Skip to main content
Mike_Gondek10189183
Community Expert
Mike_Gondek10189183Community Expert
Community Expert
December 15, 2018
Question

View Hide Transparency

  • December 15, 2018
  • 3 replies
  • 12949 views

Is the a key command similar to Illustrator Shift Command D to toggle transparency.

I tried to make actions, but they do not work in play or button mode. Looks like they recorded good.

If someone has a way to make this work, is there a warning to tell you the background is set to none. Though I have been using Adobe products since the beginning, I  feel that I would forget what mode I am in causing a panic.

What happened to Photoshop user voice?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

    Stargazer on ARM
    Stargazer on ARM
    Known Participant
    September 9, 2020

    It's been a long time, but its never to late! And I have a very simple solution, or at least a very simple workaround.

     

    Yes, it would be really nice if you could toggle the transparency grid on/off replacing it with a white (or by choice) background with a simple click like in After Effects. Sometimes it is really hard to see all the little fragmental pixels scattered around several objects and details when cleaning them out from the background. I work a lot with art, drawings and engravings with a lot of details you want to preserve, and it surely can be a living hell sometimes.

     

    I usually don't like workarounds very much, but this is a very easy one and I use it all the time:

     

    1. Create a new layer
    2. Drag the layer to the most suitable level (usually to the bottom or right underneath the layer/layers you are editing)
    3. Fill the new layer with a suitable colour depending on the brightness and colour of the image you are editing (I usually start out with black or white and change it to whatever colours works best as I go along).
    4. Use the eye icon to turn the solid colour layer on to edit against a solid background, and turn it off  to edit agaisnt the transparent grid.
    5. I often use multiple solid colour layers and toggle between them, sometimes it's easier than changing the colour all the time.
    6.  Discard the layer/layers when you are done.

     

    I work mostly with After Effects, Premiere and Animate, so I hope I understood your problem correctly. If not I hope somebody else might find this helpful.

     

    Good luck!

    T
    tsurielh69235026
    Inspiring
    November 22, 2020

    So the is not a way like after effect to toggle between transparency to black look? the only solution is the way you suggested?

    JJMack
    Community Expert
    JJMackCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    December 15, 2018

    If  A layer has a Layer mask that adds transparency to a  layer you can disable the layers's layer mask. Also Photoshop's Background layer does not support transparency It transparency is locked. If a layer has area's that have no pixel data there are no pixels it that area.  There are no empty area in document background layer.

    JJMack
    Mike_Gondek10189183
    Community Expert
    Mike_Gondek10189183Community ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    December 15, 2018

    Thanks for your reply.

    Do you have any idea why my action will not work? An action as button would be ideal, as I haev dozens of other oactiosn for drawing shadows to dropping backgrounds this would compliment.

    JJMack
    Community Expert
    JJMackCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    December 15, 2018

    How could I you posted part of  an action and what was posted was truncated.  Action also can not use logic you may need some scripting to do what you want if what you want can be automated.

    You can easily turn Layer mask  on and off with an action or  clicking  on he layer mask in the layer palette with and without the shift key

    CC2018 does not seem to record actions that record setting transparency preferences correctly cc 2019 does a better job there.  All version of Photoshop gave bugs.

    Try downloading LayerMaskOffOn.atn seems to work in CS6 CC 2014 CC 2018 and cc2019

    JJMack
    barbara_a7746676
    Community Expert
    barbara_a7746676Community Expert
    Community Expert
    December 15, 2018

    Transparency is selected in Preferences in Photoshop. No keyboard shortcut to turn on/off the transparency grid.

    You can change layer opacity by pressing the number keys, for example 1 = 10%, 0 = 100%.

    There is no warning if there is no background layer.

    You can submit enhancements or bugs for Adobe products at Feature Request/Bug Report Form

    Mike_Gondek10189183
    Community Expert
    Mike_Gondek10189183Community ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    December 15, 2018

    The layer opacity is a great suggestion I did not think of  that. I can utilize that on the high end work we do.

    Do you have any idea why the transparency preference in my action will not work on Mac CC2018. Would you or someone mind trying the action on your computer?

    Could anyone try making the action in my screenshot and give me your feedback?

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices