If you use Photoshop, you know the frustration. You grab the Eyedropper tool, click on a color, and nothing changes. You are staring at your text or shape, thinking, why is this not working? I have been there, and I have a simple fix for you.
Here is the trick.
When you select the Eyedropper tool or really any tool in Photoshop, take a moment to look at the top bar. The top bar changes depending on the tool you are using, and extra settings are “hidden” up there that often make the difference.
Most of the time, when your Eyedropper doesn’t pick up the color you want, it is because it is set to sample only the current layer. If your color is on a different layer, Photoshop will ignore it completely.
Here is what you do.
Look for the sample setting on the top bar when your Eyedropper tool is active. It usually says something like “Current Layer.” Switch it to “All Layers.”
Now, when you click on your color, Photoshop will grab it no matter which layer it is on. Ta-da! That little change saves a lot of frustration and keeps your workflow moving.
Watch this 45-second Short to see how to fix your Eye Dropper tool in action.
In this video demo, I select my text and try to pick the blue color I want. At first, nothing happens. Then I notice that the sample is set to the current layer. I switch it to all layers, click the color again, and it works perfectly. It is a tiny adjustment with a big impact.
If you are interested in more Photoshop workflows, check out this guide on exporting artboards and creating realistic mockups in Photoshop. It is a great follow-up to help you streamline your design process.
Or, if you want to use Photoshop more like Illustrator, you might enjoy this tutorial on artboards for multi-format campaigns. It is perfect for organizing your projects efficiently.
So next time your Eyedropper is acting up, check where it is sampling from. Often, that is all you need to fix it. It is one of those small Photoshop tips that makes a huge difference once you know it.
