Mac Users: A Note on Adobe Keyboard Shortcuts
[OS X 10.5] While having a Volume, Brightness, Pause/Play buttons integrated into my keyboard may be convenient, it really drives me crazy that my function keys don’t, well…function like I want them to in Photoshop. (or illustrator, etc.) I want to show you a way that I managed to get around this while keeping the functionality of the media buttons at the same time.
1. Reclaim your function keys!
Like in the screenshot above, go to your System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Keyboard. Now, directly below the 2 sliders, check the box that says “Use all F1, F2 etc. keys as standard function keys.”
Now your keys will act normally in Photoshop (and everything else). For example, Shift + F5 will do a fill instead of turning up your volume! (MacBook)
2. Regain the functionality of the specialty keys.
You can still use your specialty keys, but you have to hold the “Fn” (function) key to enable them. The function key is the bottom left key on a Macbook keyboard.
… as well as the wireless keyboard:
On the regular keyboards, the function key in up by the delete key:
Now, given the location of the key on the regular keyboards, this will likely require two hands in many cases. Therefore, this little workaround might be much more convenient for laptop users, but as I like to say, It’s nice to know your options. Happy Keyboarding :)
Tags: Adobe, Keyboard Shorcuts, OS X
Thanks for the tip! I just got a new Mac at work with Leopard and immediately ran into the same problem.
I allready found out this by myself when I bought a new usb-keyboard for my macbook when I am working at home. But I wonder if there is a shortcut to switch the F-keys. So that I won’t have to go to the preferences-panel to switch it everytime I am traveling and coming home again. Is there somebody who knows more about this?
So, a question then. Is there anyway to use the delete forward key on the wireless keyboard since that key is not there? I did not realize when I purchased the wireless that it was a shortened version. I have the regular keyboard too, but I don’t like the cord, so I’m suffering without the delete key.
A side note…thank you, thank you, thank you for your site and all your graphics. I’m a new and now regular visitor to your treasure trove, and I cannot thank you enough.
@Heather-
You should be able to hold the Fn key and press Delete to do forward delete.
@Bitt-
Why are you using Shift+F5 to do fill? The much better shortcut is Shift+Delete!
@Jared–I’ve all but fainted at the realization of what I can now do after months of suffering. I should have sought help long before. Thank you VERY. much.
This Keyboard pref has been around (on my MacBook) at least since 10.4. Not sure if the pref appears on my aging G4 desktop, but I assume it would only show up for keyboards with dedicated media keys – such as the new Apple keyboards.
Alternatively, instead of changing the preference, the inverse works—
you can access your Photoshop/Illustrator/ function key functionality by hitting +.
This keeps the media buttons as the default of sorts, but you can still hit + in Photoshop and pull up your Brushes Pallet.
“you can access your Photoshop/Illustrator/ function key functionality by hitting fn + Fn.”
“but you can still hit fn + F5 in Photoshop and pull up your Brushes Pallet.”
…Oops, it saw my keystrokes as HTML
[...] (more…) [...]
Anyone know of a way to disable the function keys but re-map certain ones so they’ll work without holding down function? For example, I never use F10, 11 & 12 and I’d like those to still control the volume on my computer.
Hello Bittbox ,please can i use part of your “angel picture” on flickr for my banner ,modified of course.Thank you.
Wow, i try this last week but i cannot find the way to maintain the both!!!! weee
My leopard doesn’t have the same screen shot as you showed…? I’m on a G5 intel…MacPro. Is it maybe because I use a tablet/pen?
@heather – try DoubleCommand – that might do what you need. With newer versions you can even have different setups for different keyboards.
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Great! this really helps.
I love you Bittbox! Thank you!
Thank you
Great this really helps.
Thank you.
this realy help
Thank you! It’s so frustrating when I need those F5 and F6 keys in Flash and I end up turning up my volume or hitting the num lock.
m welch
wow, thank you so much for that! i’ve been so happy about my new keyboard, but the key-issue really drove me nuts. can’t wait to try this out at home!
merci so much !
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thanks!
Excellent tip mate, really appreciate it!!!!
thanks. this was driving me crazy.
Thank YOU!! My F7 works in Flash now!!!
Hmmm… but now F11 and F12 no longer adjust the volume. I guess I’ll switch it back and forth, depending on my needs. Thanks again!
This is such an annoying feature. I have switched the function keys around but still can’t get the F5 key to work in flash to add frames. Keeps opening Spotlight!
Thank YOU!!
You have no idea how long I have been searching for just this info – you are an angel!!!
thanks so much for this…you saved me an hours of searching!!