How to Use the History Panel in Adobe Photoshop

The history panel in Adobe Photoshop is a tool allowing the user to delete actions or edit specific actions. It is a way to step backward through all the actions you have performed on an image and start over from a specific point. You can also click on the actions tab and chose a specific action for the image.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adobe Photoshop 6.0 or later running on a MAC or PC computer
• A copy of an image for experimentation.

1. 
   History Panel

   Open an image in Adobe Photoshop. Select "Show History" from the "Window" drop down menu. You will now notice the history panel on the right hand side of your screen. As with any Photoshop panels and palettes you can simply move this to another part of the screen if it is more convenient for you. Notice there is only one item in the history palette. The little paintbrush icon shows you what "History" item you are working on.

2. 
   Adding an action

   See how selecting "Solarize" from the "Filters" selection to display how the history panel changes each time you perform an action. Each click of a tool or use of a filter will show up in the history panel as an action. Notice there are now two history actions in the panel.

3. 
   Adding a second action

   After adding the filter effect, I thought the image was too dark so I made an adjustment using the "Brightness/Contrast" control. Notice now there are three actions in the history panel. This tool is especially useful when using any of the art brushes or painting tools. If your last move was undesired, simply delete the last move from the history panel and you will be at the previous state. When airbrushing an image you might have as many as 10 or 20 airbrush "moves" and the history panel can save you time backtracking.

4. 
   Using the actions palette

   Click on the "Actions" tab. This will display actions that you can add to any point in the history. Change the image border, add a sepia tone or chose form a wide variety of actions with just one click.

Tips & Warnings

• Click on the open square next to the item and double click on the item to go to that point in the history.
• Right click on the history item to delete it.
• It is quicker to delete the history than to revert.
• Always use a copy of your image so you maintain an archival file of the original.

Resources

• Adobe Photoshop

[mardev]

on 5/3/2009 Good information! The History Palette is a terrific Photoshop feature and you provided a nice overview:)

[imagery]

on 11/4/2008 The History Panel will show all the moves you have made so you can step back through your edits.

[jballou7]

on 11/3/2008 how do i go back more than 20 moves? I dont want to go back to the original but i need to go back more moves then is shown.