Set up foreground and background colors

Set foreground and background colors that brush-based tools use automatically while you paint and edit.

Published July 20, 2026

00:01

Introduction

[Jan Kabili]: There are a number of Tools and features in Photoshop that apply color.

Everything from the Brush tool, to the Type tool, to the Shape tool, to the Fill... command under the Edit menu and more.

The primary color that most of those use

00:13

Understanding foreground and background colors

is stored down here at the bottom of the Tools panel, in this box, the Foreground Color box.

There are a number of different ways to set the foreground color, which we'll be looking at later in this tutorial.

00:26

Setting colors with the Eyedropper tool

For now, let's use a simple way - the Eyedropper tool, which is located here in the Tools panel.

I'll select that tool and then I'll move into the image and I'll click on a color, like this orange.

And that sets the foreground color to orange.

So now, if I go to the Brush tool or any other tool that applies color and I use that tool it makes use of that foreground color.

There's a Background Color box too.

00:51

Using the background color and gradients

Mine happens to be white, at the moment.

That comes into play less often than the foreground color.

For example, the background color is used as a secondary color for the Gradient tool.

A tool that lets you draw a gradual blend of color from the foreground to the background color.

Another use of the background color is just to have another color handy so you can quickly switch to another color when you're doing something like painting.

To switch between the foreground and background colors,

01:18

Switching colors and using keyboard shortcuts

click the double-pointed bent arrow just above the Color boxes.

Now I'll go back to the Eyedropper tool and I'll click on another color in the image. [clicking] And that sets the new foreground color.

So now I have red as my foreground color and orange as my background color.

As I said, I can quickly switch between these 2 colors either by pressing these double-pointed arrows or using the keyboard shortcut X.

Black and white are the default colors.

01:48

Resetting to default black and white colors

If you ever need to get back to those colors quickly press D on your keyboard.

And the foreground color is now black and the background color white.

So, that's an introduction to where to store and access colors as you're working with the color tools.

Stay tuned for the next video where we'll explore alternative ways to choose colors in Photoshop.

Note: Stock assets provided are for practice purposes only. See terms.

What you’ll learn

Store your go-to color in the Foreground Color box

Most tools that apply color, including the Brush, Type, and Shape tools, pull from a single primary color. That color lives in the Foreground Color box at the bottom of the Tools panel. Set it once and every color-applying tool uses it automatically.

Sample any color already in your image with the Eyedropper

Matching a new color to something already in your photo is easier than guessing at values. Select the Eyedropper tool and click anywhere in the image to load that exact color into the Foreground Color box. Any tool you switch to next will paint with that sampled color.

Keep a second color ready in the Background box

Working with just one color on hand means constantly resetting your palette. The Background Color box holds a second color, which the Gradient tool uses to blend from foreground to background. It also gives you a quick second option when you're painting and want to switch things up.

Swap foreground and background colors without slowing down

Switching between two colors shouldn't mean reopening a picker every time. Click the double-pointed arrow above the color boxes, or press X, to swap the foreground and background colors instantly. This keeps you moving between two go-to colors without breaking your rhythm.

Jump back to black and white with one keystroke

Losing track of your original colors mid-project is an easy way to lose momentum. Press D to reset the Foreground and Background boxes to their defaults, black and white. It's a fast way to start fresh without hunting for the right values.

Instruction by: Jan Kabili
Photography by: Martin Hoang

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