The Pasteboard is the background behind the image you’re working on.

Zoom Out (⌘- ) from your image to see more of the Pasteboard. (If you've set your Preferences to Zoom Resizes Windows, just drag the lower right corner to open the window more and see your Pasteboard.)

Right-Click (Control-Click) within the Pasteboard area to see this dialog box (see below):

If choosing Select Custom Color, then its dialog box opens up. Set Saturation Value (S) to 0% (see below):

Set Brightness (B) to whatever value you wish (see below):

Don’t worry about any other options and click OK.

If your Pasteboard is too light or too dark, pick the Paint Bucket Tool (G) (see below):

Go to Color Palette – (see below):

– and Click the upper right corner to open its Menu Tab (see below):

Select HSB Sliders (see below):

In the Color Palette, the Hue/Saturation/Brightness should now all be 0% if the foreground color is black (see below):

Set your Brightness to whatever you want and press Enter/Return (see below):

Then hold down Shift and click with the Paint Bucket Tool in the Pasteboard area to change its color.

Remember: Each screen mode will retain its own Pasteboard settings, so don’t be surprised if the background color changes when you shift between them.

The Screen Mode Button is found on the top Menu bar of Photoshop CS4 (see below):

The Screen Mode Menu is also found on the top Menu bar of Photoshop CS4 (see below):

Any questions?

return to top