Contextual Task Bars Now in Photoshop (Beta)

[Noelle Shamroukh]

We’re excited to announce that new contextual task bars are now available in Photoshop Public Beta. We know that finding the right tool, at the right time, can sometimes slow down a great workflow. Our new contextually aware task bars aim to help by providing common tools, actions and next steps right on the canvas where you’re working. We are currently launching five bars for importing new documents, making selections and using the Type Tool. Learn more below: 

Open Image or File

• This bar will appear when you open an image or file in Photoshop (i.e. not a new, empty document)

New Document Workflow

• This bar will appear if you open a new, blank document from the Photoshop home screen

• If you choose to select “import image”, your image will be placed in the document as a Smart Object and the Free Transform bar will appear to help finalize placement

Type Tool Workflow

• This bar will appear when you select the Type tool from the tool bar and draw a text box on the canvas

Selections Workflow

• Once a selection is made, a selection edit bar will appear with options to refine the selection or create a mask

Tips and Other Menu Functionality

• Pin bar position
  • You can pin and un-pin any bar from the “more menu”. Pinning will hold your bar (and all subsequent bars) where it was placed on the canvas until un-pinned from the “more menu” performed
• Reset bar position
  • The context bar moves with you as you work on the canvas, keeping relevant tools at your finger tips. If you would like to reset the position, you can do so from the “more menu”
• Hide bar
  • You can always hide the bar if you’d like to remove it completely, or temporarily, from the canvas. If you’d like to re-open the bar at any point, go to Window > Contextual Task Bar

We need your feedback!

Please let us know what you think and how we could improve the new Contextual Task Bar.

[Glaive1976]

I am jealous. lol

[C27618681pmp5]

Post:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/using-pin-bar-position-for-contextual...

After the Pin bar position to fixed Contextual Task Bar position and close Photoshop and reopened,the Contextual Task Bar will return to its original default position instead of the pinned position.

it would be nice if it stayed in the position that user pinned even closed or reopen photoshop.

[Crank5C90]

The task bar moving all over the place is not ideal for my workflow. It is a hindrance every time I'm not typing. If it could be docked to the side that would be very helpful (not sure if this is possible right now). Thanks!

[Jeff Arola]

About the best you can do for now is move the Contextual Task Bar to where you want it, then click on the 3 liitle dots and Pin bar position.

This only lasts until you restart Photoshop.

[Scott30865142jxag]

I wish it could be at the top of the screen with the other options. This window that is appearing all over my images is driving me nuts.

[Gaisen]

can allow user to place the position of  floating bar?

it's distrubing when using Photoshop.

[Ged_Traynor]

@Gaisen you can position the contextual task bar by dragging here, note is will revert to the original position when you re-open Photoshop

[kevin stohlmeyer]

Hi @Gaisen the team is aware that the pin position also does not hold when reopening Photoshop. There is a thread started here https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-beta-discussions/contextual-task-bars-now-in-photoshop-beta...

that has upvotes on allowing the Contextual Task Bar to dock or permanently "pin" in a location.

[dalarayener]

this small selection bar is very often in the way of what i try to do, it's a great idea but i wish it stayed where i put it! next time i use the marquee or any selection tool it reappears in its original location, which is in the middle of my selection area! if part of the desired selection area overlaps with the toolbar, the selection tool gets blocked and i have to stop and move the toolbar before i can continue.

love the new beta version!! generative fill will definitely be a game changer!!!

[dalarayener]

same issue with any tool, brushes etc. not just selection

[D Fosse]

Click the three dots and disable it (hide).

[LindaCinMaine]

I think that the majority of users would prefer to have it default to being pinned to the top and if you wanted to move it on top of your picture you could, rather than having to pin it each time.

[Ivan Zajats]

I agree. Voted.

[martin draax]

Hey guys!

I downloaded the new photoshop beta, with the intelligent fill function. Seems great, but the placement of the menu is rather annoying - i need to look at a composition usually and not only to a selected area. With each selection, Photoshop produces a menu right below the selection, and I wish Adobe to change it into a menu that i can place somewhere else or, like the selection tool already was, make a top menu where i can do these things.

Is it me? or is this a point for improvement?

thanx for your thoughts...

[Reinaldo219586352w8x]

The "Select subject / Remove background" bar can result obstructive even thou it can be manually fixed in any other place, but that must be done every time because it don't stay there when de program is restarted.
Maybe it could better be fixed by default at the top in the Home bar.

[Jeff Arola]

If you click on the three little dots you can move the Contextual Task Bar and Pin bar position, however, it will only hold that position till you restart photoshop, so hopefully Adobe will fix that in an update.

[Ярослав5F8F]

an additional control panel often appears on top of the text and forces you to constantly manually move it to another place.
It would be great if it was possible to customize and save its default position in a convenient place for the user. Thank you!

[kevin stohlmeyer]

Hi @Ярослав5F8F have you tried clicking the dots (options) and pinning the Contextual Task Bar location? You can also hide it via the Windows panel (bottom of mennu).

[Ярослав5F8F]

Hi @kevin stohlmeyer ! Thanks for the answer! Yes, of course, but it only works until you restart Photoshop. Next time, Photoshop will again put this bar on top of the text. As if the "reset bar" item works after the application is restarted. I would like to keep the position forever.

[CJNyeArt]

The placement is *extremely anoying. I know you're really excited about it, but it's in the way. 

[robertor54851834]

Hi,

I think the new contextual task bar should remember its settings between Photoshop sessions. För example if I pinned it to a specific position it should remember those settings when I start a new PS session. 

[Bensaret]

The Generative Fill bar tends to appear over work I am doing, forcing me to repeatedly move it out of the way. I'd recommend an option to integrate it full-time into the task bar at the top of the page so that it's always visible but in a set, easy-to-access location.

[Ivan Zajats]

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/contextual-task-bar-location/idi-p/13813589

[LindaCinMaine]

Put your cursor on the white vertical line and drag the task box to where
you'd like it. I put mine on the upper right in the top toolbar. Click
on the three dots and select "pin bar position "

[Pherocity]

@LindaCinMaine That only pins it for that session. The frustration most everyone in this thread is expressing is that you have to pin it every time you open Photoshop.