How can I create my own panels for Photoshop?

Go to Adobe’s website and download the Adobe Configurator4 – here is the link to the Adobe page for Photoshop CS6 and CC. The basic steps needed to get the panel up and going on your computer are provided. Basically Adobe AIR needs to be downloaded to make sure the latest edition is on your computer, then load the Adobe Configurator4. Unfortunately it appears the Adobe Configurator3 download links  have recently been removed from Adobe Labs which CS4 and CS5 need – if you are interested, I would drop them a line and see if they could hook you up with the ones that worked with those two versions.

Adobe has a16-minute introductory video on the Adobe Configurator3 from Adobe TV which also shows how to put your panels up on Adobe Exchange if you have created one you would like to share. The Sample Panels version4 does not appear to be working but Adobe is expecting to update Configurator within the next few weeks. When you first open up Adobe Configurator4, you get a nice5 step workflow to get your started. Thought I would copy them for you to give you an idea about how easy it is to get started doing this. So from Adobe:

1. Begin by created a new panel (File -> New Panel).2. Drag items you want to add to your panel from the area on the left, then drop them inside the new panel.3. Use the controls on the right to customize the layout and functionality.4. When finished, export your panel (File -> Export). NOTE: At this point also do a File -> Save Panel As to get a File Name.gpc file that is needed to edit the panel in Configurator at a later time – and be sure to save it in a different place than the Photoshop Panel folder.5. In Photoshop CC or Photoshop CS6 or InDesign CS6, load your new panel from the Window -> Extensions menu. (Restart Photoshop or InDesign after exporting your panel for the first time).

That is really all there is to it – very simple to do. I don’t know why everyone is not creating panels for all their different workflows. Adobe says to make a CS4 or CS5 panel compatible with CS6, you must open the Configurator1-3 format file in Configurator4 and when it asks you to create a CS6 panel – say yes. Then export for CS6 (File -> Export Panel). To make your panel compatible with CC, choose Edit > Convert to CC, then go to File -> Export Panel and navigate to the CC Panel folder. There is a slight difference between the files the two programs use. (In Windows the Panel folder resides in the Plug-ins folder.) If also saving your file for further editing, be careful not to Save As to your Photoshop Panel folder, or the panel will not appear in the Windows -> Extensions list. (I did this and had to figure out what went wrong.) I had forgotten how much I used the panel created for Dan Margulis’s workflow in CS4. (Double-click on image to get a better look in Flickr.) Here is a screenshot of the Postcards panel when opened in Photoshop CS6 – obviously I put it on my second monitor or I would not be able to see anything! You can make the column quite small so it does not get in the way for less complicated panels. If you are having problems with the Configurator, Adobe does have a forum group that is linked with the download link above. BTW, if you decide you do not want an Extension in your program, open up the Adobe Extension Manager and go to File -> Remove Extension. You will need to download the Adobe Extension Manager CC from the Adobe Application Manager if you did not while installing the new Photoshop CC.