Select Window > History to open the History panel.
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Paint with image states from the History panel
Last updated on
Oct 28, 2025
Use the History Brush tool in Adobe Photoshop to paint parts of your image using a previous state or snapshot.
The History Brush tool allows you to paint with a previous state or snapshot selectively. It works by sampling an earlier version of the image and applying it selectively.
You can use it to restore specific areas of an image to a previous state while keeping other edits intact. For example, you can apply a filter to your entire image, but then restore the original appearance of certain elements.
The tool paints from the same layer in the selected state to the same layer in the current state, unless you use a merged snapshot. You can also paint with the Art History Brush tool to create special effects in Photoshop.
In the History panel, select the left column next to the desired state or snapshot to set it as the source for the History Brush tool. A brush icon appears next to the selected history state.
Select the History Brush tool (Y).
Use the Options bar to customize tool settings, like Size and Hardness, to get the desired effect.
Drag to paint with the History Brush tool.
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