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A
avgarrison
Participant
July 4, 2009
Answered

How to stop auto selecting quick mask channel when switching layers

  • July 4, 2009
  • 5 replies
  • 51159 views

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!

      Correct answer avgarrison

      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?


      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!

      5 replies

      Lisa Buttmonkey
      Lisa Buttmonkey
      Participant
      July 20, 2025

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

      N
      NHeazell
      Participant
      May 21, 2020

      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.

      N
      NHeazell
      Participant
      May 21, 2020

      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.

      H
      Harsha4272
      Participant
      January 27, 2021

      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

      Leonava20
      Leonava20
      Participant
      August 9, 2018

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

        ē d e n d é l i c e
        ē d e n d é l i c e
        Participant
        September 18, 2019
        Worked for me - thank you!
          Mylenium
          Mylenium
          Legend
          July 5, 2009

          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

          the_wine_snob
          the_wine_snob
          Inspiring
          July 4, 2009

          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

            A
            avgarrisonAuthor
            Participant
            July 4, 2009

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

              the_wine_snob
              the_wine_snob
              Inspiring
              July 5, 2009

              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?

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