What are these overlays and how do i get rid of them?

[Numbers on Numbers]

I recently started working with a macropad, and I've found that the shortcut commands get jumbled if I'm typing too fast, resulting in triggering an unintentional shortcut for... something. I have no idea what it is. All the sudden I get a grid-like overlay as in the attached file. 

The only way I can figure out to get rid of this is by restarting photoshop.

Can you please tell me what is happening here? And is there a way to get rid of this grid thing without restarting?

Thanks!

[Conrad_C]

Slices (created with the Slice tool) became enabled, probably by an unintended key press, so turn off slice display under View > Extras I think.

[Numbers on Numbers]

Thanks very much; did not know about the slice tool. Strange that nothing
appears in the history, or otherwise indicates any change that’s occurred
(besides the overlay itself)--
Sent from my iPhone

[Conrad_C]

Strange that nothingappears in the history
By @Numbers on Numbers

The History panel records only changes to document content, like painting or adjusting a layer. The History panel doesn’t record view changes that do not alter content, such as displaying guides or changing magnifications.

One reason for that difference is that the number of undo steps that the History panel remembers is limited, so if it recorded changes unrelated to content such as zooming, scrolling, or displaying the slice indicators, those types of actions could quickly fill the History panel. For example, you might want to undo a change you made to the actual document 60 seconds ago, but the step you want to undo might have fallen off the bottom of the History panel if it got filled up because you then zoomed and scrolled around to inspect the document. So they decided to make the History panel record document content changes only.

(You can increase the number of History steps that Photoshop remembers, but that comes at the expense of memory.)

[jane-e]

---

@Conrad_C wrote:

turn off slice display under View > Extras I think.

---

Conrad, View > Extras will toggle everything in View > Show, but they'll come back. Slices needs to be unchecked in View > Show. I know you know this and will slap your head — I read your books!

Jane

[Conrad_C]

I suspected I might slap my head about something…foolishly, I was not in front of my computer and was answering from memory, that’s why I wrote “I think” at the end. Fortunately, you have put us all back on the right path by pointing us to the View > Show menu.

[Trevor.Dennis]

It's not a bad idea to remove the tools you never use from the Toolbar.  For me that would be single row Marquee tools, Slice tool, magnetic lasso tool and others.  Save your custom toolbar to a custom workspace, and if you should ever need a deleted tool, switch back to Essentials.  I also remove shortcuts from unwanted tools, so when I hit B I know I'll get the Brush tool.  I also turn off the Shift key for toggling through tools with the same shortcut, because why would I use two fingers when one will do?

[Numbers on Numbers]

Great idea thanks. Never occurred to me to customize the visible tools.
Could do some serious decluttering this way.--
Sent from my iPhone

[jane-e]

---

@Numbers on Numbers wrote:

And is there a way to get rid of this grid thing without restarting?

---

In addition to what Trevor and Conrad have said, there is one tool for drawing slices and a second for selecting. You have drawn one user slice (gold outline) and it created several generated slices. Use the Slice Selection tool to select the Slice you accidentally drew and delete it. You will now have one slice. Hide it in View > Show, then hide both Slice tools as per Trevor's instructions.

Jane

[Numbers on Numbers]

Perfect! Thank you for clarifiying