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Answered

Selecting multiple objects in photoshop is difficult when in close proximity

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
April 6, 2017
6 replies
18773 views

In the past you could select multiple objects that were in close proximity now it is not possible it's almost as if when something is selected there is a 20 pixel padding around the object not allowing you to select items that are within close proximity this is driving me crazy and also if you try to select it it flips the rotation icon and now you have to cancel the action in order to try again - WTF this is crazy I work pixel by pixel and this is a nightmare - any thoughts?

Correct answer Conrad_C

Thanks Conrad, I like the transform on because it lets me know what I selected in the past the sensitivity of the transform controls were closer to the transform points and now its like a force field around each object this is so frustrating

If your goal is to get better visual feedback on what's selected, there might be a better way to do that. Have you tried choosing View > Show > Layer Edges? It will show a rectangle around any and all selected layers, and when I try it there isn't any kind of extra zone around it. And unlike the transform box, you don't see a rectangle around the total area, it will show a separate rectangle for each object so it's a more specific indicator.

SossidgeMahoney

New Participant

OMG, I have exactly this same problem and it's been driving me freaking bonkers. Thank you for bringing this up and explaining it so well

CapomanAuthor

Known Participant

Here is a link to a video demonstrating the problem

PS_OBJ_SELECT - YouTube

JJMack

Community Expert

You are not selecting multiple objects. You are using the move tool option to auto-select layers. Holding modifier keys like shift and alt changes the way the move tool's options works. And you will have difficulties when overlapping layer contain a lot of transparency. Clicking on a transparent area in a layer could select layer below it that you do not want to select. In the case when you want to select multiple layer like to show. IMO you would be better off un-checking the mover tool Auto-select options and show transform controls. Use the Layers Palette to target the first layer then Ctrl Click the other layer in the layers palette you want to target then use Ctrl+T to transform all the layers targeted.

JJMack

CapomanAuthor

Known Participant

Thanks JJMack! I am aware of how it works Conrad had some decent suggestions but none of them take me back to when I could select images on top of each other within a pixels difference and now when the smaller is selected the transform sensitivity is to great to select any object that is near it which is totally frustrating. None of the layers use transperency in the video I am showing and as I mentioned using layers is not an option since I have potentially a1000+ pages and 50+ folders per document when rendering multiple scenarios around table based content using Layer Comps (watch video from link below)

Photoshop Selecting an Object Issues - YouTube

CapomanAuthor

Known Participant

Screen capturing does not work the action items that appear when trying to select additional object disappear. Here is a link to a video where I demonstrate the issues.

Selecting Multiple Images - YouTube

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

Is »Show Transform Controls« checked for the Move Tool?

CapomanAuthor

Known Participant

yes the Show Transform Controls is selected

JJMack

Community Expert

Capoman wrote
In the past you could select multiple objects that were in close proximity now it is not possible it's almost as if when something is selected there is a 20 pixel padding around the object not allowing you to select items that are within close proximity this is driving me crazy and also if you try to select it it flips the rotation icon and now you have to cancel the action in order to try again - WTF this is crazy I work pixel by pixel and this is a nightmare - any thoughts?

What are you using that add a 20 pixel padding are you feathering what you select or blurring the selection?

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JJMack

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

With the More Tool selected and ctrl-alt-shift pressed I can click-select multiple Layers without problem, could you provide your file for testing?

SossidgeMahoney

New Participant

THANK you! I wish I had googled this a week ago, when I was so much further away from a nervous breakdown

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

Please explain what exactly you are doing, post some screenshots with the pertinent Panels visible to illustrate.

Are you sure the Layers do not have »stray pixels« or are poorly clipped so that there may be near-invisible content within the »20 pixel« area you describe?

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