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liilac4268
Known Participant
February 15, 2021
Question

'Deselect' unavailable for move tool

  • February 15, 2021
  • 5 replies
  • 3096 views

For some reason the Deselect menu option (and shortcut) are both unavailable. I'm trying to move, transform and deselect various objects. Thanks!

 

 

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5 replies

c.pfaffenbichler
Community Expert
c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 16, 2021

One can record deselecting the current Layer into an Action and assign the Action a Shortcut, I guess. 

jane-e
Community Expert
jane-eCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 15, 2021

Hi,

As others have said, you do not have an active selection (marching ants). It appears that you may have a Path selected. Open the Paths panel from the Window menu and click in a blank area to deselect. You can also use the Path Selection tool ("A") , the black arrow.

 

Show your Paths and Layers panels if you need more help.

 

EDIT: I don't see the Path Selection tool in your toolbar. Go to Edit > Toolbars and either Restore the toolbar OR drag the Path Selection and Direct Selection tools to your toolbar if you plan to work with Paths.

 

~ Jane

 

 

 

 

 

    L
    liilac4268Author
    Known Participant
    February 15, 2021

    I'm not working with Paths. I want to select various layers by clicking on them, and then move them... then deselect when I'm done so that I can see my painting without the blue Transform controls. 

     

    I have "Show Transform Controls" checked, otherwise I don't see what I've selected. I don't want to toggle this setting every time I want to glance at my drawing without transform controls showing since I want to switch often between moving items and seeing my screen without anything selected.

     

     

    L
    liilac4268Author
    Known Participant
    February 15, 2021

    I also want to be able to deselect so that I can select another item close by, otherwise I can't click a nearby object and my cursor looks like this:

     

     

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 15, 2021

    Unchecking »Show Transform Controls« in the Options Bar for the Move Tool or unchecking View > Extras (cmd-H) might help evaluate a Layout without having to see the Transform Controls if that is what irritates you. 

    L
    liilac4268Author
    Known Participant
    February 15, 2021

    That's not a great solution since I'd have to remember to turn Extras back on. Yes, that's my issue. I'm trying to select and move various layers then deselect (for lack of a better word) to view my progress without the Transform box distracting me. I'm surprised this option doesn't exist.

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 16, 2021

    You can unselect the active Layer by cmd-clicking its name in the Layers Panel. 

    Chuck Uebele
    Community Expert
    Chuck UebeleCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 15, 2021

    As c.pfaffenbichler mentioned, that is only for selections. You can't and don't deselect a layer when you're moving it, with the move tool. You either stop using the move tool, or select a different layer.

      c.pfaffenbichler
      Community Expert
      c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 15, 2021

      When no Selection is active Select > Deselect can naturally not be invoked. 

      And this refers to Selections in the sense of »marching ants«. 

        L
        liilac4268Author
        Known Participant
        February 15, 2021

        Perhaps Selection is the wrong term, I want to select various layers by clicking on them and then move them... then deselect when I'm done so that I can see my painting without the blue Transform controls. How do I deselect a layer when I'm done? I used to be able to hit Cmd-D (on Mac).

         

        I have "Show Transform Controls" checked, otherwise I don't see what I've selected. I don't want to toggle this setting every time I want to glance at my drawing without transform controls showing since I want to switch often between moving items and seeing my screen without anything selected.

         

        c.pfaffenbichler
        Community Expert
        c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        February 15, 2021

        »I used to be able to hit Cmd-D (on Mac).«

        I already explained that that command, by default, refers to Selections, not selected Layers. 

         

        »I have "Show Transform Controls" checked, otherwise I don't see what I've selected.«

        Have you considered using the Layers Panel to track which Layer/s you have selected? 

        The Transform Controls are, in my opinion, image degradation waiting to happen. 

         

        And again: cmd-H can be used to hide extras. 

         

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