Creating Adjustment layers below the active one

[Ivan Zajats]

Recently I've learnt that a new layer can be created below the active one by holding the Ctrl button while clicking the icon. But for some reason it doesn't work with the Adj. layers

Why? Is there any other key for them? Just curious (don't suggest to make custom actions as I was told on facebook, lol; actually I don't need this at all, just explore PS features)

[Michael Bullo]

This won't do what you are asking, but it could speed things up. Having created the adjustment layer, hold down Command/Control and tap the left square bracket key ( [ ). This is the keyboard shortcut to move a layer down one level within the layer stack.

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

What would happen if there was a single backgroundLayer?

What would happen if there was a single pixel layer?

An adjustment layer logically has to be above a layer to adjust it.

[Trevor.Dennis]

I have thought about this in the past when clipping an adjustment layer.  If you add another adjustment layer it is not clipped, so I was wondering if it was possible to add the new adjusment layer beneath the current one, and that would keep both adjustment layers clipped?  Pure lazyness, but we are forever looking for ways to save a keystroke or two.

[Ivan Zajats]

that's a good example why we need this!

[Ivan Zajats]

yep, but a file can have many layers and masks!

besides, it may be useful for creating clipping layers (as mentioned in the comment BELOW, lol 🙂

[Bojan Živković]

"Is there any other key for them?"

I do not think so, it would be nice to learn new shortcut.

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

Yes a file may or may not have many layers.

Why is there no modifier key? Only Adobe knows.

The lowest common denominator is a flattened image, which can't have anything below the Backround layer. Therefore by default an adjustment layer has to go above.

I'm not saying that such a feature has no merit, I'm just stating why it only does what it does and why I think it works that way.

P.S. the modifier key works directly on an icon, however adjustment layers are selected from a drop down list, perhaps that also affect key modifiers.

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

If you inserted a new layer or adjustment layer inbetween the clipped layer and the base layer it would automatically inherit the clipping. Even if the adjustment layer is added above the clipping group and it is therefore not clipped, moving it into the clipping group structure would also make it clipped. So an action or script could help with this workflow, otherwise this is not really the place to put forward feature requests if you wan't Adobe to consider them.

[PECourtejoie]

Hello, I'm converting this discussion to a feature request.

Such a function would be helpful to easily tweak elements/backgrounds situated below the current layer, in order to emphasize it. 

[PECourtejoie]

@Stephen_A_Marsh 

P.S. the modifier key works directly on an icon, however adjustment layers are selected from a drop down list, perhaps that also affect key modifiers.

I'd like to posit the following: what about the ALT+click shortcut to the adjustment layers to create them with a menu that lets you name, adjust blending modes, etc: (AND that Windows renders almost impossible to acheive without a right-click workarounds, as ALT now closes dropdowns in windows)

What would happen if there was a single backgroundLayet?

What would happen if there was a single pixel layer?

If I may interfere: I'd expect the same behavior as for the CTRL+Click on the new layer button: on a Bg, creation on top, on a single layer, creation below. It could be argued that the first case might be use to demote the Bg into a layer, but there are enough ways to do so.