Straighten button greyed out

[nurgle]

Hi,
used the ruler tool to draw a line down the side of an off-angle poster, which I would normal then hit the straighten button. only to find, for the first time ever, that button greyed out.

don't know why. I was on the image layer.

I use the straighten Layer button toll dozens of times every day. and have no clue as to why it was greyed.

got a sort of a workaround, as I then went to the "free Rotate" menu and the negative angle was already entered so I just hit enter and it straightened that edge.

anyone have a clue why it did not work.?

regards
Sandy

 

[puraidodes]

Hi, I tried many different combinations of steps, such as a locked layer, work path selected, smart object, selection, etc. I cannot recreate the same condition. It works fine for me.
In your image Clear is not greyed out? Did you try it out?
Could share the steps of this work to achieve the same condition? or share a sample file?

 

[IamSam]

The only time I can re-create this problem is when I'm NOT on the image layer.

Can you please post a screen shot like you did above only this time, include the layers panel in the same screen shot? So we can see everything going on?

Like this......
Image layer selected, Straighten Button active.


New and empty layer selected, Straighten Button not active/Greyed out

 

[nurgle]

Hi, I had drawn a line, and the Straight was Greyed. I tried the clear but I would not.. must have been a temp bug. has been working well this afternoon.

these inconsistent things really get me.
regards
Sandy

 

[thebestcpu]

When the image is a locked background Layer, the straighten button will be greyed out. Your image shows just that noted with the arrow and circle in green.
I am pretty sure that is your issue
John Wheeler

 

[IamSam]

When the image is a locked background Layer, the straighten button will be greyed out

Yep, that was it! Great eye! I did not notice or try that option. It takes a village!

 

[nurgle]

Hi, thanks for the info. BUT I have often used it on a background layer and it worked...

regards, Sandy

 

[JeffK]

Hi, thanks for the info. BUT I have often used it on a background layer and it worked...
regards, Sandy

Possible difference is that labeling it a background layer isn't the problem - but if it's a locked background layer it can be...

 

[nurgle]

Hi again. Just noted what you said, and don't know how I got that 'Background' in the heading. I opened up another image, and it is the background and padlocked but not named Background in the heading... and I can easily get that to rotate by drawing a ruler lien in any direction...

so now I am puzzled as to how I got that name in the header now...

this is what I am on about that there are inconstancies in photoshop operating.. do things 100's of times fine, and they there will be a once off where the same work and actions go off the rails.

thanks all for you help.

regards, Sandy

 

[nurgle]

try as I might, I just can't seem to repeat that mistake. every image I open even though as a Background and with the padlock, does not have the 'background' in the header name., and even padlocked, I can still draw a line in any direction, and get it to straighten to that line...

so puzzled now.
thanks for the help..

Regards, Sandy

 

[IamSam]

PNG opens as a reguler layer (1) and not as a locked background layer.

JPG opens as a locked background layer and not a regular layer (1).

 

[JeffK]

I'm completely lost as to the problem.

Here's a crooked image I opened up that I copied from the web - it's a background layer and it's locked:



Now I try to use the ruler tool but the straighten button is grayed out....



But If unlocked the layer, the straignten button is immediately activated and I can use it:



So not sure what is going on with your file or how it's being approached....

 

[IamSam]

OK........now I'm confused.

Here is a PNG that opens as a regular layer.
The Ruler Tool still works.


Here is a JPG that opens as a Locked Background layer.
The Ruler Tool still works.

 

[IamSam]

Odd.

I searched and found the same image and I have no problem using the Ruler Tool. This could be a bug or just a new unexplained feature! But it seems that unlocking the layer solves the issue.

JPG that opened as a locked Background Layer, straighten option active.

 

[thebestcpu]

OK it is strange, Yet here is another piece of the puzzle.

Open an image that creates a locked background Layer (or you lock the Layer or turned it into a background Layer with Layer > New > Background from Laery
Now add one more active Layer above it (even if totally transparent). Having it be a mutilayer document does have an influence
Now the Background Layer is labeled as such and as long as it is locked, the straighten tool is grayed out (I think).

Just anoather piece of the puzzle..
John Wheeler

 

[IamSam]

Having it be a mutilayer document does have an influence
Now the Background Layer is labeled as such and as long as it is locked, the straighten tool is grayed out (I think).

Confirmed!

 

[puraidodes]

The ruler still works even if the Background layer is locked. Be it PNG or JPEG

@thebestcpu Yes, I can confirm it too. the only time the Straighten Layer is grayed out is when there is an empty layer on top and is selected. Locked or Unlocked background layer beneath it didn't matter.
But if I place even a single pixel on the empty layer, Straighten Layer works.
So, empty layer = no Straighten option.

 

[JeffK]

The ruler still works even if the Background layer is locked. Be it PNG or JPEG

@thebestcpu Yes, I can confirm it too. the only time the Straighten Layer is grayed out is when there is an empty layer on top and is selected. Locked or Unlocked background layer beneath it didn't matter.
But if I place even a single pixel on the empty layer, Straighten Layer works.
So, empty layer = no Straighten option.

So then I'm the one with the anomaly now??

 

[thebestcpu]

The ruler still works even if the Background layer is locked. Be it PNG or JPEG

@thebestcpu Yes, I can confirm it too. the only time the Straighten Layer is grayed out is when there is an empty layer on top and is selected. Locked or Unlocked background layer beneath it didn't matter.
But if I place even a single pixel on the empty layer, Straighten Layer works.
So, empty layer = no Straighten option.

@puraidodes
Even with pixels set in the second layer, it still has the straighten button greyed out with all the other conditions including having the background Layer selected.
Could you confirm all of your conditions. Does not match mine. Still a mystery
John Wheeler

 

[IamSam]

But if I place even a single pixel on the empty layer, Straighten Layer works.

Not Confirmed for me.
If I have a new empty layer with a single pixel of color and I select the locked image/background layer, the straighten button is greyed out.


However, if I have a new empty layer with a single pixel of color and I select the empty layer, the straighten button is active.........but it will not straighten the background image. For that you must be on the image/background layer.