Custom Toolbars for photoshop

[Booley]

Hello everyone,

After exhausting every single search that I can for finding out how to create a customized toolbar in Photoshop 7 or above, I have come out flat!

I'm running versions 7, CS and CS2 on my PC and am looking for a way to customize my own toolbar which would feature icons for all my simple commands (like undo, step forward, step backward, etc.) Right now it's a hassle having to select "edit" at the top menus and then scrolling down to "step backward" to get it done. I know there are keyboard shortcuts but a toolbar would be far more sufficient.

I came across a plug-in called "phototools" which is supposed to be able to allow you to create a toolbar, but again, it seems like a lost cause trying to find a download link for this program or if it even exists anymore. I found one download link but when I install it, it is unsuccessful. It looks like the company who produced it has changed their softare lineup and the word "phototools" doesn't even exist on their webpage (the company is called Extensis).

I apologize if this topic has been covered already, but I've searched to no end, high and low, and can find nothing on it.

I just can't see how Adobe could omitt such a standard feature in the world's most standard graphics software program.

Anyone know how it can be done or of a plug in that can do it?

Thanks for all help!!!

 

[psymonj]

With the amount of keyboard shorts available and with items like Wacom pads having shortcut buttons, a software bar might be a bit useless.

Having said that, I have seen apps that run alongside applications that can provide 'hotkeays' at the click of a button. These are not software specific though, that is to say that the user has to program in the hotkeays for the specific applications they use.

It's not free, but this might be what you're after:-

http://www.fadsoft.net/UltraKeyboard.htm

IMO, not a lot easier than the day-to-day tools I use...
Ctrl + N : New
Ctrl + C : Copy
Ctrl + V : Paste
Ctrl + A : Select All
Ctrl + D : Deselect
Ctrl + T : Free Transform
Ctrl + Z : Undo/Step Backwards
Ctrl + Y : Redo/Step Forwards
Ctrl + S : Save
Ctrl + Shift + S : Save For Web
Ctrl + W : Close

If you're feeling pretty brave, you can assign actions to certain functions and then set a hotkey for that.
I have a custom batch to open TIF's, convert to RGB, select the embedded path, invert selected, clear selected, trim image, save as a full-sized JPG and TIF, resize the image to fit inside of 3 required dimensions and save to different locations and finally close the image without modifying the original. My hotkey requires an F key to be pressed to do all of that.

Simon Clements-Hawes

http://www.silvercoast.co.uk