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nickh6568718
Participant
January 16, 2017
Answered

can I 'drag select' layers WITHOUT being effected by their mask bounds?

  • January 16, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 647 views

Hi

I use drag select all the time, but when i have a bunch of layers that are being masked, their masks always get in the way of what I'm trying to select 😕😕

Is there a way/preference that will just select what is viewable on the screen and ignore the bounds of the masks?  this would be VERY helpful

thanks!

Nick

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer JJMack

You video show you are using the move tool with auto select layers and it looks like you are selecting multiple layers the way the layers palette is targeting several layers.

3 replies

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mjbelt
Participating Frequently
January 16, 2017

Good Morning! If you hide the layer (click on eye in layer) w/mask will not be selected. However, there is NO 1 click preference to turn it off. There are other solutions as "robbybor" mentioned in thread above. 

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robbybor
Inspiring
January 16, 2017

Hi, the problem is not about masks bound, also if you haven't a mask Ps will consider anyway the bounding-box of a shape in a layer when you make the drag-select. There are many solution just to avoid selecting a layer with dragging (lock it for example and after use the layer filtering system to find quickly all the locked layers) but if you make a drag-select Ps will ever consider the bounding-box area of a shape/image.

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nickh6568718Author
Participant
January 16, 2017

Hi, yes i know about locking them. However, locking and unlocking selected layers to stop them being selected isn't ideal.

I was hoping there was a way of getting photoshop to ignore the mask bounds - but i guess not.

JJMack
Community Expert
JJMackCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 16, 2017

Masking can be be done many ways.  Layers can have many masks. Masks can be linked to the layers content or not.  There can be a smart filter mask and there can be masks on the groups the layer falls under.  Masking effects can be turned off and on like a layers visibility can be.  Masking is very versatile.  You need to get a better handle one the subject.

JJMack
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nickh6568718Author
Participant
January 16, 2017

Thanks for that. Sorry if I didn't explain it that well. Ive made a little video that hopefully explains a bit better.

When I drag select the layers, the mask of Rectangle 1 triggers that layer to be selected (which i don't want to happen).

hope that helps clarify

thanks

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JJMack
Community Expert
JJMackCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
January 16, 2017

You video show you are using the move tool with auto select layers and it looks like you are selecting multiple layers the way the layers palette is targeting several layers.

JJMack
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