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Posted on 07/06/13 08:10:53 AM |
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Mariner
Renaissance Mariner Posts: 3007 Reply  |
How to select the contents of multiple layers at the same time
This is a short tutorial for those who are fairly new to Photoshop. If you want to select the contents of a layer you would normally hold down the Cmd/Ctrl key and click on the layer icon. However, you might want to select multiple layer contents. To do this hold down Cmd/Ctrl-Shift and click on each layer icon you want to select. In the example below I want to change the hue/saturation of all four windows. I hold down Cmd/Ctrl-Shift and click on each window icon in turn. Releasing Cmd/Ctrl-Shift I now open Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation and click OK and again OK. Now, using the newly created Hue/Saturation layer I can easily change the hue, saturation, and/or brightness of all four windows simultaneously.  |
Posted on 07/06/13 1:52:42 PM |
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BigVern
Q Quipper Posts: 674 Reply  |
Re: How to select the contents of multiple layers at the same time
Thanks Mariner. Of course, another way (and isn't there always another way with photoshop?) to affect multiple layers whilst keeping them individually editable is to: 1. Collect the requisite layers together in a group 2. Apply adjustment layer(s) to only the group (i.e. the four window layers in your example) by clipping the adjustment layers to the group This avoids needing to make selections and masks so keeping things as flexible as possible. Layers can be added to or removed from the group and will then be adjusted or not as appropriate. Another alternative would be to collect together the requisite layers into a smart object and then apply adjustment layers to it. This also allows for filters (acting as smart filters ... including shadows/highlights)as well to be applied across multiple layers. Actually, I'm hoping that the above methods all work with CS3 as I can't remember. Cheers Vern 
_________________ "Check out the big brain on Brett!" |
Posted on 08/06/13 06:05:11 AM |
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Mariner
Renaissance Mariner Posts: 3007 Reply |
Re: How to select the contents of multiple layers at the same time
Hi BigVern Thanks. Unfortunately CS3 doesn't allow you to clip a layer to a group. I agree, you can make a group of your layers and then convert the group to a smart object and then clip a layer to that. I'm not a big fan of smart objects. Too late, too often I change my mind and want to convert a smart object back to a layer. I haven't yet found a way of doing that in CS3. Any ideas? Regards, Mike |
Posted on 08/06/13 08:55:56 AM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 3972 Reply  |
Re: How to select the contents of multiple layers at the same time
Hi Mike, Layer>Smart Object>Convert to Layer should do it but then it remains as edited so you need to be sure that you have finished with that particular Smart Object. You can also use Layer>Smart Object>Rasterise. I have never found out what the difference is between the two other than for rasterising vector subjects such as text. I wholeheartedly recommend using Smart Objects; they save a lot of pain. Can't actually think of why you would want to convert a Smart Object back to a layer. Gordon _________________ If at first you don't succeed then skydiving is not for you. |
Posted on 08/06/13 11:15:41 AM |
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Mariner
Renaissance Mariner Posts: 3007 Reply |
Re: How to select the contents of multiple layers at the same time
Hi Gordon. Thanks for your help. For some reason I never managed to spot Layer > Smart Object > Rasterize so I will give it a try next time. Layer > Smart Object > Convert to Layer doesn't exist in CS3. Gordon, I sometimes find smart objects very useful when creating a row of identical objects. For example, a line of Roman pillars. As you know, a correction to the first pillar (the smart object) is automatically transmitted to all the others. However, I also use them for shadows, because you can blur and "unblur" them with ease. However, if you later need to correct your shadow (often the case) you will find it difficult in CS3 because when you are in the smart object screen you are unable to see the big picture. So you have to guess where your correction has to go. Less than ideal. There have been a couple of other problems, but I can't think of them right now. Mike |