Very Basic Photoshop question

[mtomalty]

Hi

I've been working, for years, with Photoshop Screen Mode set to, "full screen mode with menu bar"
giving me an image surrounded by a light gray background.
Somehow,this morning, I was 'sloppily' using a Wacom stylus and rolled off the side of the tablet and clicked or dragged something
which has switched my background color in this screen mode to black.
Can't for the life of me figure out how to revert back to the gray b/g.

It;s gotta be a PS 101 move but i'm at a loss. If you can set me straight I'd be much obliged.

Thanks,
Mark

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Go to: Preferences > Interface ...

[mtomalty]

Thank You.

So simple. it's embarrassing !

Mark

[Steve Weldon]

Thank You.

So simple. it's embarrassing !

Mark

Nah, it was a good question.   

Something else to consider is that the surrounding (background) colors of an image can change how you perceive color and even exposure.  Photoshop's preferences where Slobodan accurately pointed out also allows you to enter a custom color.  I find this very useful for matching the background color of my RAW processor and other editors so that during my entire workflow the background colors remain the same, and therefore the way I perceive the colors and exposure remain consistent.   I hope someday Lightroom allows a custom color as well.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

... I hope someday Lightroom allows a custom color as well.

Well, maybe not custom, but there is already some choice:

[Steve Weldon]

Well, maybe not custom, but there is already some choice:

There is.. I normally select the dark gray (with pinstripes which for some reason I find helps the eyes focus faster on smaller details) and then match it in Photoshop.   Someday I'd like to match 1a1a1a and then my website would be in sync too.. 

[Lightbox]

Right clicking on the background gives you the option to set/select its colour, probly were you went wrong in the first place with the wacom slip up.

[tom b]

The f-key toggles through black, grey and standard views. My bet is that you hit it.

Cheers,

[Lightbox]

The OP is referring to the colour of your background in Fullscreen Mode, not which screen mode you are working in.

[tom b]

Reread the original post and hit the f-key.

Cheers,

[Lightbox]

Hitting the f key will change your screen mode yes but this isn't whats happened here, in fullscreen mode you have a background that the image you are working on "floats" on top of. This background can be black, white or any custom colour you choose, right clicking gives you the option to select black, white or the custom colour you have set which gets save into the PS preferences file. So accidentally right clicking on the background, rolling the mouse and selecting one of these can happen easily, I do it sometimes when working fast and using the brush tool.

[tom b]

If you have a grey background and you press the f-key you get this:



If you right click you get this:



You then have to scroll down and select black to get a black background.

I know which one would be more likely to happen without me noticing, how about you?

Cheers,

[Lightbox]

I've been working, for years, with Photoshop Screen Mode set to, "full screen mode with menu bar"
giving me an image surrounded by a light gray background.
Somehow,this morning, I was 'sloppily' using a Wacom stylus and rolled off the side of the tablet and clicked or dragged something
which has switched my background color in this screen mode to black.
Can't for the life of me figure out how to revert back to the gray b/g.

Sorry but you're missing the point here, the OP doesn't want to change screen modes, just set the background colour back to how it used to be in "fullscreen mode with menu bar", which is also the only screen mode I use. Read the points in red above.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

We got it

[Lightbox]

Haha 

[mtomalty]

Yes. We did 

The problem was triggered by poor Wacom technique and Grand Marnier.
I followed Slobodan's advice,switched to a lower alcohol content creative catalyst
and now all is right in my world again.

Mark
www.marktomalty.com

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

It's best always to keep the Grand Marnier far enough away from the Wacom tablet so that you won't be tempted to dip the pen in GM before drawing.