Enable Photoshop main window

[Matek]

I'm using Photoshop CS3 on Windows at work. When I run the program, even if no files are open, I get an empty gray window with some toolbars.

At home, I'm running Photoshop CS4 on OS X. When I run the program, my toobars and any images I open later just float on the screen. This is very distracting (both visualy and functionally) as I have other windows and a colorful wallpaper in the background.

I was wondering - can I turn this free-floating mode off and have a standard empty window that constrains all other elements? Is this a CS3 -> CS4 feature or Windows vs. OS X difference?

 

[r.j.s]

In short, no.

That is way OS X handles things.

 

[Theophany]

View > Screen Mode > Maximised Screen Mode

Whilst you have documents open, there will be no floating. It's not exactly the same, I know, and it's not as elegant when working with multiple documents. But hey, no more distractions!

 

[Matek]

In short, no.

That is way OS X handles things.

Grumble. Perhaps in CS5...

View > Screen Mode > Maximised Screen Mode

Whilst you have documents open, there will be no floating. It's not exactly the same, I know, and it's not as elegant when working with multiple documents. But hey, no more distractions!

Thanks, I'm a photoshop n00b and didn't know about this . Not perfect, but certainly helpful.

 

[r.j.s]

Grumble. Perhaps in CS5...

Nope. It's quite likely that you will never see this option on the Mac. It is a major difference between how the two OSs work.

Think of it this way:

In Windows, whenever you close the last window of a program, the program quits, whether it be IE, Word, etc. The gray background window is the ONLY way Adobe can keep PS open after all the other windows are closed.

In OS X, whenever you close the last window of an app, the app remains running in the background (with a few exceptions - iPhoto, because it is a one window app and quite useless with that window closed.) Therefore, PS doesn't need the plain background there to keep the app open. BTW, this method also allows you to quickly access files on the desktop, which I find to be a very handy temporary storage area.

 

[Blue Velvet]

In Photoshop, with a file open, you can cycle through different view modes by pressing the F key. Try it out, you'll find one that suits you.

And also, yet another reason to have a plain mid to dark grey desktop if you're doing graphic work.

 

[felixrei]

Can

Window | Application Frame (turn on).
Window | Workspace | Consolidate all to tabs
Photoshop | Preferences | Open Documents as tabs