Change layer content in Photoshop CS4

L
Posted By
lucrousseau
Oct 22, 2008
Views
1322
Replies
19
Status
Closed
Where it is!?
I search and I search but I don’t find it.
Someone can help me?
Related Tags
change content layer

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Phosphor
Oct 22, 2008
Can you ask your question a little more clearly? What is it you want to do?

You can change the layer content by using the many tools, filters, etc.
L
lucrousseau
Oct 22, 2008
I want change a vector shape with solid color to a gradient shape.

In Photoshop CS3 I go to layer/change layer content/gradient. But I don’t find this option in Photoshop CS4.

P.s. sorry my English is bad
MV
Mathias_Vejerslev
Oct 22, 2008
From the bottom of the layer palette, choose the Layer Effect Gradient Fill.
AK
Allan_Kikkas
Oct 28, 2008
Gradient fill effect is not the same as layer content gradient fill. How comes that this feature went missing from menus? Functionality is still there as i can switch fron gradient fill to solid color fill with alt+backspace. And why there is still no dithering option for layer effects?

Dear ADOBE, check your quality inspection process.
M
Mylenium
Oct 28, 2008
And why there is still no dithering option for layer effects?

I’m not sure what relevance this would have for dynamically created effects. By all means, those effects are calculated at the native document bit depth with correct blending, so what would be the point of artificially introducing another level of dithering? This really only has relevance for final rasterization, so I don#t see a requirement for this. If you do:

<http://www.adobe.com/go/wish>

Dear ADOBE, check your quality inspection process.

They do. You just have to understand that software development isn’t a wishing well where everyone gets his favorite feature. if a feature does not benefit a majority of users or is not requested by a large number of them, then you certainly can imagine that this ends up being very low on the popularity list. and, specific to the matter at hand: As J. Nack probably would put it, you sometimes have to let go of legacy stuff to make room for a better, more generalized implementation in the future, even if it means that in a particular version the feature goes completely defunct and is "skipped".

Mylenium
AK
Allan_Kikkas
Oct 28, 2008
What you mean by wishing? Feature itself is still there, everything works, just one item in menu is missing which controls the whole process. This has nothing to do with wishes or generalized implementation.

And in context of photoshop, quality inspection is critical, as every bug is basically here to stay for next 2-3 years until the next version comes out. There are so many annoyances that should be fixed before releasing next major version.
RZ
Richard_Z.
Nov 6, 2008
I’m also very confused. I found the "Change Layer Content…" option helpful and don’t see a good alternative.

Original method:
– Draw vector shape
– Then switch to gradient and tweak the colours.

Best method I can figure out now:
– Create gradient layer… don’t know colours yet since it’s not at right size. – Delete layer mask
– Add "Hide all" vector mask
– Shift-Draw vector shape
– Then re-open gradient settings to set colours.

Gradient Overlay is NOT an alternative, and was handy for doing a double gradient effect on one layer.

Is there an actual good alternative I’m missing? This is really annoying…
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PECourtejoie
Nov 6, 2008
Create the vector shape you want, create a new layer with gradient, ALT+Drag the vector mask.
RZ
Richard_Z.
Nov 6, 2008
Thanks PECourtejoie, I never knew about that shortcut! Handy.

However I don’t see how this was seen as an improvement to something that seems pretty simple. You are still going through extra steps since you have to dismiss the initial gradient dialog, then bring it back up again after alt-dragging the vector mask. And then you still have to delete your original solid fill layer.

Maybe the feature is still available through scripting? Then somebody could add it to the Scripts menu and then assign a keyboard shortcut to it.

I still don’t understand why the menu entry was retired… there isn’t another feature that easily replaces it. Bummer.
P
PECourtejoie
Nov 6, 2008
You are welcome!

I still don’t understand why the menu entry was retired… Maybe not a lot of reports of usage…
Still, there are workarounds.
It would have been more useful to have the change layer content available on a right-click….

I wonder if an action could be written to copy the mask from below layer, delete below layer…
RZ
Richard_Z.
Nov 8, 2008
The problem is aggravated if you liked switching between Solid and Gradient layers while keeping your layer effects intact too…

I wrote a script that’ll take a solid fill layer and create a new gradient fill layer with the same vector mask, layer mask, and layer effects, or take a gradient fill layer and do the same to get a solid fill layer. The original layer will be deleted.

The one caveat is your layer has to have a unique name for it to work 100% expected.

I didn’t know where to put it, so I tried Google Code:

<http://code.google.com/p/solid2gradcs4/>
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PECourtejoie
Nov 8, 2008
I wish I could code!
Richard, it might be useful to post it on the Exchange too: < http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/index.cfm?s=5&from =1&o=desc&cat=203&l=-1&event=productHome&amp ;exc=16>
YH
Yasuyuki_Higuchi
Nov 9, 2008
You can find same issue on other forum.
<http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.59b6e5bb>

and Scott gives us a script to solve this problem.
It will work on windows.
RZ
Richard_Z.
Nov 10, 2008
Ah, thank you so much!!!

That is such a better solution. I updated my script to use the same method… < http://code.google.com/p/solid2gradcs4/source/browse/trunk/C hange%20Fill%20Type.jsx>

So it will swap between Gradient/Solid with the proper dialogs, and using the original layers.
YH
Yasuyuki_Higuchi
Nov 27, 2008
I tried to make "Change Layer Content" panel by Adobe configurator <http://www.qtweb.com/photoshop/changelayer.jpg>

Extract and put this folder into the Photoshop Folder>Plug-ins>Panels. then Startup PS CS4.
You can open this panel from menu "Windows>Extentons>Change Layer" <http://www.qtweb.com/photoshop/ChangeLayer.zip>
C
cortjezter
Feb 4, 2009
I have been lamenting the loss of the "Change layer content" menu item since my first exposure to CS4.

Today I stumbled upon what appears to be the last remnant of that functionality…

In the layers palette, along the bottom are various icons for effects, new layer, delete, masks, etc. However, under the Adjustments icon, if you have your [solid] fill layer selected, you can then simply choose the type of layer you would rather have, say [gradient]. Voila! It magically changes.

* Select layer to be changed
* Layers Palette > Adjustment menu
* Choose the layer content you prefer
* Celebrate

Hope this helps everyone!
TL
Todd_Lininger
Mar 21, 2009
Why the heck was this removed?! I used it all the time in CS3 for vector mask layers. What crazy person would have removed a perfectly useful feature without replacing it with an alternative that’s at least as good? I don’t want to have to go through all of this scripting or have to build an action to achieve the same thing that was a basic feature in a previous version. I’m utterly confounded.
IB
iVan_B.
Apr 1, 2009
So I take it there is no update for this (short of using an action which doesn’t allow me to swap a, say levels for curves adjustment layer, or using a panel that doesn’t work in 64 bit).

This is a ROYAL bummer. Don’t get me wrong, a big thank you goes out to those who created a panel and action; I just can’t use them.

I would understand an excuse such as "we took it out as it interfered with the new adjustments panel", or whatever. But as the function is still there (as demonstrated by the action), why remove the only steering wheel for it? This has got to be a screw-up; I just can’t see this being a feature.
IB
iVan_B.
Apr 1, 2009
Whoops. Pardon. I just realised what I did wrong. 64-bit Photoshop uses a different plug-ins folder.

Last night, after I posted this, I made my own simplified version of the same panel and it works like a charm.

Thank you for the idea!

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