Skip navigation
Billy D Stagg
Billy D Stagg
Currently Being Moderated

Auto-select precision in Photoshop CS6 is incredibly frustrating

Jul 3, 2012 9:23 AM

Tags: #photoshop #issue #selection #layers #cs6 #auto-select #shape_layers

I have been using CS6 for a while now and one problem that I keep encountering is the auto-selection of shape layers. Trying to auto-select a layer that's within 10 pixels of a shape layer is impossible without having to zoom in. This is a little hard to explain without images... Cue image...

  Annoying-selection-issue.png

If you try to recreate the above image, where the black 20x20px rectangle is a shape and the red 38x38px rounded rectangle is rasterized pixels, you will see that auto-selecting the red rounded rectangle is impossible at 100%.

 

Is this intentional and just an issue for me? Selecting pixel layers in CS5 was never this annoying. It seems that shape layers have an invisible 10px area around them stopping you from selecting anything below them. This is so frustrating with pixel UI work.

 

I have hunted for a solution but haven't yet found one and there doesn't seem to be any options to disable either. Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

Billy

3122 Views   15 Replies   Latest reply: Ulrik - Siteimprove, Sep 25, 2012 6:03 AM
 
Replies
  • 67Tommy Guns
    Currently Being Moderated
    1. 67Tommy Guns,
    Jul 6, 2012 11:38 AM   in reply to Billy D Stagg
    Report

    It is frustrating indeed.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • conroy
    Currently Being Moderated
    2. conroy,
    Jul 9, 2012 8:02 PM   in reply to Billy D Stagg
    Report

    I'm using a Mac where right-clicking or pressing Ctrl as you left-click on the red or black will pop up a menu from which you can pick the desired layer.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Noel Carboni
    21,000 posts
    Dec 23, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    3. Noel Carboni,
    Jul 9, 2012 9:07 PM   in reply to Billy D Stagg
    Report

    I gave up on Auto-Select long ago and just choose my layers first (e.g., by the means Conroy above has suggested, which also work on PC, or clicking the layer in the Layers panel).

     

    Seems like a bug that ought to be fixed, for those who wish to use Auto-Select.

     

    -Noel

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Hudechrome
    Currently Being Moderated
    4. Hudechrome,
    Jul 9, 2012 9:13 PM   in reply to Noel Carboni
    Report

    For the PC you Right Click Ctrl to get to the layer selection menu. Left click+Ctrl doesn't work

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Noel Carboni
    21,000 posts
    Dec 23, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    5. Noel Carboni,
    Jul 9, 2012 9:21 PM   in reply to Hudechrome
    Report

    Control - Left Click works for me to select the layer the mouse is over.

     

    However, in this case, you're right, Control - Left Click exhibits the same problem as is being described above - it selects the black shape.

     

    -Noel

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • PECourtejoie
    4,758 posts
    Jan 11, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    6. PECourtejoie,
    Jul 10, 2012 12:27 AM   in reply to Hudechrome
    Report

    Lawrence, hence the mention of "on a Mac":

    As on a Mac, CTRL-Left click is an alternate way to perform a Right-click.

    The corresponding Mac Key to the Pc's CTRL is Command, usually shortened to CMD.

     

    The confusing part of this discussion is that, on a Pc, to temporarily switch to the Move tool when using another one, one holds down the CTRL key, and can left-click to target a layer, if auto-select is on. On a Mac, one would do a CMD-left click.

     

    For more platform peculiarities and their correspondance to the other platform, check out this thread: http://forums.adobe.com/thread/946377?tstart=0 where I'm trying to gather them to make a document.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • PECourtejoie
    4,758 posts
    Jan 11, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    7. PECourtejoie,
    Jul 10, 2012 12:29 AM   in reply to Billy D Stagg
    Report

    Hello, Billy, I suggest that you search for this issue on the http://feedback.photoshop.com, or create a new thread on the topic.

     

    On Illustrator, there is a preference for the "sensivity" of the smart guides, one could imagine one for the auto-select custom shapes.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Billy D Stagg
    Currently Being Moderated
    8. Billy D Stagg,
    Jul 10, 2012 3:23 AM   in reply to conroy
    Report

    The talk of different ways to select layers is all well but doesn't really solve the problem. Most of my Photoshop documents contain litrally hundreds of layers where a list of a hundred layer names just isn't as useful or efficient as ctrl click (cmd click on a mac) - and I am used to selecting areas smaller than 10px squared one after the other in quick secession (UI arrows and icons are a prime example).

     

    I feel the point has been missed slightly because CS5 never had the problem so as a power user I shouldn't really have to change the way I work. I have used photoshop for over 15 years, given talks and tutorials to universirties and use it on a daily basis. This issue is even an intentional addition to make selection easier for those who need it, or as Noel suggested, a bug. Either way it ought to be fixed or at least have a sensitivity option as Illustrator does.

     

    B

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Hudechrome
    Currently Being Moderated
    9. Hudechrome,
    Jul 10, 2012 5:27 AM   in reply to PECourtejoie
    Report

    A good example of why mixing Mac and PC in the same thread can be so confusing.

     

    My comment here is merely to indicate what I see when I do the various functions described. I have no position as to a bug or whatever.

     

    When I Ctrl-Left click on the Layers palette, I indeed get to select any or all the layers, including linking them up which then shows up when you Ctrl-Right Click on the image. At that point I can revert to a particular layer, if I wish.

     

    I have not been aware of this function, and as it stands, appears to be a useful function. It moves things along better for my work. However, I seldom use Layers for other than Adjustment so the OP's problem would not show.

     

    Too bad I have uninstalled CS5. It would be interesting to see the difference.

     

    So far as changes affecting power users, see the new (Ugh!) crop tool. I have many more steps to take to do a simple crop, and the result to my workflow similar to Billy's. Try to crop 10px off the bottom or sides of an image and know you nailed it without having to deselect the tool to get rid of the (no longer martching) ants.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Noel Carboni
    21,000 posts
    Dec 23, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    10. Noel Carboni,
    Jul 10, 2012 5:32 AM   in reply to PECourtejoie
    Report

    I didn't miss the point - I'd call it a bug.

     

    Seems to me the theme of the Photoshop CS6 release is at least partially "increased precision".  This pretty much flies in the face of that.

     

    -Noel

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • charles badland
    Currently Being Moderated
    11. charles badland,
    Jul 10, 2012 5:55 AM   in reply to Noel Carboni
    Report

    Yeah. It's a bug that was brought up earlier... I bet you see fixed in a CS6 update.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • akrisdall
    Currently Being Moderated
    12. akrisdall,
    Jul 23, 2012 9:13 AM   in reply to Billy D Stagg
    Report

    Just a me-too. Really messing with my workflow (mac).

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • WarrenWANdisco
    Currently Being Moderated
    13. WarrenWANdisco,
    Sep 13, 2012 4:22 AM   in reply to Billy D Stagg
    Report

    Wow this is a very annoying feature.

     

    I've replied to this post here:

     

    http://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/auto_select_bug

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • charles badland
    Currently Being Moderated
    14. charles badland,
    Sep 13, 2012 6:04 AM   in reply to charles badland
    Report

    ... I bet you see fixed in a CS6 update.

    looks like I'd lose that bet.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Ulrik - Siteimprove
    Currently Being Moderated
    15. Ulrik - Siteimprove,
    Sep 25, 2012 6:03 AM   in reply to Billy D Stagg
    Report

    We have reported this frustrating issue on the problems board, and it's gathering traction. So if you find this "feature" extremely frustrating as well, please show your support there:

     

    http://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/move_tool_annoya nce_un_precise_targeting

     
    |
    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