If you're new to Photoshop, the first time you open it can be overwhelming. Tools, menus, panels, and options are scattered across the interface, and knowing where to start feels like a challenge. One of the best ways to ease into using Photoshop is to understand its Vertical Toolbar. This tool panel contains the most essential editing features, especially for photographers. Whether you're editing portraits, landscapes, or creating digital art, the Vertical Toolbar is your entry point into the Photoshop workflow.
The toolbar is generally docked to the left-hand side of your screen when Photoshop is launched. It’s a long, narrow panel filled with icons that represent different tools. Each icon opens a world of functionality,, and when mastered, these tools will give you control and creativity over your images. By learning what each tool does, you'll gain the confidence to start editing your photos like a pro.
Navigating the Toolbar: Single and Double Column Layouts
The Vertical Toolbar can appear in either a single or double column layout. If you’re working on a small laptop screen, the single-column layout is space-saving, but the icons may feel cramped. You can click the double arrow icon at the top of the toolbar to expand it into two columns, making the tool icons larger and more accessible.
This flexibility is helpful depending on your screen size and personal workflow. Some users prefer the compact look of the single column, while others find the double column easier to work with. You can also click and drag the toolbar if you want to reposition it elsewhere on your screen, but it’s generally recommended to keep it on the left for consistency with tutorials and guides.
Understanding Tool Groups
Photoshop's toolbar groups tools by function. This makes it easier for beginners to learn by category instead of being overwhelmed by too many choices. Each group contains tools that serve similar purposes, and most icons include a small triangle in the bottom-right corner. Clicking and holding on these icons reveals related tools in a fly-out menu.
The main tool groups you will encounter include Move and Selection tools, Crop and Slice tools, Retouching and Painting tools, Drawing and Text tools, and Navigation tools. As you become more comfortable with the software, you’ll begin to understand which groups you use most often and how to switch between them quickly.
The Move Tool
The Move Tool is the first icon at the top of the Vertical Toolbar. It allows you to move layers, selections, and guides. When active, you can click and drag any object on your canvas. This is particularly helpful when you’re working with multiple layers and want to position each element precisely.
To activate the Move Tool, you can simply press the letter V on your keyboard. Once selected, use your mouse or trackpad to grab items and reposition them. If you have auto-select enabled in the options bar, clicking on any part of the canvas will automatically select the topmost layer at that point. This can be a time-saver, but it might also select unintended layers, so use it wisely.
Rectangular Marquee Tool
The Rectangular Marquee Tool is your go-to tool for making basic selections in the shape of a rectangle. This is useful for isolating parts of an image for editing, copying, or deleting. When active, you can click and drag to create a rectangle on your canvas. If you hold down the Shift key while dragging, the rectangle becomes a perfect square.
The Marquee Tool is not limited to rectangles. When you click and hold on the icon, you'll see other options such as the Elliptical Marquee Tool, which lets you draw oval or circular selections. These are useful for creating vignettes, highlighting subjects, or cropping into non-rectangular shapes.
Lasso Tool and Variants
The Lasso Tool offers more flexibility in making selections. Unlike the Rectangular Marquee Tool, the Lasso Tool lets you draw freeform shapes around the area you want to select. This is particularly useful when the object you’re selecting has an irregular shape or doesn’t align with a grid.
Within the Lasso Tool group, you’ll find additional options like the Polygonal Lasso Tool, which allows you to click and create straight-line segments, and the Magnetic Lasso Tool, which detects edges automatically as you trace around an object. These variants are excellent for more precise work, especially when selecting people, objects, or backgrounds for removal or adjustment.
Crop Tool for Compositional Control
The Crop Tool is essential for any photographer. It allows you to trim the edges of your image, change its aspect ratio, or improve its composition. After selecting the tool, click and drag over your image to set a crop area. You’ll notice handles at the corners and sides that can be adjusted for fine-tuning.
Once a crop area is set, a secondary menu appears along the top bar. This allows you to input exact dimensions in inches, pixels, or centimeters. You can also use preset crop ratios like 1:1 or 16:9, which are helpful for social media or print formats. Press Enter or Return to apply the crop, and Photoshop will discard everything outside the selected area.
Patch Tool and Healing Options
The Patch Tool is found under the same icon as the Healing Brush Tool. It allows you to select an area of your image and replace it with another part. This is ideal for removing blemishes, distractions, or unwanted objects from your photo. First, draw around the area you want to fix, then drag the selection to an area you want to sample from. Photoshop blends the textures and colors to match.
Other related tools in this group include the Spot Healing Brush and Healing Brush. The Spot Healing Brush requires no manual sampling. Just click on a blemish and Photoshop automatically samples nearby pixels to fill the area. The Healing Brush allows for more control by letting you choose the sample area manually, similar to the Clone Stamp but with texture blending.
The Brush Tool for Creative Edits
The Brush Tool allows you to paint on your image in any color. It may not seem like a tool for photographers at first, but it's incredibly useful for dodging and burning, creating masks, or adding effects. You can adjust the brush size, hardness, and style by right-clicking on the canvas or using the square bracket keys on your keyboard.
You can also change the blending mode and opacity of the brush using the options bar at the top. This determines how your paint interacts with the underlying image. For example, painting with a soft brush at 10% opacity in Overlay mode can be a subtle way to enhance skin tones or shadows.
Clone Stamp Tool for Detailed Corrections
The Clone Stamp Tool gives you pixel-perfect control over duplicating parts of your image. Unlike the Patch Tool or Healing Brushes, the Clone Stamp copies pixels exactly as they appear. To use it, hold the Alt key (or Option on Mac) and click the area you want to sample. Then click or paint over the area you want to replace.
This tool is great for removing unwanted objects, duplicating textures, or restoring missing parts in old photographs. However, because it doesn’t blend edges like the healing tools, it's best used when precision is more important than seamless blending.
Eraser Tool for Controlled Deletion
The Eraser Tool lets you remove parts of a layer. This can be useful when working with complex compositions where you want to reveal elements underneath or refine the edges of a mask. Like the Brush Tool, the Eraser uses brush heads, which means you can change its size, shape, and hardness.
The Eraser Tool is not always the best method for hiding parts of a photo. In non-destructive editing, it's better to use layer masks instead of erasing pixels permanently. That way, you can always go back and adjust your changes later. However, for simple projects, the Eraser Tool is quick and effective.
Dodge and Burn Tools for Light and Shadow Adjustments
The Dodge and Burn tools are essential for enhancing light and shadow in your photographs. These tools mimic old darkroom techniques where light exposure was manipulated manually. In Photoshop, the Dodge tool lightens selected parts of the image, while the Burn tool darkens them.
When using either tool, you’ll notice options in the top bar that allow you to adjust the range (shadows, midtones, highlights) and exposure level. A good starting exposure is between 10 to 15 percent, especially for subtle adjustments. By brushing over specific areas multiple times, the effect gradually builds up. This control is perfect for drawing attention to your subject or increasing the drama in your lighting.
For example, you can use the Dodge tool on a person’s eyes to make them stand out or the Burn tool around the edges of a photo to create a natural vignette. Just be careful not to overdo it, or the edits might look unnatural. Practicing with duplicate layers can help preserve your original image while experimenting with these effects.
The Text Tool for Adding Words and Watermarks
Photoshop’s Text Tool gives you the ability to add written elements to your photos. Whether it’s a watermark, a quote, or a label, adding text can give your image more context or branding. To use it, select the Text Tool and click anywhere on your canvas to start typing. You can also click and drag to create a text box for longer paragraphs or specific formatting.
Once you’ve typed your text, use the top options bar to change the font, size, weight, alignment, and color. If you want to reposition the text, switch back to the Move Tool and drag it where needed. Editing your text later is simple: select the Text Tool again, click on the text, and make your changes.
There are also vertical text options and paragraph formatting tools for more complex designs. Whether you’re adding a title to a photo collage or branding an image for social media, the Text Tool is versatile and user-friendly once you get the hang of it.
Shape Tools for Graphic Design Elements
The Shape Tool allows you to draw basic shapes like rectangles, ellipses, lines, and custom forms. These are helpful when creating buttons, frames, footers, or graphical overlays. When selected, the tool will draw a shape onto your canvas, and you can adjust its fill and stroke color using the options bar at the top.
You can also use the Shape Tool to create placeholder areas for text or to draw visual dividers. With the custom shape option, you have access to a wide variety of icons and symbols that are particularly useful for infographics or design-heavy projects.
Shapes are added to your image as vector layers, which means they can be resized without losing quality. This makes them ideal for projects that may need to be scaled for print or web use. You can also combine multiple shapes to build more complex compositions.
Understanding the Colour Palette
At the bottom of the Vertical Toolbar, you’ll find the colour palette. This consists of two overlapping colour swatches: the foreground and background colours. When using tools like the Brush, Paint Bucket, or Gradient, the selected foreground colour is what will appear on your canvas.
Clicking on either swatch opens the Colour Picker, where you can select a new colour using sliders or by entering specific RGB, CMYK, or hex values. You can also use the Eyedropper Tool (found elsewhere in the toolbar) to pick colours directly from your image.
Pressing the D key on your keyboard will reset the swatches to their default black and white. Pressing X will switch the foreground and background colours. These keyboard shortcuts are helpful for quick toggling when doing tasks like dodging and burning with brushes, where black and white are commonly used to mask and reveal.
Zoom and Hand Tools for Canvas Navigation
Navigating your workspace is crucial when making detailed edits. The Zoom Tool lets you magnify or reduce your view of the canvas. Clicking zooms in, while holding Alt or Opti,o, and clicking zooms out. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl plus and Ctrl minus (or Cmd plus/minus on Mac) to zoom in and out.
The Hand Tool allows you to pan around your image when zoomed in. Hold down the spacebar temporarily to switch to the Hand Tool while using any other tool, then drag to move your canvas view. This makes it easier to work on small details without constantly switching tools.
Together, these navigation tools let you zoom in for precision work and back out to see the bigger picture. Efficient navigation speeds up your workflow and helps reduce eye strain during long editing sessions.
Additional Handy Keyboard Shortcuts
Photoshop is loaded with keyboard shortcuts that can significantly speed up your workflow. Here are some essentials that work well with the Vertical Toolbar tools:
Open a photo – Ctrl + O (Cmd + O on Mac). This opens your file explorer so you can choose an image.
Save your work – Ctrl + S (Cmd + S on Mac). If you want to keep the original image unchanged, use Save As (Shift + Ctrl + S / Shift + Cmd + S).
Undo – Ctrl + Z (Cmd + Z). Photoshop allows for a single undo with this shortcut. To undo multiple steps, use Ctrl + Alt + Z (Cmd + Option + Z).
Close a photo – Ctrl + W (Cmd + W). This closes the current image. Photoshop will prompt you to save changes before closing if needed.
Switch tools quickly – Each tool on the Vertical Toolbar has a keyboard shortcut. Once memorized, switching tools without clicking saves time.
Brush size – Use the square bracket keys [ and ] to decrease or increase brush size. This works for other tools like Eraser and Clone Stamp as well.
These shortcuts can feel like second nature once you practice. Even just learning the top ten can improve your editing efficiency dramatically.
Tips for Customizing the Vertical Toolbar
Photoshop allows users to customize the Vertical Toolbar to suit their specific needs. You might not use every tool regularly, so trimming down the toolbar can help keep things neat and manageable.
To customize the toolbar, click the three dots at the bottom of the toolbar and select “Edit Toolbar.” Here, you can drag and drop tools in and out of the active toolbar or rearrange them. This is especially helpful if you're a photographer who doesn’t need tools used more in graphic design or 3D modeling.
Custom workspaces can also be saved. After setting up your toolbar, panels, and menus just the way you like them, go to Window > Workspace > New Workspace. Give it a name, and you’ll be able to switch back to your preferred layout anytime.
Practice Projects to Learn the Tools
Understanding the tools in theory is a great first step, but the real learning comes through practice. Here are a few simple projects that will help you get familiar with the Vertical Toolbar tools:
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Basic Portrait Retouch – Use the Spot Healing Brush to remove blemishes, the Dodge Tool to lighten eyes, and the Clone Stamp Tool to clean up distractions in the background.
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Creative Crop and Composition – Use the Crop Tool to experiment with different aspect ratios and compositional styles like the rule of thirds or center-weighted subjects.
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Add a Watermark – Use the Text Tool to place your name in the corner of a photo. Adjust the opacity so it's subtle and not distracting.
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Shape and Text Design – Create a banner by adding a shape, then using the Text Tool to place a title or heading inside it.
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Brightness Focus – Use the Lasso Tool to select a subject, then use Dodge and Burn to enhance the lighting and guide the viewer’s eye.
These exercises don’t take long but provide a solid foundation in practical tool usage. As you repeat them, you’ll start using the tools more intuitively and confidently.
Building Confidence as a Beginner
Learning Photoshop doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a powerful, professional tool with nearly endless features. But by focusing on the Vertical Toolbar first, you create a strong starting point. Many of the tools used by professionals every day are right there in that narrow panel on the left.
Use guides like this one to learn a few tools at a time. Practice on duplicate images so you’re never worried about making mistakes. Over time, not only will you become faster with the tools, but you’ll also start developing your editing style and workflow.
Most importantly, be patient with yourself. Everyone starts at the beginning, and the more you experiment, the more confident and creative you’ll become with your photo editing.
Working with the Eyedropper Tool for Color Matching
The Eyedropper Tool is perfect for picking exact colors from your image to use with other tools such as the Brush, Shape, or Text Tool. When selected, the Eyedropper lets you click anywhere on your photo to sample the color at that pixel. This sampled color becomes the new foreground color in your color palette.
This is particularly useful when you need consistent colors throughout your design. For example, if you're adding a title and want it to match a color already present in your photo, use the Eyedropper to ensure accuracy. You can also use it when retouching parts of an image to sample surrounding skin tones or background colors for seamless edits.
Holding down the Alt or Option key while using another tool often activates the Eyedropper temporarily, which is handy when you're in the middle of using the Brush or Clone Stamp Tool and need a quick color match.
The Gradient Tool for Smooth Color Transitions
The Gradient Tool creates a gradual blend between multiple colors. It is commonly used for backgrounds, sky replacement effects, or creative overlays. To use it, click and drag across your canvas to draw a gradient in the direction and length you choose.
You can select from pre-made gradient styles or create your own using the gradient editor located in the top options bar. Choose between linear, radial, angle, reflected, and diamond gradients depending on the effect you want. Each one changes the way the colors spread.
For example, a linear gradient moves from one color to another in a straight line, while a radial gradient spreads out from a central point. You can also change the blend mode and opacity for interesting lighting or overlay effects on photos.
Use gradients carefully in photography edits. They are more often used in design-focused compositions unless applied as subtle enhancements, such as darkening the edges of a photo or simulating lighting effects.
Paint Bucket Tool for Solid Color Fills
The Paint Bucket Tool fills an entire area of similar color with the selected foreground color. It's ideal for quickly changing the background color of a layer or filling a shape or selection with a solid color.
To use it, simply click on the area you want to fill. The Paint Bucket will affect all adjacent pixels of similar tone, based on the Tolerance setting in the top options bar. A lower tolerance means fewer colors are accepted, while a higher one allows more variation in shades to be filled.
Keep in mind that the Paint Bucket works best on flat, evenly colored areas. If used on a textured photo, the results may be unpredictable unless you're working within a clearly defined selection created by tools like the Lasso or Marquee.
Blur, Sharpen, and Smudge Tools for Local Adjustments
The Blur, Sharpen, and Smudge tools allow you to modify the texture and detail in specific parts of your image.
The Blur Tool softens hard edges or reduces detail. This is useful for background areas to give more focus to your subject or to subtly reduce wrinkles in portraits without removing skin texture entirely.
The Sharpen Tool enhances edges and brings out detail in soft areas. It should be used carefully as over-sharpening can create unwanted halos and noise.
The Smudge Tool works like dragging your finger through wet paint. It can distort parts of the image for creative effects or be used gently to smooth out harsh transitions.
All three tools are brush-based and share the same controls for size and hardness. You can adjust the strength in the top options bar to make effects more or less intense.
Hand and Rotate View Tools for Better Workspace Control
The Hand Tool is essential for navigation when zoomed into your image. It allows you to move around the canvas by clicking and dragging. You can temporarily switch to it by holding down the spacebar, which makes your editing flow smoother.
The Rotate View Tool lets you rotate your canvas on-screen, just like turning a piece of paper while drawing. This is especially helpful for fine retouching or brushing at different angles. Note that this doesn’t rotate the image itself—it only changes your view. To reset your view, click the reset button in the top bar or press Esc.
Mastering these navigation tools helps reduce strain and increases precision when working with detailed edits. It’s worth practicing them early on so they become second nature.
Foreground and Background Color Controls
The Foreground and Background color boxes at the bottom of the Vertical Toolbar control the primary colors used by many Photoshop tools. Foreground color is used by default with brushes, shape fills, and text. The Background color is used in gradients and when erasing on certain layers.
Clicking either box opens the Color Picker, where you can choose any hue or type in color values manually. Clicking the small double-arrow icon between them will swap the two colors. Pressing D resets them to default black and white. Pressing X switches them, which is often done quickly during masking or painting tasks.
Having full control over your color selection lets you work precisely and creatively, especially when retouching or designing visually consistent elements.
Creating Selections with the Quick Selection Tool
The Quick Selection Tool is one of the most efficient ways to select subjects or specific areas of an image. It works like a brush that automatically detects edges. Click and drag over an area, and the selection expands to follow similar tones and edges.
This tool is great for isolating a person from a background or selecting a specific object you want to edit separately. If the tool selects too much, hold Alt or Option to subtract from the selection. If it misses parts, simply brush over them again.
Once you have a selection, you can use it with other tools like Dodge, Burn, or Adjustment Layers to apply changes only within that area. It’s especially helpful for non-destructive editing and more professional-level work.
Magnetic Lasso Tool for Precision Selections
The Magnetic Lasso Tool is another selection tool that works by detecting edges. As you trace around an object, the lasso automatically snaps to edges based on contrast and color differences. It’s particularly useful when cutting out objects with clear boundaries, like buildings, products, or people.
You can click manually to place anchor points for accuracy, and the tool will help fill in between each click. If it doesn’t snap correctly, adjust the contrast and frequency settings in the options bar.
This tool takes some practice but offers a great balance between manual control and automatic edge detection. It's slower than the Quick Selection Tool but can deliver cleaner results with tricky edges.
Using Layer Masks in Tandem with Toolbar Tools
Once you’ve mastered the basic tools on the Vertical Toolbar, it’s time to combine them with one of Photoshop’s most powerful features: Layer Masks. These masks let you hide or reveal parts of a layer non-destructively, meaning you don’t delete any data permanently.
To use a mask, add it to a layer, then paint with black on the mask using the Brush Tool to hide areas or white to reveal them. Grey shades allow partial transparency. This works well with the selection tools mentioned earlier. You can create a selection with the Lasso or Quick Selection Tool, then use a mask to control exactly what part of the layer is visible.
Combining masks with the Vertical Toolbar opens up professional-level editing techniques like sky replacements, selective color adjustments, and creative composite images. Mastering this technique takes your skills to the next level.
Saving Time with Tool Presets
Photoshop lets you save specific tool settings as presets, which can be recalled at any time. For instance, if you often use a soft, round brush with 20 percent opacity for dodge and burn, you can save that exact configuration.
To do this, configure the tool the way you like, then click the small gear icon in the top options bar and select New Tool Preset. Give it a name, and it will be available in your presets list.
Tool presets save time and ensure consistency across projects. This is especially useful in workflows that involve repeating the same steps or styles regularly, such as product photography, portraits, or digital painting.
Knowing When to Use What Tool
As a beginner, it can feel overwhelming deciding which tool to use for which task. The best approach is to think about the type of change you want to make. Are you adjusting colors, fixing blemishes, drawing new elements, or making selections?
For example:
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Use Healing and Clone tools to remove imperfections.
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Use the Brush or Gradient tools for creative color applications.
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Use the Marquee or Lasso for simple selections.
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Use Quick Selection and Magnetic Lasso for complex cutouts.
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Use the Text and Shape tools for adding graphic elements.
With practice, choosing the right tool becomes automatic. The key is experimentation and not being afraid to try different approaches.
The Vertical Toolbar in Photoshop is your main gateway to transforming images. It contains the essential tools that photographers, designers, and digital artists rely on daily. By learning what each tool does and when to use it, you lay the foundation for professional-quality photo editing.
You don’t need to memorize everything at once. Start with the basic tools like Move, Crop, Healing, and Brush. Then gradually expand into the more advanced ones like Dodge and Burn, Selections, and Layer Masks.
Keep exploring and practicing. Over time, your confidence will grow, and using Photoshop will feel less intimidating and more like an extension of your creative vision.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Toolbar Efficiency
Learning keyboard shortcuts in Photoshop greatly enhances your workflow and efficiency. While it might feel easier to click on each tool manually, using shortcuts will soon become second nature and save you a lot of time, especially on larger editing projects.
Each main tool on the Vertical Toolbar has a designated shortcut key. Pressing the corresponding letter instantly activates the tool. For example, V for Move, M for Marquee, L for Lasso, B for Brush, and so on. These single-key shortcuts are case-insensitive and do not require holding down the Ctrl or Command key.
Some tools share the same shortcut key, such as the Lasso and Polygonal Lasso, which are both activated by L. To cycle between these sub-tools, hold down Shift while pressing the shortcut key repeatedly until the desired tool is active. You can also right-click the tool icon to choose from the sub-menu.
Memorizing the most commonly used shortcuts will drastically improve how fast and fluidly you can edit.
Customizing the Toolbar for Personal Workflow
Photoshop allows you to customize the Vertical Toolbar to better fit your workflow. You might not use every tool regularly, and hiding rarely-used tools can make the interface cleaner and easier to navigate.
To customize the toolbar, click the three dots at the bottom of the Vertical Toolbar and select Edit Toolbar. From there, you can drag and drop tools in and out of the active area. Tools removed from the main bar will be placed into the Extra Tools section, accessible through a pop-out menu.
This customization lets you group frequently used tools together or hide tools you never use. You can even create multiple toolbar configurations for different types of editing tasks, such as one setup for photo retouching and another for graphic design.
Custom toolbars are saved within your Photoshop workspace, so you can also pair them with custom panels, windows, and shortcuts for a fully personalized editing environment.
Working with the Toolbar in Single or Double Column View
By default, the Vertical Toolbar appears as a single narrow column on the left side of your workspace. This layout is designed for saving screen space, which is especially helpful on smaller monitors or laptops.
However, if you prefer a wider layout with larger icons, you can expand the toolbar into a double column. Click the double-arrow icon at the top of the toolbar to toggle between the two views. In the expanded view, tools are displayed side by side, making them easier to see and select.
This option is purely a matter of preference and does not change how the tools function. It’s worth experimenting with both layouts to find the one that suits your screen size and editing habits best.
Troubleshooting Common Toolbar Issues
Sometimes,, tools may appear to behave strangely or seem missing entirely. These issues are often due to simple misconfigurations, and they can be fixed quickly once you know what to look for.
If a tool isn’t working as expected, check the top options bar to make sure no unusual settings are applied. For example, a very low opacity or an incorrect blend mode might cause the Brush Tool to seem ineffective. Similarly, selection tools may have feathering or anti-alias settings that affect the edge softness.
If a tool appears missing from the Vertical Toolbar, it might be hidden in the Extra Tools menu or have been removed through customization. Go to the Edit Toolbar to check your active tools and restore the missing ones.
In rare cases, resetting the toolbar can help. Right-click the three-dot icon and choose Reset Tool or Reset All Tools to bring everything back to default settings.
Saving Workspaces for a Seamless Editing Environment
Photoshop’s workspace system allows you to save your ideal layout, including the position of your toolbar, panels, and windows. This is especially helpful if you regularly switch between different editing types or share your computer with other users.
To save a custom workspace, arrange your tools and panels as desired, then go to Window > Workspace > New Workspace. Give it a name and select which settings to include. Your workspace can now be selected anytime from the Workspace menu at the top right of the Photoshop window.
If you ever accidentally move something or reset the toolbar, switching back to your saved workspace will instantly restore everything to the way you like it.
Using the Toolbar with a Graphics Tablet
Many photographers and digital artists use a graphics tablet instead of a mouse for more precision when working with tools like the Brush, Healing, and Clone Stamp. The Vertical Toolbar works just as effectively with a stylus, and you can even assign tool shortcuts to buttons on the pen or tablet.
Pressure sensitivity on a tablet can affect brush size, opacity, and flow, making your editing feel more natural. When paired with the toolbar tools, especially for retouching skin or making subtle enhancements, a tablet can make a big difference in accuracy and control.
If you're using a tablet, take time to configure its settings in Photoshop under Edit > Preferences > Tools and your tablet's software. This allows you to fine-tune how pressure is interpreted by each tool.
Toolbar Tools for Creative Compositing
Photoshop is not just a photo editing tool—it’s also a powerful platform for creating composite images. This is where you combine elements from multiple images into one seamless scene.
The Vertical Toolbar offers all the essential tools for compositing, including the Lasso, Quick Selection, Brush, Clone Stamp, and Eraser. These help you cut out objects, blend backgrounds, and paint in details to bring your composition to life.
Selections and masks are especially important here. Use the Quick Selection Tool to extract a subject from one image, then paste it onto another. Refine the edges with a Layer Mask and brush to remove harsh cut lines. The Clone Stamp can help fill in areas or fix inconsistencies in lighting or shadows.
With practice, you can create realistic composites that combine multiple photos into a single, visually cohesive final image.
Toolbar Tips for Speed and Consistency
To get the most out of Photoshop’s Vertical Toolbar, adopt a few habits that will improve your speed and consistency across edits.
First, always work on duplicate layers or use Adjustment Layers rather than editing the original image directly. This keeps your work non-destructive and lets you revert changes anytime.
Second, use layer naming and grouping. Name your layers according to their content (e.g., “Sky Replacement” or “Skin Retouch”) and group related layers together. This helps keep your workspace tidy, especially when using many tools from the toolbar.
Third, get used to right-clicking. Many tools, especially brushes and erasers, have additional settings available via right-click. This allows you to quickly change size, hardness, and brush type without navigating menus.
Finally, zoom in and out often. Use Ctrl or Command plus the plus or minus keys to get close-up views for detailed work, and zoom out regularly to see the big picture and maintain visual consistency.
Exporting Edited Images after Toolbar Use
Once your editing is done using the tools in the Vertical Toolbar, you’ll want to export the final result. The Save and Save As options under the File menu are the basic ways to do this.
Use Save (Ctrl/Cmd + S) to overwrite the current file. Be cautious, as this will replace the original image. To preserve your original, choose Save As (Shift + Ctrl/Cmd + S) and save your edit under a new file name.
Photoshop also allows exporting in various formats using File > Export > Export As. This is useful when you need a JPEG, PNG, or TIFF version of your work. You can also control file size and resolution here, which is helpful for web use or printing.
Before exporting, check your layers and flatten the image if necessary. Some formats, like JPEG, don’t support layers, so flattening simplifies your file and ensures compatibility.
Continued Learning and Practice
While the Vertical Toolbar is just one part of Photoshop, mastering it is key to becoming confident in the software. The tools we’ve covered are the most commonly used, and learning them gives you a solid foundation to explore more advanced techniques in the future.
Set yourself small editing challenges to practice specific tools. For example, remove blemishes with the Healing Brush, brighten eyes with the Dodge Tool, or isolate a subject using the Quick Selection Tool. Over time, your comfort with each tool will grow.
You can also explore tutorials and courses that dive deeper into how each tool can be used in different editing styles, from natural retouching to high-end commercial composites.
What’s Next After the Toolbar?
After becoming familiar with the Vertical Toolbar, the next step is to understand Layers, Adjustment Layers, and Blend Modes. These features work closely with the toolbar tools and allow for more sophisticated edits.
Start by exploring the Layers panel and how different layers interact. Learn how to use Adjustment Layers for brightness, contrast, color balance, and more. Explore how Blend Modes affect the way layers combine visually.
Eventually, you’ll integrate the use of the Toolbar with layers, selections, masks, and filters to produce professional-quality images tailored to your vision.
Final Thoughts
Learning Photoshop may feel overwhelming at first, but breaking it down into smaller, focused areas—like the Vertical Toolbar—makes the journey more manageable and rewarding. The tools we’ve covered are the foundation of nearly every photo editing task, from simple crops and spot removal to more advanced retouching and design work.
Mastering the toolbar gives you control over your images and builds confidence in navigating the software. Once you're comfortable with selecting, moving, brushing, and erasing, the rest of Photoshop becomes far less intimidating.
The key is practice. Use these tools often. Experiment with different settings. Try things, make mistakes, and learn what each icon in the toolbar can do. Don’t feel pressured to learn everything at once—Photoshop is a deep and powerful tool, but even knowing just a few core features can dramatically improve your photography.
If you’re looking to expand your knowledge, consider exploring iPhotography’s full Photoshop course. It offers step-by-step guidance for beginners, creative challenges, and real-world examples to help you grow your skills at your own pace.
Keep practicing, stay curious, and enjoy the creative process. Whether you're editing portraits, landscapes, or digital artwork, Photoshop’s Vertical Toolbar is your starting point—and now, it’s no longer a mystery.