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eyedropper tool and paint bucket locked.

Community Beginner ,
Apr 24, 2016 Apr 24, 2016

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Hey all.

Just downloaded and started to use photoshop and the eyedropper tool is locked and also the paint bucket.

Tried to look at other solutions but have yet to find a fix. Any ideas on unlocking these would be highly appreciated.

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correct answers 1 Correct answer

New Here , Aug 03, 2017 Aug 03, 2017

Because this will happen again to you fairly often, I DOUBT you will want to reinstall every time. 

Window > Workspace > Essentials (Default)

When you see those two icons (Eye Dropper and Paint Bucket) with the checkered (barely visible though) little tag to the top left, you're in 3D mode (like Schoeps said).  But you don't have to start a new document.  Just have to change the workspace to Essentials.

Here is what it looks like in 3D mode... Can't do ANYTHING with the bucket.  Was just trying to

...

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Adobe
Apr 24, 2016 Apr 24, 2016

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Tools don't get "locked".  Can you tell us more about what you mean, or exactly what error you are seeing?

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Community Beginner ,
Apr 24, 2016 Apr 24, 2016

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Ok. When usin the eyedropper on a new image or any image  for that matter when hovering over the file it has an icon which does not permit me doing so. Well using it .. that is... Same thing with paintbucket. Wondering if it's a bug.

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community guidelines
Apr 24, 2016 Apr 24, 2016

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Which means that those operations can't be used on that document or selection.

Which specific version of Photoshop are you using?

What color mode is your document in?

And are you using the eyedropper, or have you mistakenly selected one of the other tools in that slot?

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Community Beginner ,
Apr 24, 2016 Apr 24, 2016

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Photshop cc 2015

rgb 8 bit channel

yes, eyedropper tool and paint bucket tool

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Community Expert ,
Apr 24, 2016 Apr 24, 2016

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Check the active layer in the Layers panel. Is it locked?

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Community Beginner ,
Apr 24, 2016 Apr 24, 2016

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no

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Community Beginner ,
Apr 24, 2016 Apr 24, 2016

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Have you checked your permissions for Photoshop itself? Do you have full permissions for the version you're using? If not that might be why you can't use certain tools. You might want to check and see if you do have full permissions for your version. If you are sure that you should then maybe try a full uninstall with a Photoshop 2015 file delete and reinstall.  The source files may not have installed correctly when they were extracting and getting put onto your computer. If you did save any of your work in your Photoshop source folder, move it out to somewhere else safe before you do this though. So that way you don't take out any .psd files. When you do the reinstall it shouldn't touch the .psd files. You will however when doing this, if you decide to, want to remove your preferences because they might be causing issues.

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Community Beginner ,
Apr 25, 2016 Apr 25, 2016

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Thanks a lot to ALL suggestions.

Last one was the fix. Great help! Thanks again. ) all the best

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Community Beginner ,
Dec 20, 2016 Dec 20, 2016

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Please follow step by step

Have nice day!

1.PNG2.PNG3.PNG

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Participant ,
May 23, 2017 May 23, 2017

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This is the correct answer, reinstalling Photoshop should be a last resort. But considering how hopeless Adobe is, you are often forced into a Last Resort.

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New Here ,
Sep 28, 2021 Sep 28, 2021

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cheers

 

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New Here ,
Jul 24, 2017 Jul 24, 2017

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Just had the same thing happen. Your tools are stuck in 3D mode. Open a new fresh document and switch them to the non 3d version.

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New Here ,
Aug 03, 2017 Aug 03, 2017

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Because this will happen again to you fairly often, I DOUBT you will want to reinstall every time. 

Window > Workspace > Essentials (Default)

When you see those two icons (Eye Dropper and Paint Bucket) with the checkered (barely visible though) little tag to the top left, you're in 3D mode (like Schoeps said).  But you don't have to start a new document.  Just have to change the workspace to Essentials.

Here is what it looks like in 3D mode... Can't do ANYTHING with the bucket.  Was just trying to add a white BG to my logo... couldn't do it.

If you mouse over the Eyedropper Tool and you see "Material Eyedropper Tool" then that means you're in 3D mode.  This happens to a lot of people after or shortly after they first install the new Photoshop because they're like OOOOOOoooooooo 3D?!?!?! Let's try it!!!

You can also see here that the Workspace is set to 3D from the menu.  This limits the tools you're able to use because only certain tools work in 3D mode.

Bucket Fix 01.jpg

Changing it to Essentials does NOT automatically change the Eyedropper and Paint Bucket back though.  You will have to right click on them and select the respective tools you want to use.

Bucket Fix 02.jpg

And now you can see that I was able to add the white background to our logo.

Hopefully someone can change THIS to the correct answer so people don't go uninstalling and reinstalling..................... omg.

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Community Expert ,
Aug 03, 2017 Aug 03, 2017

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Hopefully someone can change THIS to the correct answer so people don't go uninstalling and reinstalling..................... omg.

I agree. Tying the tool display to the workspace was new when this question was asked last year, and somewhere around the same time, Adobe removed the workspace list from the application bar, so it was hard to figure out what happened. Re-reading this thread, it sounds like the 3D workspace was selected, without an understanding of how it impacts the tool display.

You can go back to Essentials (and reset it) to show all the tools, or if you like the panels, just use Edit > Toolbars and Restore Defaults.

Photoshop CCss_016.pngPhotoshop CCss_017.png

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New Here ,
May 17, 2022 May 17, 2022

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Thanks that was my problem as well.  It would be nice if Adobe didn't hide these little tidbits...like hiding time honored tools and such.  Just a suggestion.

 

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New Here ,
Jan 05, 2023 Jan 05, 2023

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BLESS YOU.

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New Here ,
May 14, 2020 May 14, 2020

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Thank you very much.
Worked like a charm

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New Here ,
Aug 28, 2024 Aug 28, 2024

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Just rightclick the eyedropper tool, if 3D is selected that;s your problem. Simply select the first option which is "EyeDropperTool". This will fix both eyedropper and paintbucket locked issues.

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