Adobe Photoshop CC 2015.5 is an important version update in the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, introducing practical features such as “Content-Aware Crop” on the Mac platform. This article aims to provide a clear, accurate, and immediately actionable guide to the core operations, helping users quickly master its core interface and complete workflow.

I. Detailed Explanation of the Software’s Core Interface and Workspace

After launching Photoshop CC 2015.5, you will see an interface composed of multiple panels and workspace groups. Understanding these areas is the foundation for efficient work.

Menu Bar: Located at the top of the screen, it contains all major commands such as “File,” “Edit,” “Image,” and “Layer.”
Options Bar (Control Bar): Positioned directly below the menu bar, its content changes dynamically based on the selected tool and is used to adjust detailed parameters for the tool.
Toolbar: By default located on the left side of the interface, it gathers all image processing tools, such as the Move Tool, Marquee Tool, and Brush Tool. Icons with a small triangle in the lower-right corner indicate hidden tool groups.
Document Window: The central area, displaying the image file currently being edited. Each open file appears as a tab.
Panel Area: By default stacked on the right side of the interface, it is the core control and monitoring area. Key panels include:
- Layers Panel: Manages all layers in the document and is the core of Photoshop work.
- Color/Color Panel: Used to select and set the foreground and background colors.
- Adjustments Panel: Quickly create non-destructive brightness/contrast, hue/saturation, and other adjustment layers.
- History Panel: Records operation steps, allowing you to revert to a previous state.
Status Bar: Located at the bottom of the document window, displaying document information such as zoom ratio and document dimensions.

You can switch between different preset workspaces (such as “Photography” and “Painting”) via Window > Workspace in the menu bar to suit different tasks.

II. Complete Workflow from Creation to Export

Step 1: Create or Open a Project

Method 1: Create a New Document

Click File > New in the menu bar, or use the shortcut Command + N.
In the dialog box that appears, set the document parameters: name, preset size (e.g., A4, Web), width, height, resolution (300 ppi for print, 72 ppi for screen display), color mode (RGB for screen, CMYK for print), background content, etc.
Click “OK” to create a blank canvas.

Method 2: Open an Existing Image

Click File > Open in the menu bar, or use the shortcut Command + O.
In the Finder window, select the image file you need to edit and click “Open.”

Step 2: Basic Editing and Image Adjustment

Crop the image: Select the “Crop Tool” from the toolbar (shortcut C), drag on the canvas to adjust the crop box, and set the aspect ratio, straighten, and other options in the options bar. This is CC 2015.5, which supports the “Content-Aware” feature to intelligently fill the expanded crop area. Press Return to confirm the crop.
Adjust color and tone: Click the menu bar Image > Adjustments and choose options such as “Levels” (Command + L), “Curves” (Command + M), and “Hue/Saturation” (Command + U) for direct adjustments. Non-destructive adjustments are more recommended: in the “Adjustments” panel, click the corresponding icon (such as “Curves”) to create an adjustment layer.
Use layers: Whenever possible, perform all edits on separate layers. Create a new layer via the menu bar Layer > New > Layer or by clicking the “Create a new layer” icon at the bottom of the Layers panel (shortcut Shift+Command+N). In the Layers panel, you can drag layers to change their stacking order and adjust opacity and blending modes.

Step 3: Advanced Compositing and Retouching

Selections and masks: Use the Marquee tools (M), Lasso tools (L), or Quick Selection tool (W) in the toolbar to create selections. After creating a selection, click the “Add layer mask” icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to convert the selection into a mask, thereby hiding or showing parts of the layer.
Brush & Repair: Select the “Brush Tool” (B), set the size, hardness, and opacity in the options bar, choose the foreground color in the color panel, and then you can paint on the canvas. Use the “Clone Stamp Tool” (S) or the “Healing Brush Tool” (J) to remove blemishes.
Add Text: Select the “Horizontal Type Tool” (T), click on the canvas, and enter text. In the options bar, you can modify attributes such as font, size, and color.

Step 4: Save and Export Your Work

Save the project file: To preserve all layers and editing information, save as PSD format. Click File > Save (Command + S) or File > Save As (Shift+Command+S), and select the format “Photoshop (*.PSD)”.
Export as a universal image format: For web sharing or delivering final results.
- Export as JPEG/PNG: Click File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy) (Option+Shift+Command+S). In the dialog that appears, select the format (e.g., JPEG, PNG-24), adjust parameters such as quality, and click “Save”.
- Quick Export as PNG: Click File > Export > Quick Export as PNG to save the current image directly in PNG format.

III. Advanced Tips for Common Features

Non-Destructive Editing: Whenever possible, use adjustment layers, layer styles, smart objects, and layer masks. For example, after converting a layer to a smart object (right-click the layer > Convert to Smart Object), you can scale, apply filters, and perform other operations on it with the ability to modify them losslessly at any time.
Advanced Selection Techniques: Enter the “Select and Mask” workspace (called “Refine Edge” in older versions) to make fine-tuned adjustments to complex edges such as hair. Use the “Color Range” (Select > Color Range) command to quickly create selections based on color.
Brush Libraries and Customization: While the Brush tool is active, right-click on the canvas to open the brush preset picker. Click the panel menu icon to load more built-in brush libraries or manage your own brushes.
Actions and Batch Processing: Use the “Actions” panel (Window > Actions) to record a series of operations, then automatically apply the same operations to a single file or multiple files, greatly improving efficiency for repetitive work.

IV. Common Problems and Solutions

Problem 1: The tool cursor appears as a crosshair or displays abnormally.

Solution: Check whether the Caps Lock key on your keyboard is pressed, as it toggles between the “Precise Cursor” and “Standard Cursor.” Alternatively, go to Photoshop > Preferences > Cursors to adjust the settings.
Problem 2: Operation error, want to undo multiple steps.

Solution: Using Command + Z only undoes one step. For multi-step undo, use Option + Command + Z. Or open the “History” panel and click directly to go back to an earlier state.
Problem 3: The Move tool cannot move the desired layer.

Solution: In the options bar of the Move tool (V), check “Auto-Select” and make sure the dropdown menu on the right is set to “Layer”. This way, clicking an object on the canvas will automatically select the corresponding layer. A more precise method is to click and select the target layer directly in the “Layers panel”.
Problem 4: Colors appear inconsistent with those in the PSD when saving as Web format.

Solution: Make sure that in the “Save for Web” dialog box, the “Convert to sRGB” option is checked and the color profile is embedded. Also check whether the document’s color mode is RGB (Image > Mode > RGB Color).

V. Summary of Core Shortcuts in Photoshop CC 2015.5 for Mac

Function Category	Action	Shortcut (Mac)
File Operations	New Document	Command + N
Open Document	Command + O
Save	Command + S
Save As	Shift + Command + S
Save for Web	Option + Shift + Command + S
Editing Operations	Undo	Command + Z
Multi-step Undo	Option + Command + Z
Cut	Command + X
Paste	Command + V
Tool Selection	Move Tool	V
Rectangular/Elliptical Marquee Tool	M
Lasso/Polygonal Lasso Tool	L
Quick Selection/Magic Wand Tool	W
Crop Tool	C
Brush Tool	B
Clone Stamp Tool	S
Horizontal Type Tool	T
Image Adjustment	Levels	Command + L
Curves	Command + M
Hue/Saturation	Command + U
Invert	Command + I
Layer Operations	New Layer	Shift + Command + N
Merge Visible Layers	Shift + Command + E
Merge Down	Command + E
Group Layers	Command + G
View Control	Zoom In	Command + + (plus sign)
Zoom Out	Command + – (minus sign)
Fit on Screen	Command + 0

Tip: The above guide is based on Adobe Photoshop CC 2015.5 for Mac. Minor differences in interface and features may exist between different minor versions, but the core logic remains the same. Mastering shortcuts and layer concepts is key to improving your Photoshop workflow efficiency.