Tip/Rant: The Problem with Photoshop Auto-Select
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A couple years ago my mind was blown when, after spending years working Photoshop, a friend of mine brought a tiny checkbox to my attention: Auto-Select. Auto-Select is pretty self explanatory. When turned on, it allows you select objects on your canvas by clicking directly on them no matter what layer they’re on, similar to using Illustrator. Furthermore, if you simultaneously have View > Show > Layer Edges selected, you will also see bounding boxes around elements, again similar to Illustrator.
New to you? You’re not alone.
Now, I assumed that I was somehow the one moron that was not aware of this amazingly useful feature. However, after speaking with a few other experienced photoshop users, I realized I wasn’t the only one. It’s one of those features that’s so easy to miss. A lot of people go years without it and then suddenly realize the countless times it would have been useful and also summarize the countless hours wasted by not being aware of its existence, tediously clicking through folders of layers to find the one they need.
The Usability Aspect
I can’t help but wonder if this boils down to a usability issue. Photoshop is one of those programs that most users dive right into, learning as they go. As a result it’s very easy to miss key minor and benefits if they’re not apparent or applicable to everyday tasks. However, Auto-Select is a feature that is crucial to all tasks from day one, yet it’s frequently overlooked due to it’s minor emphasis and even more so because it’s not a default.
A New Default?
First off, I understand there are many users who hate Auto-Select. And, IMO, typically this is due to the fact that habits are hard to change. If you’ve been using Photoshop for years with the Auto-Select feature turned off, then you have a set way of doing things and don’t see a need for change. That’s fine. However, when photoshop first sprung into existence it’s primary use was for what the name implies, manipulating photos and for photo editing, having the default state of Auto-Select turned off made a lot of sense. Now, with a significant number of users using Photoshop primarily for graphic design and page layout, it may be worth considering having it turned ON by default.
At the very least, I’d be happy with a more obvious presentation of the feature. Perhaps, determining the default based on asking a question during setup such as: “What will you be using Photoshop for most of the time?”. If the answer is photo editing, turn Auto-Select off and if it’s web design then turn it on and save future generations from having a DOH! moment of their own.
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You’re definitely not the only one. I used Photoshop for years and years without knowing about it. In fact, I often used Fireworks instead for comps just because it had auto-select (in addition to the font aliasing). I only found out when my boss at my last agency pointed it out when looking over my shoulder.
I say it should be a default. And if not, it should definitely be clearer.
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Thanks for posting — I never noticed that Photoshop feature. Photoshop is so huge, it really is easy to miss some of its smaller features.
Also – minor detail – any chance the default text that appears within the inputs under the “leave a comment” section could automatically clear when clicked on?
@Benjamin – Just fixed this! Thanks for the suggestion.
My way of dealing with it, is to use kind of a “shortcut” for Auto-Select.
Just turn off the Auto-Select option, and hold the Ctrl key (Command key for Mac), to select the object you want.
It works the same way of the Auto-Select function: if the drop-box on the right side marks “Layer” it will select just the object you clicked over, if it marks “Group”, when Ctrl-clicking an object, it will select the “first level” group of this object(layer).
That’s it, the Ctrl key (Command key for Mac), when holding, enables the Auto-Select if it’s not selected and vice-versa.
super information realy…bravo man
I use auto-select all the time.
I start to using it when i try to do some work in Fireworks, actualy.
In fireworks you can auto select all the llayers by default. Layers is lighlighted when the mouse over too. What is extreme useful.
Fireworks is great, but sometimes there’s need photoshop and nothing else.