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Trinet_adobe
Participant
December 28, 2017
Question

Can't Select Clipping Mask Layers with Ctrl Click

  • December 28, 2017
  • 7 replies
  • 5326 views

Hello!

Since updating to the latest version of Photoshop CC, I have a problem that I can't figure out how to fix (and it is probably simple).

When using the Move Tool, I used to be able to Ctrl Click on any part of my image that is a Clipping Mask layer and it would highlight the Clipping Mask layer in the Layers panel. Now when I Ctrl Click on anything that is part of a Clipping Mask layer, it only chooses the base layer - the one everything is clipped to (sorry I may not be using the proper terms here )

Auto-Select is not checked and I have chosen "layer" from the dropdown. How can I fix this? My workflow is slowing by having to go search through the layers panel to choose the clipping mask layer I want to work with rather than being able to select clipping mask layers with a ctrl click.

I appreciate any help with this!!

Thanks,

Amy

    7 replies

    O
    oomloud
    Participant
    May 29, 2019

    What I've figured out is you cannot auto-select any of masked layers in case the mask layer is locked. So the solution is to unlock the master layer an then you can work as usual. I hope it's the case.

    H
    huen67365989
    Participant
    February 6, 2019

    I've the same issue. I've found a little tweak to that situation. If you want to select the layers which are clipped, you could move the invisible layers to the top of all clipped layers, you may select the ones that lies under them by ctrl-click or auto-select function as usual. Hope it help someone.

    andyg21407970
    andyg21407970
    Participant
    November 7, 2018

    Having the same issue now since I've upgraded to 2019. Worked fine on 2018.

    D
    duncanmunro67
    Participating Frequently
    January 29, 2018

    Same problem. Any answers... anyone?

    Flipline
    Flipline
    Inspiring
    January 15, 2018

    Having the same problem here, and kind of figured out where this bug is coming from:

    If you have multiple layers affected by the Clipping Mask, if any of those layers have visibility turned off, you can no longer control-click any of the masked layers above that one that has the visibility turned off (but can usually control-click masked layers that are BELOW the one with the visibility off).

    Definitely a bug with Photoshop, and really messes up my workflow.  Really annoying having to pay a monthly subscription for software that we can't use and have to constantly downgrade until updates are eventually rolled out.

      L
      lucfon
      Participant
      January 29, 2018

      Same problem, just tried what Flipline said aswell and get the same bug. If all layers are visible, clipped layers are selectable.

      But if any are hidden, I can only select the base layer.

      Super annoying and definitely slows the workflow

      D
      dip9881929
      Participating Frequently
      March 20, 2018

      Same problem it's SUPER annoying, Adobe, what is wrong? This used to work in previous versions!!!

      A
      aniket90D
      Participant
      January 10, 2018

      I'm having the same problem too. This is the second issue that i am facing after using CC. Think i have to downgrade to CS6. Please help!

      Silkrooster
      Silkrooster
      Legend
      December 28, 2017

      Someone else that has used this method will need to help. As it is escaping me at the moment. But from what I recall ctrl-click (on windows or cmd-click on mac) is suppose to select the entire layer, then in the layer it self you ctrl-click on the image thumbnail to create a selection of the image or what is visible. Ctrl-click the mask thumbnail to create a selection from the mask.

      Perhaps I don't work enough with clipping masks - if I am way off base, I apologize.

      kseniafed
      kseniafed
      Participant
      December 29, 2017

      It's not about selection - it's about choosing the layer that is clipped to another layer. I go the same problem with CC 2018 on my mac((( For example, I want to choose layer 12 or 13 and I click on visible parts of my work with cmnd/cntrl (autoselect layer), but it still selects only the base Layer 6. Extremely annoying((((

        O
        olga08
        Participant
        January 6, 2018

        I have the same problem.. Anyone knows a fix to that? Please help guys!

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