MULTIPLE LAYERS FROM SELECTION

[Darshan Soni]

Hello people,

I need some help. It would be great if someone can solve my query.

I want to create multiple layers from multiple selections. Is there any smart way of doing it? 

Please see the attached image to demonstrate my question in a simple way.

L1 TO L8 = INDIVIDUAL LAYERS

Thank you in advance,

[Kukurykus]

Change selection(s) to paths, then make a loop over them to do separate layers from.

[Darshan Soni]

Thank you so much.

I did convert the selections in paths. I did not understand the second half that you mentioned. By use of which tools I make a loop over?

Thank you for you help.

[Kukurykus]

You are right. It's scripting forum, so that what I suggested is probably not possible other way than doing it by scripting. So reading all subpaths from main path, to convert them to layers then.

[Darshan Soni]

Hey,

Thank you for the clarity. I will try and figure out the scripting method.

I hope ADOBE introduces this feather in the upgrade. It would be very useful.

Cheers

[Myra Ferguson]

You could use Illustrator in the workflow.

1. Make your selections in Photoshop
2. Go to the Paths panel, to the Paths flyout menu to select Make Work Path... to turn your selections paths
3. Copy these paths and paste them into Illustrator as a Compound Path (faster)
4. Give them a fill to see them better
5. Open Illustrator's Layers panel to see all the shapes are grouped, so go to Object > Ungroup to ungroup them
6. In the Layers panel flyout menu, select Release to Layers (Sequence). Illustrator will put all of the shapes on different layers.
7. Export the file to a layered PSD by going to File > Export > Export As… and select Photoshop PSD, click Export, and in the Photoshop Export Options dialog, make sure that in the Options section Write Layers is selected.

[Darshan Soni]

Hi Myra

This one is a very different approach. The shapes I showed were just to put my idea across. In reality, I want to split the image into strips and create separate layers for each strip. DO you think your method can also work for images?

Thank you for your help.

[Myra Ferguson]

It would work, but it wouldn't be as efficient as the script. After exporting the PSD from Illustrator, you would use those shapes (which are rasterized in the PSD) on various layers to mask out the original image. One way to make the masks would be to make multiple copies of the original image layer (Ctrl + J/Command + J on a Mac). Put an image layer above each rasterized shape layer. In the Layers panel, put your cursor between the image layer and the shape below it, and Alt/Option + click to turn it into a clipping mask. You can select the image layer and from the flyout menu select Merge Down (Ctrl + E/Command + E on a Mac) if you just want the image portion and not the shape that masks it.

[Stephen Marsh · Accepted solution]

CMD/CTRL J to convert the multiple selections to a single layer with transparency, then run this script:

https://photoshopscripts.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/split-to-layers/

[Darshan Soni]

Thank you, Stephen.

I found this script yesterday and did try it.

This is what I was looking for. I was planning to put it up here this morning and I see your response.

Thank you for the correct answer....

Cheers