Tip#89: Auto-update background/foreground color relationship when using eyedropper

Keep relationship between foreground and background colors when using eyedropper. In Photoshop click Link button next to color swatches on MagicPicker color wheel panel and then use eyedropper.

Keep linked background to foreground w/eyedropper in MagicPicker color wheel
Keep linked background to foreground w/eyedropper in MagicPicker color wheel

Background color will update automatically. So for example you can always have complementary color in the background swatch.

MagicPicker is a professional color wheel panel for Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

Tip#88: Use MagicSquire’s PRO Mode for direct access to brushes in groups

Get rid of the UI and directly access Photoshop brushes while keeping them organized in groups! Use MagicSquire’s PRO Mode:

MagicSquire's PRO Mode: simplify brush group interface
MagicSquire’s PRO Mode: simplify brush group interface

Click MagicSquire menu -> PRO Mode

Works in Vertical and Horizontal modes of the panel.

MagicSquire is a brush group/tag organizing plugin for Adobe Photoshop

Tip#87: 1-click convert RGB/HSB to HSL (YUV, Pantone etc) with MagicPicker

You can use MagicPicker panel in Photoshop to quickly get HSL, Pantone, YCbCr, YUV, XYZ, L*C*h or color name and copy to clipboard.

Convert HSB to HSL (YUV, XYZ, CMYK, Pantone etc) with one click
Convert HSB to HSL (YUV, XYZ, CMYK, Pantone etc) with one click

Use expandable field on the left bottom of the panel to see color values. Click on the field to switch between color spaces. Click on the Copy button to copy color values to clipboard.

MagicPicker is a professional Photoshop color wheel picker for CS4, CS5, CS6, CC, CC2014, CC2015, CC2017, CC2018, CC2019+

Tip#86: Update Brush/Tool parameters in MagicSquire

Finally you can update existing brush or tool settings – like Tilt, Brush Size,  Shape Dynamics etc –  in Photoshop using MagicSquire.

Update brush parameters in Photoshop with MagicSquire
Update brush parameters in Photoshop with MagicSquire

Double-click on the brush or click Edit button to bring up Edit Brush/Tool dialog, then change parameters in Photoshop and click Update button! No need to delete and then re-create brushes anymore!

MagicSquire is an advanced brush/tool manager for Adobe Photoshop

Tip#85: Insert reference image from MagicRefs into Photoshop Smart Object

MagicRefs offers a deep integration with Photoshop. Without switching panels or software, with a single click inside your document you  can insert a reference image from MagicRefs group into a new Smart Object.

Just click “Insert into Document” button. Works with multiple images.

Insert reference image from MagicRefs into Photoshop Smart Object
Insert reference image from MagicRefs into Photoshop Smart Object

MagicRefs is a professional reference image manager for Adobe Photoshop

Tip#84: Painless ways to organize brushes in Photoshop

MagicSquire 3 offers different view modes depending on your Panel workspace in Photoshop, including two additional modes to what Photoshop offers.

MagicSquire Brush List View Modes

MagicSquire Brush List View Modes

Two plain lists including long one (on the top left on the picture) and multi-column, also mixed mode (on the top-right) where you can see all your brushes at once and the horizontal one (right-bottom of the picture above) so you can attach MagicSquire panel to the bottom of your screen.

Click the “Change list display” button on the top right of the MagicSquire panel to switch modes.

See the brushes the way you want and quickly find the relevant one!

MagicSquire 3 is a professionalbrush management solution for Adobe Photoshop

Tip#81: Color wheel modes in MagicPicker 6

In addition to Triangle, Box, Diamond and Color Temperature modes of the MagicPicker color wheel panel recent version 6.3 adds LDT Color Cube mode.

Color Wheel Modes in MagicPicker 6 for Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator
Color Wheel Modes in MagicPicker 6 for Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator

LDT Color Cube mode lets you adjust shaded/saturated color preserving its perceived brightness and on the same color space adjust color temperature. To switch modes click on the button on the top right to get the tool best matching your painting style and a better color coverage in shades and saturation!

Works in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop CS3, CS4, CS5, CS6, CC, CC2014, CC2015, CC2017, CC2018, CC2019.

MagicPicker, the color wheel and advanced color picker for Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator

Tip #80: Compact mode of MagicSquire

Shrink entire MagicSquire panel into a small icon of your current Photoshop brush. When your cursor hovers this icon the panel automagically expands back to full brush groups. Click MagicSquire menu -> Compact Mode to activate this mode and save screen real estate for your art.

 

MagicSquire Compact Mode
MagicSquire Compact Mode

MagicSquire is a professional brush group manager for Adobe Photoshop.

Tip#78: Advanced Brush Stroke display in MagicSquire

Brush Stroke in MagicSquire (Photoshop)
Brush Stroke in MagicSquire (Photoshop)

Display Photoshop brushes in 5 different advanced styles to distinguish them better, with MagicSquire. Double-click the brush in the group to choose the stroke style from the dialog. The strokes are auto-generated in high resolution and show precisely how the brush would look like on the canvas. Renders precise opacity, texture, mixer brush tips, tilt etc – all advanced properties of any Photoshop brush. Supports 4K and 5K monitors.

In addition to standard Photoshop functionality the dialog also allows you to update current Brush properties.

MagicSquire is a professional brush managing panel for Adobe Photoshop

 

Assign Keyboard Shortcuts to MixColors functions in Adobe Photoshop

Starting from MixColors 3.0 you can set up keyboard shortcuts through MixColors Settings dialog (from the panel’s menu):

MixColors - assign keyboard shortcuts in Adobe Photoshop
MixColors – assign mixing keyboard shortcuts in Adobe Photoshop

Click on the empty field next to the function description and press the key combination. That’s it! Works on Adobe Photoshop CS3, CS4, CS5, CS5.5, CS6, CC, CC2014, CC2015, CC2017, CC2018+.

You can also adjust steps for every feature. For example you can adjust brightness by value of 5 or 10 or even 17.

Here’s the list of MixColors functions that you kind bind to your key presses:

MixColorsShortcutsInfo - Add new Color Swatch
 - Add new Color Group
 - Create new Smart Color Group
 - Add Foreground Color into Color Mix
 - Clear Color History
 - Undo/Redo Color (Navigate Color History, click to get back to older colors you chose for Photoshop Foreground)
 - Pick Color from Color Mix into History
 - Turn on Mix Eyedropper mode
 - Toggle Auto-Sync mode
 - Mix colors from each of 3 Mixers with main color (no matter if Auto-sync is on)
 - Mix colors from each of 3 Mixers with Photoshop Foreground (no matter if Auto-sync is off)
 - Load colors into each of 3 Mixers
 - Mix colors from each of 3 Mixers with main color and then update mixer with this color
 - Open/Close MixColors panel

Adobe Photoshop CS3 and CS4 troubleshooting

Due to limitations on older Adobe products on Adobe Photoshop CS3 and CS4 you can assign keyboard shortcuts using Photoshop Edit -> Keyboard Shortcuts… dialog. In the dialog locate File -> Scripts menu and assign keyboard shortcuts to “(MC)…” scripts.