ACE Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield ACE facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which channel in the CMYK model serves as a separate ink that adds depth and reduces the amount of CMY inks required? → Key (Black) channel
2. A graphic saved to a Creative Cloud Library from Illustrator appears in Photoshop as which layer type? → Linked Smart Object
3. What is 'focus stacking' used for in restoration and retouching contexts? → Combining multiple images at different focus points to achieve full sharpness throughout
4. Which option should be used to reduce file size for web use while maintaining quality? → Save for Web (Legacy)
5. In the Lab color mode, which channel exclusively controls lightness independent of color? → L channel
6. When using File > Revert, what is the result? → The document reverts to the last saved state on disk
7. Which layer type allows you to apply adjustments non-destructively to all layers below it in a group? → Adjustment Layer
8. In Photoshop, what is the primary purpose of assigning (not converting to) a different color profile to an image? → Change how the existing pixel values are interpreted and displayed
9. Which resolution is generally considered the minimum acceptable for images used in standard newspaper printing? → 150 ppi
10. What does the 'Optical' kerning setting do in Photoshop? → Adjusts spacing based on the visual shape of adjacent characters
11. What is the purpose of the 'History Log' feature found in Photoshop Preferences > History Log? → To record a text log of editing operations for each session or document
12. When removing moiré patterns from a scanned image, the most targeted approach is to: → Use the Reduce Noise filter's Per Channel controls to target the affected channel
13. What does the 'Black Clip' warning in the Histogram panel indicate? → Shadow pixels are being clipped to pure black, losing detail
14. A designer sets canvas size to 8.5×11 inches at 300 ppi for a print document. What pixel dimension does this produce? → 2550 × 3300 px
15. What is a 'group mask' in Photoshop? → A mask applied to a layer group that affects all layers inside it
16. What does increasing the Fill slider (not Opacity) of a layer do? → Reduces pixel transparency while keeping layer effects at full strength
17. Which panel in Photoshop shows a live histogram that updates as you make adjustments, helping you avoid clipping? → Histogram panel
18. When preparing a document for web display, which color mode should the Photoshop file be set to? → RGB
19. Which format is best suited for exporting a web graphic that requires both transparency and animation? → WebP
20. A vector mask differs from a layer mask because it: → Is resolution-independent and defined by paths
21. A web designer wants to reduce the file size of a PNG image without losing transparency. What is the best approach in Photoshop? → Use PNG-8 with alpha transparency if the image uses few colors
22. What is the purpose of the 'Use Black Point Compensation' option in Photoshop's color conversion settings? → Maps the darkest shadow of the source to the darkest shadow of the destination
23. When using the "Export As" dialog in Photoshop to resize an image for the web, what is the primary purpose of the "Resample" option? → To specify the interpolation method used when changing the image's pixel dimensions.
24. What is the purpose of a Vector Mask in Photoshop? → To mask a layer using a path or shape for a resolution-independent, scalable mask
25. Which Photoshop tool is best suited for removing a large, irregular blemish surrounded by complex texture? → Content-Aware Fill
26. Which Photoshop vector tool creates shapes constrained to predefined proportions when you hold Shift? → Rectangle tool
27. When using 'Save for Web (Legacy)', what does the '2-Up' view allow you to do? → Compare the original image side-by-side with the export preview
28. In Photoshop's History panel, what is the purpose of creating a 'New Snapshot'? → To bookmark a specific history state that persists beyond the history limit
29. When saving a Photoshop file for compatibility with older versions of the application, which option should be enabled in the Save dialog? → Maximize Compatibility
30. What is the effect of using 'Feather' on a layer mask edge in the Properties panel? → It softens the mask edge by blurring the transition between hidden and revealed areas