Photoshop CC 2019 New Features: 19 Changes Still Here

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Photoshop CC 2019 new features add a redesigned Content-Aware Fill workspace, a new Frame Tool, and proportional scaling by default.

The Photoshop CC 2019 tutorials in this article will cover the most noteworthy new features released in this latest update.

Many new features from the previous release, Photoshop CC 2018, get upgrades and enhancements.

Note: This video was recorded on a pre-release build of Photoshop CC 2019. Every feature in this Photoshop CC 2019 new features roundup shipped in the version 20.0 general release on October 15, 2018, the same day this video was published.

Note: This post covers Photoshop CC 2019. For what came after, see Photoshop 2025, Photoshop 2024, Photoshop 2023, Photoshop 2022, or Photoshop 2021.

Key Takeaways

The Frame Tool creates a placeholder that resizes and replaces its image automatically, and it works with layer comps to swap between several images in one frame.
Photoshop CC 2019 scales most layers proportionally by default. Hold Shift to scale without constraining proportions, the opposite of how earlier versions worked.
The new Content-Aware Fill workspace lets you paint away the pixels Photoshop should not sample from, instead of hoping a single automatic fill guesses correctly.
Auto-Commit applies a crop, transform, or text edit the moment you click outside its boundary. You no longer have to press Enter or click the checkmark.
The Symmetry Tool, a Technology Preview in Photoshop CC 2018, became a full feature here, with ten symmetry types including Mandala and Spiral.

What You Will Learn
Requirements
Photoshop CC 2019 New Features: Keyboard Shortcuts
Photoshop CC 2019 Home Screen
Learn Panel
User Experience Improvements in Photoshop CC 2019
Modern Undo
Blending Mode Preview
Hide Reference Point (Pivot Point)
Auto-Commit Crop, Transform, Place, and Text entry
Proportional Transform By Default
Revert The Transform into the Old Behavior (Hold Shift to Transform Proportionally)
Layer Names Truncate In The Middle
Dummy Text on Click
New Features In Photoshop CC 2019
Flip Canvas View Horizontally
Double-Click to Edit Text
Distribute Spacing
Math In Number Fields
Lock Workspace
Color Wheel Color Picker
Symmetry Tool
Task Space Keyboard Shortcuts
New Content-Aware Fill Workspace
Frame Tool
Previous Photoshop Updates
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Related Links

What You Will Learn

How to control what Photoshop samples with the new Content-Aware Fill workspace
How to create a resizable placeholder with the Frame Tool
How to scale a layer proportionally without holding Shift
How to lock your workspace so panels stop moving
How to paint symmetrical brush strokes with the Symmetry Tool
How to pick complementary colors with the Color Wheel

Requirements

Before you start

Photoshop CC 2019 (version 20.0 or later) or the current version

Photoshop CC 2019 New Features: Keyboard Shortcuts

Action	Windows	macOS
Undo	Ctrl Z	Command Z
Redo	Ctrl Shift Z	Command Shift Z
Toggle the last undo state	Ctrl Alt Z	Command Option Z
Open Preferences	Ctrl K	Command K
Free Transform	Ctrl T	Command T
Move Tool	V	V
Frame Tool	K	K
Deselect	Ctrl D	Command D
Clip to the layer below	Ctrl Alt G	Command Option G
Old Content-Aware Fill dialog (Fill command)	Shift Backspace	Shift Delete

Photoshop CC 2019 Home Screen

Photoshop CC 2019 features a new Home screen that can help Photoshop users of all levels.

For beginners, clicking on the “Take Tour” button to display a new guided tour of the Photoshop interface.

For those who have been using Photoshop for some time, the “What’s New” section will quickly demonstrate what feature enhancements were added to Photoshop CC 2019.

There is also a Home button on the top left of the Options bar that can always bring you back to the home screen even when a document is open.

If you are not a fan of the Home Screen, you can disable it. Go to the Preferences window (CtrlK (Windows) or CommandK (macOS)) and check “Disable the Home Screen” in the General preferences.

Learn Panel

Photoshop CC 2018 introduced in-app learning with the Learn panel, which guides users through a series of tutorials with step-by-step directions.

Photoshop CC 2019 adds the capability to do those same tutorials with your own images to get even closer to mastering the skills.

To access the in-app tutorial go to Window > Learn

Complete a tutorial by following the directions. Then after completing the tutorial, you can choose to try the tutorial again with your own images.

Note: The Learn panel’s tutorials later moved into the Discover panel. Open it from Help > Photoshop Help, or press CtrlF (Windows) or CommandF (macOS).

User Experience Improvements in Photoshop CC 2019

If you have been using Photoshop for a while, you may want to pay attention to these user experience changes.

Modern Undo

Photoshop CC 2019 will now use CtrlZ (Windows) or CommandZ (macOS) as the keyboard shortcut for undo.

CtrlAltZ (Windows) or CommandOptionZ (macOS) will now toggle between the current history states and the previous one.

Edit > Undo now appends the name of the command which will be undone
(e.g., “Edit > Undo Edit Type”)

Redo also appends the name of the command to be undone.

Blending Mode Preview

No more guessing which Blending Mode to use. Just scroll over the different modes from the Blending Mode drop-down to see how they look on your image.

Hide Reference Point (Pivot Point)

In Photoshop, all transformations are performed around a fixed point called the Reference Point (also known as the Pivot Point).

By default, this point is at the center of the item you are transforming. However, you can change the reference point to a different location to change how the transformation or rotation is applied.

In Photoshop CC 2019, the reference point is hidden and you can enable it by checking the reference point check box.

Auto-Commit Crop, Transform, Place, and Text entry

In Photoshop CC 2019, you now have the ability to Auto-Commit changes by simply clicking outside the object boundaries, or anywhere else in the UI.

You no longer need to click on the Commit Changes Checkmark in the options bar or press Enter (Windows) or Return (macOS)

Proportional Transform By Default

Photoshop now transforms most layer types (pixel layers, type layers, bitmaps, Placed Smart Objects) proportionally by default.

When transforming a layer, you no longer need to hold Shift while dragging a corner handle to resize a selected layer to constrain its proportions.

Holding Shift now resizes non-proportionally when you drag a corner handle during transform.

Drag a corner handle on the bounding box to resize the layer.
Commit the changes.

Shapes and paths (vectors), still transform non-proportionally by default.

Revert The Transform into the Old Behavior
(Hold Shift to Transform Proportionally)

Use Notepad (Windows) or a text editor on macOS to create a plain text file (.txt).

Type the text below in the text file:
TransformProportionalScale 0

Save the file as “PSUserConfig.txt” to your Photoshop settings folder:

Windows: [Installation Drive]:\Users[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CC 2019\Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Settings\
macOS: //Users/[User Name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Settings/

Layer Names Truncate In The Middle

For long layer names, Photoshop now retains the beginning and end of the layer name and puts ellipses (…) in the middle of the name.

In older versions of Photoshop, the layer name is used to get cut off at the end with ellipses (…).

Dummy Text on Click

When you select the Type Tool and click to create a text layer you will now see a “Lorem Ipsum” dummy text.

Get ‘Lorem Ipsum’ as placeholder text while placing new type layers in your document.

In Type preferences (Edit > Preferences > Type), select Fill New Type Layers With Placeholder Text.

New Features In Photoshop CC 2019

Flip Canvas View Horizontally

Sometimes when you are compositing or retouching you will need to flip your canvas to see the image in a different way and catch mistakes.

The old method of doing this was to flip your canvas horizontally by transforming your pixels. This would take time in a large composite.

In Photoshop CC 2019 you can now simply go to View > Flip Horizontal to view a flipped version of your image.

Double-Click to Edit Text

With the Move Tool selected, you can double-click on a text layer to edit it.

Distribute Spacing

Photoshop CC 2019 now allows you to distribute the spacing between the objects (much like Adobe Illustrator).

In previous releases, photoshop used the center point to distribute objects. If your objects are different sizes, the space between the objects would not be the same.

Photoshop CC 2019 now allows you to get even spacing between objects by using the edges of the object.

Math In Number Fields

Photoshop CC 2019 brings back the capability of performing simple math in number fields.

In any input box that accepts numeric values, you can type in simple math operations like 300/3. Photoshop calculates the result, 100 in this case, and enters that value into the field.

For example, if you want to increase the canvas size by an additional 100 pixels, simply type ‘+100’ into the current width or height field. This works in the Canvas Size dialog.

To calculate values in any text box that accepts numerical values:

These are the mathematical operators that you can use in Photoshop:
+ (plus), – (minus), x (multiplication), / (division), or % (percent).

Lock Workspace

When working in Photoshop, it can be frustrating when panels get accidentally moved around. Photoshop CC 2019 now allows locking your workspace to prevent panels from moving.

To Lock your Workspace, go to Window > Workspace > Lock Workspace. This will block you from re-positioning your panels, but you can still resize them if you like.

Color Wheel Color Picker

Use the Color Wheel to visualize the color spectrum and easily choose colors based on harmonies such as complementary colors and analogous colors.

From the Color panel fly-out menu, choose Color Wheel.

Symmetry Tool

The Symmetry Tool was a Technology preview in Photoshop CC 2018, and it has now become a full feature in Photoshop CC 2019.

The Symmetry Tool allows you to paint your brush strokes in a perfectly symmetrical pattern. While using the Paint Brush, Mixer Brush, Pencil, or Eraser tools, click the butterfly icon in the Options bar.

Choose from the several available types of symmetry – Vertical, Horizontal, Dual Axis, Diagonal, Wavy, Circle, Spiral, Parallel Lines, Radial, Mandala.

As you paint, the strokes are reflected live across the line of symmetry, allowing you to easily create intricate symmetrical patterns.

Task Space Keyboard Shortcuts

You can now modify the shortcut keys for the Select and Mask workspace. Choose Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts.

In the Keyboard Shortcuts And Menus dialog, choose Taskspaces from the Shortcuts For menu.

In the Taskspace command column, expand the Select and Mask set to edit the shortcuts as required.

New Content-Aware Fill Workspace

Photoshop CC 2019’s biggest and best feature is perhaps the New Content-Aware Fill.

This version of Content-Aware Fill gives you complete control over what pixels Photoshop samples from, how it applies the fill algorithm, and how it outputs the fill.

Note: This Content-Aware Fill workspace still works the same way today. Photoshop 2024 (version 25.0, September 2023) added Generative Fill and the Remove Tool as a faster, AI-powered way to do the same kind of removal.

Check out this video for a complete guide on Photoshop CC 2019’s Content-Aware Workspace.

To activate the New Content-Aware, select anything in your image that you would like to remove.

Then with an active selection, go to Edit > Content-Aware Fill… (Note: the existing Edit > Fill dialog is still available.)

In this new dedicated workspace, you can redefine the areas to fill, define the sampling area, change algorithm settings, and see a live full-resolution preview of your adjustments.

For a detailed description of all the settings and features of this new feature check out: The New Content-Aware Fill In Photoshop CC 2019 – Complete Guide

Frame Tool

With the new Frame Tool, you can easily mask images by placing them into frames.

For a full walkthrough of every option, see How To Use The Frame Tool in Photoshop CC 2019.

Use the Frame Tool (K) to quickly create rectangular or elliptical placeholder frames. You can also convert any shape or text into frames and fill it with images.

To place an image into a frame, simply drag an image onto it. The image will automatically resize to fit the frame.

Content placed in frames is always placed as Smart Objects so that it can be scaled non-destructively.

For a detailed description of all the settings and features of the Frame Tool check out: The New Content-Aware Fill In Photoshop CC 2019 – Complete Guide

Previous Photoshop Updates

Older Photoshop version roundups:

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the new features in Photoshop CC 2019?

The Photoshop CC 2019 new features include the redesigned Content-Aware Fill workspace, the new Frame Tool, and Modern Undo. The release also made Proportional Transform the default and added Auto-Commit for crops, transforms, and text.

What version of Photoshop is Photoshop CC 2019?

Photoshop CC 2019 is Photoshop version 20.0, Adobe’s general release from October 15, 2018. It is the version right before Photoshop 2020, version 21.0.

How do I remove something with the new Content-Aware Fill in Photoshop CC 2019?

Make a selection around the object, then go to Edit > Content-Aware Fill. Paint away any pixels you do not want Photoshop to sample from, adjust the fill settings, and output the result to a new layer.

Why does Free Transform scale proportionally without holding Shift in Photoshop CC 2019?

Photoshop CC 2019 made proportional scaling the default for pixel and type layers. Hold Shift if you want to scale without constraining the proportions instead.

What does the Frame Tool do in Photoshop CC 2019?

The Frame Tool creates a placeholder shape that automatically resizes and masks any image or Smart Object you drop into it. It works with text and shape layers too, once you convert them to a frame.

Is the Photoshop CC 2019 Content-Aware Fill workspace still available?

Yes, the Content-Aware Fill workspace and its sampling controls still work the same way today. Photoshop 2024, version 25.0, added Generative Fill and the Remove Tool as a faster, AI-powered alternative for the same kind of removal.

What happened to the Learn panel in Photoshop?

The Learn panel’s step-by-step tutorials moved into the Discover panel in later versions of Photoshop. Open it from Help > Photoshop Help, or with CtrlF (Windows) or CommandF (macOS).

Can I still lock my Photoshop workspace so panels stop moving?

Yes. Go to Window > Workspace > Lock Workspace. Your panels stay put, though you can still resize them.

Conclusion

Photoshop CC 2019 new features packed a full workspace redesign for Content-Aware Fill into the same release as the Frame Tool, Modern Undo, and a new default for proportional scaling.

Every one of these tools still works the same way in the current version of Photoshop, so there is no reason to wait before trying them.

Watch the full video above for every feature in action, and comment on the video if you have a question.

Keep going

Next, get the full walkthrough of the new Content-Aware Fill workspace.