- Introduction
- Optimizing Photoshop
- Setting General Preferences
- Setting File Handling Preferences
- Setting Interface Preferences
- Changing Sync Settings Preferences
- Setting Cursors Preferences
- Controlling Transparency & Gamut Preferences
- Working with Units & Rulers
- Working with Guides, Grid & Slices
- Setting Plug-Ins Preferences
- Selecting Scratch Disks
- Allocating Memory & Image Cache
- Setting Type Preferences
- Managing Libraries with the Preset Manager
- Using and Customizing Workspaces
- Building Specialized Workspaces
- Creating a Customized User Interface
- Defining Shortcut Keys
Setting Interface Preferences
Working with Interface preferences gives you control over whether Photoshop displays or hides user interface features. You can change the user interface display by color theme or some elements by a selected color and border. For example, you can show the program window in four color themes in shades of gray or the Application icon in color or grayscale, show channels in color, or show selected menu items in user-defined colors. Interface preferences also allow you to use gestures with a tablet and pen, show descriptive labels when your cursor is placed over an option, automatically collapse icon panels when you click away, remember panel locations for the next use, and enable text drop shadows. You can also change the size of the text font on the Options bar, panels, and tool tips, restore all panels back to their default workspaces, as well as choose where to show transformation values.
Work with Interface Options
- Click the Edit (Win) or Photoshop (Mac) menu, point to Preferences, and then click Interface.
Select the Interface options:
- Color Theme. Choose from four shades of gray. (Dark is default).
- Screen Modes. Choose background and border colors for the three screen modes.
- Auto-Collapse Iconic Panels. Automatically collapses icon panels when you click away.
- Auto-Show Hidden Panels. Hidden panels will temporarily appear when you point to the edge of the application window.
- Open Documents as Tabs. Opens documents in one window with tabs.
- Enable Floating Document Window Docking. Allows floating document windows to dock when you move them.
- Show Channels In Color. Allows you to view channels in the Channels panel in color.
- Show Menu Colors. Displays menu items in user-defined colors.
- Show Tool Tips. Shows labels when your cursor is placed over an option.
- Enable Gestures. Allows the use of gestures with a tablet and pen.
- Enable Text Drop Shadows. Select to have text drop shadows on panel labels.
- Show Transformation Values. Select where to show transformation values near the cursor: Never, Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, or Bottom Right.
- To restore all Photoshop panels back to their default workspaces, click Restore Default Workspaces.
Select the UI Text settings you want to use:
- UI Language. Choose a default language.
- UI Font Size. Choose a size for interface fonts.
- Click OK.