Linking linked layers

[user_0815]

Sometimes I use the "linked layers" feature which I find really useful. However, I keep forgetting wich way around they get linked when using drag & drop. 

Can someone explain how the linking "system" works? 

When I drag a layer on to the "Links" panel, I would assume that the dragged layer gets linked to the currently active layer (parent). But that doesn't seem to be the case. When I drag another layer on to the panel, the previous link disappears. 

So it seems that the links have to be created backwards (the way my brain works).

Any help greatly appreciated. 🙏

 

 

[carl123]

33 minutes ago, user_0815 said:

When I drag a layer on to the "Links" panel, I would assume that the dragged layer gets linked to the currently active layer (parent). But that doesn't seem to be the case. When I drag another layer on to the panel, the previous link gets removed. 

 

All the following is performed in the Layers Panel...

1.  Select the Layer (Layer 1) that you want to link to
2. Drag the Layer (Layer 2) that you want to link to Layer 1 onto the Links Panel

Layer 1 and Layer 2 are now linked.

To add a third Layer (Layer 3) to the two linked Layers

1. Select Layer 3 in the Layers Panel
2. Drag any of the two previously linked layers (Layer 1 or Layer 2) to the Links Panel

All 3 Layers are now Linked (Layer 1, Layer 2 and Layer3)

[user_0815]

Note to self: To link an n-th layer, first click on it and then drag any of the previous ones on it (in the Links panel).

[HCl]

.

[CaroleA]

On 11/26/2024 at 12:43 PM, carl123 said:

All the following is performed in the Layers Panel...

1.  Select the Layer (Layer 1) that you want to link to
2. Drag the Layer (Layer 2) that you want to link to Layer 1 onto the Links Panel

Layer 1 and Layer 2 are now linked.

I am trying this but I am not getting anything satisfactory.

I select the layer 1 (that will need to be linked to layer 2).

Once I click on layer 2 to drag it to the Links panel nothing happens.

I need non-adjacent layers to be linked so I can move them together without any risk of offsetting them, like in this design 

[CaroleA]

OK, I managed to link the two layers (red ring) but it turns into both layers to become identical.

Since I don't need all the attributes to be linked (I just want the layers linked so they stay perfectly aligned, even if I move them), I tried unlinking the different attributes, but no matter what I do, I can't recover the rest of the red ring.

Can I? 

[lepr]

The app is not designed ro restore the pre-linked state of an object when a link gets dismissed.

When you want to link only the transforms of objects, do not drop the dragged object onto the target in the first row of Links panel. Instead, use the drop target in the Transform row.

[carl123]

4 hours ago, CaroleA said:

OK, I managed to link the two layers (red ring) but it turns into both layers to become identical.

That's because you are linking pixel layers and they have a special link parameter called Pixel content which you have linked.  When you do that, one pixel layer will become identical to the other

If you had used shapes or curves to create the red layers then it would have worked as you expected it to

[CaroleA]

6 hours ago, carl123 said:

That's because you are linking pixel layers and they have a special link parameter called Pixel content which you have linked.  When you do that, one pixel layer will become identical to the other

If you had used shapes or curves to create the red layers then it would have worked as you expected it to

When I need that linking, it will always be with a pixel layer, so is there a way to link pixel layers to make sure they are staying aligned, even if they move?

[carl123]

3 minutes ago, CaroleA said:

When I need that linking, it will always be with a pixel layer, so is there a way to link pixel layers to make sure they are staying aligned, even if they move?

Yes, just link them to the Transform "checkbox" only

[CaroleA]

35 minutes ago, carl123 said:

Yes, just link them to the Transform "checkbox" only

Great. Thanks.

[lepr]

1 hour ago, CaroleA said:

When I need that linking, it will always be with a pixel layer, so is there a way to link pixel layers to make sure they are staying aligned, even if they move?

Yes, I told you earlier in this thread - drop into the Transform target box only.

[CaroleA]

17 minutes ago, lepr said:

Yes, I told you earlier in this thread - drop into the Transform target box only.

Thanks. I was not understanding it initially.

[CaroleA]

When linking layers in multiple "sets", is there a way to know which layers are linked together? I tested on a set of 5 layers: 3 were linked together, and the other 2 were together. However, they all show the same link icon without knowing which is linked with which.

[carl123]

In the Links Panel using the arrows will cycle through the layers in that specific link

The Links Panel will also show you the name of the layer you are looking at and the Layers Panel will highlight it

[CaroleA]

32 minutes ago, carl123 said:

The Links Panel will also show you the name of the layer you are looking at and the Layers Panel will highlight it

Where do I see those names? I don't see anything displayed in the Links panel. Could you share a screenshot? Maybe I am looking at it wrong.

I figured out the arrows, but it still only shows the layers one at a time, which can be tedious if I have a lot of non-adjacent layers that are linked.

[carl123]

6 minutes ago, CaroleA said:

Where do I see those names? I don't see anything displayed in the Links panel. Could you share a screenshot? Maybe I am looking at it wrong.

 

[CaroleA]

Thanks! I didn't realize it was the name of the layer since all my layers (in my test image) were called Pixel!