Known Participant

Question

How to make a gigantic layer thumbnail?

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
December 23, 2022
6 replies
2508 views

The largest thumbnail in the layer flyout menu option is not sufficient, I need a gigantic one.

macOS

This topic has been closed for replies.

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

How many screens do you use? If you use a desktop system you could be clever with your screen sizes and resolutions. Set the UI to 100% and have the layers panel on a second large screen with low pixel density. My layers panel is on a 24" 1200 X 1920 screen and the thumbnails are planety big enough, (a fraction under an inch wide) and I have crap eyesight! Steer clear of Retina displays with high pixel density for the second screen, and you should be fine.

mysysctrlm74982608Author

Known Participant

It has no business with my screen.

barbara_a7746676

Community Expert

Would having a second monitor solve the need? I believe that a second monitor can be set up to mirror what you see on the first monitor.

rayek.elfin

Legend

@barbara_a7746676But how would that solve viewing layer B isolated from the other layers on one view while displaying the full layer stack on the second view AND edits made in Layer B would update the full layer stack view in real time?

mysysctrlm74982608Author

Known Participant

Yep, the monitor is not the key.

rayek.elfin

Legend

If you only need a second or third view of the same document: are you aware that you can open multiple views of the same file?

Window menu-->Arrange submenu-->New Window

Then arrange the windows using the same Arrange menu.

Or do you require separate individual views of each layer thumbnail? (Not sure if this is possible.)

mysysctrlm74982608Author

Known Participant

Nope, I need the independent layer thumbnail, not a window.

mysysctrlm74982608Author

Known Participant

Nope, not directly possible.

I suppose it is possible to convert a layer to a smart object, and then open that smart object in a new window. But editing a smart object's content does not automatically update the parent file: it must be saved first.

If I may ask: what kind of project are you working on that requires gigantic thumbnails? Could you provide us with more information? We might be able to give you an alternative workflow.

In any case, layer thumbnails aren't meant to direct precise work. What size would you expect to work for you? 128x128? 256x265? 512x512? I've never heard of anyone needing large layer thumbnails that way.

In a different image editor (PhotoLine) the max size of layer thumbnails is 256px, and even that isn't enough for precise preview work.

I need to see the details of Layer B, but because Layer A is above my Layer B, I can not directly tell what I am doing on Layer B. I need Layer A constantly on Layer B, but I have to know the instant variation on Layer B.

barbara_a7746676

Community Expert

As previously said, no way to increase layer thumbnails at this time.

Depending on your workflow, you might find the Navigator panel useful. (WIndow > Navigator)

Navigator will show the currently visible layers in a single preview. You can enlarge or reduce the size of the panel which will enlarge or reduce the preview.

mysysctrlm74982608Author

Known Participant

Thanks, but I am not a newbie.

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

I haven’t gotten into UXP Panels myself, but maybe you could create a custom Layers Panel.

@DavideBarranca , please forgive the intrusion, but do you know if this would be feasible?

Davide_Barranca12040269

Community Expert

Why not!

The Imaging API for UXP have been just published in Beta (they're likely gonna change before getting to the Release version), those might be useful to get the layer's thumbnail.

Davide Barranca - PS developer and authorwww.ps-scripting.com

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

I know of no option for this – other than changing the screen resolution on the OS-side.

Why do you need larger icons?

mysysctrlm74982608Author

Known Participant

I need an independent window to show what am I doing besides the artboard synchronously.

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