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Farmer Le
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Multiple Layer Selection in Photoshop Elements 10

Jul 23, 2012 10:21 AM

Tags: #photoshop_elements_10 #layer_selection #control_key

I used Photoshop CS3 at work, Now I have retired I have started to use PS-Elements 10; can't afford the real thing!. I thought Elements would be much the same as CS3 for fairly simple jobs.

 

I am unable to select multiple layers. I select a layer and then, holding down the control key, select another layer. The first layer is de-selected and the second is selected. I can use "Select"-> "All Layers" but then I am still unable to deselect the layers individually. I know this must be something I am doing wrong but I am at a loss to know what! Help!!

796 Views   14 Replies   Latest reply: photodrawken, Jul 24, 2012 8:49 AM
 
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  • 99jon
    10,084 posts
    Jan 6, 2010
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    1. 99jon,
    Jul 23, 2012 10:32 AM   in reply to Farmer Le
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    As you can imagine PSE10 is not as powerful as CS6. You can shift-click the top and bottom layers to select all although your options are limited as most menus will be grayed out.

     

    It is possible to use clipping layers which will probably be more effective.

     

     

     
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  • Barbara B.
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    2. Barbara B.,
    Jul 23, 2012 10:45 AM   in reply to Farmer Le
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    In windows the ctrl key should work. Here I just selected multiple layers on a mac, using the command key:

    Screen Shot 2012-07-23 at 1.43.55 PM.png

     
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  • Farmer Le
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    3. Farmer Le,
    Jul 23, 2012 11:00 AM   in reply to Barbara B.
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    Thanks for the speedy replies.

     

    That is what I expected, Barbara B, but the control key does not work for me. I am using a PC though.

     

    My computer is an Intel i7 3.4GHz with 8 GB of RAM running Windows 7 64 bit. Windows experience index of 7.8.  It is obviously powerful enough to cope.

     

    I have Premiere Elements 10 and the control key works OK in conjuction with the mouse on this.

     

    Is this a bug? Has it been reported elsewhere?

     

    I will suspend activation and try the software on my laptop.

     
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  • photodrawken
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    4. photodrawken,
    Jul 23, 2012 11:42 AM   in reply to Farmer Le
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    Reset the Editor's Preferences:  Hold down the Ctrl+Alt+Shift keys when launching the Editor, and keep the keys held down until you see the prompt asking if you want to delete the Preferences.  Answer "Yes" and they will be rebuilt.  You might have to minimize any open windows to see that prompt.

     

    Ken

     
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  • Farmer Le
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    5. Farmer Le,
    Jul 23, 2012 12:30 PM   in reply to photodrawken
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    Hi thanks fot the tip but I am not quite sure what you mean. I start Photoshop Elements and I get a screen offering "Organize" and "Edit". At that point do I hold down Ctrl+Alt+Shift and click on edit? I have done this and nothing happens. I am probably being stupid!

     
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  • 99jon
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    Jan 6, 2010
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    6. 99jon,
    Jul 23, 2012 12:37 PM   in reply to Farmer Le
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    Keep holding down the three keys until you minimize the welcome screen and look behind it.

     

    Then click Yes.

     
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  • Farmer Le
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    7. Farmer Le,
    Jul 23, 2012 1:00 PM   in reply to 99jon
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    This is not working for me! If I hold all three keys down (Ctrl+Alt+Shift keys) and try to start Photoshop Elements I just get the Windows property box. If I start Photoshop Elements I get the welcome screen, then I select "Edit" whilst holding down Ctrl+Alt+Shift keys it just starts normally.

     

    I have tried running in XP compatibility mode but to no avail; just the same problem; individual layers can be selected but not multiple layers using the control key.

     
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  • Barbara B.
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    8. Barbara B.,
    Jul 23, 2012 1:24 PM   in reply to Farmer Le
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    When the welcome screen is up, press and hold the keys and click Editor.

     
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  • photodrawken
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    9. photodrawken,
    Jul 23, 2012 3:16 PM   in reply to Farmer Le
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    If keeping the CAS keys held down doesn't bring up that prompt, you have a faulty Ctrl key on your keyboard.  Try using the other Ctrl key.

     

    Ken

     
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  • Farmer Le
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    10. Farmer Le,
    Jul 23, 2012 7:50 PM   in reply to photodrawken
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    Strange

    This will not work for me. I have checked out the keyboard with Word/Excel etc and all is OK. Tried a replacement keyboard, still the ame.

     

    Used the Windows on-screen keyboard (with sticky ctrl/alt/shift) and still the same. Just a problem with Photoshop Elements all the other software "sees" my keyboard and control key combinations.

     

    I will try a reinstallation.

     

    Thanks for the advice so far.

     
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  • Barbara B.
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    11. Barbara B.,
    Jul 23, 2012 8:02 PM   in reply to Farmer Le
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    Unfortunately, a reinstall will not delete the preferences.

     
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  • Barbara B.
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    12. Barbara B.,
    Jul 23, 2012 8:03 PM   in reply to Barbara B.
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    Try this: go into the program files and find the actual .exe file (in win 7 it just says "app" for the type), and double click that while holding down the keys. Keep them down.

     
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  • Farmer Le
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    13. Farmer Le,
    Jul 24, 2012 7:57 AM   in reply to Barbara B.
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    I have found the answer!

     

    A bit obscure but worth knowing about. I run two computers from the same keyboard and mouse. The second computer is a server for my farm and for reasons of security is pretty much firewalled from the internet but I access it and its screen using "Synergy" (http://synergy-foss.org/) via the network. Sounds complex but once you have got it up and running you can forget about it and your mouse and keyboard just move between computers as though they are one.

     

    Not with Photoshop though! This is what was causing the problem and was stoping the control key working.

     

    Disabling Synergy makes it work OK!

     

    All my other software is OK with Synergy.

     

    If I use a slower computer as the Synergy master and then use Photoshop on the Synergy slave the control key works even on a fast machine.

     

    Thanks for your help. I will now see if Synergy know about this kind of problem!

     
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  • photodrawken
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    14. photodrawken,
    Jul 24, 2012 8:49 AM   in reply to Farmer Le
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    Glad to hear that I was right -- it was a faulty Ctrl key, but in the software not the hardware.

     

    This question and discussion shows how important it is in troubleshooting for users to provide all the details of the problem and the system.  Leaving out details of goofball system configurations only wastes our time.  Just tell us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

     

    Ken

     
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