Layer picker

[FastNOC]

I have a question that may sound dumb.

I edit template psd's for clients often. One of my main problems is working with un-named layers. when designers just leave layer names empty it's a pain.

If you have a layer that's nested in 4 levels of groups it is hard to figure out which layer you're looking for.

What I end up doing most times is drilling down, deleting each group (leaving the layers) until I can control/click right on the layer.

Is there an easier way? of course the problem is, if it's nested, even if the group is open, and you control/click the layer on the workspace, it goes to the root group.

Does that question make sense? how do you direct pick a nested layer?

 

[iDad]

Try clicking them off with the eye then turn them back on when you find the right one

 

[FastNOC]

That's how I do it now. I was hoping that there was a trick to avoid that

some designers are extremely good with managing layers in groups, but it can be very tedious trying to find a layer when they aren't named.

It's ok that there might be an answer, I was just hoping to pick up a trick.

 

[dv8_fx]

Depend what's on the layer... I'd use CTRL+click layer icon. That will select whats on the layer and the ants indicate where they are. I'd hide the other layers to see what I've got left.... This way I'd know what to look for in a particular layer which makes it easy for me to pick what I need to work on .... or to relabel the layer.

 

[bgoodman4]

That's how I do it now. I was hoping that there was a trick to avoid that

some designers are extremely good with managing layers in groups, but it can be very tedious trying to find a layer when they aren't named.

It's ok that there might be an answer, I was just hoping to pick up a trick.

The simple (but not easy) solution is to get the designers to name the layers when they are creating them, or perhaps to go back in and name them if they have not done so. I assume you are getting paid by the hour so if you tell them they can do it, or you can spend a couple of hours doing it for them, for which they will be charged, 99% will do it themselves.

 

[iDad]

just thought of this why not make the preview window(the thumbnail image) in the layers palette as large as possible, that may help, depending on the size of the item in that layer

 

[ibclare]

It's a good question why Adobe doesn't allow the ctl click to select a specific layer if it is grouped. I wonder why. I guess the only answer is clicking to the group then selecting the proper layer, easy if it's a named layer. Always always clearly label layers when you know you'll have many, like bgoodman said. It just gets too confusing, even if you're using groupings. Label the groups too. And as iDad said, it might help to make the palette bigger if part of the problem is reading the labels

Still, I know this doesn't answer your question. But I don't think there is any further shortcut. I really think you won't need to be turning eyeballs off and on if your layers are named. I know you have removed thumbnails so your other activities will work, but naming won't slow anything down.

Maybe a campaign with Adobe!

 

[hawkeye]

Set the move tool to Auto-Select. Click an object and the layer will be selected in layers palette.

 

[iDad]

Hawk comes through again....... I love that. I saw that being used once or twice and completely forgot about that...... son of a gun! So many things that don't stick o the mind, Adobe is overwhelming sometimes.

 

[ibclare]

I never used it and never even noticed it, lol. Thanks hawkeye. Is there any tool you don't know about?

It's still apparent that it can't select a specific layer in a group, but that's PS, unless you know a way around that.

 

[IamSam]

I'm a little late to this party but I have used auto select with the move tool since I first started using Photoshop. I actually learned the trick from another program I played with before Ps.

Here's another move tool trick. With or without the auto select checked.
As long as a layer is activated, you can right click on any object on the canvas and you will get a drop down menu of any activated layer(s) beneath the click point, the first selection is the layer containing the object you clicked on. You can select from the menu and this layer will be highlighted in your layers panel even if it is within a collapsed layer group.

As long as the grouped layers are activated, both techniques will work in quickly identifying where a particular object is located in the layers panel.

 

[iDad]

I started a thread a few years back or a year I don't remember but it lists plenty of tips,these should find away in that.