Brush size/hardness shortcut will not work in CC

I am having this same problem and it just started today after a system update. There are no other apps hijacking the shortcut, everything is correctly enabled in my preferences that I can see. Please if anyone has an answer, my workflow is suffering severely.

I have a very similar problem, but I'm using Windows. When I try the Ctrl + Alt + drag with my pen (wacom tablet) it as well just move and duplicates the layer. Can anybody help me with that? I couldn't find answer, only for mac.

I have recently downloaded Adobe Photoshop CC on my new Macbook pro 2016 touchbar.

While changing the size of the brush, i generally hold option and control together and slide the stylus towards left or right on my Wacom intuos tablet. Now though, the responsiveness is very jittery and it does not always increase/ decrease the size. Also, after changing the size, the tool must go back to eraser or brush which it does not. I have to manually press "B" for brush tool every time after changing the size and continue working. If i do not press "B" and continue, it will simply increase the size of the brush and then move the artwork or do something random if at all.

This goes the same for the pen tool, Eraser tool and many more yet to explore.
Is there a way around this? I have just started using cc and it's my 3rd day. I will try to find solutions in preferences but until then, please help me with this problem.

To me happens often as well. The solution that works for me is to restart the Photoshop.

Right as rain!! For me it's totally 'Hyperdock' what is preventing the [brushsize+hardness ratio] from working. Had this problem since I switched from CS6 to CC but could still use the Wacom Intuos designated keys in a similar way.

In the Hyperdock preference pane, I tried switching off the program temporarily and it solved the problem totally. Further investigation indeed confirms that the ^ + ⌥ (ctrl + alt/option) is part of a shortcut string which closes the Hyperdock app. With other words Hyperdock hijacks the adobe function probably since it's operating on a lower process level than Ps and such.

Thank you all for the provided help...

OK that tab workaround worked for me yesterday but not working today.

BUT.....todays' workaround is having the CAPS LOCK on. Works. For now.

On os X 10.11.3 running Photoshop 2015.1.2 holding down Ctrl + Option, left clicking on the canvas and dragging moves the floating Window around..
I FOUND THAT BY TOGGLING THE DISPLAY MODE ON EL CAPITAN - by hitting the tab button once or twicw and trying this will bring back the behaviour.
I think this is most definitely a bug but it has more to do with the way El Capitan Handles Window Management than anything else. This behaviour has changed since Yosemite! Where you hit the Green button to maximize the Window before... El Capitan now puts it Full Screen (you need to hold down Option and click it now with most apps)
Hope this helps!

You may need to maximize the window and toggle a few times but it WILL work... sometimes... Just very frustrating!

Hi All,

I had the same problem, but I just found the answer in the Photoshop help reference book of Adobe:

Windows:

Alt + pushing right mouse button + moving the mouse to the right / left (over the image) = brush size

Alt + pushing right mouse button + moving the mouse up / down (over the image) = brush hardness

I am using CC 2015 with Windows. And it works! Just tried it!

According to the manual, for MAC it should be something like Control + Option + clicking on the image + moving the mouse right/left or up/down.

(I can not test it, since I don't have a MAC...)

Have a nice day!

I had the same issue, here is how i solved it.

Goto Apple>System Pref> Keyboard > and check "use all F1, F2..."

it makes it so you can use the shortcut keys for all your F buttons, and allows the brush resizing shortcut (option+Control, drag)

OS X 10.9.2