Using on-screen modifiers

You can use the Command Controller's modifier buttons to affect various tools' behaviors in useful ways.

Some modifier key behaviors, such as Ignore Snapping, take effect when the key is held after you start using a tool.

Photo Persona Photo Persona

Action Modifier Description When using…

Constrain

Constrains what is drawn either to an aspect ratio, e.g. to a square, or to straight lines.
  • Gradient Tool Gradient Tool
  • Pen Tool Pen Tool
  • Node Tool Node Tool
  • Rectangle Shape tools (Rectangle, Ellipse, Triangle, etc)
  • Freehand Selection Tool Freehand Selection Tool
  • Rectangular Marquee Tool Marquee selection tools (Rectangular, Elliptical, Row, Column)

Continue / Constrain

As per the Constrain behavior but, when painting brush strokes, continues from the end of the previously drawn stroke.
  • Paint Brush Paint Brush Tool
  • Pixel Brush Tool Pixel Brush Tool
  • Paint Mixer Brush Paint Mixer Brush Tool
  • Color Replacement Brush Tool Color Replacement Brush Tool
  • Erase Brush Tool Erase Brush Tool
  • Background Erase Brush Tool Background Erase Tool
  • Burn Brush Burn Brush Tool
  • Dodge Brush Tool Dodge Brush Tool
  • Sponge Brush Tool Sponge Brush Tool
  • Smudge Brush Tool Smudge Brush Tool
  • Blur Brush Tool Blur Brush Tool
  • Sharpen Brush Tool Sharpen Brush Tool
  • Median Brush Tool Median Brush Tool
  • Clone Brush Tool Clone Brush Tool
  • Healing Brush Tool Healing Brush Tool
  • Undo Brush Tool Undo Brush Tool

To Palette

Adds the sampled color to the document palette.
  • Color Picker Tool Color Picker Tool

Pick Color

Picks a color without the need to select the Color Picker Tool.
  • Paint Brush Paint Brush Tool
  • Pixel Brush Tool Pixel Brush Tool
  • Paint Mixer Brush Paint Mixer Tool
  • Color Replacement Brush Tool Color Replacement Brush Tool
  • Background Erase Brush Tool Background Erase Tool

Ignore Snapping

Prevents snapping during drawing and transform operations.
  • Pen Tool Pen Tool
  • Node Tool Node Tool
  • Rectangle Shape tools (Rectangle, Ellipse, Triangle, etc)
  • Smart Selection Brush Tool Smart Selection Brush Tool

Add

Adds pixels to the current selection. If nothing is currently selected, creates a pixel selection.
  • Freehand Selection Tool Freehand Selection Tool
  • Rectangular Marquee Tool Marquee selection tools (Rectangular, Elliptical, Row, Column)

Subtract

Remove pixels from the current selection.
  • Freehand Selection Tool Freehand Selection Tool
  • Rectangular Marquee Tool Marquee selection tools (Rectangular, Elliptical, Row, Column)
  • Smart Selection Brush Tool Smart Selection Brush Tool

Move

Moves fill (Gradient Tool) or moves layer with the current pixel selection (selection tools).
  • Gradient Tool Gradient Tool
  • Freehand Selection Tool Freehand Selection Tool
  • Rectangular Marquee Tool Marquee selection tools (Rectangular, Elliptical, Row, Column)

Complementary tool behavior

Switches the current tool's behavior to that of its complementary tool.
  • Burn Brush Burn Brush Tool (switches to Dodge)
  • Dodge Brush Tool Dodge Brush Tool (switches to Burn)
  • Blur Brush Tool Blur Brush Tool (switches to Sharpen)
  • Sharpen Brush Tool Sharpen Brush Tool (switches to Blur)

Set Source

Select the source from which pixels are sampled when retouching your image.
  • Clone Brush Tool Clone Brush Tool
  • Healing Brush Tool Healing Brush Tool

Liquify Persona Liquify Persona

Action Modifier Description When using…

Reverse Direction

Pushes pixels to the right.
  • Push Left Tool Push Left Tool

Anticlockwise

Twirls pixels clockwise.
  • Twirl Tool Twirl Tool

Slowly

Applies the tool's effect more slowly than normal.
  • Twirl Tool Twirl Tool
  • Pinch Tool Pinch Tool
  • Punch Tool Punch Tool
  • Reconstruct Tool Reconstruct Tool
  • Freeze Tool Freeze Tool
  • Thaw Tool Thaw Tool

Complementary tool behavior

Switches the current tool's behavior to that of its complementary tool.
  • Pinch Tool Pinch Tool (switches to Punch)
  • Punch Tool Punch Tool (switches to Pinch)

SEE ALSO: