How to stop auto selecting quick mask channel when switching layers

[avgarrison]

I'm having this irritating problem where everytime I select a different layer or group, the Quick Mask channel is automatically selected. This forces me to switch to the Channels tab and select the RGB channel before I can perform work on a layer. Why is Photoshop automatically selecting the Quick Mask layer when switching between layers? I can't seem to find a setting for this and I'm not sure why, all of the sudden, it started doing this. Does anyone know how to stop this madness?

Thanks!

[the_wine_snob]

If "trashing your Prefs" does not rectify your problem, I'd ask how you are selecting your Layers - is it by using a keyboard shortcut, or clicking on the Layer/Layer Set?

Good luck,

Hunt

[avgarrison]

Trashing my prefs did not solve the problem. I am selecting layers by left clicking them in the Layers list.

[the_wine_snob]

The "Q" key doesn't get used all that much. It could not be sticking, could it? Though, if it was, I'd expect you to report a toggeling of QM on and off, and not what you report.

Good luck,

Hunt

PS, I'm with Mylenium that something has probably re-mapped, or hooked normal operations in PS. Any keyboard shortcut utilities installed?

[avgarrison · Accepted solution]

This problem was caused by my own misunderstanding of how the quick mask "mode" works. I had hit the 'Q' button and switched into this quick mask mode, and getting out of it was as simple as just pressing 'Q' again. It was maddening for me until I understood that!

[Delightful_Ripple5E7B]

Did my head in as well, just resolved it. Thanks for this post. 🙏🏼

[lieke.van.happen]

Thanks so much for this post!

[Julia22492427fwo3]

That's what it was! the Q key

[haleighrey]

OMG thanks so much! I was getting SO frustrated w this. Q button was the problem!

[Mylenium]

Sounds like you have a generic system configuration problem. I'm not aware of anything that would auto-trigger quick mask mode. Perhaps something with a custom mouse function/ tablet function key?

Mylenium

[Leonava20]

Just press 'Q' to activate-deactivate quick mas selection.

[ē d e n d é l i c e]

Worked for me - thank you!

[NHeazell]

I'm having this problem too. Only I now it isn't the "Q" key making it quick layer, because I've changed that to a bursh size change in my keyboard shortcuts. Everytime I select a layer it makes it red and turns it into a mask. So annoying.

[NHeazell]

Nevermind I resolved it. I found an option under Select, to Edit in Quick Mask Mode, once unselected, it went back to normal. Can't for the life of me remember selecting that but happy I found it.

[Harsha4272]

hi NHeazell, i too have the same problem. but, as you said above, it will happen only once, next time if we do selection using Q+B  the prblm will appear. does it have fix solution

[Lisa Buttmonkey]

I have this page on my desktop. 16 years and I'm still forgetting this! Thank you for this question, again and again!