Cannot select layer via CTRL + ALT

Question

Hi,
If memory serves me right, in CS3 I was able to ctrl + alt click the layer while using the brush tool. I can no longer do that in CS4. To do it, I first have to click on the selection tool, then ctrl + alt click on an image to select it's corresponding layer, which is not a time saver. In any case, am I doing something wrong or need to enable some feature? Many thanks in advance.

Answer 1

CS4 has a new way of doing this, without changing tools permanently.
Carefully press and hold the V key on your keyboard. Whilst holding the V key, hold down the Control key. This shortcut will auto-select layers regardless of what tool you are using. When you release the V key, it will go back to whatever tool you had selected before.
They changed this, to accomodate the new brush resizing shortcut. Its hard when these habits become second nature, and most keyboard shortcut changes recently are honestly not very well thought out. But the new brush resizing shortcut is so essential that for once, its a worthwhile move.