Photoshop: Don't understand the undo/redo system

did this make it into CS6?

Allen, it didn't.

Gene, copy the .jsx to scripts folder of PS (for Mac: /Applications/Adobe Photoshop CS6/Presets/Scripts, I guess for win it's almost the same), restart PS, navigate to Edit > Keyboard shortcuts and Menus, find the script under File > Scripts > StepBackwardSmart and assign the key of your choice.

Hi Sergey,

Thanks for the reply. I copied the code provided in the link to Windows notepad and saved it as a text file. Then I renamed it to a .jsx extension. Is this the correct way to do it?

When you say "assign the key of your choice", are you referring to the keyboard (like a shortcut key)? If so, does that mean every time I want to run the script (i.e. stop undo from reverting to the previous layer) I have to remember to push the key?

Thanks again

Hey Gene,

Well I guess the fastest way would be just right-click on the .jsx file on polycount's web page and hit 'Save As..' and save it to your PS's Scripts folder, but saving through Notepad'd work too.

The script doesn't just stop undo from jumping on layers, it basically replaces 'Step Backward' functionality: it does the same plus remembers the layer you've been on. So the logical choice for a shortcut key would be the same key you've previously had for PS's 'Step Backward' command: for me that was cmd+Z

Sergey.

Hi Sergey,

That would have been easier :)

I don't think this script is going to work for me because I don't use the shortcut key to undo. I use the history tab because I usually go back several steps and it's easier for me to just select the history level I want to revert to.

This issue is a bad decision by Adobe. It wasn't a problem with PS2 (I upgraded to PS5). It's is an irritating "feature" that should be changed or at least given the option of disabling. I see from all the threads, here and elsewhere, that I'm not alone. It seems like Adobe is starting to behave like Microsoft. They take something that was working fine and make it worse and then refuse to fix it, no matter how many people complain.

CS6 and we are still complaining about this topic. I got in to an extended thread on this a few years back which ended up with us all being patronised by an Adobe employee about the difference between undo and history states. I constantly face the problem outlined by numerous posters above. The latest infuriating example 10 mins ago had me trawling for solutions in the hope that CS6 might bring one. I am very grateful for the scripts posted but am a bit nervous about implementing them and think it's a bit nuts that Photoshop don't sort this problem themselves. Maybe if we emphasise that 'undoing' is not the same as 'mistake correction' it might be a more effective argument. I typically throw down a mark then instantly change my mind, undo, and throw down another one.. I might keep doing that until it looks right. I have no idea how often as I don't pay attention to it any more than I paid attention to how often I dipped my brush in water when painting with real materials back in the day. It's part of my process. But if I happen to have made a new layer and then made a mark (which is as common an event as dipping a brush in paint) and then hit the 'undo' then ....well you all know the rest. Just spent ten mins painting on the background layer without realising it. Not a big deal- I try to work with as little layers as possible anyway- but irritating. And a swarm of little irritations ends up being a massive annoyance. And don't get me started on brush folders... I waste so much time trying to find custom brushes - but hey, we've got darker IU in CS6; it was worth the wait!

That's funny... I don't know what you all are talking about, since switching layers, painting a mark and hitting undo (or step backward) does not switch layers for me. I'm using CS4.

> step backward not undo

Gosh, I could have sworn I said twice now...

Fine. New video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBMMwu...

still a problem in cs6

It his hugely annoying for me that step undo also undoes your layer selection. If there was a way to turn that off I would LOVE it. I waste tons of time every day fixing mistakes caused by being on the wrong layer because I selected it made some marks, quickly undid the marks, started making more marks and then later realizing I'm on the old layer! PLEASE FIX! it's been a major issue for 10 years!:)

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
Step Undo Annoyingly Undoes Layer Selection Too!.

I am REALLY sick of after chosing a layer, making a brushstroke that isn't quite right, clicking "Step Backward" (alt-ctrl-z) AND PHOTOSHOP AUTOMATICALLY SELECTS THE LAST LAYER I WAS ON. This has cost me countless hours of drawing directly on the background layer. I have my Wacom pen set to "Step Backward" because I want to have more than one level of undo, but because it selects the previous layer, unless I am being really careful, I end up drawing on the wrong layer. Usually, I have had to learn to select a layer, choose the eraser tool, then pretend to erase something, just so that if I have to step backward it won't select my previous layer. If this has been addressed, great, but I keep thinking it will be, and cannot believe that by CS5 it's still happening.

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
Photoshop: Please stop selecting the previous layer when I do a "Step Backwards".

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
Step Backwards undoes Layer Selection.

Stepping backwards will often times undo a layer selection. This gets messy. I will select a layer, make a modification, then step backwards. It will then select back to the previous layer I had. It's terribly frustrating and disorienting.

I work with several others who run into the same problem. If this is a 'feature' of step backwards, I highly recommend adding multiple undo options and keep them separate from step backwards.

Thanks for listening!

unfortunately, adobe will probably never fix this...

This still causes problems for me on a daily basis - Photoshop seem to be more motivated to broaden the software than tighten the existing version. I wish they had a good competitor that we could move over to but the competition is just not good enough yet and Corel Painter is steadily worse with each release. Hopefully Art Rage Or SketchBook pro will sort their keyboard shortcut problems out and we can all stop having to make do. (Art rage's brushes are far superior to Adobe's but the software is too clunky to use- at least for me). Check thru the history of this problem and particularly Kris Hunt's patronising replies to see what you are up against. basically it's the user's problem!

I confirm that this is solving the problem for me !

To install the script StepBackwardSmart:
1*Download it from:
http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/35...

2*Put it in the photoshop folder:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CC (64 Bit)\Presets\Scripts
It is probable that you can put it whenever you want, i don't know.

3*In photoshop, go to File - Scripts - Script Events Manager

4*In the down part of this window, open the dropdown menu of "scripts", choose "Browse", it is all the way down

5*Go to the file at the location described in the second step

6*Clic "Done"

7*Go to Edit - Keyboard Shortcuts Or use the shortcut alt shift ctrl K

8*The shortcut you want to assign is in the Application menus - File - Script (search a bit, the name is "StepBackwardSmart")

Voilà !