Ctrl+Z/Cmd+Zto undo any change. -
💾 Save Early: Always save your project (
Ctrl+S) with a descriptive name. -
🖇️ Organize Layers: Use named layers for easy editing later.
📊 Quick Reference Table
| Setting | Web Use | Print Use |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 72 PPI | 300 PPI |
| Color Mode | RGB | CMYK |
| Canvas Size | Flexible (pixels) | A4/A5/etc. |
| Background | Transparent/White | White |
📂 Where Is Your Project Saved?
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By default, Photoshop may not save automatically.
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Choose File > Save As and select
.PSDfor editable format or.JPG/.PNGfor web.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Creating a new project in Adobe Photoshop correctly ensures a smooth and productive editing process. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, following these steps will help set your creative project up for success. 🎯
