How to Use the Tools Panel in Photoshop – Instructions

Overview of the Tools Panel in Photoshop:

            The Tools panel in Photoshop appears at the left side of the application window, by default. However, you can dock the Tools panel to either the right or left sides of the application window or let it float over the document window area. Unlike most panels in Photoshop, however, you cannot dock the Tools panel at the bottom of the Photoshop application window or group it with other panels in panel tab groups.

            To toggle the Tools panel in Photoshop between a one-column and two-column layout, click the double-pointer arrow button in the bar at the very top of the Tools panel. To select a tool in the Tools panel in Photoshop, click the desired tool’s button to select it. If you want to view the name of the button and the button’s tool shortcut key in the Tools panel in Photoshop, hover your mouse pointer over the desired button to show this information in a screen tip.

            When you select a tool in Photoshop in the Tools panel, the options for the selected tool appear towards the left end of the Options bar in the Options bar Control panel section. You can then change these options to change the behavior of the selected tool. The options vary, based on the tool selected.

A picture showing how to use the Tools panel in Photoshop to select hidden tool buttons.

            Tool buttons in the Tools panel in Photoshop that show a small triangle icon in their lower-right corner have hidden buttons within them from which you can also select to change the default button that then appears for that button’s space in the Tools panel. To select from the hidden tools for a button in the Tools panel, click and hold down on the button until a side menu of other button choices appears. Then click to select the desired button from the side menu of choices to both activate the tool and show it as the new default tool in that button’s location in the Tools panel. Alternatively, to cycle through the tools for a button in the Tools panel in Photoshop, hold down the “Shift” key on your keyboard and then repeatedly press the button’s keyboard shortcut key.

            At the bottom of the Tools panel in Photoshop, you also find the current background and foreground color choices, the “Default Background and Foreground Colors” button, the “Switch Foreground and Background Colors” button, the “Edit in Quick Mask Mode” button, and the “Change Screen Mode” button. These buttons all appear in a separate section below the tools and the “Edit Toolbar” button.

Instructions on How to Use the Tools Panel in Photoshop:

1. The Tools panel in Photoshop appears at the left side of the application window, by default.
2. However, you can dock the Tools panel to either the right or left sides of the application window or let it float over the document window area.
3. Unlike most panels in Photoshop, however, you cannot dock the Tools panel at the bottom of the Photoshop application window or group it with other panels in panel tab groups.
4. To toggle the Tools panel in Photoshop between a one-column and two-column layout, click the double-pointer arrow button in the bar at the very top of the Tools panel.
5. To select a tool in the Tools panel in Photoshop, click the desired tool’s button to select it.
6. If you want to view the name of the button and the button’s tool shortcut key in the Tools panel in Photoshop, hover your mouse pointer over the desired button to show this information in a screen tip.
7. When you select a tool in Photoshop in the Tools panel, the options for the selected tool appear towards the left end of the Options bar in the Options bar Control panel section.
8. You can then change these options to change the behavior of the selected tool. The options vary, based on the tool selected.
9. Tool buttons in the Tools panel in Photoshop that show a small triangle icon in their lower-right corner have hidden buttons within them from which you can also select to change the default button that then appears for that button’s space in the Tools panel.
10. To select from the hidden tools for a button in the Tools panel, click and hold down on the button until a side menu of other button choices appears.
11. Then click to select the desired button from the side menu of choices to both activate the tool and show it as the new default tool in that button’s location in the Tools panel.
12. Alternatively, to cycle through the tools for a button in the Tools panel in Photoshop, hold down the “Shift” key on your keyboard and then repeatedly press the button’s keyboard shortcut key.
13. At the bottom of the Tools panel in Photoshop, you also find the current background and foreground color choices, the “Default Background and Foreground Colors” button, the “Switch Foreground and Background Colors” button, the “Edit in Quick Mask Mode” button, and the “Change Screen Mode” button. These buttons all appear in a separate section below the tools and the “Edit Toolbar” button.

Video Lesson on How to Use the Tools Panel in Photoshop:

            The following video lesson, titled “Learn How to Use the Tools Panel in Adobe Photoshop: A Training Tutorial,” shows you how to use the Tools panel in Photoshop. This video lesson is from our complete Photoshop tutorial, titled “Mastering Photoshop Made Easy.”