Photoshop layer finding quick tip
mck (0 pencils) | Sat, 2005-06-25 15:45If you've ever worked with a huge Photoshop file, you know that it's easy to get lost between the dozens of layers. If you have a large pasteboard with several elements, you can get frustrated trying to find the layer that contains the image you want to move/apply filters to/etc. The tiny thumbnails in the layers palette doesn't do much to help, however, there is a way to do it. Hold down the Control and Command (aka Apple) keys, and click on an image in the pasteboard. A menu will pop up, showing the name of the layer it is on. By selecting the menu item, you switch to the layer.
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This requires proper naming of layers to work well. Because it still gets confusing when you have semi transparent layers and you can't tell what's on the top.
Good tip..I use that sometimes but usually never have to. I always click on the "Auto-select layer" check box so that all I need to do is click on the layer and move it around. I really don't see any reason why it's a bad thing but a guy I work with doesnt like the feature and cusses at my computer every time he uses photoshop on it. Heh.
If you have the move tool (V) selected and you click on a pixel while holding Ctrl (or Cmd on a Mac I believe) you temporarily have Auto Select Layer active and it will select that pixel's layer.
I hate auto select layer being on all the time because I use the move tool alot and don't like having to be careful where I drag from.
So remember, just hold Cmd or Ctrl down and click on some pixels on the layer you want. Instant layer selection. :o)
I left out, that when you click on an area with more than one layer (semi transparent, as Ivan said), it shows both layers in a menu. Neat.