Last month I was browsing through the CreativeBits archives when I stumbled on a link for PocketMod. I didn't need a low-tech PDA replacement. But folding these little booklets became addictive. We started looking for other ways to use the PocketMod template. Here is what we came up with:

My Mac Won't Start! (PocketMod Edition)

Nothing is more frustrating than struggling with a computer that won't start. Especially with client deadlines looming. That's the idea behind this tiny troubleshooting guide. It lists several of the most common fixes for a Mac that will not start up properly.

Download the PDF, print it out, fold it together, and keep it handy. You can even tape this tiny booklet to the side of your Mac in case you ever need it.

This tip inspired by a good question from wmmarc:

I'm sure there must be some simple (probably obvious) way to get from typing text to the Move tool, or any other tool for that matter... When I press the Space bar to move the artboard or Type 'V' to get the Move Tool all that happens is that I've entered in a 'space' or 'v' and have to correct myself.

The Solution: Add your own text-friendly shortcuts.

Keyboard Shortcuts and switch the Product Area to Tools. Then scroll down to find the tool you need a new shortcut for. Click inside the New Shortcut field and with the Context as Text, type the shortcut you want. Make sure you use a modifier key such as Command and then a letter. For instance, use Ctrl-Shift-Cmd-V for the Selection tool.

You will now have two different shortcuts. The single letter can be used when you’re outside a text frame, and the longer one when you’re inside the frame.

I debated whether this tip was too basic for CreativeBits. I'd normally expect everyone to already know this -- except that I didn't.

Everyone knows that tapping the Tab key is the quick way to temporarily hide all open palettes in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign or Illustrator. Very handy when your design is obscured by too many windows.

Even more handy: Press Shift+Tab and you can keep your Toolbox and Options bar, but hide the other palettes!

Somehow over years of working with Photoshop I missed this simple Shift-Tab finesse. So this tip is dedicated to all those Photoshop, InDesign or Illustrator users who (like myself) missed this along the way.

Are you working on a product packaging job? Here's a way to combine digital product photography and Adobe Photoshop CS2 to create quick virtual prototypes. The process is fairly easy once you understand the technique, and can be used for some pretty remarkable results.

Step 1: Photograph your product, then add a reference grid.

In our example, we took two pictures of our blue medicine bottle. The first photo is the product photo we'll wrap our label around. The second photo includes a cut-out grid that will be used as a visual reference.

We created the grid in Adobe Illustrator, printed it on a laser printer and trimmed it down. Be careful not to change the angle or position of the camera or bottle between these two photos.