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Dmox Power
Participating Frequently
May 22, 2018
Question

Undo and layer masks

  • May 22, 2018
  • 8 replies
  • 3766 views

Hate to drag the whole 'undo' debate back up again.

Photoshop finally accepted the 'undo' layer selection 'feature' was a bug and fixed it a few versions ago.

However it still happens with layer masks. 

Select a layer, add a layer mask, paint with white or black to reveal or hide the layer's pixels, decide you don't like the stroke, undo, draw another stroke, wonder why it's not quite right and  ..... oh, P'shop has undone back to before you selected the layer mask and now you are painting on the layer instead of the layer mask.

tiresome.

Bring on the feedback saying this is deliberate even though it is not useful.

bug? feature ?

anybody else experiencing this?

Happening as long as I can remember but I didn't have the will to fight it.

but It's really annoying for the project I am working on now so let's go!

macOS High Sierra

Version 10.13.4

Mac Pro (Late 2013)

Processor 3 GHz 8-Core Intel Xeon E5

Memory 64 GB 1866 MHz DDR3

Graphics AMD FirePro D700 6144 MB

Adobe Photoshop CC   19.1.4

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    8 replies

    R
    rhackel
    Participant
    January 16, 2019

    I just did what SometimesY suggested. I turned on the "Legacy Undo Shortcuts", and the undo behavior on masks stopped happening! I do believe this is the fix!

    J
    Jonzy
    Known Participant
    February 17, 2020

    I have the same issue here. So Annoying.

    S
    SometimesY
    Known Participant
    December 31, 2018

    Same here. The problem began with the latest CC update (Oct 2018). VERY frustrating to continually have to go back to the layers palette to re-select the mask after using undo. So much so that I've abandoned the latest update and have gone back to the previous version.

    On a related note, they also changed the SHIFT/OPTION modifier keys that control the resizing/stretching on placed or transformed objects. Assuming this wasn't a bug, did Adobe ever mention what benefit casually disrupting a decade-plus of muscle memory would have for their users?

    EDIT: just came across a fix for the undo issue. Turn on "Use Legacy Undo Shortcuts" (Edit menu --> Keyboard Shortcuts). Here's hoping this "fix" continues to exist in future updates! CTRL+z undo unselecting active layer mask in photoshop 2019 see video

    2ND EDIT: and since I brought it up, here's the article detailing the change to the transform controls, along with a tip on reverting the change: New and enhanced features | Latest release of Photoshop CC​

    How do I turn off the new proportional scaling by default behavior while transforming layers?


    To revert to the legacy transform behavior, do the following:

    1. Use Notepad (Windows) or a text editor on Mac OS to create a plain text file (.txt).
    2. Type the text below in the text file:

      TransformProportionalScale 0
    3. (Windows) Save the file as "PSUserConfig.txt" to your Photoshop settings folder. [Installation Drive]:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CC 2019\Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Settings\

      (macOS) Do the following:
      1. Save the file as "PSUserConfig.txt" to the desktop.
      2. Control-click PSUserConfig.txt saved at the desktop and choose Copy from the pop-up menu.
      3. In the Finder, choose Go > Go To Folder. In the Go To Folder dialog box, type ~/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Settings/
      4. Paste the copied file at this location.

      Peter Bullit
      Peter Bullit
      Participating Frequently
      December 12, 2018

      Same problem here. Photoshop 20.0.1 on Windows 10. Good tip with the off canvas stroke!

      C
      ColinJR
      Known Participant
      November 28, 2018

      This is driving me totally bananas. I have to have bright and saturated colors in my pallet so it's obvious when I accidentally paint on the layer instead of the mask after undoing a prior stroke.

      MacOS Mojave 10.14.1, Photoshop 20.0.1

        D
        Dmox PowerAuthor
        Participating Frequently
        November 28, 2018

        I've trained my self to do a quick stroke off the canvas then paint on the mask so the 'undo' takes me back to that first quick stroke. Just touching beyond the canvas bounds seems to do it.  I stll forget often enough for it to be very annoying.

          B
          benjaminf25154668
          Participating Frequently
          November 7, 2018

          It is sooooo frustrating! (on 20.0.0 and Mohave).

            D
            dylman3000
            Known Participant
            November 2, 2018

            I wasn't having this problem in Photoshop 19.1.4 on Mac OS X.13.6, since updating to Photoshop 20, it has begun and it is frustrating as hell!

              D
              Dmox PowerAuthor
              Participating Frequently
              November 2, 2018

              I notice weird behavour in p'shop when I have safari running in the background. Not all the time, just sometimes; keyboard shortcuts stop working, spacebar for panning stops working, the brush tools lay down single dots instead of continuous lines.  When this starts to happen I switch apps and back again..if it is still happening I switch apps to safari and quit safari- that usually clears it. Not sure if that helps with the matte/undo problem. I will look out for it (I would offer to test but it's too inconsistent i.e I'm not sure I can get it to misbehave correctly!)

              Marja de Klerk
              Marja de Klerk
              Inspiring
              May 22, 2018

              Tested it, and on my Mac (High Sierra, 10.13.4) this problem does not occur. Maybe it has something tot do with a specific type of file, like you suggested.

                davescm
                Community Expert
                davescmCommunity Expert
                Community Expert
                May 22, 2018

                It does not work like that here. Undo only removes the last brush stroke - the mask is still selected. However I am using 19.1.4 on Windows 10. It would be good if a Mac user could try and replicate this.

                Dave

                  D
                  Dmox PowerAuthor
                  Participating Frequently
                  May 22, 2018

                  Hey Dave

                  that's very helpful - at least I know it's not working the way it is supposed to work (undo vs history state). I'll try and get a mac friend to replicate it.

                  thanks!

                  Dermot

                  Stephen Marsh
                  Community Expert
                  Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
                  Community Expert
                  May 22, 2018

                  Photoshop CC2018 (19.1.3) on Mac OS Sierra (10.12.6) does not have this issue, the undo of the brush stroke leaves the mask channel active.

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