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photoshop view 2 windows at same time

Colin Smith

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Dual View in Photoshop

A lot of people don’t realize you can view your image at different sizes at the same time in Photoshop. This short tutorial shows how to open multiple windows and view them at the same time. If you want to view multiple images, view the same image large and small as you work on it, or use dual monitors, this is the Photoshop tutorial for you. I say tutorial, its really just a quick tip and you can view the 2 minute video to see this in action. I’ll drop some additional tips here too. Enjoy!

Here is a Panorama I recently shot out of a helicopter in Kauai, Hawaii. It’s nice to show the whole image, it helps with composition and balance of toning, as well as preview how it might look on social media or printed. However, you need to zoom in to work on the image

Press Crtl/Cmd+1 or double-click the hand tool for the fit to screen view. 

Let’s zoom into 100% view. Press Crtl/Cmd+0 or double-click the magnifying glass tool. 

actual size in photoshop

100% view is the best for detailed work and retouching and the accurate way to see sharpening or noise reduction.

How about seeing 2 windows, one at full view and one at actual size?

Choose Window>Arrange>New Window for image name.

photoshop view windows at same time

Now you will see a second tab. You can change the zoom level on each tab, and it’s the same image.

tabs in photoshop

But this would be more useful, if you could view both windows at the same time.

Here is how to put 2 windows side by side in Photoshop

Choose Window>Arrange>Tile

view 2 images at same time

Now you see both windows at the same time. Nice!

digfferent sizes in photoshop

If you work in one window, you will see that the second window updates, so you can work at multiple views od the same image at once.

view 2 monitors in photoshop

Working in Multiple Monitors in Photoshop

If you are like me, you work with 2 or more displays. Drag the tab of one of the windows into the second monitor. Notice you can have a live view of the same image on monitor 2 while working on monitor 1. In your display settings choose extend for your monitor and not mirror for this to work.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s little tip.


PS Don’t forget to follow us on Social Media for more tips.. (I've been posting some fun Instagram and Facebook Stories lately)
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37 thoughts on “photoshop view 2 windows at same time

  1. January 25, 2022 at 3:44 pm

    You always amaze me think I seen this done by another ps guru but great to know

  2. GailC
    January 26, 2022 at 5:21 am

    I had just asked my husband about this. I had seen it a long time ago, from somewhere, from someone and LOVED the idea of a dual view. I now know it was probably you. So this tutorial is very timely. Thanks.

  3. Mary J Wood
    January 26, 2022 at 6:08 am

    Very interesting. No, I did not know this. Thanks for the information.

  4. JudyN
    January 26, 2022 at 6:20 am

    Thanks for yet another great tip. I didn’t know how to do this, but I’m definitely going to use it now.

  5. January 26, 2022 at 6:48 am

    I did know about this. I don’t use it though. I find that duplicating my background works better for me.

  6. Mel Halickman
    January 26, 2022 at 7:27 am

    I did not know about this. Very cool. Thanks.

  7. January 26, 2022 at 7:53 am

    Ok, wonderful tip….. but the big question is how did you do a wide pano from what I assume was a helicopter ??? Amazing shot and another great tip…..

    1. Colin Smith
      February 1, 2022 at 3:19 pm

      Thanks, yes this was from a helicopter the doors were off, so I was able to get my camera out there while we were hovering.

  8. Maryann
    January 26, 2022 at 8:11 am

    Great info….No I did not about this! Thanks for the tip!

  9. Richard Bourdeau
    January 26, 2022 at 8:22 am

    I have used the dual windows from time to time. But, I had never considered moving one image onto my second screen! Why, I do not know?

  10. January 26, 2022 at 8:25 am

    I did not know about this and I have a feeling I will be trying it out very soon. Thanks for sharing!

  11. Fred Rosenbaum
    January 26, 2022 at 9:40 am

    I always use 2 or more (usually 4) monitors and have never known this. Thanks!

  12. Barbara Staggs
    January 26, 2022 at 9:54 am

    Great. I think this will be very useful.

  13. Jo Bolton
    January 26, 2022 at 10:02 am

    Did not know that. Could be very useful. Thanks Colin!!

  14. Kate
    January 26, 2022 at 10:17 am

    A terrific help to a numbnut, thanks.

  15. Peter Oosthuizen
    January 26, 2022 at 10:29 am

    Didn’t know -thanks Colin

  16. Jeffrey Mitchell
    January 26, 2022 at 10:36 am

    I just started using two monitors on a windows 10 PC. Can I send one of my two open views to one monitor and the other to 2nd allowing me Full screen size viewing?

  17. Donna J
    January 26, 2022 at 11:14 am

    I did not know, but will certainly use this in the future.

  18. NM Creatrix
    January 26, 2022 at 12:42 pm

    I knew how to do that in Word and Excel but did not know that you could do that in PS! Great tip, thxfor shaing

  19. Peggy Staley
    January 26, 2022 at 5:34 pm

    Photoshop users have always been able to do using Navigator window… Window/Navigator

    1. Colin Smith
      February 1, 2022 at 3:18 pm

      You can’t work on your image in Navigator. Also this tip predates Navigator which came in Photoshop 5 I think?

  20. January 26, 2022 at 7:52 pm

    Another useful tip-thanks. And thanks for keeping it short and to the point.

  21. Aconnee
    January 27, 2022 at 2:50 am

    I didn’t know. I’ll now use this. Thanks for being the guy that points us to the most useful bits of Photoshop.

  22. Aconnee
    January 27, 2022 at 3:14 am

    If I change the zoom level on one windows it changes it on both. Am I doin something wrong?

  23. Doreen Holder
    January 27, 2022 at 3:17 am

    Thanks Colin, I am in the UK, I am signed up and have been receiving your regular tutorials and LFL but not live. I have learnt so much from watching your tutorials and especially love these simple little bits of info.

  24. KG
    January 27, 2022 at 10:40 am

    Thnx! I use the two image view a lot to compare different images, but didn’t know I could do this for the same photo. As you say, this will come in handy when retouching. Thank you!

  25. donna joslyn
    January 27, 2022 at 3:06 pm

    I didn’t know this and I’ll use it!

  26. January 27, 2022 at 4:15 pm

    Thanks for the practical tip… it will make my workflow just a little easier!

  27. Karen Mauch
    January 27, 2022 at 4:59 pm

    `Did not know this way to view, thanks for the. tip. I always tile vertically for multiple images but this works great for Dual View!

  28. Beth Reicker
    January 30, 2022 at 5:19 am

    I did not know about this. Thank you

  29. Robert R Comtois
    January 31, 2022 at 6:22 am

    Great tip. I did not know this. I can see that if I am doing dodging and burning on an image that this could be useful. Thanks

  30. Sheri
    February 6, 2022 at 9:41 am

    Whaaattt!!!! How is this not a common PS tip! Thanks Colin you ROCK! 🤘

  31. March 30, 2023 at 10:47 pm

    It would be great to make script, which do all necessary steps and we can assign keyboard shortcut for this.

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