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Inspiring
July 13, 2011
Released

P: Don't understand the undo/redo system

  • July 13, 2011
  • 81 replies
  • 5319 views

Unlike most modern apps, Photoshop only has a single "undo". If you press command-z a second time, Photoshop will redo the change instead of continuing to undo. Not even Illustrator or InDesign works this way at this point.

To work around this issue, I customize my keyboard shortcuts to use "step backward" (command-z) and "step forward" (command-shift-z). For the most part this works great and I've been very happy with it.

But it brings up a new problem: if I change the selected layer, then press command-z ("step backward") then the layer change is undone as well. This is a constant frustration for me, and it seems there's no solution to get both the behaviors I want.

To me, there are two possible ways to fix this problem:
• Adopt a standard undo/redo system with multiple levels of undo/redo
• Make layer selection a separate step in the history

Personally I don't care that much, I'd be happy with either. But adopting a standard undo/redo system makes more sense to me, for consistency amongst the CS apps (as well as other apps). Perhaps it could be an option if there's disagreement over what works best for people.

    81 replies

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    A
    Allen_W
    Known Participant
    December 1, 2014
    this has been a major complaint for many years. but adobe has done nothing. if adobe can comment on this and say they will fix it in the next version, it would be awesome. but so far, no hope.

    adobe seems to be more focussed on adding new features than to reexamine and improve workflow.
    Smoothjunk
    Smoothjunk
    Participant
    December 1, 2014


    I am constantly stepping backwards. One of my biggest gripes with PS is when you select a layer, mark the layer some how (with a brush stroke for example), then step backwards, it does not stay on the layer you selected, instead reverts back to the layer you were on previously. Please Adobe, revert the change made to the layer, not the layer selected prior to the mark. That is two actions in my opinion and should be treated as such.
    Is this a known issue? Something Adobe is currently fixing? Am I making any sense?
    yoyo34000
    yoyo34000
    Participating Frequently
    May 22, 2014
    This does not really explain why they would remove the good old undo. They could have very well kept it and make this "before after" feature another single function (the "compare function").
    It was then more straightforward, and avoiding this torrent of disappointed people 😛
    limandy444
    limandy444
    Participant
    May 22, 2014
    Hihi
    A
    Allen_W
    Known Participant
    May 22, 2014
    the reason adobe has the default undo function designed the current way is to enable the user to easily toggle any new changes back-and-forth so the user can easily decide on changes. but this causes problems for users that need a more standard undo system--particularly for users such as painters and illustrators who make lots of brush strokes.

    a better approach to the default undo system is to make it work more like "step backward" and give users single-key shortcuts for each undo and redo [such as press Z for undo and press X for redo]. this will maintain the convenience of toggling back and forth while simultaneously allowing the convenience of multiple undos and redos.

    if adobe will ever make the default undo system work more like "step backward" as outlined above, perhaps adobe will have more incentive to fix this "wrong layer selection" problem.
    limandy444
    limandy444
    Participant
    May 22, 2014
    Okok
    A
    Allen_W
    Known Participant
    May 22, 2014
    what are the "free artboard movement" tweaks?
    limandy444
    limandy444
    Participant
    May 22, 2014
    Hihi
    A
    Allen_W
    Known Participant
    May 22, 2014
    with that keyboard shortcut problem, what version of photoshop are you using?
    fruityth1ng
    fruityth1ng
    Inspiring
    May 22, 2014
    Let's be frank, the fact that this is still an issue is EMBARRASSING. It's a stubborn headed non-response by *someone* at the photoshop team sticking to their guns, holding that this is the "correct" design. It is not, and people are noticing. I'm unfollowing this topic since it is hopeless, some designers' pride is taking prevalence over usability here. I'll just install the polycount script on every new release of photoshop. Like the "free artboard movement" tweaks that are needed with every new release, too. Adobe, you're making software for professionals, is the learning curve of photoshop really your main hurdle to more sales?
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