For Tim Kay only answer the questions
1 Here is a great video on shortcuts in Photoshop CS5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI-Eh6Ba7II
Try out one of the items mentioned. Did you find it useful?
2 Similar to adjustment layers, fill layers can be used to fill a layer with a solid color, a gradient, or a pattern. Unlike adjustment layers, fill layers do not change the layers underneath them.
Visit: http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshop/cs/using/WSfd1234e1c4b69f30ea53e41001031ab64-787ba.html
What options do fill layers provide? When would you choose to use a fill layer?