Unlinking Layers…Let me get this straight…

DA
Posted By
dan_aguirre
Oct 25, 2005
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1014
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3
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Wow CS2 really took a step back in my view. I have been working with photoshop for years and can’t figure out why they would remove the ability to unlink & link layers directly from the image as in previous versions of photoshop. It use to be that you could unlink & link by shift clicking on pieces of the image – causing them to link and unlink but now its not working. Is there any way to link and unlink images without going back to the layers pallete? What an absolute time killer…
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Y
YrbkMgr
Oct 25, 2005
In truth Dan, it’s not a step backward, it’s a huge leap forward. But you’ll get used to it <grin>.

I personally have always used the layers palette to link and unlink layers. But with Photoshops new layer paradigm, linking is far less necessary than ever before.

You can still select multiple layers the way that you used to, with the move tool selected and having Auto Select Layer enabled. That will automatically select them all in the layers palette. You can then treat them as if they are linked, only now, temporarily. If you MUST link them, a single click on the link icon in the layers palette will link all highlighted layers.

As I have used the new features, I have found the requirement to link different layers not necessary, but your mileage may vary.

Peace,
Tony
DA
dan_aguirre
Oct 25, 2005
Quick follow up…well maybe some keys have changed around (thank God it was only that). If you hold ctrl-shft and left click u can select as many layers as your want. Then you have to edit your short cuts – In my case I assigned "link layers" to a shortcut and it worked.

Problem with auto-linking is that when u are working on say a webpage with really small details photoshop tends to grab the wrong thing which in turns becomes tedious because you then have to unlink that and still link what you wanted originally.

thanks for the reply tony.
Y
YrbkMgr
Oct 26, 2005
tends to grab the wrong thing

That’s why I never use Auto Select Layer. That said, I’m glad you got it sorted. I’ve learned that I actually have to link far less now that CS2 allows you to select more than one layer and treat them as one.

Peace,
Tony

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