marc_edwards

133 Messages

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5.1K Points

Wed, Mar 30, 2011 6:10 AM

Photoshop: Please add the ability for Command-J to dupe layers and layer groups

Command-J duplicates the entire current layer, or a portion of the current layer, if there’s a selection. It’s a great feature, and one I use daily.

For some strange reason, Command-J doesn’t do anything when there’s two layers or a layer group selected. Why? I realise there’s probably a decent technical reason for this, but a context sensitive “just dupe it” command would be really handy, even if it’s actually several different methods behind the scenes.

Is now a good time to mention that the Layer menu already contains an item that does most of these things, but it doesn’t have a keyboard shortcut by default? Pre-emptive strike: Assigning a keyboard shortcut wouldn’t help, as the menu item doesn’t duplicate selections within a layer (Command-J does).

Responses

Official Solution

JeffreyTranberry

Adobe Administrator

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14.6K Messages

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282.7K Points

8 years ago

This is implemented in Photoshop CS6. Cmd/Ctrl + J duplicates multiple selected layers as well as layer groups.

Sr. Product Manager, Adobe Digital Imaging

JeffreyTranberry

Adobe Administrator

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14.6K Messages

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282.7K Points

9 years ago

Marc, great idea. Thanks for the suggestion.

Sr. Product Manager, Adobe Digital Imaging

david_jensen_2204855

129 Messages

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3.2K Points

9 years ago

A script could be made to do this (everything but use the cmd-j shortcut)
I'll try to put something together.

marc_edwards

133 Messages

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5.1K Points

Right now I have it set up as command-J for dupe layer and dupe selection, plus command-shift-J for dupe layers and dupe group(s).

So there's already a good workaround. Just seems like it could be even better, allowing for faster workflows and less keyboard shortcuts. Less shortcuts for more ability.

9 years ago

david_jensen_2204855

129 Messages

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3.2K Points

Ah.... I misunderstood. I thought you wanted to be able to dupe a selected potion from multiple layers... i.e. Command-J with a selection for multiple layers at once.

You were just asking to combine 2 shortcuts/commands into one a single command. That definitely makes sense.

If you would still find super cmd-j with a selection useful I could give you something :-)

9 years ago

marc_edwards

133 Messages

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5.1K Points

We have Copy Merged for doing that (which I use regularly!).

9 years ago

david_jensen_2204855

129 Messages

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3.2K Points

This wouldn't merge them. I don't know how helpful that would be, though.

9 years ago

julian_kussman

18 Messages

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904 Points

9 years ago

One of the first key commands I add is CMD+opt+G to dupe groups of layers. (It's not taken by anything I use)

edwardcaruso

154 Messages

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2.6K Points

9 years ago

it would make sense to me that command-j would also dupe groups like it does layers. please add.

david_jensen_2204855

129 Messages

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3.2K Points

9 years ago

Put this script into photoshop/presets/scripts and assign it to cmd-J. It should do exactly what you've requested.



try{

var idCpTL = charIDToTypeID( "CpTL" );

executeAction( idCpTL, undefined, DialogModes.NO );

}catch(e){

var idDplc = charIDToTypeID( "Dplc" );

    var desc172 = new ActionDescriptor();

    var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );

        var ref3 = new ActionReference();

        var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );

        var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );

        var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );

        ref3.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );

    desc172.putReference( idnull, ref3 );

    var idVrsn = charIDToTypeID( "Vrsn" );

    desc172.putInteger( idVrsn, 5 );

executeAction( idDplc, desc172, DialogModes.NO );

}

JeffreyTranberry

Adobe Administrator

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14.6K Messages

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282.7K Points

Cool.

Sr. Product Manager, Adobe Digital Imaging

9 years ago

david_jensen_2204855

129 Messages

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3.2K Points

Here it is as a file:
http://sites.google.com/site/davidjen...

9 years ago

edwardcaruso

154 Messages

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2.6K Points

David - that is great. thank you. Just wondering - can you script adjustment layers so that they always open in the CS3-style modal dialogues? I'm sure it can be done somehow.

9 years ago

david_jensen_2204855

129 Messages

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3.2K Points

You can assign this script to a keyboard shortcut to modify any* adjustment layer with a modal dialog. (*it doesn't work with gradient maps, though.. not sure why). You can't override the double-click behavior with a script.
http://sites.google.com/site/davidjen...

A panel could be made to make new adjustment layers and automatically open their editor.

9 years ago

edwardcaruso

154 Messages

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2.6K Points

Thanks again David that helps. But I'd love a preference in the next version of PS to have the modal windows replace the panel. I'm still trying to find ways to fully recreate modal dialogues like CS3. I feel that the adjustment panel is a big step backwards and it really slows me down. So many aspects of the panel bother me - I guess I'll start a proper feature request on this site. if you have any other adjustment layer scripts i would definetly check them out.

9 years ago

aleksoctop

28 Messages

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564 Points

9 years ago

David Jensen, you rock. If you don't mind, I'm going to post the script on my blog tonight for everyone to use and download. If you mind, let me know, I won't keep it up. :)

shangara_singh

20 Messages

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686 Points

9 years ago

The script could do with a header. I wrote one but cannot post it here (see image). Grrr! Still cannot do it.

}

davep_2335370

45 Messages

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2.3K Points

9 years ago

agreed. seems dumb simple to me.

davep_2335370

45 Messages

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2.3K Points

9 years ago

Thats an interesting script, but honestly why do we have to do this manually when it should be a feature?

JeffreyTranberry

Adobe Administrator

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14.6K Messages

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282.7K Points

The point of this site is for folks to make feature requests for improvements directly to Photoshop - and this idea is a good one that's under consideration. A side benefit is that cool users like David Jensen and Shangara are posting helpful scripts to help improve users workflows in the meantime.

Sr. Product Manager, Adobe Digital Imaging

9 years ago

marc_edwards

133 Messages

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5.1K Points

It seems like a perfect demonstration of why scripting ability and direct feedback to the Photoshop team is a great combination. It lets fringe features be built and tested.

"Should be a feature" only exists after someone—either from the public or at Adobe—has suggested it.

I've been pushing for this feature for almost a year now and am very excited that maybe some day soon it'll be part of Photoshop and therefore accelerate my workflow.

9 years ago

scott_mahn

173 Messages

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3.8K Points

9 years ago

David's script is fantastic. Thanks David.

howard_pinsky

98 Messages

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1.7K Points

9 years ago

Great script, David! I've been looking for a temporary solution to this.

marina_thompson

9 Messages

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498 Points

9 years ago

Simple solution:
If you select the layers or groups you want to dupe,
you can option - drag right on the layers palette, up or down.
This will duplicate multiple layers very easily.
No script needed. Adobe is vaguely aware of this.

[Personally, I would rather this didn't work this way...
I would like a preference or documented keyboard shortcut so I could stop it!]

david_dobish

197 Messages

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4.1K Points

9 years ago

Maybe everyone already knows about this but scripts can be automatically generated using the scriptlistner

1. Open folder where PS is installed.
2. Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS5 (64 Bit)\Scripting\Utilities
3. Place the ScriptListener plugin into your root plugins directory.
4. Restart PS
5. Now almost every thing you do, will be written out to a file on your desktop called. ScriptingListenerJS
6. You can copy and paste the chucks of code into a seperate script to run the given function.

1. Open Extendscript
2. Paste the code into a new file.
3. save the file out as foo.JS

You now have a stand alone script.

shangara_singh

20 Messages

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686 Points

9 years ago

This has got to be a cruel Adobe joke! I just assumed, like millions of other users, the plug-in is for script writers who want to debug their scripts.

Why isn't there an interface to turn the ScriptListner on and off and given a name that would attract non-scripting people to try it, or a Scripts panel on par with Actions?

christoph_pfaffenbichler

Champion

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1.6K Messages

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24.6K Points

Is this a joke on your part?
Adobe provides ExtendScript Toolkit to edit and test Scripts, a Scripts Panel in Photoshop seems utterly unnecessary.

Scripting is a slightly more complicated technique than using Actions (ease of use being one of the advantages of Actions) – if you want to give Scripting a try Photoshop ships with the documentation, just check out the Folder »Scripting« beside the application.

9 years ago

shangara_singh

20 Messages

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686 Points

I don't want to give scripting a try. That's the point of the post (YMMV).

9 years ago

marina_thompson

9 Messages

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498 Points

I would rather not try scripting either...but if I do try, is there a way to STOP duplicating ONLY locked layers or groups - but not selections/unlocked layers/groups with the (command-)option-drag keyboard shortcut?? I can't envision how that could possibly work.

9 years ago

Adobe Photoshop Family

marc_edwards

Photoshop: Please add the ability for Command-J to dupe layers and layer groups

Responses

JeffreyTranberry

JeffreyTranberry

david_jensen_2204855

marc_edwards

david_jensen_2204855

marc_edwards

david_jensen_2204855

julian_kussman

edwardcaruso

david_jensen_2204855

JeffreyTranberry

david_jensen_2204855

edwardcaruso

david_jensen_2204855

edwardcaruso

aleksoctop

shangara_singh

davep_2335370

davep_2335370

JeffreyTranberry

marc_edwards

scott_mahn

howard_pinsky

marina_thompson

david_dobish

shangara_singh

christoph_pfaffenbichler

shangara_singh

marina_thompson

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