What is the shortcut key for color adjustment in Photoshop?

While there isn't a single universal shortcut key in Photoshop specifically labeled for opening all "color adjustments" (like Levels, Curves, Hue/Saturation, etc.), the provided references highlight several essential shortcut keys that are integral to working with and manipulating color within the software. These shortcuts facilitate tasks related to selecting, swapping, and applying colors, which are foundational steps often preceding or complementing color adjustment processes.

Based on the information provided:

• The shortcut key for the Eyedropper Tool is I.
• The shortcut key to Swap Foreground and Background Colors is X.
• Shortcuts for filling selections using the Color Picker values are Alt + Backspace (Foreground Color) and Ctrl + Backspace (Background Color).

Let's explore these color-related shortcuts in more detail.

Essential Color-Related Shortcuts in Photoshop

Understanding and utilizing these shortcuts can significantly speed up your workflow when dealing with color in Photoshop. They allow quick access to tools for sampling colors and efficient methods for applying colors based on your current selections in the Color Picker.

Quick Reference Table

Action	Shortcut Key(s)	Description
Eyedropper Tool	I	Selects the Eyedropper tool to sample colors from the image.
Swap Foreground/Background	X	Swaps the current Foreground and Background colors in the Tools panel.
Fill with Foreground Color	Alt + Backspace	Fills the active selection or layer with the current Foreground color.
Fill with Background Color	Ctrl + Backspace	Fills the active selection or layer with the current Background color.

Understanding How These Shortcuts Aid Your Workflow

While these shortcuts don't open dedicated adjustment panels like Levels or Curves, they are crucial for color-related tasks:

• Sampling Colors (Eyedropper Tool - I): Before you might make a color adjustment, you often need to sample an existing color from your image or another source. Pressing I quickly activates the Eyedropper tool, allowing you to click on any color in your canvas (or even outside the Photoshop window with a click and drag) to set it as your Foreground color. This sampled color can then be used for painting, filling, or referenced for adjustment decisions.
• Swapping Foreground/Background Colors (X): Photoshop maintains two main color swatches: Foreground and Background. Many tools and operations use one or both of these colors. The X shortcut is incredibly useful for quickly swapping which color is in the Foreground or Background position. This is essential when you frequently switch between two colors for painting, gradients, or applying fills. For example, if you're erasing with the Background color, hitting X lets you quickly switch to paint with the Foreground color without needing to click the swap icon.
• Filling with Foreground/Background Colors (Alt + Backspace, Ctrl + Backspace): Once you have selected or sampled your desired Foreground and Background colors (potentially using the Eyedropper and Swap shortcuts), these fill shortcuts allow you to rapidly apply those colors.
  • Alt + Backspace fills the active layer or selection with the current Foreground color.
  • Ctrl + Backspace fills the active layer or selection with the current Background color.

These filling shortcuts are particularly useful for quickly applying solid colors to selections, shapes, or layers, which can be a step in creating masks, solid color layers for adjustments, or foundational elements for designs.

In summary, while the references provided do not list a single shortcut for general color adjustments, they furnish vital shortcut keys for tools and actions—the Eyedropper (I), Swap Colors (X), and filling (Alt + Backspace, Ctrl + Backspace)—that are fundamental components of any color-focused workflow in Photoshop. Mastering these keys enhances efficiency in selecting, managing, and applying colors before or during the adjustment process.