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bobokirk
bobokirk
Inspiring
November 13, 2017
Answered

Send Multiple Layer Selections to Individual Layers?

  • November 13, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 1993 views

Forgive me for struggling a bit with terminology .. I'm more an Audition, After Effects and Premiere Pro person.  

I want to cut out several shapes from a single image (there are 49 total) and put each on its own .psd layer. 
I have removed the white background in the image, and with CNTL/Click on the layer thumb each of the 49 is individually selected.
I don't really want to do the "Select/Mask/New Layer" process for each if I could send each selection to individual layers in one command.
Is this possible?

Many thanks for any help you can give.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer melissapiccone

    You can also just make a selection and use the keyboard shortcut cmd or control j to "jump" it to a new layer.

    3 replies

    @mj
    Community Expert
    @mjCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 14, 2017
    1. Choose File> Automate > Crop and Straighten Photos. (This will give you 49 single images)
    2. Close Photoshop to save each of the individual files
    3. Reopen Ps
    4. Choose File > Scripts > Load Files into Stack
    5. Click the Browse button and choose your files

    HTH

      barbara_a7746676
      Community Expert
      barbara_a7746676Community Expert
      Community Expert
      November 14, 2017

      It sounds like you might have one layer and that you want to divide multiple areas of that layer into separate layers. If that is the case, you can make a selection around the area you want to move to a separate layer, then choose Edit > Cut. Next choose Edit > Paste Special > Paste in place. That will paste the pixels onto a new layer without changing the position of the pixels.

      Jeff Arola
      Community Expert
      Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 14, 2017

      You have 49 layers and you want to save each layer to it's own psd file

      or

      you have one layer and you selected 49 different selections on the same layer and want to move each selection to it's own layer?

      If they are already 49 layers, then you could use File>Export>Layers to Files or File>Scripts>Export Layers to Files, depending on your photoshop version.

      Some screenshots might illustrate the issue better.

      bobokirk
      bobokirkAuthor
      Inspiring
      November 14, 2017

      "I want to cut out several shapes from a single image (there are 49 total) and put each on its own .psd layer. "
      ---------------
      So it's the latter in your question.   I have a single image on a layer, and I want to find a quick way to select specific shapes on that layer and copy each selection I make to their own layers.
      I found I could do them all - one at a time.
      But I was hoping there's an Action or something that might allow me to make all the selections and then "bulk" copy them to their own layers within the same .psd.
      That way I can use the .psd in an After effects composition with the same layer structure for animating.
      Thanks for your help!

      D
      damieni30693535
      Participant
      September 18, 2018

      You can also just make a selection and use the keyboard shortcut cmd or control j to "jump" it to a new layer.


      LOVE THIS! Thank you so much!

      PS: Command/Control + Shift + J deletes the original the selection

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