CS4 layer masks driving me nuts!

R
Posted By
rkny
Feb 27, 2009
Views
213
Replies
6
Status
Closed
I use a lot of adjustment layers and color fills. Previously, for as long as I can remember, upon creating a new adjustment layer or color fill, I could begin painting on the mask immediately after creating it. Furthermore, upon clicking on any layer with a mask, the mask would automatically become the "active" area.

Now with CS4, I find I have to click directly on a layer mask in order to paint on it EVERY time I create a masked layer or click on a different layer and click again on the masked layer.

Is there any way to tell Photoshop to automatically select a layer mask when working on a masked layer like it used to do? I’m clicking like 100x more than I used to.

Thanks.

rkny

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CC
Chris_Cox
Feb 27, 2009
No, the fact that it was targetting the layer mask by default was a bug that caused a lot of other nasty problems. It really should target the contents of the layer by default.
MR
Mark_Reynolds
Feb 27, 2009
Yes that’s an improvement.
R
rkny
Mar 2, 2009
Well much of my masking is done on adjustments layers, so there is no "content". Wish there was a pref to automatically select the mask. I’m getting carpal tunnel.
CC
Chris_Cox
Mar 2, 2009
There is a content to adjustment layers: the result of the adjustment. There just isn’t content you can paint on.
MR
Mark_Reynolds
Mar 3, 2009
Well described Chris. There used to be a shortcut for selecting the mask which I think was command \ – but for some in CS4 this doesn’t seem to work anymore.
AS
Ann_Shelbourne
Mar 3, 2009
Cmd back-slash does work still in CS4 to select the mask … or it does for me under OSX 10.4.11 anyway.

Check System Pand photoshop shortcuts to see if you have a conflict.

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