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daisyw11459631
Known Participant
April 14, 2017
Question

Array tool Step Repeat command [2017] [CS6]

  • April 14, 2017
  • 6 replies
  • 31725 views

Been trying to use this tool /shortcuts 

I have it working but I am not getting a new layer all the repeats are on one layer I understand I should get each new copy on a new layer

using CS6 on a PC

does anyone know why I am not getting new layers for each copy?

6 replies

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 14, 2025

On a related note, I created a script for simple rectangular array layer stepping and repeating here:

 

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/creating-duplicate-images-for-multi-packs-on-online-marketplaces-within-photoshop/td-p/12511723/page/2

jane-e
Community Expert
jane-eCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 14, 2025

@Bojan Živković11378569 and @Stephen Marsh 

 

You have both replied today to an 8-year-old thread that somehow resurfaced. I'll go ahead and lock it.

 

Any users who have this same issue should please start a new thread where we will be happy to help. Thank you!

 

Jane

    T
    Theresa22302995yrol
    Participant
    December 17, 2021

    FYI - I know this is really old, however wanted to update what I have found.

     

    It will only make a new layer for each copy using these shortcut keys if the "Show Transform Controls" checkbox is UNCHECKED.

     

    I teach a class and have been doing this technique for years, however my students were all telling me it wasn't working. Through experimentation, I found this resolved my issue. For what it is worth...:)

      jane-e
      Community Expert
      jane-eCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      December 17, 2021

      @Theresa22302995yrol 

       

      Good to know and thanks for sharing! 😊

       

      Jane

      JJMack
      Community Expert
      JJMackCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 1, 2017

      As far as I know Shift Ctrl Alt T is not a standard Photoshop shortcut. And if you look at at my screen capture you will see that Ctrl+Shift+T transform Again work with the raster raster layer the was duped with the shortcut Ctrl+J.

      I did find it is....

      On my cc 2017 that shortcut  just does a transform again it does not dupe the layer. It does dupe the layer in CC 2014 the version I use.  So it just an other CC 2017 bug.   You can use the two shortcut method I showed in CC 2017 as a work around..

      Default keyboard shortcuts in Adobe Photoshop

      Transform selections, selection borders, and paths

      This partial list provides shortcuts that don’t appear in menu commands or tool tips.

      Result

      Windows

      macOS

      Transform from center or reflect

      Alt

      Option

      Constrain

      Shift

      Shift

      Distort

      Control

      Command

      Apply

      Enter

      Return

      Cancel

      Control + . (period) or Esc

      Command + . (period) or Esc

      Free transform with duplicate data

      Control + Alt + T

      Command + Option + T

      Transform again with duplicate data

      Control + Shift + Alt + T

      Command + Shift + Option + T

      https://www.google.com/search?q=Shortcut+Shift+Ctrl+Alt+T&oq=Shortcut+Shift+Ctrl+Alt+T&aqs=chrome..69i57j0.27479j0j8&sou…

      JJMack
      Trevor.Dennis
      Community Expert
      Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 2, 2017

      JJ, I have always heard Step & Repeat referred to as Photoshop's Hidden tool.  Check out what Scott Kelby says about it.  I suspect the reason it is not documented is that it tends to be down right flakey, and I am sure it is less reliable than it used to be.

      PHOTOSHOP'S HIDDEN STEP AND REPEAT | Greased Lightnin': Way Cool Tips | Peachpit

      JJMack
      Community Expert
      JJMackCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 2, 2017

      Yes I found it documented in Photoshop Help for Shortcut keys I posted that and also found Adobe broke the shortcut in CC 2017.  It does work in CC 2014 the version of Photoshop I use. Rotation can also be done better using Photoshop scripting to calculate the angle for a full 360 rotation in so many layers.

      Simply put there are too many Photoshop Shortcut keys for my little brain to remember.

      JJMack
      Trevor.Dennis
      Community Expert
      Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 15, 2017

      What is the layer you are trying top step & repeat?  It is only fully reliable with raster objects.  Shape layers and Smart objects are less reliable.  I think that Shape layers will repeat the object in the same layer.

      OK, I just tested, and Shape layers do repeat inside the same layer, but will work properly if you make the shape layer a Smart object.  However that limits what you can do when Transforming.  You can move the object, but resizing and rotation is not repeating for me. That all works OK if you rasterize the shape layer, but with the quality degradation with each copy

      Trevor.Dennis
      Community Expert
      Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 15, 2017

      It has just occurred to me that you are using CS6.  That means you can use the Trevor Morris Dmonzon Tools panel extension, which has an Array Generator.  My biggest regret about moving to CC is that I can no longer use that panel.

      12 New Photoshop Tools for CS6 (Updated for 13.0.1) – DMONZON

      dzgnr89
      dzgnr89
      Inspiring
      April 16, 2017

      I tried this method for radially arraying obejcts. It works for normal objects. But it does not work for smart objects. Any way to do this for normal objects?

      Norman Sanders
      Norman Sanders
      Legend
      April 15, 2017

      You may find this Tech Sheet reply to the post titled "How to make arrays or repeat objects in circle" useful.

      9. Re: How to make arrays or repeat objects in circle?

      c.pfaffenbichler
      Community Expert
      c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 14, 2017

      Please describe exactly what you are doing, step by step.

      Did you duplicate the Layer before transforming?

      D
      daisyw11459631Author
      Known Participant
      April 15, 2017

      On a PC with Photoshop CS5

      I am trying to get each item to be duplicated on a new layer from what i have seen on the youtube videos I should get a new layer for each copy i am getting all the copies on the same layer  it looks to do this on the videos  every time you hit the 't' key  while holding down Ctrl+Alt +'T'

      Starting with a blank doc  make a new layer  draw a shape/object on one layer  as a test

      I draw a rectangle with the marquee tool and filling it with a color  using the Ctrl +Alt+Shift dragging out a copy   

      everything is on the same layer   it all works but everything is on the original layer  

      then using the Ctrl +Alt +'T' get a copy (but everything is on the same layer not what i am looking for) 

      i understand from some other youtube videos if you wish to have control if you keep each copy on its own layer you can then use the edit tools in photoshop to adjust respace the whole layout  am i missing something out or is it a setting

      Bojan Živković11378569
      Community Expert
      Bojan Živković11378569Community Expert
      Community Expert
      May 14, 2025

      Ctrl + Alt + Shift won't do anything, by the way.

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