Why Use a Dedicated Workspace?
When editing 360° spherical panoramas, you regularly switch between interactive spherical viewing in PanoView Editor and detailed planar retouching in Photoshop. Creating a dedicated workspace organizes your editing tools so your focus remains on the artwork.
Keeps PanoView Editor permanently docked or positioned alongside your document so you can trigger perspective extractions and apply updates without reopening panels.
Maintains quick access to Layers, Properties, History, and favorite Photoshop retouching tools without cluttering your view.
Provides ample screen real estate for the primary equirectangular canvas and extracted rectilinear Smart Object windows.
Guarantees that reopening Photoshop or returning to panoramic projects restores your preferred panel arrangement with a single click.
Saving a dedicated workspace is a recommended workflow organization step. It is not technically mandatory for PanoView Editor to function, but it significantly streamlines day-to-day editing.
Open PanoView Editor
To begin organizing your environment, make sure the PanoView Editor panel is open inside Photoshop:
Once selected, the PanoView Editor panel appears in your workspace. You can drag its tab to dock it into any panel group or leave it floating depending on your preference.
Arrange Your Editing Environment
There is no single mandatory layout for 360° editing. Arrange panels to complement your monitor size, resolution, and personal creative habits.
PanoView Editor Panel
Position the plugin panel where the interactive 360 viewer is easily visible. Many artists dock it on the right side above the Layers panel or place it on a secondary display.
Layers Panel
Keep the Layers panel tall and prominent. During perspective retouching, you will work with the 360 Edit layer, reference backgrounds, and adjustment layers.
Properties & History
Dock Properties and History adjacent to Layers for quick parameter adjustments, layer mask refinements, and undo tracking.
Photoshop Toolbar
Ensure primary retouching tools such as the Clone Stamp, Healing Brush, Spot Healing Brush, and Selection tools remain easily accessible.
Main Document Canvas
Leave generous central space for your active document window so you can inspect high-resolution equirectangular panoramas and perspective extractions without panel overlap.
Save the Workspace as "360Photo"
Once your panels are placed comfortably, save the arrangement as a custom Photoshop workspace so you can return to it whenever needed:
Open the New Workspace Dialog
In Photoshop's top menu, navigate to Window > Workspace > New Workspace...
Enter the Recommended Name
In the Name field, type the recommended workspace name: 360Photo
Select Capture Options
Ensure Panel Locations is checked so your panel arrangement is recorded. You may also check Keyboard Shortcuts and Menus if you have custom settings.
Save
Click Save. Photoshop registers the 360Photo workspace into its workspace switcher.
Photoshop workspace configuration with PanoView Editor positioned for a 360° editing workflow.
Returning to the Workspace
If panel positions shift, windows close during general photo editing, or you switch to another Photoshop workspace, you can easily restore your 360° layout:
Select Window > Workspace > 360Photo, or choose 360Photo from the workspace menu in Photoshop's top application bar.
If panels become rearranged during a project, choose Window > Workspace > Reset 360Photo to snap every panel back to its saved arrangement.
Workspace Guidance in PanoView Editor
PanoView Editor includes built-in workspace guidance to assist first-time setup and ensure smooth onboarding. When presented by the plugin, the guidance interface provides three primary actions:
Copies the recommended workspace name (360Photo) to your system clipboard so you can easily paste it into Photoshop's New Workspace dialog.
Allows PanoView Editor to re-check or continue the workspace setup sequence after you have created or saved the workspace in Photoshop.
Dismisses or completes the workspace guidance flow once you understand the layout suggestions and are ready to continue editing.
Workspace Setup Checklist
- PanoView Editor is open and accessible (
Window > Plugins > PanoView Editor). - Editing panels (Layers, Properties, Tools) are arranged comfortably.
- The workspace is saved as 360Photo (
Window > Workspace > New Workspace...). - The main panorama canvas has sufficient unobstructed viewing space.
- The workspace can be restored at any time via
Window > Workspace > 360Photo.