10 Replies Latest reply: Dec 21, 2011 3:08 AM by toymaker1 RSS

    Layers wont highlight when selected

    toymaker1 Community Member

      Hello

      Can anyone help me. I am suddenly finding that when I select an object, the layer it is on will not turn blue, and seems not to activate. - the layer turns grey, but not blue.

      I find that if I double click on the layer to select the blending options window, then the layer turns blue. I might be doing something wrongf, but I dont know what it is.

       

      Does anyone have any suggestions to resolve this problem?

       

      Thanks.

        • 1. Re: Layers wont highlight when selected
          c.pfaffenbichler Community Member

          I am suddenly finding that when I select an object, the layer it is on will not turn blue, and seems not to activate.

          Select how exactly?

          • 2. Re: Layers wont highlight when selected
            toymaker1 Community Member

            Hello

            In Photoshop CS4 I am using a wacom pen with the pencil tool to make a drawing which is then colored with the paintbucket tool. Each part of the drawing is done on a separate layer, then the layers are duplicated and merged to form the final drawing ready to be colored.

            Normally, when I work on the line art of the drawing I select the layer with the bit of the drawing I want to work on, and that layer turns blue and activates, that is, the bit of the drawing I want appears on the Mac monitor screen and I carry on drawing, scaling etc.

            What is now happening is that when I select the layer, it turns grey and not blue. When I click on the visibility/eye button, I can see the artwork but I cant transform it. If I double click on the layers panel to bring up the layers styles/blend modes panel, then click OK, the layer will then turn blue and i can work on that layer. I have to do this each time for each layer.

            I hope I have put this clearly.

             

            Regards.

            • 3. Re: Layers wont highlight when selected
              c.pfaffenbichler Community Member

              I use CS5, so I may not be able to reproduce the issue at all.

              Is a Channel other than the Composite Channel (and its associated Channels) in the Channels Panel selected?

               

              Have you run the usual trouble-shooting routines yet (trashing prefs by keeping command-alt-shift pressed while starting Photoshop, 3rd party plug-ins deactivation, system maintenance, font validation, etc.)?

               

              Could you please post a screenshot with the pertinent Panels visible?

               

              then the layers are duplicated and merged to form the final drawing ready to be colored.

              Are there many other Layers visible that make command-alt-shift-E not applicable for flattening here?

              • 4. Re: Layers wont highlight when selected
                toymaker1 Community Member

                Hello

                This first screen shot shows the drawing with one layer (the reins of the horse) closed.

                Screen shot 2011-12-21 at 09.19.11.png

                This next screenshot shows I have clicked on the eye/visibility button on the reins layer to show that layer, but you can see that the layer is grey, when it would normally be blue. When it is grey, I cant do anythng with that layer, except see it.

                Screen shot 2011-12-21 at 09.21.14.png

                The next screenshot shows that I have double clicked on the grey colored reins layer, to open the layer styles/blend mode panel, which you can see in front of the art work. You can see that the reins layer has now turned blue, to show it is active.

                Screen shot 2011-12-21 at 09.21.45.pngScreen shot 2011-12-21 at 09.23.19.png

                This next screenshot  (the one just above here) shows that I have moved the reins layer, to show that the blue reins layer is now active, and that I can transform the artwork on that layer. - But it only became active after I double clicked to open the blend mode panel.

                 

                The next screenshot shows the reins layer has been moved back to it's position, and I have clicked the visibility button the the layer containing the horse head, to make it invisible. You can see that the layer has turned grey, not blue, and I will now have to go through the process described above, to turn the layer blue and continue to work on the drawing.

                I have no idea why it has started to do this.

                Screen shot 2011-12-21 at 09.24.39.png

                • 5. Re: Layers wont highlight when selected
                  c.pfaffenbichler Community Member

                  Simply clicking on the name of the Layer in the Layers Panel does not suffice?

                   

                  And again: What about Channels?

                  Because the only way I found to get the gray »highlighting« in the Layers Panel is having an alpha channel selected.

                  • 6. Re: Layers wont highlight when selected
                    toymaker1 Community Member

                    Further to my last post,

                    I have trashed Photoshop prefs using cmd, alt, shift - but the problem remains.

                     

                    Regards.

                    • 7. Re: Layers wont highlight when selected
                      toymaker1 Community Member

                      Thanks for your response.

                      I dont normally use channels, so I am not totally sure how to do what you suggest.

                      Could you perhaps give a bit more detail about how to adjust the channels? - perhaps I inadvertently did something to a channel which has caused this problem, but I dont understand channels, so I dont ever use them. I have difficulty understanding anything technical.

                       

                      Thanks.

                      • 8. Re: Layers wont highlight when selected
                        c.pfaffenbichler Community Member

                        It does not seem likely, but in the Channels Panel are Channels other than RGB, Red, Green and Blue highlighted?

                        • 9. Re: Layers wont highlight when selected
                          R_Kelly Community Member

                          It looks like your in the Quick Mask mode (a temporary channel). Press the bottom button on the toolbox to exit, then you'll probably have to deselect the selection.

                           

                           

                          Untitled-1.png

                          • 10. Re: Layers wont highlight when selected
                            toymaker1 Community Member

                            Thanks for your response.

                            Brilliant!  As you said, I seem to have got into quick mask mode without knowing. The problem is now resolved.

                            I am very grateful to you for that help. That will help me in the future as well. the working day ahead will now be much more pleasant!

                             

                            Thanks also to c. pfaffenbichler.