'Keyboard shortcuts' is missing 'activate mask'

[Paul2250227914rm]

As far as I can tell (searched the internet far and wide), Photoshop is completely missing a menu item in the 'keyboard shortcuts' -menu to change the shortcut for "activate a mask".

So, normally, to activate a mask on the currently selected layer, you press Ctrl \ (Mac: Command \). This is the same as clicking on the layer mask thumbnail. HOWEVER, there seems to be no way to change this shortcut in 'keyboard shortcuts' -menu (the item is missing).

Why would you want to, since there's already a shortcut set??? Well, if like me, you're using a foreign keyboard, then the backlash won't function here. So the only way I could use the original shortcut would be to change my keyboard layout completely to a US keyboard.

Please Adobe, add a menu item where this shortcut (Ctrl \) can be altered.

[Bojan Živković]

If you are on Windows install English input method and use it instead of foreign. With English in use you will be able to press Ctrl + \ keyboard shortcut. To quickly activate keyboard use Win logo + Spacebar.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/manage-the-input-and-display-language-settings-in-window...

[D Fosse]

This is a new one to me. I do have the backslash as a primary key on my Norwegian keyboard, but ctrl\ doesn't do anything here. No mask added. Does that work on UK/US keyboards?

I agree that would be a useful shortcut, and now that you mention it I think I have missed it 😉

[Stephen Marsh]

I don't use a foreign language or keyboard etc., so I don't know if this helps or not:

This command can be scripted. Then a custom keyboard shortcut can be added to the installed script.

selectLayerCompositeChannel("mask");

function selectLayerCompositeChannel(chanPara) {
    // "RGB" | "mask"
	var s2t = function (s) {
		return app.stringIDToTypeID(s);
	};
	var descriptor = new ActionDescriptor();
	var reference = new ActionReference();
	reference.putEnumerated( s2t( "channel" ), s2t( "channel" ), s2t( chanPara ));
	descriptor.putReference( s2t( "null" ), reference );
	descriptor.putBoolean( s2t( "makeVisible" ), false );
	executeAction(s2t( "select" ), descriptor, DialogModes.NO);
}

jazz-y wrote a toggle script to cycle between the composite channel and mask channel here:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/detect-if-mask-or-layer-is-selected-w...

Info on saving and installing scripts:

https://prepression.blogspot.com/2017/11/downloading-and-installing-adobe-scripts.html

[Bojan Živković]

I have standard keyboard (probably US) but it works with Serbian keyboard too.

[D Fosse]

OK. So this is apparently region specific.

[Bojan Živković]

I havent seen many keyboards but I do believe most of them are identical in keys, the only difference is in mapping and labeling.

[D Fosse]

Well, I've had to remap several standard shortcuts simply because the keys aren't there. The most critical are brush size and hardness, which I've remapped to , and . and N and M.

[Paul2250227914rm]

These are all helpful suggestions for workarounds, thanks. I will check into the scripts.

However, I still think it would be useful and totally logical that this keyboard shortcut could be altered through the 'keyboard shortcuts' -menu. Having to change keyboard input methods and install scripts or macros is far from optimal.

Why the shortcut cannot be altered like other commands, who knows? I have seen on the internet other people having the same issue, so here's hoping it'll be added soon.

[CShubert]

Moving to Ideas so others can vote and help get the attention of the team for. possible future releases.

Thank you,

Cory