7 Tool Presets Palette
Used for saving
tool’s options bar settings
Grouped with the History, and Actions palettes
In the default arrangement, this one will be in the group which is third from the top in your column of palettes. If it is hidden behind either of the other two palettes click on its title tab to bring it to the front, or choose Window > Tool Presets.
Save all of the options bar settings of any tool by clicking the New button at the bottom of the Tool Presets palette, by right-clicking any of the existing tool presets, or by choosing New Tool Preset from the palette menu.
The New dialog that appears will include at least part of your tool’s
description (for a crop preset it will include the first two dimensions;
for a brush it includes the starting brush tip’s name). You can change
the name to anything you like. Be sure and notice any options specific
to your tool in the New dialog box. For example, when saving a brush tool
preset, you have a checkbox for including the current color as part of
the preset.
The pattern stamp offers an Include Pattern checkbox while the gradient
tool has an Include Gradient option. If you choose any of these checkboxes,
the preset will always load with that particular color, pattern or gradient.
The Tool Presets palette can be found on the options bar for all tools. Left-click the current tool’s icon on the far left end of the options bar to open the pop-up version of the palette. Use Window > Tool Presets to open the stand-alone version.
Please take care when using tool presets to double-check all tool’s options bars thereafter. For example, if you have used a fixed-size crop preset, those settings will remain on the tool’s options bar until you change them. Blend modes, opacity, and strength options will also remain where the preset has left them. Be sure to check your options bar or use the Reset Tool option in the Tool Presets palette menu after using a preset.
In the illustration below you see the Tool Presets palette with the default presets. On the right is the menu accessed by clicking the little arrow in the upper right corner of the palette. Please note that the Reset Tool command resets the current tool, whatever it may be. To reset the palette, choose Reset Tool Presets.
As with all palettes, loading a new palette set using the Replace option
instead of Append will lose any custom presets that you have made while
the current palette was loaded. Also, deleting your preferences will lose
any custom presets that have not been saved to a custom set. If you build
custom presets, be sure and save them to a custom set by using the Preset
Manager. In the Preset Manager, choose click and Shift-click to select
all of the presets that you wish to include in your custom set. Then click
the Save Set button and give the set a descriptive name. After closing
and reopening Photoshop, the set will appear in the palette menu.
Below are two of the presets palettes that ship with Photoshop 7. The type presets palette is shown on the right. The brushes presets shown on the left are fun to tinker with. Spend some time looking at the settings used to build those. Somebody at Adobe® knows how to have fun.
Photoshop Tips | 7
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Unreal Nature | jay@arraich.com