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Known Participant
December 2, 2025
Answered

Alternative location for Contextual Taskbar's options

  • December 2, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 198 views

Hello All,
I am wondering where I can find the options Contextual Taskbar offers when not using the teaskbar. Ie. what's the alternative location those options can be found.

To illustrate with an example, I'm specifically after finding these Photoshop functioanlities (realting to layer masking, screen below) outside of the contextual taskbar/ in their original location (I assume they are avliable in a location from which they have been extracted into the ContextualTaskbar - I'd be after this original location 😊)

MargoM_0-1764668532969.png


Thank you!

Correct answer Sameer K

Hey, @MargoM. Welcome to the Photoshop Community. I'll help you figure this out.

 

Your understanding is correct. The Contextual task bar surfaces the commonly used workflow for easy access. 

1 - The first icon is for adjusting the Mask properties; you can go to Window > Properties. 

 

 

2 - It is just a toggle for Mask visibility; you can click on the Eye icon at the bottom of the properties panel. You can also hold the Shift key and click on the mask's thumbnail in the Layers panel to hide a mask.

 

3 - Similar to the Shift key, this is the ALT/OPT key modifier through which you can display the grayscale mask by itself 

Head here to learn more: https://adobe.ly/4pHB7Iy;

 

I hope this helps.

Thanks!
Sameer K
(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

2 replies

Sameer K
Community Manager
Sameer KCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
Community Manager
December 2, 2025

Hey, @MargoM. Welcome to the Photoshop Community. I'll help you figure this out.

 

Your understanding is correct. The Contextual task bar surfaces the commonly used workflow for easy access. 

1 - The first icon is for adjusting the Mask properties; you can go to Window > Properties. 

 

 

2 - It is just a toggle for Mask visibility; you can click on the Eye icon at the bottom of the properties panel. You can also hold the Shift key and click on the mask's thumbnail in the Layers panel to hide a mask.

 

3 - Similar to the Shift key, this is the ALT/OPT key modifier through which you can display the grayscale mask by itself 

Head here to learn more: https://adobe.ly/4pHB7Iy;

 

I hope this helps.

Thanks!
Sameer K
(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

MargoM.Author
Known Participant
December 4, 2025

Great, thanks for the explanation Sameer!
So Contextual Taskbar groups the most commonly used features for a Tool - this is a great thing I've just learned from your explanation 🙂
Thanks again!

Ged_Traynor
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 2, 2025

@MargoM. you can access them from the properties panel, via Window > Properties

2025-12-02 10_19_11-4_charlesbergman_puffinatlanticskokholmisland.jpg @ 66.7% (Layer 0, Layer Mask_8.png