Create a New Action Set

A what set? Another obscure palette menu with a list of preloaded stuff that I've never used before and don't understand? Follow me, friend.

Assuming you still have PhotoShop's default settings, just to the left of the TPP tab is a tab named Actions.

At the bottom of the palette, you will find a row of icons. Select the little folder for “Create New Set” to start your own custom set. Since we're creating this Action set to match the preset tools we created in part 1, I use the same name for the Action Set (plus, it's my favorite peripheral).

Select Your Preset Tool with an Action

On the Actions Menu, Just left of the trash can is the “Create New Action” icon. Select this and a New Action window will pop up.

Give the Action the same name as your first Tool Preset , and select a Function Key (the first default shortcut key is F2) before clicking the Record button.

Now select the tool from the Tool Preset Picker and click the “Stop” icon.

So now every time you hit the F2 key, PhotoShop will play the Action and select our 4 pixel black pencil. But how will you remember the shortcut?

Selecting the Button Mode option from the Actions menu displays the Function Shortcut keys and colors selected when you created the Action.

Select the Save Actions option from the Actions Palette Menu to preserve your new settings. PhotoShop will load them automatically when you launch it again.

So now we can get our 4 pixel, black pencil with just one click if the Actions Palette is open, or with the shortcut key if we can remember it. But this isn't good enough for me. I want to get my tool from one key, clearly labeled as a 4 pixel, black pencil.

Enter, my favorite peripheral:

How to Program the Action shortcut to a key on the X-keys

This is the easiest part of the whole process.

1	2	3	4	5
Slide the programming switch to programming position	Select a key to program	Enter the shortcut key or combination (for our example we use "F2")	Reselect the key to confirm programming	Slide the switch back to operating position

Want icing on your cake? Grab our X-keys Legend file for PhotoShop (XKLPShop7.psd)and paint samples of your brushes or tools into key legends for the X-keys.

Any time you can turn multiple mouse moves and clicks into a single tap on a key, you not only save time, you free your brain from having to remember all of the steps and settings and this keeps the process from getting in the way of your project.

For PhotoShop 6:

1. Click on Brush size to open Brush Menu
2. Adjust settings as desired
3. Click on Create New Preset icon (upper right corner)
4. Create Action and set Function Key
5. Start Recording
6. Select Brush from Preset Menu (last entry in Preset Menu)
7. Stop Recording

More Information

• Learn more about our X-keys Professional Keyboard for Photoshop 7
• Learn about our 1154 page Scanning Project
• Download our X-keys Legend Template for Photoshop (XKLPShop7.psd)