Inspiring

Answered

Renaming a layer without touching mouse?

Forum|Forum|13 years ago
June 29, 2012
6 replies
42489 views

When exporting files from Illustrator, I get a ton of layers named <path> and <group>. I want to quickly rename these layers in Photoshop.

I'm using Alt-[ & -] to move up and down my Layer palette, but I haven't figured how to change a layer name other than double-clicking on the name (which takes a hand off the keyboard). Is there any way to rename a layer by using the keyboard only?

Correct answer Paulo Skylar

If you are using CS6 things are a bit easier.

Double click on one of the layer names to retype. Then just press tab (or shift tab for the other direction) and the next layer name is highlighted and ready for retyping. Continue doing the same for the remaining layer names.

Paulo

adriawo

Participating Frequently

I add a shortcut (cmd+shift+R). And you can use tab/shift tab to navigate between layers.

It works with layers and groups.

🙂

this shortcut will be conflit with Filter > Lens Blur, or something like that.. but I dont use it.

Stephen Marsh

Adobe Expert

As this topic has been bumped and the original request was a Photoshop layer renamer...

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Paul-Riggott/PS-Scripts/master/Layer%20Name%20Edit.jsx

https://prepression.blogspot.com/2017/11/downloading-and-installing-adobe-scripts.html

Rishi Kumar

New Participant

I have made a free to use script to rename Objects/layers in Illustrator. I have made an action and call this script in that, after that I am assigning a shorcut key to that action it. You can see the full documentation, it will be really helpful.
Here's the Google Drive Link

I came across this problem when I was working on a character in Illustrator to be used in an animation. To my surprise, I found that there is no keyboard shortcut in Illustrator to rename layers/objects. With so many groups and layers, renaming things by going in layers panel was very frustrating.

D

DaveJCummings

Adobe Expert

Interesting. I might have to check it out. I'm always down for things to streamline my process

Paulo SkylarCorrect answer

Inspiring

If you are using CS6 things are a bit easier.

Double click on one of the layer names to retype. Then just press tab (or shift tab for the other direction) and the next layer name is highlighted and ready for retyping. Continue doing the same for the remaining layer names.

Paulo

T

themofosauce

New Participant

Does this also work in Illustrator, and does it switch between all layers (including those grouped along with the group layer) or only whatever lever you're at?

I don't have CS6 but am facing a project that will include renaming somewhere around 95,000 - 100,000 layers in total by the end. This may finally justify upgrading to the bean counters.

Paulo Skylar

Inspiring

Negative on tabbing through layers to rename them in Illustrator CS6. There is a mini improvement in Illustrator renaming, however. Now you can rename by double clicking the layer name and you no longer have to deal with a renaming dialog box. Basically, Illustrator CS6 renaming now is the way Photoshop was prior to Photoshop CS6.

Photoshop CS6 renaming works the way most would want it. If all the groups are open tabbing lets you go from one name to the next be it a layer or a group name or a layer withing a group. If a group is closed then just the group name is selected for renaming and the next tabbing will take you to the next entry and leave the layers in the group unchanged.

Paulo

Jeff Arola

Adobe Expert

If you are on version cs5 or older you could make a shortcut for Layer>Layer Properties using Edit>Keyboard Shortcuts.

On cs6 it would be Layer>Rename Layer.

Jeff Arola

Adobe Expert

What version of photoshop?

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