Skip navigation
WidmarkRob
WidmarkRob Calculating status...
Currently Being Moderated

Making a Selection around Multiple Layers

Jun 26, 2012 1:53 PM

Tags: #multiple_layers #selecting #document_size

Before I start looking for work on transforming PSD's into working websites, I would like to learn some of the functions and features of Photoshop Creative Suite 5.1

 

 

I recently learned:

Ctrl + Win + Click on Desired Layer… To make a selection around the layer

 

 

Then I clicked on, "Refine Edge"… I was able to make a perfect selection around what I wanted using this feature.

Very nice, by the way.

 

 

 

 

 

There were multiple layers, I merged the visible ones to make one layer.

All of the stuff that makes up the banner, at the top of the page.

 

My question is:

 

Can I make a selection around multiple layers, i.e. buttons, other pictures, etc.?!

 

 

Side note question:

Does the document size have any effect on the overall size?

Meaning: let's say that banner up top is 775 pixels across & maybe about 450 pixels tall… That's about the size of the image (the selected layer).

 

The document size is laying on, is also 775 pixels across… But, 950 pixels tall…

 

Will that document size have any effect on load time for a webpage?

598 Views   9 Replies   Latest reply: Sharon Huang, Jun 26, 2012 4:34 PM
 
Replies
  • Sharon Huang
    Currently Being Moderated
    1. Sharon Huang,
    Jun 26, 2012 2:57 PM   in reply to WidmarkRob
    Report

    Hi

    To answer your first question:

    You can move multiple layers all at once, but you can't make a selection around multiple images and move just those selected sections.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • WidmarkRob
    Currently Being Moderated
    2. WidmarkRob,
    Jun 26, 2012 3:05 PM   in reply to Sharon Huang
    Report

    I noticed in the files section->scripting->export layers as image

     

    Would this do the same thing I did?

    Automatically selecting the whole banner (the only layer showing) export that player into it separate image file?

    That would greatly simplify and optimize my work.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Sharon Huang
    Currently Being Moderated
    3. Sharon Huang,
    Jun 26, 2012 3:12 PM   in reply to WidmarkRob
    Report

    I'm not sure what you are trying to do. Are you talking about exporting different layers out into individual jpeg files?

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • conroy
    Currently Being Moderated
    4. conroy,
    Jun 26, 2012 3:57 PM   in reply to WidmarkRob
    Report

    Can I make a selection around multiple layers, i.e. buttons, other pictures, etc.?!

     

     

    Mac:

    Shift+Cmd click on layer thumbnail to add the layer's pixels to current selection.

    Opt+Cmd click to remove from selection.

    Opt+Shift+Cmd click to intersect with selection.

     

    Windows:

    I guess you substitute Alt for Opt, and Ctrl for Cmd.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • WidmarkRob
    Currently Being Moderated
    5. WidmarkRob,
    Jun 26, 2012 4:07 PM   in reply to Sharon Huang
    Report

    @Sharon… Yes!

     

    The banner itself was multiple layers… I merged all of those layers into one.

    Now, there are little tiny graphics (individual images, buttons) that  are now visible… Along with the banner.

     

    Creative Suite Extended 5.0

     

    File-->Scripting-->Export Layers to files…

     

    This brings up a dialog box.

     

    Will this dialog box automatically select, "each and every single layer that is visible"… And turn them into their own JPEG files?

     

    If so, I can start coding the template within minutes instead of hours doing this manually.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • WidmarkRob
    Currently Being Moderated
    6. WidmarkRob,
    Jun 26, 2012 4:08 PM   in reply to WidmarkRob
    Report

    Here Is the Template I Am Working with…

     

    index.jpg

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Sharon Huang
    Currently Being Moderated
    7. Sharon Huang,
    Jun 26, 2012 4:16 PM   in reply to WidmarkRob
    Report

    I just tested it out. It worked for me. I am using CS6 and I have an option that says "visible layers only". By default that option is NOT checked. So just make proper adjustments to your diaglogue box. After clicking "Run", all the layers are exported as individual jpeg files.

     

    Not sure if this applies to you, but the layers that I had used Ctrl-alt-g to group them with the previous one exported as blank files.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • WidmarkRob
    Currently Being Moderated
    8. WidmarkRob,
    Jun 26, 2012 4:28 PM   in reply to Sharon Huang
    Report

    Right on! Groovy!

     

    @Sharon… You rock!

     

    Here is my side note question:

    The Original PSD is 775 pixels across, 950 pixels down…

     

    I'm guessing each individual layer that gets exported into its own JPEG file is going to use this document size.

     

    Will that document size have any effect on load times for a webpage?

     

    Do I need to crop the document size to make these individual JPEG files load faster?

    Or

    The document size won't matter, only the original layers size will matter?

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Sharon Huang
    Currently Being Moderated
    9. Sharon Huang,
    Jun 26, 2012 4:34 PM   in reply to WidmarkRob
    Report

    All the layer jpegs that you exported will adopt the dimensions of the original canvas, so every layer you export will have the same dimensions. I am not sure how much that would affect the speed for loading a webpage, but depending on how big the layer files are you may want to crop them to reduce as much as possible.

     
    |
    Mark as:
Actions

More Like This

  • Retrieving data ...

Bookmarked By (0)

Answers + Points = Status

  • 10 points awarded for Correct Answers
  • 5 points awarded for Helpful Answers
  • 10,000+ points
  • 1,001-10,000 points
  • 501-1,000 points
  • 5-500 points