Photoshop displaying everything in gray

[mandi_miles]

I've checked Mode and grayscale isn't checked. I'm still in RGB. I'm on a mac using Photoshop CS5 and, if it helps, I was trying to do a screen shot using cmd+shift+4 and must have hit the wrong key somewhere...

[Howard Pinsky · Accepted solution]

Hi, Mandi_Miles.

You may have switched Channels, with the Command + 3, 4 or 5 shortcut. Command + 2 should switch back to RGB, or you can check in your Channels panel. Make sure RGB is selected.

I hope that helps!

[mandi_miles]

That was it. Thank you so much!

[BenSwets]

Some key I accidentally struck has altered my image. The command I gave is still in effect when I go all the way back in history. Somebody ought to publish a list of ways to hurt your image that do not appear in photoshop history. My history panel is recording all the commands that I know how to make. This is not a problem of failure of control+Z.  The turning off of a channel using control+5 is an example of something that will change an image but does not appear in history and cannot be undone using control+Z. I must have done something like that. What did I do? The image has a posterized or rasterized appearance. Lessons in those two processes teach steps that do appear in history. I must have accidentally done some other alteration of state. My only choice now seems to be to start over and rebuild my image from scratch.

[Matthew37710602rxl8]

I figured this out! If you go under View-> then make sure Gamut Warning is not checked or try hitting ctrl+shift+y.

[MacKenzieee]

Thank you!

[defaultandmeek]

Big thanks. Saved me too. So that explains why it happens when i haphazardly slap for a screenshot shift+command+4

[jobe44582520]

how it turn back the background into default ? it turns white and i dont know why please help me

[VipinMittal]

Go to Preferences -> Interface -> Appearance -> Color Theme

[penhh]

Thank you!!!!

[MommaKarenF]

Awesome! Worked for me, something new to learn~ thanks!!

[Kyndby2]

I happened to me while i was working "#%¤"%¤"%

But thanks to VipinMittal and you it was fixed again

[HPersonal]

Thanks!!!!

[steveh94015075]

You just saved my life 🙂

[jkgordon]

OMG, Howard Pinsky, I thought I wanted to kill myself until I quickly found your answer, it was accurate! You saved my life! LOL!!!! Thank you sooo much!

[Abambo]

Double life saver and that 5 years after...

[laurenj63773393]

life saver! thank you

[lauren2319]

THANK YOU!!!!    

[Paul Carlin]

Somewhat related... I hit Shift-5 instead of Shift-F5 (on a Mac) and ended up with 50% translucent checkerboxes over my image.  Apparently Shift-1 to Shift-0 are varying degrees of checkerboxes... with Shift-0 being the solution to getting out of this.

[nicholas weigel]

Thank You! 😉

[Jack Strangeways]

Thank you very much. I made a shortcut mistake and Command 3 got me out of Photoshop Hell : )

[John233446273pqr]

THANKS TO MANDY MILES FOR ASKING THIS! HAHA AND THANKS TO HOWARD PINKSY!!

ITS BEEN 10 YEARS BUT STILL USEFUL