Photoshop keyboard shortcut (Action or script) for changing brush colors

Question

Hello,

I am trying to set up some automation for changing brush colors in Photoshop.

Let's say that I have five defined colors that I want to use while drawing. Rather than go through the standard steps to change the color, I'd like to assign each color to a keyboard shortcut. Then, when I press the key the color changes automatically. I'm assuming this would require some action or script, but this is beyond my knowledge.

Can someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

Roger

Stephen Marsh · Accepted Answer

Thank you.

Here is what I've done. I actually have a significant amount of scripting experience (using FilemakerPro), and I know that even the tiniest of mistakes in punctuation, logic, etc., can make the script useless. I just don't have that knowledge with this language. It's possible that I've executed one of the tiny mistakes, or more likely I'm way off target...

Thank you.

Here is what I've done. I actually have a significant amount of scripting experience (using FilemakerPro), and I know that even the tiniest of mistakes in punctuation, logic, etc., can make the script useless. I just don't have that knowledge with this language. It's possible that I've executed one of the tiny mistakes, or more likely I'm way off target...

By @Roger295904398732

Yes, simple mistakes, easily fixed!

You need to "close off" all of the conditionals with a final:

} else {}

Compare your edits to my original code. Or change the last "else if" to an "else":

https://www.w3schools.com/js/js_if_else.asp

The greyed-out file has an extra period/dot AFTER .jsx.

Stephen Marsh · Answer

@Roger295904398732

I have created a proof of concept action and script that works as expected.

Here is my action, similar to yours, however:

1) You can record creating a new layer with the ALT/OPT key depressed to create the layer via a dialog which allows you to create and name in a single step

2) I have removed the F key shortcuts from the action, as they are assigned to the script, not the action.

3) Also note that the action name includes the template name, this way the script can match up the correct action to the correct template.

There are 5 templates and 7 colours, so you will need to create 35 actions in the set.

Here is the proof of concept code for Root:

// CONDITION 1
if (app.activeDocument.name.indexOf('Chakra1') != -1) {
    app.doAction('Chakra1 - Root', 'Chakras');

// CONDITION 2
} else if (app.activeDocument.name.indexOf('Chakra2') != -1) {
    app.doAction('Chakra2 - Root', 'Chakras');

} else {}

Here is the proof of concept code for Sacral:

// CONDITION 1
if (app.activeDocument.name.indexOf('Chakra1') != -1) {
    app.doAction('Chakra1 - Sacral', 'Chakras');

// CONDITION 2
} else if (app.activeDocument.name.indexOf('Chakra2') != -1) {
    app.doAction('Chakra2 - Sacral', 'Chakras');

} else {}

In each case, I have only created 2 of the 7 conditions. All you need to do is dupe condition 2 and change it for each of the other 5 conditions, changing the active document name from 'Chakra2' to 'Chakra3' etc. and the corresponding action name Chakra2 to Chakra3 etc. You will also need to change Sacral to Heart etc. where needed.

The 5 .jsx scripts (one for each template) need to be installed in the application folder's presets/scripts folder.

The script is triggered by the F keys, just like your actions were, using custom keyboard shortcuts for application menus, file > scripts:

Let me know if you need any help.

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