Expert: Scott Valentine - 4/15/2009

Question
Dear Scott, Once again I am  calling on you once again to answer a simple query.
I am just learning to work with swatches at a beginners level.  According to my course booklet If I click on RGB red it will automatically set foreground colour as red.
To set the background colour I hold down ctrl.  However when I do this excercise the procedure is reversed.
If I click on red it sets the BACKGROUND colour and vice versa.I am using cs4 photoshop. Am I doing something wrong or has there been a change between cs3 and cs4 OR is there once again a mistake in my course material.              regards Sandra

Answer
Hi Sandra,

I've tried in both CS3 and CS4 to replicate your issue, but can't seem to get the same behaviour you are seeing. With the swatches panel open, and using the Brush tool (B), I can click the swatch I want for the Foreground, then hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) to get the Background color. I've also tried various settings and other tools, and haven't gotten the problem you describe.

Make sure the course material is telling you which is the foreground and background swatches properly, and that you are using the Swatch panel to select your colors, rather than first clicking on the foreground/background chips in the tools panel (which is at the left, by default).

I'm sorry I couldn't reproduce the problem, but if you continue to have this issue, try resetting your preferences file (Hold down the SHIFT key while Photoshop launches).

Let me know if you have further questions :)

-Scott