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.

OMG just fixed it!! 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 And this is the link to where I found how to fix that: https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-beta-discussions/contextual-task-bars-now-in-photoshop-beta/td-p/13658736

N

Noelle Shamroukh

Adobe Employee

Answered

Contextual Task Bars Now in Photoshop (Beta)

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
March 17, 2023
70 replies
102008 views

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.

Correct answer danielm77292327

OMG just fixed it!!

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

And this is the link to where I found how to fix that:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-beta-discussions/contextual-task-bars-now-in-photoshop-beta/td-p/13658736

Show previous replies

Maxwelp3

Participating Frequently

I know everybody is complaining that they cannot pin the bar in place and have it there on their next session BUT that is the idea of the CTB, to have it appear where you are working.

Very annoying when it is in the way.

The best thing to do is to UNTICK the Contextual Task Bar item in the View Menu. Tick it again when you want it to appear.

BETTER still - assign a keystroke to TICK/UNTICK the CTB and you can get it back when you want it but tuck it away when you don't.

Personally I hate the damn thing but some people seem to like it but want it pinned in one place which would defeat the purpose.

H

hotpepper2005

Participant

It doesn't defeat the purpose. It could be there with the option bar and it could apply to whatever you are currently working on.

How do you assign a keystroke for it in Photoshop?

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

How do you assign a keystroke for it in Photoshop?

By @hotpepper2005

That's a good idea Ms Pepper. Open Edit > Keyboard shortcuts. Select Menus and scroll across to Window and then all the way down to Contextual Task Bar. I have used F2 as I have never in my life used it for Cut.

Remember we can save custom shortcuts in Custom workspaces along with Custom toolbar. This lets us reuse shortcuts acording to what we are doing. I also use Function keys to trigger actions that select and reset my different workspaces. Once you have the ability to tidy a workspace,, that has its panels all over your screen, with a single key press, you'll never want to go back.

I like to remind folk that the Function key defaults are mostly wasted. If you never use any or all of these shortcuts, then they are a solid gold resource you are missing out on.

G

Gaisen

Participant

can allow user to place the position of floating bar?

it's distrubing when using Photoshop.

D

dalarayener

Participant

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!!!

D

dalarayener

Participant

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

S

Scott30865142jxag

Participant

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.

C

Crank5C90

Participant

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

Community Expert

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.

W

WMantooth

Participant

I absolutely HATE this . I was googeling to find out how to fix it. It appears over the image and is so distarcting. I cannot stand it.

"Contextual Task Bar" and cannot stop it from happening. Pshop v24.5

Maxwelp3

Participating Frequently

I have only just got around to trying my workaround.

My first problem was that I could not make an action to Hide/Unhide the bar.

BUT

If you go to Keyboard Shortcuts under the Edit menu then you can assign a Keystroke Combination to Hide/Unhide the bar.

I decided that as I often use the Alt+Ctrl+Shift combination for my keystokes I assigned Alt+Ctrl+Shift+Q to Quickly Hide/Unhide the bar. It works well and once you get used to the finger combination it is very easy to do.

That is Opt+Cmd+Shift+Q on a Mac I think.

Give it a whirl and you can see if you like the rest of the features.

Maxwelp3

Participating Frequently

I must say tthat this bar always hovers where I next want to work, even when editing photos. I agree with the Graphics people on this one.

But assigning a keystroke combo helps to keep working and try it out.

To assign a Keystroke Combination -

Go to Edit menu and down to Keyboard Shortcuts which will open a dialogue box for Keyboard Shortcuts and Menus.

In the Keyboard Shortcuts tab make sure you are on Application Menus from the Shortcuts For: dropdown menu.

Now go to the bottom of the list of Menu Items and reveal the items in the Window section by clicking on the > beside it.

Right at the bottom of this list of items is Contextual Task Bar with a blank box for the Shortcut. You can choose your own Shortcut and Photoshop will warn you if it is already used.

I put in Alt+Ctrl+Shift+Q which I find easy to remember to Q for Quickly Hide/Unhide the Contextual Task Bar. (I think that will be Opt+Cmd+Shift+Q on the Mac.

Then you can click OK for that to take effect.

Easy, Peesy, Lemon Squeezy. Go for it.

C

cyclopsdx

Inspiring

Nope. Sorry, not for me. Just getting in the way. It's a mess of icons and most of them are there just to allow you to hide, reset or pin the bar. Thank goodness I can hide it. Look at the state of this screengrab - how many options?

C

csscms

Legend

OK, have given this a good go but it's constantly in the way - how do you design when a pop-up covers the very thing you're designing?

Yes, I know PS is for photos but many modern deliverables require PSDs so about 40% of my day is spent designing in Photoshop.

If I could dock it into the bottom of the window (and keep it docked into the window for new docs from that point on) then I'd use it. But unless that changes, it's perminantly off sorry.

Glaive1976

Participating Frequently

How do we permanently turn it off?

artbygermaine

Known Participant

I like the tool so far but what I keep reaching for is the alignment tools. I've been trying to customize the taskbar but I guess it's not possible yet. It would be great if it can be added beside the "Flip" buttons. Thank you for your great work!

N

Norman30597802cp49

Participant

Hi

My Contextual Task Bar i had it and lost it I did something now its completely gone. It is not under window its just not there at all what can i do to fix this how is it just completely gone? All updates have been done too

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