Working with the HistoryPanel

Introduction

Adobe introduced the History panel in Photoshop 5 (a whileback now), and the graphic design world hasn't been thesame since. On an elementary level, the History panel givesyou the ability to perform multiple undos. Think of History asa magical mistake correction tool that never wears out.However, the History panel does much more than give youthe ability to go back in time and correct your mistakes.TheHistory panel is simply a tool, but when you combine thepower of the History panel with the History brush and the ArtHistory brush, you have a trio of tools that can take your cre-ative designs to the next level and beyond.

Adobe Photoshop gives you two ways to use the Historypanel-linear and non-linear. The linear mode helps you keeptrack of your recent steps, and erases any steps that interferewith a linear flow to the panel.The non-linear mode pre-serves all the steps (linear or non-linear), and is useful whenyou need to think outside the linear box.

Photoshop raises the bar with the History panel by givingyou the ability to record and save the commands performedto a document in a text file. Now, you can finally knowexactly what you did to an image. And since the documentcan be printed, you can create History text documents ofyour favorite restoration and manipulation techniques, andsave them.

In addition, when you combine the History brush with theHistory panel, you have an awesome creative tool that can'tbe beat. In fact, it's even possible to convert the Eraser toolinto a History brush.

What You'll Do

Set History Panel Options

Work with linear andNon-linear History

Control the Creative Processwith Snapshots

Duplicate a History State inAnother Document

Save the History State of a Document

Review the History State Text File

Combine the History Brush with aHistory State

Use the Art History Brush

Change the Eraser Tool into theHistory Brush

Control History States

141

Setting HistoryPanel Options

Set Number of History States

o Click the Edit (Win), or Photoshop(Mac) menu, point to Preferences,and then click Performance.

o Enter a value from 1 to 1000for thenumber of steps recorded in theHistory States box.

Click OK.oDid You Know?

You can duplicate a History State.Hold down the Alt (Win) or Option(Mac) key, and then click the HistoryState you want to duplicate.You can use keyboard shortcuts toperform multiple undos. The Historypanel represents the ability to performmultiple undo commands. However,when you press Ctrl+Z (Win). or [Qi)+ Z(Mac) you only move back and forthbetween the last two commands, justlike a normal undo. To perform multipleundo commands, press Ctrl-Sbift-Z(Win) or [Qi)+Shift+Z (Mac) to moveforward through all your History steps,or press Alt-Shift-Z (Win) orOption-Shift-Z (Mac) to move back-wards through the available Historysteps.

142 Chapter 6

Working with the History panel requires a firm understanding of howthe panel functions, and what you can and cannot do with History. TheHistory panel records your steps as you work through a document. Astep is defined as a specific action, such as creating a layer or addinga brush stroke. Every time you perform an action, a step is recorded inthe History panel. The History panel gives you the ability to go back to aprevious history state, which is the same as performing an undo com-mand. You can perform multiple undo commands up to the number youset in Photoshop preferences for the History States. In addition, theHistory panel creates snapshots of the document. Snapshots areimages of the current state of the document. Snapshots are used inconjunction with the History and Art History Brushes to create specialeffects.

History" CoacheOplimlze Cuhe uwls and TIle Sill f r

I I documents that are:

l ' I Tall and Thin I, O!§C)

C§ and flat JHlstoryStatu: [j_~_ ~Cache levels: I~ .1

cacheTlleSiz.e:~

Memory Usage

A\lall~1t RAM. 2715 MB

Idul RaIIgt: 1493-1955 MS

I Let Photoshop Use: ~ MS 17~)

r Descrlptlon-

! :....!~~::'.=:..':rt.~w"::"::..::!.~~o::'4!:I"::r.~:."~::." 0::::::.~:::!"doo-=~:.::. !I-~'"""'·i

Set History Optionso Select the History panel.

o Click the History Options button,and then click History Options.

Select the check boxes for theHistory Options you want to use:

• Automatically Create FirstSnapshot. Creates a snapshot(image) when the documentfirst opens.

Automatically Create NewSnapshot When Saving.Creates a snapshot every timeyou save the document.

This is useful for keeping trackof the changes made to adocument.

Allow Non-linear History.Allows you to operate History ina non-linea r state.

• Show New Snapshot Oialog ByDefault. Opens a dialog boxwith options each time youcreate a new snapshot.

Make Layer Visibility ChangesUndoable. Instructs Photoshopto 'make any changes made to alayer's visibility undoable.

o Click OK.

Step Forward OXz1.J.ke..til Step Backward x xz

Op.n

~:";, MagicWilndNew Snapshot...Delete

~ Oentece Clear History

New Document

+:l GI ~•History Options ...

CloseClose Tab Group

Histo Opuons

Automatically Create First Snapshot

oAutomatically Create New Snapshot When Saving

oAllow Non-Linear History

o Show New Snapshot Dlalog by Default

o Make layer Visibility Changes Undoable

Chapter 6 Working with the History Panel 143

Working with linearand Non-linearHistory

Work with Linear History

o Select the History panel.

o Click the History Options button,and then click History Options.

Clear the Allow Non-linearHistory check box, and then clickOK.

• Work in the document until youhave generated 10 or 15 steps inthe History panel.o Move halfway up the Historypanel, and then click on a step.

The steps below the selected stepturn gray.o Perform another action to theimage.

The grayed steps are removed,replaced by the latest actionapplied to the image.

144 Chapter 6

The History panel records each step performed on a Photoshop docu-ment in a linear fashion from top to bottom. However, the purpose ofthe History panel is not to simply record your progress through a docu-ment; it's there to help you make changes and go back in time to cor-rect mistakes. Photoshop gives you two History panel modes-linearand non-linear. When you work in a linear History panel, clicking on aprevious step causes all steps underneath to become grayed out(unavailable). If you then add a step, the grayed-out steps are removedand the new step is added to the bottom of the list. A linear panel isorganized and very RAM efficient; however, once a History Step isremoved, it cannot be retrieved. When you work in a non-linear Historypanel. clicking on a previous step does not cause the steps underneathto become grayed out. If you then add a step, the new step is added tothe bottom of the History panel. The new step represents the charac-teristics of the step you selected, plus any added actions. A non-linearpanel is not organized and consumes more RAM. Its advantage lies inthe fact that History steps are not deleted, they are simply reorganized.

~ "",.~ r-w:.u.v.r

~ HIM/Sa, ••. ilbon 1 Lay.r

!iI ModIfy Huel~tur'llon LJ¥'f'r, Spotliutinglnllh

, Htlollll9lt\nh

, Heahngllln"

o hlChTool.r. CIoMSUmp

• Don.Sump

• Oon.Stownp

.&, OontSt&mp

./ Innh1001

./ lr\I$hTooI

./ IMhTool

/1n./$hTooI

T T}1MToot

HlnOfY

'7 bkuif

1iI-IiI 1ot•• La •••• r

ril Huc/S.lurloUon 1 Lav.r

~ Mod,fy Hu.,s",lur1ltion La r

~ 59oIHt,"nglnl1h

, H•••. Iongl •.•,lIh

, HtololinglNlh

O'loldlTIIOI

••• CIoM"""p

••• Clont Stamp

• OoncSt_p

.OOMStAmP

T

,

Work with Non-Linear Historyo Select the History panel.•o Select the Allow Non-LinearHistory check box.

• Click OK.

o

Click the History Options button,and then click History Options.

Work in the document until youhave generated 10 or 15 steps inthe History panel.

o Move halfway up the Historypanel, and then click on a step.

The steps below the selected stepdo not change.

o Perform another action to theimage.

The new step is added to thebottom of the History steps.

Did You Know?You can quickly purge the HistoryStates, and therefore recoup addi-tional RAM. In the History panel, clickthe History Options button, and thenclick Clear History. But be warned;there is no undo available. You arestuck with your decision.

You can reduce memory usage byusing linear history. Non-linear Historyrequires more RAM to maintain. If youdon't require a non-linear history andwant to decrease RAM usage, thenyou can turn it off. In the History panel,click the History Options button, clickHistory Options, clear the Allow Non-Linear History check box, and thenclick OK.

il HudS••t~ ••.tion llavtr

~ Modify Hut/SaturOlltionUyt,

~ Spot Hufing Irluh

, Hulinglrush

, j"lulll\glN5h

o I"'.1'chTooI

• OonIStlll'lP

• OoMStl/l'lp

• aon.StAlllP*' CIorMStlmp

./ "u,hTooI

../ kushTooI

.'lnllhTooI

./ IrvshTool

T TVPf'TooI

• aon,Stamp

• aon.StMnP

• 00M5t;wnp

• CIont.StlmP

./ Ir\IshTooI

./ IrvlhTooI

./ IrvlhTooI

/lnIlhTooI

T TVJMITooI

History Options

~-Iil •••·..,.,IiJ HlnfSatunbOl'l I L.totef

~ Mocbly HuefSidumion uye,~ Spot ~<lII1I!J In,/$h

, •.••~lfIII·Nlh

, t~ul~'ru'"

0: ,,,,,tlTooI

••• o-StAmp

• CIon.SUmp

• a-•.•••,

'" QoMSUftlp

../ II\IlhTooI

./ '""IITooI

./ &rulhToot

../ INlhTooI

T T~TOGI

...•..•...•

Automatically Create First Snapshot

o Automatically Create New Snapshot When Saving

Allow Non-Linear History ------,

Show New Snapshot Dialog by Default

o Make Layer Visibility Changes Undoable----------~--------------~

Cancel

Chapter 6 Working with the History Panel 145

Controlling theCreative Processwith Snapshots

Create Snapshotso Select the History panel.

o Click the History Options button,and then click History Options.

o Select the Show New SnapshotDialog by Default check box, andthen click OK.

• Perform several actions to theimage.

• Click the Create New Snapshotbutton.o Type a name for the new snapshot.

o Click the from list arrow, and thenclick a save image informationoption:

• Full Document. Saves theentire visible image and alllayers.

• Merged Layers. Saves only themerged layers.

Current Layer. Saves only theactive layer.

o Click OK.

146 Chapter 6

'"'"'"

The History panel contains more than just steps; it also holdsSnapshots. A Snapshot is an image of the document as it exists at thetime the snapshot was taken. The History panel can hold as manysnapshots as needed, and they are not subject to the number of HistoryStates you chose in Preferences. That means they stay with the docu-ment throughout the creative process until you close or save the file.By default, Photoshop takes a snapshot of the image when it firstopens. This snapshot represents the original state of the image, beforeany adjustments or modifications are applied, and is identified with thefile name of the image. It's a good idea to create a snapshot every timeyou make a major change to the image. That way, if you want to startall over, all you have to do is click on the snapshot, and Photoshopreturns you to the moment in time in which the snapshot was created.It's like having your own personal time machine.

...='7 lake.tif

---I Cutout Filter

Open

-.J <" <: Magic Wand...~ Deselect

.••.UW+~

ew Snapshot

OKName: Cutout Filter

CancelFrom: Full Document;

Duplicating a HistoryState in AnotherDocument

Create Another Documento Select the History panel.

o Click on the snapshot or HistoryState you want to use for the newdocument.

o Click the Create New DocumentFrom Current State button.

Photoshop creates a newdocument based on the selectedsnapshot or state. The newdocument's History panel containsone snapshot or one state.

IMPORTANT Snapshots arenot saved with the Photoshopdocument. When you reopen adocument, the History panel willdisplay one snapshot of thecurrent state of the image or oneHistory state.

Did You Know?You can save RAM by using theHistory panel. When you create a newdocument using the History panel, it'svery RAM efficient, as opposed to thetraditional copy and paste method.

'-

Here's a tool to help you gain control over the creative process, andsave you a lot of time and effort as well. The History panel lets youcreate new documents based on a specific History step or snapshot.For example, you're working on a complicated image, and you want toisolate a portion of the image in another document. This will not onlyhelp you reduce the clutter, but working on a portion of the image in aseparate document creates a document with a much smaller file size,and that will help Photoshop work faster.

lakt.tit

••

il Filter wllery

New documentbasedontheselectedsnapshotor state.

Chapter 6 Working with the History Panel 147

Saving the HistoryState of a Document

Set Up to Save Historyo Click the Edit (Win) or Photoshop

(Mac) menu, point to Preferences,and then click General.o Select the History Log check box.

• Select the file type option youwant to use in saving historyinformation:

• Metadata. Records the data asembedded metadata.

Text File. Records the data to atext file.

Both. Records the informationas both metadata and text.

• Click Choose, and then select alocation where you want to storethe files.

o Click the Edit Log Items list arrow,and then select the type of datayou want to save:

• Sessions Only. Only recordsbasic information, such aswhen the file was opened orclosed.

Concise. More information onactions taken.

Detailed. The most data,including dates and times foractions, and each individualstate.

o Click OK.

148 Chapter 6

Photoshop gives you the ability to save the History states of a docu-ment as a separate text document, or as embedded metadata. SavingHistory is an excellent way to retrace the steps you took to produce aparticular design. Not only does the saved data record the steps youtook, it also records the date and time each step was performed. Thisgives you a running record of the time spent on a document, which isuseful for client billing purposes. Photoshop saves the history files as astandard text document, which can be opened in any text-editing pro-gram you choose.

Colo,~,k." ~ - __ =:D! •• ..t_I"...SoaItop HUDCOlorPlcker.~--=-- _

I''''''-... 11m.11Je Interpolation: f licubk Autom.tk - =- :1~-. ~•.•.... I OptiOns- -

T,~""- C Auto-Upcb.te Optn Documents

r:.:::.... BHp WhenDoneOyru;mkCoIorSllden

Export ClipboMd

U", Shift Kt'( for Tool Switch

ReSIle h1\J9f: During PI"Ct

~ Anlnwted Zoom

g Zoom Ruius Windows

Zoom with Scroll Wheel~ Zoom Okhd Point to (enter

13' [nil!:l!t Flldo: 'ilnning

S Vvv Round Blush Hardness ~sed on HUO Wfti<~ movtment

e PlioCt!or Or.ig RoUter Im~f:' .u Smut ObJeclS

~ Snlop vector Tools and Tr.lInsforms to Plnl Grid

Choose... tuo-I,,_~~_

1 _

Reviewing the History.State Text File

Open the History StateText File

o Close Photoshop.

Open the folder where the Historytext file is saved.

The default name is PhotoshopEdit Log.txt, and the defaultlocation is the desktop.

o Double-click to open the documentwith your default text editor.

Use NotePad (Win), TextEdit(Mac), or a word processingprogram, such as Microsoft Word.

• The date and time the file wasopened is recorded at the topof the document.

• The steps performed are listed,one at a time.

• The date and time the file wasclosed is recorded at thebottom of the document.

• Close your text editor program.

Photoshop creates the History State file on the fly; as you work, eachstep is precisely recorded. Photoshop does not create a separate datafile for each working session; instead, it creates a single file recordingall work sessions. If you delete the original history data file, Photoshopwill create a new file, and place it in the same location with the samename. Have you ever worked on a document, performing commandafter command and suddenly you step back, and really like the endresult? Then you immediately grab a notepad and attempt to jot downall the steps-it's always the most important step that you forget. Thatwon't happen if you use the History text file. The text document faith-fully records each and every step. Later, after the project is finished,you can access the file and all your commands and steps will be listed.

Dateandtimethefilewas opened

:8 106 iil Photos hop Edit log.txt281 85-16 14 :58 :39 Photoshop lounched IReset Brushes 01 current oPP1t cat t on

Reset Too 1 Presets of current cpp 1teat ion281 -85-16 14:58 :59 FI le DSCN1477.JPG opened

Open38GB storage:. Iqes:64.13.63 illOges:DSCN1477.JPG

Select brush -Brush ToolBrush Tool

Select spot healing brushSpot Healing BrushSpot Hea l Ing BrushSpot Healing Brush

Select history brushHistory Brush

Se 1ect eraserEraser

Se leet history brushHistory Brush -

2813-85-16 14 :59 :37 Fit e DSCN1477.JPG close281 85-16 14 :59 :37 Phatashap qui t

A

- Stepsperformed

Dateandtimethefile was closed

Chapter6 Working with the History Panel 149

Combining the HistoryBrush with a HistoryState

Correct Mistakes with theHistory Brush

Select the History Brush tool onthe toolbox.

o Select the Brush panel.

You can click the Brush Panelbutton on the Options bar orclick the Window menu, andthen click Brush.

o Select a size brush.

• Select a Brush Preset. Click theBrush Presets button or tab,and then select a brush preset.

• Select and Modify a Brush.Select a brush, and then usethe slider to specify the brushsize. If you want, you can alsoadjust other options, such asAngle, Roundness, Hardness,and Spacing.

• Drag the History brush across theimage.

The areas you drag are restored totheir original (first opened) state.

150 Chapter 6

When Adobe created History, they advertised the fact that Photoshopnow had more than one undo. Multiple undos are a great thing; how-ever, if all you use the History panel for is to correct your mistakes,you're missing a key benefit. The History panel is linked to the Historybrush, which receives its information from a selected state or snapshot.For example, the History panel holds a snapshot of the way the imagelooked when it was first opened, and by default the History brush islinked to that snapshot. Think of the History brush as a photo restorationtool that always remembers the original state of the image. As you workon a document you will make changes. If during the current work ses-sion, you wish to restore the document back to its original (first opened)state, the History brush is your tool. The History brush is not just for cor-recting mistakes, but also for creating awesome special effects. All youneed is a bit of imagination and a couple of additional snapshots.

Damaged area Restored area

Brush Presets

IlIush'ru.ts •••• ..5." ~. IiJ

ili I• s-

• -'.' IiI ~

Get Fancy with theHistory Brush

o Apply a major change to adocument (possibility a BrushStroke filter).

Select the History panel.o Click the Create New Snapshotbutton to take a snapshot of theimage in its current state.

• Click on the original snapshot toreturn it back to its first-openedstate.

Click in the History source box forthe snapshot you created in step 3to change the designation of theHistory brush.

This instructs the History brush topaint using the version of theimage with the filter applied.

o Drag your mouse over the imageto replace the original image withthe image information contained inthe selected snapshot.

Did You Know?When you use the History brush on animage layer, you're changing the infor-mation based on the chosen Historystate or snapshot. However,you willgain more control if you use the Historybrush in a separate layer. Just createand select a new layer, and when youuse the History brush, paint in thelayer. Not only does the separate layerisolate the original image from dam-age, but you can utilize blending modesand opacity settings for even greatercreative control.

§a. Ope

-, Magic Wand

-~MagiC~

-:- Magic Wand

I -*, Magic Wand

iiI SoftFI ••••• ,.toff 66.]X (RGI/S,)

Chapter6 Working with the History Panel 151

Using the ArtHistory Brush

Use the Art History Brusho Click and hold the History Brushtool on the tool box, and then clickthe Art History Brush tool.

o Select from the following optionson the Options bar:

• Brush. Select a brush tip andstyle.

• Brush Panel. Click to show/hidethe Brush panel.

• Mode. Select a blending modefrom the list. The blendingmodes (for a brush) control howthe colors blend with thedocument colors.

• Opacity. Enter or select a valuefrom 1% to 100%.

Style. Select a style for the ArtHistory brush.

• Area. Enter a value (0 to 500)pixels to define the paintingarea.

• Tolerance. Select a value from0% to 100%. Choosing highervalues limits paint strokes toareas that differ from the colorused by the Art History brush;choosing lower values lets theArt History brush use unlimitedstrokes, regardless of the colorvalues in the image.

Tablet Pressure Controls. Clickto override settings and usetablet pressure controls.o Drag your mouse over the image,

using small, controlled strokes.

152 Chapter 6

Photoshop comes equipped with two History brushes-the History andArt History brushes. The History brush paints the image back to what-ever state or snapshot is selected. The Art History brush gives you theability to create some painted effects, using information from one ormore snapshots or History states. In effect, the Art History brush givesyou the power to combine image information (based on the activesnapshot or history state) with artistic brush strokes.

x

•.+

9. C~'.tj:. 1'.

Brush Panel button A Tablet Pressure Control button

Wod •. I~

r-------=~--::-= ----_+__ Originalimage

Effect appliedwith the ArtHistory Brush

Changing the EraserTool into the HistoryBrush

Change the Eraser Tool into theHistory Brush

o Select the Eraser tool on thetoolbox.

Select the Erase to History checkbox on the Options bar.

o Select a history state or snapshotfrom the History panel.

o Drag the Eraser tool in the image.

The eraser tool does not erase theimage; instead, it paints the imagebased on the current Historyselection.

Did You Know?You can use multiple layers with theHistory brush. When you use any ofthe History brush tools, it's a smartidea to create a new layer, and do yourHistory painting in the new layer.Thatway, if you don't like what you see, youcan always delete the layer. In addi-tion, placing the History information ina separate layer gives you the creativecontrol of using layer transparency andblending mode settings to achievegreater creative results.

Photoshop has one more tool that works with the History panel-theEraser tool. By changing a preference on the Options bar, you can turnthe Eraser tool into a History brush. Using the Eraser tool to restore theimage is just another way to get the same result as the History brush.And if you know anything about Adobe, they give you at least threeways to do everything. Consider multiple ways to perform the samefunction as a control advantage. No two Photoshop users will createthe same design, and no two Photoshop users will ever tackle a prob-lem in the same way. Adobe gives you choices, so choose the best wayto accomplish a task based on the available options. And remember, ifyou change the color mode, resolution, or canvas size of the activeimage, the History brush tools will not work.

r:}. ~+

9. LiI'.1{ ,11.

Chapter6 Working with the History Panel 153

Controlling HistoryStates

Purge RAM

o Click the Edit menu, point to Purge,and then select from the followingoptions:

• Undo. Select this option toremove the Undo states fromHistory.

• Clipboard. If you have used theCopy and Paste commands,that information is stillcontained in RAM. Use thisoption to purge the Clipboardmemory.

• Histories: Select this option topurge all the states from theHistory panel.

• All. Select this option to clearall operations from memoryused by Undo commands, theHistory panel, or the Clipboard.

• Video Cache. Select this optionto clear memory used by video.

IMPORTANT The purge optionhas no undo. If you select any ofthe purge options, there is nogoing back, so make sure youwant to purge memory.

154 Chapter 6

The History panel is a fantastic tool! It can help you go back in time andcorrect errors, and even take snapshots of the image, which you canuse to create new documents. But all great tools come with a price.The History panel's price is consumption of RAM. The more you use theHistory panel, the more RAM it needs. If you find Photoshop slowingdown on you, or if you get a warning message stating that Photoshop isrunning low on RAM, you might want to try a few things to help gainback some of that lost efficiency. Photoshop lets you choose between 1and 1,000History states. That's 1,000undos, and while that might seemlike a great thing to have, History states take up memory. You can alsocheck on your History settings. Non-linear history requires more RAMto maintain. If you don't require a non-linear history, then you can turnit off. Since Photoshop uses a lot of RAM (64 MB just to open the pro-gram). Adobe gives you a way to purge, or clear, your memory. In addi-tion, you can clear the cache used by video to free up space.

CutCopyCopy MergedPastePaste SpecialClear

xxXC

{JoxcXV

~

Check Spelling ...Find and Replace Text...

Fill...Stroke ...

frF5

Content-Aware ScalePuppet WarpFree TransformTransformAuto-Align Layers ...Auto-Blend layers.

Define Brush Preset ...Define Pattern ..Define Custom Shape ...

Purge • UndoClipboardHistoriesAll

Adobe PDF Presets ...PresetsRemote Connections ...

Video Cache

Keyboard Shortcuts... ,\:frXKMenus... ,\:frXM

Color Settings .Assign Profile .Convert to Profile ...

frXK