Quick answer
🎨 Using Photoshop with Astropad Studio? Transform your iPad into a powerful Photoshop companion with optimized workspace setup, custom shortcuts, and intuitive gestures.
💡 Key setup tips:
Rearrange panels: Move Photoshop panels to left side for better iPad workflow
Custom shortcuts: Set up frequently-used tools in Shortcuts Sidebar
Magic Gestures: Enable hover, eraser, and modifier keys
Touch controls: Use pinch, pan, and rotate gestures for canvas navigation
Setting Up Your Photoshop Workspace
🖥️ Panel Arrangement
Default Photoshop layout:
Tool panel on left
Most panels on right
Optimized for Astropad:
Move Photoshop panels to the left side
Place Shortcuts Sidebar on either side of iPad
Hide sidebar anytime by tapping the Astro-red ring button
Drag ring button to move it around
📱 Free-Floating Panels
Make your workspace more flexible:
Move panels: Click and drag panel tab or top corner anywhere on screen
Keep essentials expanded: Color swatches, layers, color picker
Collapse unused panels to save space
💡 Navigator Panel Tip: Enable under Window > Navigator for easier zoomed-in canvas navigation. Drag the red box to move around the canvas.
Custom Shortcuts Setup
⚙️ Customizing Shortcuts Sidebar
Make shortcuts work for your Photoshop workflow:
Go to Shortcuts Sidebar in Astropad
Tap "Edit Shortcuts" near the bottom
Rename, add, or remove shortcuts as needed
Tap "Workspace" when finished
💡 Add your most-used tools to streamline your workflow!
Magic Gestures for Photoshop
✨ Recommended Magic Gestures
Set up these essential gestures for Photoshop:
Hover: Navigate without drawing
Eraser: Quick eraser access
Option: Modifier key access
Shift: Constraint and selection modifier
Undo: Quick mistake correction
Redo: Restore changes
🔗 Want more Magic Gestures info? Visit our guide: What are Magic Gestures?
Quick Keys
⌨️ On-Screen Modifier Keys
Access essential modifier keys instantly:
Find Quick Keys at bottom of Shortcuts Sidebar
Tap to enable/disable: Command, Option, Control, Shift
Customize appearance: Check out our Quick Keys customization guide
On-Screen Keyboard
📝 Text Input
For typing and text entry in Photoshop:
Access: Tap "Keyboard" in Shortcuts Sidebar or use Quick Keys button
Full keyboard: Includes F-keys (enable in settings)
Complete functionality: Perfect for text layers and dialog boxes
Touch Gestures
👆 Canvas Navigation
Control your Photoshop canvas like a Mac trackpad:
Zoom: Pinch with two fingers
Pan: Slide two fingers
Rotate: Twist two fingers to rotate canvas
Additional Resources
Expand your Photoshop + Astropad skills: