Photoshop CS2 question.

Is there any way to have a background in the program on a Mac? like on windows it has a gray background. Because I don't like the idea of just having my tools around the edges of my screen and still being able to see everything behind the picture I'm working on. It distracts me. So is there any way to get the background on the program? thanks in advance.

At first I was going to say 'no, that's just how PS works on the Mac as opposed to the PC' but then I remembered that yes, indeed there is a way. At the bottom of your tools palette there is a little button that if you click it PS will switch between three (or four with CS3) different modes - regular, maximized, full screen mode with menubar, and full screen mode.

Of course you could also hook up an external display to it and put what you're working on in the other screen, with your palettes on the primary screen.

You do get used to it.

Windows mostly works in a rigid one program per screen way. OS X is a bit more fluid and it does make it easier to look at other documents in other programs as well as what you're working on in Photoshop.

TheInvsbleMan said:

...Because I don't like the idea of just having my tools around the edges of my screen and still being able to see everything behind the picture I'm working on. It distracts me....

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Clean up your desktop, you slob!

I believe the hot key for the button walkerj mentioned in the tool palette is "f" which will switch to full screen mode and cover up the background for you. Or you can just click on it.

Good posts walker and king arthur!

The whole you get used to it thing isn't that good in my opinion. Having a grey background helps your eyes understand the colours you are using. You don't really want to be confused with the heavy blues and reds in your desktop wallpaper

When you're designing 8 hours a day and flicking between Photoshop, Illustrator and Quark it is useful to see what's behind.

Miffle said:

Good posts walker and king arthur!

The whole you get used to it thing isn't that good in my opinion. Having a grey background helps your eyes understand the colours you are using. You don't really want to be confused with the heavy blues and reds in your desktop wallpaper

Click to expand...

Which begs the question of why you'd have your desktop background set to that....

Not rerally.. There are many different backgrounds you could pick, you know? For your personal enjoyment..