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DKins
Known Participant
March 30, 2022
Answered

Solo layer in Photoshop

  • March 30, 2022
  • 6 replies
  • 8424 views

Does Photoshop lack the ability to "solo" a layer (or layers, by soloing more than one)? I do much more video editing and use this feature in After Effects hourly. I know, the workaround is to hide all the layers but the one I'm interested in. But to do a true A/B I stare at the spot on the screen and just click my mouse 3-5x. If I have to look away and click 8-12 layer switches it impacts my effectiveness.

 

Thanks,

- DK

Correct answer PECourtejoie

Another solution is to assign a keyboard  shortcut to Select> Isolate Layer.

6 replies

jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 2, 2022

 


@DKins wrote:

Does Photoshop lack the ability to "solo" a layer (or layers, by soloing more than one)


 

If you need to hide / show more than one layer — and then do it repeatedly — there is another feature in Photoshop that may also work for you. You can create multiple Layer Comps that will remember the visibility of layers and you can toggle between the layer comp states.

(Window menu > Layer Comps)

 

 

Details here:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/layer-comps.html

 

Layer Comps can also keep track of position and effects if you check those boxes, but you didn't ask about those.

 

Jane

 

PECourtejoie
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 2, 2022

Super, I'm changing this feature request to a question thread.

DKins
DKinsAuthor
Known Participant
April 1, 2022

Brilliant, thank you! I can't believe this didn't come up during my extensive search for an answer. I must not have been using the best keywords. Thanks again.

- DK

PECourtejoie
Community Expert
PECourtejoieCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
March 30, 2022

Another solution is to assign a keyboard  shortcut to Select> Isolate Layer.

Joel xo
Inspiring
December 19, 2023

But that doesn't hide the other layers in the image, just in the layers panel

PECourtejoie
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 30, 2022

Hi, Alt+click on the eye icon to hide or show all other layers.

Known Participant
February 15, 2023

It is just stop working in latest 2023 photoshop. Is it only my issue, or a widely spread bug?
EDIT: my fault, I had quick mask switched on .. 😄

 

DKins
DKinsAuthor
Known Participant
March 30, 2022

Does Photoshop lack the ability to "solo" a layer (or layers, by soloing more than one)? I do much more video editing and use this feature in After Effects hourly. I know, the workaround is to hide all the layers but the one I'm interested in. But to do a true A/B I stare at the spot on the screen and just click my mouse 3-5x. If I have to look away and click 8-12 layer switches it impacts my effectiveness.

 

Thanks,

- DK

c.pfaffenbichler
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 30, 2022

Not everyone uses After Effects so please explain what you mean more clearly and post meaningful screenshots. 

 

alt-clicking a Layer’s visibility-icon in the Layers Panel will hide/show the other visible Layer, but I am not sure that’s what you mean.