E-commerce image editors, graphic designers, and retouchers use the Photoshop brush tool too often for multiple purposes. Due to its ability to help image editors create visually enticing images, the brush tool needs to be customized.
Changing the brush color is sometimes overwhelming for Photoshop users. In this short tutorial, I’ll show you how you can change Photoshop brush color in the easiest way.
I’ll also share the keyboard shortcuts so that you can work with the colors quickly and effectively.
What is the Brush Tool in Photoshop?
The brush tool is one of the most versatile tools in Photoshop that image editors use for painting, adding color and texture, drawing, and applying visual effects.
The tool can be customized in different ways to allow the designers precise control over it. Apart from color, the size, opacity, style, hardness, and many other aspects of the tool can be adjusted.
Because of its versatility, the brush tool is widely used in digital painting, photo retouching, masking and selecting, dodging and burning, and many other image editing techniques.
What Is the Difference Between Brush Tool and Eraser Tool?
The brush tool and eraser tools are two popular image editing tools in Photoshop. Although both of these tools have some common operational processes they have opposite functions. Below are the key differences between these two.
- The brush tool is used to modify images by color and other visual elements whereas the function of the eraser tool is to remove unwanted parts, refine edges, and create a precise selection.
- Use draw or paint on the canvas with the brush tool. The eraser tool removes something from the canvas.
- The brush tool adds some pixels on the layer whereas the counterpart removes pixels from the working layer.
- Creating transparency is a popular function of the eraser tool which is not a function of the brush tool.
- The brush tool is more versatile than the eraser and hence, has more adjustment options.
Long story short, the function of the brush tool is to create effect, drawing, and painting. The eraser tool, on the other hand, subtracts elements from the image.
[REWIND: How To Remove All Of One Color In Photoshop]
Changing Brush Color in Photoshop: Adobe Photoshop Tutorial 2024
Step 1: Select the brush tool
At first, you need to make sure you have selected the right tool while changing the brush color. Navigate the toolbar and click on the brush tool. Alternatively, hold ‘B’ on the keyboard to activate the brush.
Step 2: Select the color option from the window
Find and click on the window option from the top of the menu bar and select ‘color from the popup.
Step 3: Pick a color
Now, you will see a color picker at the top of the panel. Choose your desired color for the brush.
You have now successfully selected the brush color. This color has been selected as your foreground color. If you are required to work with two different colors and need to switch them too often, then you may add a background color using the swatch option.
Step 4: Use color swatch to add background color
Double-click on the background swatch to select your desired color. Clock ‘OK’ after you have picked the right color.
Step 5: Switch between the brush color
Click on the switching icon at the toolbar to switch between the selected brush colors. Alternatively, you can simply press X to switch between them.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Brushes Tool in Photoshop
Although you can manually change the brush settings in Photoshop, using the keyboard shortcut can save you time. Below are a few common keyboard shortcuts for the Photoshop brush tool:
| Function | Shortcut |
| Select Brush Tool | B |
| Set default foreground and background colors | D |
| Swap foreground and background colors | X |
| Increase brush size | ] |
| Decrease brush size | [ |
| Increase brush hardness | Shift + ] |
| Decrease brush hardness | Shift + [ |
| Toggle pressure sensitivity for size | Shift + P |
| Toggle pressure sensitivity for hardness | Shift + H |
| Step forward in history | Ctrl + Alt + Z |
| Step backward in history | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Z |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Shift + Z |
| Adjust brush size and hardness | Alt + Right Click and Drag |
Watch The Video: How to Change Brush Color in Photoshop
Changing Brush Color in Photoshop: FAQs
Which tool should I use to change the brush color?
The foreground color picker is the easiest tool to change brush color. This tool is available at the bottom of the toolbar by default. You may also change the color by utilizing the color swatches panel.
What is the brush size shortcut in Photoshop?
Square brackets, either [ or ] are the shortcut to adjust brush size in Photoshop. You can either increase or decrease brush size utilizing these keyboard keys.
What is the default color of the brush in Photoshop?
Black is the default brush color in Photoshop. It means when you open Photoshop for the first time and start using the brush tool, it will start painting black until you change the brush color.
Can I customize the brush color to a specific hue or shade?
Yes, you can customize the brush color to any hue or shade you like. Simply put the hue, saturation, and brightness values in the color picker window. After you have rightly chosen the desired color, hit OK.
Alternatively, you can use the Eyedropper tool to sample any specific color you want. Press ‘I’ to activate this tool and click on the color you want to sample. Then switch back to the brush tool and start painting the color you selected.
How do I reset the brush color to its default settings?
Select the brush tool from the toolbar or simply press ‘B’. Black is the default brush color in Photoshop. To restore the default brush color, press ‘D’ and your foreground and background brush color will be changed to black and white.
Are there shortcuts for quickly changing the brush color in Photoshop?
Swapping the foreground and background is the shortest way of changing brush color in Photoshop. At first, you need to set the desired foreground and background colors from the color picker. Then simply press ‘X’ to swap between these two colors.
Does changing the brush color affect existing brush strokes in a document?
No, changing the brush color does not affect the existing brush strokes. Each brush stroke in Photoshop creates permanent pixels and they are independent of any future changes to the brush settings.
Conclusion
Changing brush color in Photoshop is a simple process. Expert graphic designers make the best use of the shortcuts to increase their work efficiency and make the image more compelling.
In this tutorial, I shared different methods of brush color customization. If you find these techniques cumbersome, get your photos edited by a professional photo editing company.
