Preferences files vary by name and location for each version of Photoshop. Use this document to find or re-create preferences files for Adobe Photoshop CS4.
To re-create the preferences files for Photoshop, start the application while holding down Ctrl+Alt+Shift (Windows) or Command+Option+Shift (Mac OS). Then, click Yes to the message, "Delete the Adobe Photoshop Settings file?"
Important: Apple made the user library folder hidden by default with the release of Mac OS X 10.7. If you need access to files in the hidden library folder to perform Adobe-related troubleshooting, see How to access hidden user library files.
| Photoshop preference | Filename | Path |
| General settings | Adobe Photoshop CS4 Prefs.psp | Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings |
| Actions | Actions Palette.psp | Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings |
| Camera Raw | Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw 4.x Prefs | Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences |
| Color settings (Color management) | Color Settings.csf | Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings |
| Custom proof setups (Color management) | .psf files | Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Color/Proofing |
| Editing and painting tools | Brushes.psp, Contours.psp, Custom Shapes.psp, Gradients.psp, Patterns.psp, Styles.psp, Swatches.psp, ToolPresets.psp | Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings |
| Paths | Adobe Photoshop CS4 Paths | Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences |
| Save for Web | Adobe Save For Web 11.0 Prefs and Adobe Save for Web CS4 Prefs | Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences and Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe/Plugins/Adobe Save for Web CS4/Photoshop |
| Filters and Effects | Adobe Effect CS4 Prefs, Adobe Filter Gallery CS4 Prefs, Adobe Lens Blur CS4 Prefs, Adobe Lens Correction CS4 Prefs, Adobe Liquify CS4 Prefs, Adobe VanishingPoint CS4 | Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe/Plugins/ *Preferences are stored in a Photoshop folder within a folder named for the filter or effect. (Except for Adobe Effect CS4 Prefs, which is stored in the Adobe Filter Gallery CS4/Photoshop folder.) |
| Workspaces | [User Defined] | Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings/WorkSpaces |
| Third-party plug-in settings (for example, location of the plug-ins folder) | (varies) | Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences folder |
| Photoshop preference | Filename | Path |
| General settings | Adobe Photoshop CS4 Prefs.psp | Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop CS4/Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings |
| Actions | Actions Palette.psp | Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop CS4/Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings |
| Camera Raw | Preferences are saved in the Windows registry key and Preferences.xmp file | (Windows registry key) HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Adobe/Camera Raw. XMP files location: Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/CameraRaw/Defaults |
| Color settings (Color management) | Color Settings.csf | Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop CS4/Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings |
| Custom proof setups (Color management) | .psf files | Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Color/Proofing |
| Editing and painting tools | Brushes.psp, Contours.psp, Custom Shapes.psp, Gradients.psp, Patterns.psp, Styles.psp, Swatches.psp, ToolPresets.psp | Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop CS4/Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings/Presets |
| Paths | Preferences are saved as value data in the SettingsFilePath value name in the Windows registry. | (Windows registry key) HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Adobe/Photoshop/11.0 |
| Save for Web | Adobe Save for Web 11.0 Prefs and Adobe Save for Web CS4 Prefs | Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Save For Web/11.0 and Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Plugins/Adobe Save for Web CS4/Photoshop |
| Filters and Effects | Adobe Effect CS4 Prefs, Adobe Filter Gallery CS4 Prefs, Adobe Lens Blur CS4 Prefs, Adobe Lens Correction CS4 Prefs, Adobe Liquify CS4 Prefs | Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Plugins/ |
| Workspaces | [User Defined] | Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop CS4/Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings/Workspaces |
| Third-party plug-in settings (for example, location of the plug-ins folder) | Settings are stored as value data in the SettingsFilePath value name in the Windows registry. | HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Adobe/Photoshop/11.0 |
| Photoshop preference | Filename | Path |
| General settings | Adobe Photoshop CS4 Prefs.psp | Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop CS4/Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings |
| Actions | Actions Palette.psp | Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop CS4/Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings |
| Camera Raw | Preferences are saved in the Windows registry key and Preferences.xmp file | (Windows registry key) HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Adobe/Camera Raw XMP files location: Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Camera Raw/Defaults |
| Color settings (Color management) | Color Settings.csf | Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop CS4/Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings |
| Custom proof setups (Color management) | .psf files | Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Color/Proofing |
| Editing and painting tools | Brushes.psp, Contours.psp, Custom Shapes.psp, Gradients.psp, Patterns.psp, Styles.psp, Swatches.psp, ToolPresets.psp | Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop CS4/Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings/Presets |
| Paths | Preferences are saved as value data in the SettingsFilePath value name in the Windows registry. | (Windows registry key) HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Adobe/Photoshop/11.0 |
| Save for Web | Adobe Save for Web 10.0 Prefs and Adobe Save for Web CS4 Prefs | Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Save For Web/11.0 and Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Plugins/Adobe Save for Web CS4/Photoshop |
| Filters and Effects | Adobe Effect CS4 Prefs, Adobe Filter Gallery CS4 Prefs, Adobe Lens Blur CS4 Prefs, Adobe Lens Correction CS4 Prefs, Adobe Liquify CS4 Prefs | Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Plugins/ |
| Workspaces | [User Defined] | Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop CS4/Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings/Workspaces |
| Third-party plug-in settings (for example, location of the plug-ins folder) | Settings are stored as value data in the SettingsFilePath value name in the Windows registry. | HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Adobe/Photoshop/11.0 |
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