shape layers question

[karri]

Hi everyone,

When I right click on a shape layer (PS CS5.5) sometimes I get a context menu that shows editing choices like Distort, Skew, Perspective, etc., and other times, I get a context menu that just shows the layers. How to consistently show the editing choices? Or, where else to find those editing choices? Been puzzling me for a while Thanks!

[Bob]

Hi Karri,

Those right context menus can change depending on the tool selected, the type of layer, whether you have options like "auto select" (for the move tool) enabled, and even what you are currently doing, for example.

Choices like "Distort, Skew, Perspective, etc." are options of the transform menu. You can always get to them using the main menu (Edit>Transform). You can also get to them from the Free Transform context menu. If you select a layer and activate Free Transform (the keyboard shortcut CTRL+T is handy), you can right click on the transform bounds box and the desired context menu will appear.

[karri]

omg Bob, you are a genius! Ctrl T!

Now if I could just find the smacks-forehead smiley!

Thank you!!

[Chuck Engels]

This one always works for me

[karri]

Thanks Chuck!

[momoffduty]

If you select a layer and activate Free Transform (the keyboard shortcut CTRL+T is handy), you can right click on the transform bounds box and the desired context menu will appear.

I use the CTRL+T method but had no idea about the right click context menu. Thanks Bob! And thanks karri for asking the question.

[Bob]

Glad I could help.

[karri]

I use the CTRL+T method but had no idea about the right click context menu. Thanks Bob! And thanks karri for asking the question.

Cheryl where I got lost is that even if I Ctrl T, then the next time I try to use the right-click, it goes back to the select layer menu. I didn't realize I have to keep using Ctrl T to get the transform options to show. Be cool if there were a preference that could be set to only show the transform options, because I never use it for the default of selecting layers.

In any event, I <heart> Bob

[momoffduty]

Karri do you have the layers bounding box to show on or off? I have mine off & maybe having it on will effect the behaviour? Have to check this out.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[George Tyndall]

Cheryl where I got lost is that even if I Ctrl T, then the next time I try to use the right-click, it goes back to the select layer menu.

In PSE7, after doing a Ctrl-T, right-clicking gets one the various free transformation options for as long as the green check mark has not been clicked to accept the transformation.

For me, it's frustrating that, each and every time I drag a new image into a collage using the the Move tool, I must then take my hand off my trackaball and use two hands to perform a Ctrl-T. It would be really nice if, once the image has been moved in, and with the Move too still active, I could right-click to get Free Transform and then right-click once again to select the particular type of transformation (Distort, etc.)

The only method I am aware of that allows one to be ready to freely transform immediatly upon bringng in the second image in is to use the Place command. But, given that ideally one needs to match the zooms, resolutions and sizes of the collage images before performing any transformations, the Place command isn't really an option. The other reason it isn't an option for my workflow is that I always select my collage images with the Organizer, rather than opening them from within the Editor.

[George Tyndall]

It would be really nice if, once the image has been moved in, and with the Move too still active, I could right-click to get Free Transform and then right-click once again to select the particular type of transformation (Distort, etc.).

Eureka!

I've discovered a method that avoids having to do a Ctrl-T.

Here it is:

--on the Move tool's Options bar, keep Show Bounding Box always checked, and remember to recheck it if ever you select Reset All Tools
--click in the layer's palette on the layer you wish to transform
--click on any of the resulting bounding box's handles
--right-click within the bounding box to bring to up the contextual sub-menu shown below

Bounding Box.jpg

[Bob]

That's a good workaround if you have trouble reaching the ctrl-t shortcut or don't want to assign a different shortcut. It's equivalent to ctrl-t, but the Move tool has to be the current tool.

I like the ctrl-t shortcut because it won't affect the current tool. It brings up Free Transform directly and after you commit the transformation, the current tool is still what it was before the transform. For me, that facilitates my workflow.

You should also investigate the effect of the modifier keys while in Free Transform. I use ctrl and alt the most. Hold down ctrl and drag a handle and it's the same as "distort", hold down alt and drag and it mirrors the change on the opposite side.

[George Tyndall]

You should also investigate the effect of the modifier keys while in Free Transform. I use ctrl and alt the most. Hold down ctrl and drag a handle and it's the same as "distort", hold down alt and drag and it mirrors the change on the opposite side.

I use those modifiers, too, Bob, as they don't require me to remove my hand from my trackball like Ctrl-T does.

The other one that bothers me is Shift-Ctrl-Alt-E, but I have no choice in this case as holding down the Alt key while clicking on Merge Visible in the layers flyout menu does not work in PSE7.

Here's one keyboard shortcut that I only recenlty discovered and that I really do like: After double-clicking on the T thumbnail, Ctrl-> and Ctrl-< to change font size (add shift to move in 10-point increments).

[Jayell]

Here's one keyboard shortcut that I only recenlty discovered and that I really do like: After double-clicking on the T thumbnail, Ctrl-> and Ctrl-< to change font size (add shift to move in 10-point increments).

I can't seem to get the Ctrl-< .. or -> to work, but adding the shift key works great. That's a new one for me. Thanks, George.

[George Tyndall]

I can't seem to get the Ctrl-< .. or -> to work, but adding the shift key works great. That's a new one for me. Thanks, George.

Yes, you are correct, one must also press the Shift key.

Thanks for pointing out the error.