Photoshop CC always selects top layer??

[kurth76115270]

Hi

I've just migrated from PS CS5 to CC this week at our office. Surely we're doing something wrong because this is happening:

We have a multi-layered document. We want to move something on one of the layers that is not the top layer. We select the layer we want to modify on the layer palette. We select the Move tool. We click on the element on that we want to move and the selection immediately changes to be the top layer.  It becomes impossible to move layers that are not the top layer.

Surely something basic has changed. Can someone please enlighten me?

Thanks!

Kurt

[JJMack]

The default options for the move tool was change in CC 2017.1.1 Auto-select layers is on byt default noe . That may be what you are seeing

[Theresa J · Accepted solution]

This is very likely happening because of auto-select, as JJMack states. Check the Options Bar at the top of you screen, with the Move Tool selected. You should see an option to auto-select layers or groups. Most of the time auto select is very handy.

[kurth76115270]

Thanks that was the problem!

good to know it can be useful, but I don't imagine I'll be turning it on again. it doesn't seem to play well with layers set to 'multiply'. At least, yesterday's problem was a file with a scan of a black and white ink drawing on the top layer, set to multiply, and then color layers below. It always auto selected the top layer, as if it were set to 'normal' and the white part was visible. But of course the white was invisible because it was set to 'multiply.'

k

[War Unicorn]

To add to what others have said, if you would like to temporarily toggle Auto-Select on to quickly select another layer, hold down Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) + click on the layer in the canvas. (Smart Guides should pop up to help you.)

Auto-Select is very handy but it's more conditional for me; I like to have it off until I actually need it (via the toggle). Otherwise, I like to concentrate on a specific layer in a comp without worrying about moving other layers.