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marcbjango
marcbjango
Known Participant
March 30, 2011
Released

P: Please add the ability for Command-J to dupe layers and layer groups

  • March 30, 2011
  • 53 replies
  • 2021 views

Command-J duplicates the entire current layer, or a portion of the current layer, if there’s a selection. It’s a great feature, and one I use daily.

For some strange reason, Command-J doesn’t do anything when there’s two layers or a layer group selected. Why? I realise there’s probably a decent technical reason for this, but a context sensitive “just dupe it” command would be really handy, even if it’s actually several different methods behind the scenes.

Is now a good time to mention that the Layer menu already contains an item that does most of these things, but it doesn’t have a keyboard shortcut by default? Pre-emptive strike: Assigning a keyboard shortcut wouldn’t help, as the menu item doesn’t duplicate selections within a layer (Command-J does).


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    53 replies

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    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    November 2, 2011
    Very good idea and solution. But i have a problem, I added it its directory but it doesn't appear in File > Scripts menu.
    Reynolds__Mark_
    Reynolds__Mark_
    Inspiring
    October 10, 2011
    This has been asked for many times. The fact that Command J on a Layer Group does nothing is not consistent. There is also no practical or technical reason why this couldn't be implemented as art of the app.

    Why was this left out? The command J shortcut was available from the very early versions of Photoshop to duplicate layers, it's not a recent addition. Layer "Sets" (layer called Groups) were introduced first of all I believe in Photoshop version 6. At this point it probably didn't occur to anyone to extend this functionality to Groups. And it's never been added. Just an oversight as far as I can see.
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    September 30, 2011
    DaveP - out of curiosity - would you name one professional image editing program that is in the same league with Photoshop today? No challenge intended here - just wondering.
    Y
    Yelnats1
    Known Participant
    September 30, 2011
    try{}catch(e){}
    ^ that's the extent of the code I wrote. The rest I just copied from a Photoshop plugin that spits out a chunk of code every time something.is done in Photoshop.

    That doesn't make me a programmer any more than painting a few brush strokes makes me an artist.

    Scripting is just another tool, and it can be used by an artist. I'm sure there are some who think artists shouldn't use a computer at all.
    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 30, 2011
    I guess I’m just being cantankerous, so please ignore the last post.
    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 30, 2011
    »There is NO one program that is the best at anything«
    While it is certainly possible for other programs to be the equal or superior in any one or all aspects it would seem to me that that does not at all rule out the possibility for relative superiority at all.
    Comparison can be used to arrive at a ranking of the objects of said comparison, so your statement seems peculiar.

    Edit: But maybe I misunderstand ...
    D
    dav3punk
    Participating Frequently
    September 30, 2011
    Certain programmers don't feel like learning how to paint either because they are busy thinking they are smarter than everyone else...one can maintain their tools just fine without scripting.

    There is NO one program that is the best at anything or does everything perfectly. Some functions are intuitive, but there are many features that are completely unintuitive. Photoshop has a Legacy of being the first, but like many other software packages is getting bloated with useless features and not refining its current workflows. It's like saying Microsoft Word is the best word processing software.
    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 30, 2011
    »Programmers script. Artists do not.«
    If certain artists don’t feel like learning to use and maintain their tools they may have high brush-related-expenses ...

    »"Photoshop the most intuitive, user friendly and complete image editing program in the World" - not sure where that came from, but this is NOT entirely accurate.«
    Then please do tell, which program is?
    Edward Caruso Photography
    Edward Caruso Photography
    Participating Frequently
    September 30, 2011
    i agree with you. command-j should dupe a layer. it always annoyed me that it didn't. but for awhile, maybe 6 months ago i loaded a script, assigned command-j to it and now it dupes a layer or a group. so i dont think about it anymore. i didn't have to make the script but i can enjoy the workflow productivity it brings. there are bigger issues to me that i'd like addressed - so if his can be solved by a workaround that ends up being the same key command as the ideal behavior - i'm ready to let it be.
    D
    dav3punk
    Participating Frequently
    September 30, 2011
    The scripting is not an issue, but not every one CAN or WANTS to script- especially something as basic as this. Programmers script. Artists do not. I agree the script is a solution that works. The issue is that Photoshop already has the duplication functionality that works with layers, and it should automatically work with anything within the layers panel. Hardly a pet feature. Scripting something like this is really just a band-aid for functionality that isn't a complete thought. I guess this is a common result of working ON the program- not in the program.

    "Photoshop the most intuitive, user friendly and complete image editing program in the World" - not sure where that came from, but this is NOT entirely accurate.
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