How do I change the eye dropper shortcut?

[LMont]

Hi, I have a bug I'm fighting against and need to change the eye droppper tool to something other than "Alt". Does anyone know how to do this in Photoshop (Win11)?

I don't see it as an option in shortcuts, am I missing something? (the shortcut "I" doesn't do what I need, so I need to change the Alt eye dropper to another key)

[James27328820buxu]

To change the shortcut for the Eyedropper tool, choose Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts. Choose Product Area: Tools, and then scroll down the Commands list until you see Toggle Eyedropper and Color Theme Tools. Put your cursor in the New Shortcut field and type the shortcut you want to use and click Assign.

Regards,
James

[LMont]

Hi and thank you for your reply. I need to change the association with Alt, not I. It is not located in the shortcuts menu as far as I can see.
In essence, I need the non sticky eye dropper tool to be associated with another key.

[D Fosse]

This is a kind of "spring-loaded shortcut", similar to spacebar for the hand tool and ctrl for the move tool. AFAIK these are hard wired and cannot be changed.

[LMont]

Is there anything which could allow me to set another extra key to function in the same way as the alt key does for the eye dropper? A key for a non sticky eye dropper? The alt could stay working as it does, so an addition rather than a change.

[D Fosse]

The ordinary I-shortcut works the same way if you hold the key for a specified time, which you set in Preferences > Tools.

So you could change the standard shortcut and use that instead of Alt.

[LMont]

Are you saying there's a way to change the function of I such that when I let go it disables the eye dropper tool, functioning the exact same as the alt?

If so that would work! I need it for painting, so I need it non sticky

[D Fosse]

All the tool shortcuts work this way as standard. Tap the key, and it switches permanently. Hold the key for a little longer, and it returns to the previous tool when you release it.

You set the timing in Preferences > Tools. The official name for it is spring loaded shortcuts.

[LMont]

I see, thank you. Turns out I'm already at minimum, so this won't solve the issue. 

[D Fosse]

Well, if you're at minimum, the bounce back behavior is what you get. You need to turn it up.

[LMont]

I'm trying to get it to behave like the ALT eye dropper function, so it switches back to the brush as soon as I lift the key.

[Jeff Arola]

What is the "bug" your trying to solve?

[LMont]

Using ALT creates lag with the eye dropper in Photoshop, resulting in hiccups, sometimes erroneous brush strokes and overall loss in productivity. Seems ALT is used by the system for other functions, so I need to change the eyedropper to a different key