Easily relocate layers in layer-heavy PSD!

All serious Photoshop users have endured the frustration of needing to move layers around in a PSD chocked full of layers.
There's no easy way to do it. And there's no excuse for this.
I am posting here in order to raise support for and to get Adobe's attention on this issue.
Do you want better tools for managing your hundreds of layers? We all do.
If you can relate, PLEASE express your support for better layer control by going here - Photoshop: Support Copy and Paste Layers
and hitting the +1 button, as well as posting a reply message with your own reasoning.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Import with Retain Layer Sizes.
See this page for details:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7f7c a.html

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Photoshop CC 2014 hangs for nearly 15 seconds when using Layer Group Layers or Layer Palette Group from Layers commands.

Photoshop hangs for nearly 15 seconds when using Layer > Group Layers or Layer Palette > Group from Layers commands. NOT on creating new group and creating layers and drag-n-dropping layers into group manually in Layer Palette. Got a UI design file with nearly 800 layers and lot of groups. This doesn't occur in smaller files. Using OS X Mavericks, Photoshop CC 2014.2.2, Mid 2014 15-inch Retina Macbook Pro.
I understand that the solution would be just to cut the file into smaller files and design each UI view in a separate file but that would be painful. And it does not seem to be a very hard task to just group layers.

Does the document also have a lot of layer comps?
And can you post that document or send me a copy of it so we can see exactly why it is hanging?

Photoshop crashes when rearranging layers in layer window.

Photoshop crashes when rearranging layers in layer window. I'm using Photoshop CS4 Extended on a MacBook Pro purchased 5 months ago. I have tried restarting the computer. I am able to rearrange layers with the hot keys.

Boilerplate-text:
Are Photoshop and OS fully updated?
As with all unexplainable Photoshop-problems you might try trashing the prefs (after making sure all customized presets like Actions, Patterns, Brushes etc. have been saved and making a note of the Preferences you’ve changed) by keeping command-alt-shift pressed on starting the program or starting from a new user-account.
System Maintenance (repairing permissions, purging PRAM, running cron-scripts, cleaning caches, etc.) might also be beneficial, Onyx has been recommended for such tasks.
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/onyx.html
Weeding out bad fonts never seems to be a bad idea, either. (Validate your fonts in Font Book and remove the bad ones.)
If 3rd party plug-ins are installed try disabling them to verify if one of those may be responsible for the problem.
Does turning off OpenGL in the Performance Preferences and restarting Photoshop have any bearing on the issue?

How to identify selected layers in layer panel of Photoshop?

Hi everyone,
I'm working on a Photoshop plug-in, and I want to identify selected layers in layer panel.
As I tested so far, didn't came up with a solution..
If anyone can provide me a solution it will be greatly appreciated,
Thanks in advanced..
Nuwan.

Looping through controls is indeed a inefficient way of doing what you want!
With such a great number of controls, you could assign an appropriate callbackData to each of them when loading the panel. Next you could create an array of control IDs with all the LEDs and operate in the switch callback to turn on and off the corresponding led. A small example will be more clear:
At panel load:
int leds[200];
SetCtrlAttribute (panelHandle, PANEL_SWITCH1, ATTR_CALLBACK_DATA, (void *)1); leds[1] = PANEL_LED1;
SetCtrlAttribute (panelHandle, PANEL_SWITCH2, ATTR_CALLBACK_DATA, (void *)2); leds[2] = PANEL_LED2;
SetCtrlAttribute (panelHandle, PANEL_SWITCH192, ATTR_CALLBACK_DATA, (void *)192); leds[192] = PANEL_LED192;
In the switch callback:
int CVICALLBACK switchOnOff (int panel, int control, int event,
void *callbackData, int eventData1, int eventData2)
int sts;
if (event != EVENT_COMMIT) return 0;
// Get the status of the switch
GetCtrlVal (panel, control, &sts);
// Set the led to the proper status
SetCtrlVal (panel, leds[(int)callbackData], sts);
return 0;
For this solution to work, leds[] array must be global so that it is available to the control callback.
An additional improvement could be to modify the panel loading so that swithces and leds are created programmatically. You could have a single switch/led pair set in the UIR editor and next have a loop that duplicate the controls, sets callbackData and loads the array of led ids.
Proud to use LW/CVI from 3.1 on.
My contributions to the Developer Zone Community
If I have helped you, why not giving me a kudos?

IDCS5: How to access selected layers in layer panel

It seems the way to access the selected layers in layer panel has been changed in CS5.
Here is a link to the code that worked with CS4, but it is not working on CS5.
http://forums.adobe.com/message/1304622#1304622
Is there some way to find out how it works in CS5?
Thanks.

Please check Panel Options > Thumbnail Size from the Layers Panel’s pop-up menu in the upper right corner.

PS Elements 10 Layers and Layer Masks - novice

I'm new to layers and layer masks. Can anyone give me a quick tutorial, or a link, on how to do the following:-
I wish to put the cobweb in to the witch's cave. Obviously, making it smaller and rotating it in the process. I hope the attached photos (from my own album) will help explain.

You'll probably get more complete answers in the photoshop elements forum, but it's looks like your in the Qiuck Edit mode.
Press the Full button to get to the full edit mode.
http://forums.adobe.com/community/photoshop_elements?view=discussions
Added: i see they already moved your question from the full photoshop forum to the elements forum.
Message was edited by: R_Kelly

Flattening or merging layers with layer effects and maintaining them.

How do you maintain multiple layer effects when merging or flattening the layers within a group or on their own ensuring they end up eventually to normal and 100 % opacity? (Using PSCC)
Thank you.

You want to flattern an image with multiple layers and layer effects? It should just happen for you, but there some occassions where flatterning does not show the expected results. When that happens, select the upper-most layer (so long as it is turned on) and add a copy merged layer to the top of the stack (Shift Alt Ctrl e). Then flattern, and it should be fine.

PSD file import: always the same layers no matter what psd file

So, another problem has just popped up! Picture is, I imported a psd file into ae and made a cool vid out of it, which is all well and good. However, I decided to do a new one and as I imported the NEW psd file (as in COMPLETELY new, different file name with different drawings, different layer names etc) into ae... surprise surprise! The OLD psd file is displayed in the ae screen (???) It says it has imported my new psd file, but the layers and images displayed are from the old one (which, as I said, has nothing to do with the new one, except in matching canvas size).
Thanks!

How did you import and what exactly are you viewing? The source view? The comp view? The timeline layer view? Did you use "File --> Replace Footage"? Naturally, unless you actually replaced the elements, the latter two will keep showing your original PSD as they are referenced by the original project. Otherwise the source view should correctly reflect your new document. That aside I seem to vaguely rember an issue with this in some older version of AE (something with AE misinterpreting paths for identically named layers in different files), but since you did not make any mention of your AE version nor platform, operating system or hardware, it will be impossible for anyone to be more specific....
Mylenium

Camera Layer and PSD

I looked at one of the templates in bridge and observed that the timeline had photoshop layers with camera labels. Please could anyone tell me how this was achieved? I hope I am understood?

I mean, I have the CS4 production package and I am working with After effects. I clicked on (browse templates in bridge) and opened the bending light template. One of the nested compositions had photoshop layers but on the timeline the label color was pink (which is the color code for camera layer) instead of lilac. i dont know how this was achieved because I tried doing thesame thing in my own AE composition ie having a pink psd layer.
I hope I have communicated.

Rename layers with layer 1, layer 2 till and layer N

My Name is Sathya Murthy
I have psd files with many layers each with different names
I want to rename the layer which i have selected using right click with name Layer 1
Next layer which I right click with layer 2 and so on till layer N
and layers with are left out without renaming should be put in a new layer set or group in layers separately in the same file.
which i have opened
and layers should be arranged like this
till Layer N
Layer 4
Layer 3
Layer 2
Layer 1
Group or Layer Set
Background
I hope you understand what i am saying
I want scripting for that action as I have more files to rename layers so by using scripts i can work little bit faster
anyone knowing please help
Thanks In Advance
Sathya Murthy

I don’t think one can select Layers in the Layers Panel or on the Canvas while a Script is running.
One could select the Layers via a dialog, but that would take focus and need to present a list of the Layers.
Alternatively it might be possible to set up a work-around by selecting a Layer, invoking a Script (either by Keyboard Shortcut or from a Configurator Panel) that stores data (the activeLayer in this case), repeating that as often as needed and at the end of the selection process trigger another Script (or possibly the same with the shift-key pressed) that then processes that stored information.
But maybe someone else has more insightr or a better idea.

Copying layers changes layer name

Hi there,
Im pretty good about naming my layers (and sublayers.) I find that when i copy and paste a layer, its being renamed. For example, I'll name a layer, "button_text_01" when i copy and paste that layer, InDesign renames it, "button_text_02" instead of something like, "button_text_01copy."
I use numbers as part of my naming convention but dont want ID doing it automatically. Is there a setting to change this?
thanks

David_3000 wrote:
… The search field would preferably work the same way as in a regular file search. That every layer that include the search criteria entered will appaer in a list, and then I can make a choice which layer to activate from that list …
A script for this requirement is somewhat more complex.
Unfortunately I have not got time for that.
But to find a layer by name, try this simple script (Please save the script in Illustrator script folder as LayerActivatedByName.jsx and restart Illustrator. Then the script is accessible via the menu.):
// LayerActivatedByName.jsx
// an open document is required
// only layers will be found - not sublayers and not pageItems
// http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1223629?tstart=0
// regards pixxxelschubser
var aDoc = app.activeDocument;
var myLayers = aDoc.layers;
var actName = prompt("Which layer should be active?","layer 1");
try {
    aDoc.activeLayer = myLayers.getByName (actName);
    redraw();
    actLayer = aDoc.activeLayer;
    actLayer.locked = false;
    actLayer.visible = true;
    redraw();
catch (e) {
    alert ("Layer "+actName+" not found")
You have to write the exact name of the layer (not sublayer and not page item!) in prompt. This layer will be unlocked, visible and active.

Where is Layers Hide Layer and why is it gone?

This is a major part of my work flow and I can't think of ANY good reason to remove it from the menus. I need a fix, and fast.

I can't speak to what's in the menu with CC, since I don't have it, nor do I use the menu functions if I don't have to. I'm guessing they moved it somewhere, but you can always click the eye icon on the layers menu.
Hopefully they've finally added a keyboard shortcut to toggle hide layer on/off. Personally I just made an action - three actions actually. One for show layer, one for hide layer, and one to toggle. Then I made a keyboard shortcut (Wacom shortcut actually) to use the toggle action. I highly recommend it, it'll really speed up your workflow if you're constantly checking layers, and I am.

Photoshop Elements select tool, when targeting layer or multiple layers the layer properties box pops up. Having to very carefully and repeatedly select and highlight layers to move, or merge when using Move Tool. Win 8, Adobe 12, Intuos 4 w/ updated dr

This issue has been going on for several weeks.
The Move Tool is not functioning properly when selecting and TARGETING a layer or multiple layers, as the Layer Properties box pops up requiring me to close it and try again.
How to reset or is there an update and fix for this issue.
Using Win 8, Elements 12, and Intuos 4 Pen and Tablet.

To reset the tool I suggest click on it once and then look for something like this in the bottom half of your window:
In the above picture I have marked one section in red box. You need to click on it to get the option to either reset the only tool you have clicked or to reset all the tools in the editor window. Of course you have to be in Expert Mode to get this to work.
Good luck.

Issues with merging layers with layer styles

Just downloaded CS6 Photoshop off the creative cloud and the merge layer command does not work. What is happening is there is one layer with a layer style then a shape layer and when I hit Cmd E it merges the layers but the layer style will not merge with it. I was chatting it up and everything they recommended did not work. It works on all my other co-workers computers and we are all on the cloud. I tried renaming pref. folder, settings folder, re-installing, holding down shft+option+cmd on start up. I also created a test account but that turned out to be a major inconvenience. Once logged into the account there is nothing there. The suggestions just started getting more ridiculous as chat proceeded. Nothing.
Has anyone experienced this issue?
Does anyone have a solution where I don't have to create a whole new admin account just to see if CS6 Photoshop works correctly?
P.S.
Adobe customer portal is about worthless.

Get Rich or Die Tryin wrote:
Just downloaded CS6 Photoshop off the creative cloud and the merge layer command does not work. What is happening is there is one layer with a layer style then a shape layer and when I hit Cmd E it merges the layers but the layer style will not merge with it. I was chatting it up and everything they recommended did not work. It works on all my other co-workers computers and we are all on the cloud. I tried renaming pref. folder, settings folder, re-installing, holding down shft+option+cmd on start up. I also created a test account but that turned out to be a major inconvenience. Once logged into the account there is nothing there. The suggestions just started getting more ridiculous as chat proceeded. Nothing.
There are two merge layers type commands one is merge down involves only two layers and another that is merge visible layers. In my opinion there is a problem with the way merge down is implemented. When you use merge down if the bottom layer in the merge down has a layer style the merged layer also has this layer style attached. This means that pixels from the layer merged into it will be effected by this layer style. The result may well not look like the composite looked before the merge. The will also happen in CS5. Merge visibile layer works the correct way in my view as the merge progresses the top two layers are merge by applying any layer masks and layer styles first and merging the two layers the resulting layer has no layer masks and no layer style. This result is then merged with the next lower layer with its masks and style applied first. The result is a single layer without mask and style that looks like the original composite view. If your having the problem with CMD|CTRL+E and the result has a layer style try turning the layer style visibility off see if that helps. If it helps some backup to before the merge down use merge visible or first rasterzise the bottom layer to be merged.

Nested layers and Layer comps

A couple of things I would like to see is better layer control.
At the moment, I use nested layers the same as I use layer groups in Photoshop. ie I put all the element for the front of a label in a layer called 'Front label'. And this works great, however when I reopen the document, the layer palette looks like a mess because Illustrator has expanded all the layers!!
I would be really useful if the Illustrator could remember the layer state of the layer view.
Since we work in the packaging design industry for a brand which operates in a number of countries. We have the same pack but with different language clusters. It would be great to have a layer comp feature which works like layer comps in Photoshop. And to be able to export the different layer comps as separate files.

A couple of things I would like to see is better layer control.
At the moment, I use nested layers the same as I use layer groups in Photoshop. ie I put all the element for the front of a label in a layer called 'Front label'. And this works great, however when I reopen the document, the layer palette looks like a mess because Illustrator has expanded all the layers!!
I would be really useful if the Illustrator could remember the layer state of the layer view.
Since we work in the packaging design industry for a brand which operates in a number of countries. We have the same pack but with different language clusters. It would be great to have a layer comp feature which works like layer comps in Photoshop. And to be able to export the different layer comps as separate files.

Easily relocate layers in layer-heavy PSD!

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