selecting an object in a layer

[bblacj]

i went from cs to cs3, in cs i could control + click on desired layer an it would select the object in that layer. now in cs3 when i do it nothing happens is there another way of doing it or is my program acting up?

[Tamlin]

Before CS2, you could select the contents of a layer by Ctrl+clicking any portion of the layer in the layers palette. From CS2 onward, you have to Ctrl+click only on the layer thumbnail (the little picture) to select - anywhere else won't work.

[notjustgraphics]

Hey Tamlin...

I'm surprised you didn't move this :P

Mike.

[Tamlin]

Originally Posted by notjustgraphics

Hey Tamlin...

I'm surprised you didn't move this :P

Mike.

Oops! My mistake - well spotted, Mike.
Now moved to Photoshop forum.

[chuggs]

Any idea why they made that change?

[agentxi]

they didn't.

in cs3 I can still select the layer, by holding down ctrl+ left mouse clicking on the layer on the canvas, and it selects ti for me., maybe double check your shortcut keys to make sure you have the defaults loaded up...

bblacj: i know this might sound dumb, but make sure you don't have those layers locked.

[Tamlin]

Originally Posted by agentxi

they didn't.

in cs3 I can still select the layer, by holding down ctrl+ left mouse clicking on the layer on the canvas, and it selects ti for me.,

Much as I hate to disagree with you James, I'm afraid you're wrong. Ctrl+clicking on a layer anywhere other than on the thumbnail in CS2 and CS3 is used to select multiple layers (not the content of those layers). The ability to select multiple layers was introduced in CS2. To select all pixels on a particular layer (which is what bblacj is wanting to do) you definitely have to Ctrl+click the layer thumbnail.

If you still don't believe me, check this out (from the Adobe knowledge base): Ctrl-click or Command-clicking layer doesn't load layer boundaries as selection (Photoshop CS2)

[agentxi]

Originally Posted by bblacj

i went from cs to cs3, in cs i could control + click on desired layer an it would select the object in that layer. now in cs3 when i do it nothing happens is there another way of doing it or is my program acting up?

I'm sorry, I must be very confused...

we are both saying correct things, but to do two different actions. To me the question isn't clear enough for my little brain.

Tamlin, you are talking about creating "selection masks", basically selecting the "alpha" of that particular layer that you have selected, correct? and it's true, they switched the way you can do it. You now have to ctrl+click on the layer's thumbnail to do this as apposed to just ctrl+clicking on any part of the layer in the layer manager.

I am talking about actually selecting the layer itself. I was assuming bblacj was talking about being able to just control/click on the canvas to select the layer as a whole.

With the move tool selected, you can ctrl+ click on a layer on the canvas and it will select that layer (but without creating a selection mask). It's almost like choosing the "auto select layer" option for the move tool. but without having it on at all times.

anyways, I'm probably confused and answered correctly, just to the wrong question.

[Tamlin]

Yes - I think we're both right.

bblacj originally asked how to "select the object in that layer", which I took to mean selecting the contents of the layer (which you would do by Ctrl+clicking the thumbnail), rather than selecting the layer itself (which you do by Ctrl+clicking the layer name or elsewhere on the layer) - before making a Layer Group, for example.

Confusing, I know - but hopefully we've answered the question between us!

[agentxi]

yes tamlin... combine forces...

next... the world.

shift click should do the trick

[Tamlin]

Originally Posted by Gogamukh

shift click should do the trick

No, it won't. Shift+click is used for selecting multiple layers (in CS2 & CS3).