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1. Re: Change attributes of several layers at once
Gyno-jiz Oct 16, 2009 3:50 PM (in response to photon poet)Take a look at layer styles. You can change multiple layers' attributes very quickly.
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Photoshop/11.0/WSfd1234e1c4b69f30ea53e41001031ab64-789ba.html
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2. Re: Change attributes of several layers at once
photon poet Oct 16, 2009 4:08 PM (in response to Gyno-jiz)Hi J,
I use layer styles all day every day.
Yes, they can be applied to several layers at once.
No, they cannot be edited for several layers at once.
If a layer has had it's transparency set, either directly or with a layer style, applying a layer style to it will not alter the transparency.
So no, layer styles can't be used to change the attributes of many layers quickly.
Layer styles are very useful for applying a finished style to multiple layers, but they're much less powerful when you want to explore what effects look best on dozens of layers at once.
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3. Re: Change attributes of several layers at once
Gyno-jiz Oct 16, 2009 11:18 PM (in response to photon poet)"So no, layer styles can't be used to change the attributes of many layers quickly"
Change one, set style, select many, apply style. I think we're in agreement that layer styles need an overhaul, of course.
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4. Re: Change attributes of several layers at once
Reynolds (Mark) Oct 17, 2009 8:06 AM (in response to Gyno-jiz)Aha - check out this Configurator panel …
http://lcdlagtester.googlepages.com/blendingmodepanel
Its allows you to change blend modes on highlighted layers with a single click. I don't think there is any way other than Layer Styles and the Styles panel, or even scripting - to change Opacities all at once.
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5. Re: Change attributes of several layers at once
photon poet Oct 18, 2009 3:35 PM (in response to Gyno-jiz)"Change one, set style, select many, apply style."
Yes, yes! That's the problem exactly!
When 'many' = 32 shape layers* and the style in question ends up needing to be tweaked many times, it makes for a day of mind-numbing layer selecting.
* in a psd with 55 shape layers**, so Select>Similar Layers doesn't help much.
** true example from last week.
"I think we're in agreement that layer styles need an overhaul, of course."
Hear, hear! Something like InDesign object styles, which can be edited, duplicated, inherited and live-updated, would be wonderful.
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6. Re: Change attributes of several layers at once
photon poet Oct 18, 2009 3:36 PM (in response to Reynolds (Mark))Mark, that's a good tip, Thanks.
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7. Re: Change attributes of several layers at once
Gyno-jiz Oct 18, 2009 5:13 PM (in response to photon poet)John Nack did mention layer management updates in CS5. In the meantime don't overlook layer linking and groups to help with your layer selection woes.
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8. Re: Change attributes of several layers at once
photon poet Oct 18, 2009 8:54 PM (in response to Gyno-jiz)J Maloney wrote:
John Nack did mention layer management updates in CS5.
Yes, it's good to hear.
I'll be very interested to see what they come up with.
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9. Re: Change attributes of several layers at once
Reynolds (Mark) Oct 19, 2009 5:01 AM (in response to photon poet)Actually what I said earlier is not completely correct - was said ealier by others. You Can copy and paste Layer Styles. Copying the 'style' also copies mode and opacity. Just Control (mac) or right click (mouse or PC) on a layer and Copy and Paste 'Styles' become available. So its possible to paste any copied fill or master opacity to multiple layers.
John Nack did mention layer management updates in CS5.
Hmmm - so hopefully this is not another example of them screwing up something that doesn't need messing with. Best to give them the benefit of the doubt I guess- but its a worrying development, when layer management and organisation is one of the best implemented things in the whole app.
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10. Re: Change attributes of several layers at once
photon poet Oct 19, 2009 1:56 PM (in response to Reynolds (Mark))Reynolds (Mark) wrote:
Actually what I said earlier is not completely correct - was said ealier by others. You Can copy and paste Layer Styles. Copying the 'style' also copies mode and opacity. Just Control (mac) or right click (mouse or PC) on a layer and Copy and Paste 'Styles' become available. So its possible to paste any copied fill or master opacity to multiple layers.
Copy and Paste layer styles works great, for a handful of layers. If you have to select, deselect and reselect many layers over and over, it's murder.
Links are a handy way of having sets of layers you can easily select in one action - but it means that they move together. The set of layers that should move together is often not the same as the set of layers that should look alike.
John Nack did mention layer management updates in CS5.
Hmmm - so hopefully this is not another example of them screwing up something that doesn't need messing with. Best to give them the benefit of the doubt I guess- but its a worrying development, when layer management and organisation is one of the best implemented things in the whole app.
Likewise, I hope they don't screw it up, but I can assure you that it does need messing with.
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11. Re: Change attributes of several layers at once
Reynolds (Mark) Oct 19, 2009 3:13 PM (in response to photon poet)Copy and Paste layer styles works great, for a handful of layers. If
you have to select, deselect and reselect many layers over and over,
it's murder.K heres some layer selection tips.
• holding down the shift key will select consecutive layers and all between the two highlighted. Command selects single layers and adds them to the selection.
• 'select all layers is available' from the Select menu, this can be shortcutted - others unwanted can then be deselected quickly with the command key. Remember Smart Objects can be used to EMBED layer groups so that these shortcuts become more useful
• pressing option left and right bracket [ ] will selected the next layer up and down the stack. Adding SHIFT to this will add to the selection
• Option Shift , and . (thats command and stop) will select all layers above and below a certain point
Marks Book of Photoshop Basic Tips may very well be on the shelves shortly, I hope to be soon living in a million dollar Kelby style 'million dollar' empire style mansion.
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12. Re: Change attributes of several layers at once
Chris Cox Oct 19, 2009 3:17 PM (in response to Reynolds (Mark))Good idea. There are a number of things that you can't do to groups of layers right now (change blend mode, change opacity, etc.), and we need to make the process easier.
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13. Re: Change attributes of several layers at once
Reynolds (Mark) Oct 19, 2009 3:33 PM (in response to Chris Cox)Great go for it. But please don't take the mince pies away this time Santa.
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14. Re: Change attributes of several layers at once
photon poet Oct 19, 2009 7:55 PM (in response to Chris Cox)Chris Cox wrote:
Good idea. There are a number of things that you can't do to groups of layers right now (change blend mode, change opacity, etc.), and we need to make the process easier.
Sweet
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15. Re: Change attributes of several layers at once
photon poet Oct 19, 2009 7:57 PM (in response to Reynolds (Mark))Reynolds (Mark) wrote:
Great go for it. But please don't take the mince pies away this time Santa.
Mince pies?!?! Which edition of CS comes with mince pies?!?
Can I get shortbread?
Or a cherry-custard danish?




