Create New Layer to full size of picture

Here everybody can post his problems with PhotoLine
RobS
Mitglied
Beiträge: 47
Registriert: Di 11 Mai 2010 03:51

Create New Layer to full size of picture

Beitrag von RobS »

Hi,

This has caused no end of frustration, again because of how things behave within photoshop.

When creating a new layer is there some way to have it to default to being the same size as the containing picture/document? Currently the behaviour I'm seeing has the new layer apparently arbitrarily sized and offset from the top left of the picture... what I want, by default, is that the new layer is the same size as the picture within which it is created, and with zero offset.

I know I can manually set the size and offset within the create layer dialogue, or the layer info dialogue, but it's not as convenient as having it as the (at least optionally selectable) default behaviour.

I can understand that when pasting a selection as a layer that the layer would be sized according to the size of the selection... it still differs from 'expected' behaviour when coming from photoshop, but is understandable...

... What is utterly bewildering is when creating a new empty layer, it too adopts some bizarre sizing and offset that appears unrelated to the picture within which it is created... What happens when I then try 'magic wand' or flood filling the new layer is I get the warning sound that means 'you can't do that here'.

So, for new users the following:

1) Create new layer
2) Select
3) Flood fill selection
4) Move on to next task

becomes

1) Create new layer
2) Select
3) Flood fill selection
4) Get warning beep
5) Wonder why?
6) Reselect
7) Check active layer
8) Retry flood fill of selection
9) Get beep again
10) Try other drawing tools within selection, repeat multiple times
11) Notice continued beeps or silence but with nothing drawing
12) Question sanity, swear at screen
13) Stumble by accident on layer sizing possibilities and have a eureka moment
14) Change layer size to match full size of containing picture and set offsets to zero
15) Reselect (again)
16) Flood fill
17) Look for ways to change default behaviour
18) Raise question in forum
19) Move on to next task

12) & 13) above seem to characterise a lot of early photoline usage, especially coming from familiarity with other bitmap image editors and the unfamiliarity of the tool layout and terminology used here. I am slowly coming to be more familiar with photoline as I use it on real work, going cold-turkey on older and more familiar image editors. I also appreciate that some of the abilities within photoline are better implemented and/or offer greater scope, but that doesn't lessen the struggle and frustration (at times) of becoming comfortable with it, or of un-learning previous expectations and methods.

The solution, if one exists, is probably very easy and likely 'right there in front of my nose'... I'm just not seeing it.
Benutzeravatar
Hoogo
Beta Tester
Beiträge: 4169
Registriert: So 03 Jul 2005 13:35
Wohnort: Deutschland

Re: Create New Layer to full size of picture

Beitrag von Hoogo »

You could activate the bottom layer (in picture mode) before, or use "bring to document size" afterwards.I guess it's in Layout > Raster. And move step 12 in front of step 1 and step 13 to step 3 ;)
I don't know of such a default behavior.
Martin Huber
Entwickler
Entwickler
Beiträge: 4298
Registriert: Di 19 Nov 2002 15:49

Re: Create New Layer to full size of picture

Beitrag von Martin Huber »

RobS hat geschrieben:When creating a new layer is there some way to have it to default to being the same size as the containing picture/document? Currently the behaviour I'm seeing has the new layer apparently arbitrarily sized and offset from the top left of the picture...
When I use "Layer/New Layer", the default values have the same size and position as the active layer. If (in document mode) no layer is active, it defaults to the size of the document and the position is (0;0). Do you see a different behaviour?

Martin
Benutzeravatar
greenmorpher
Mitglied
Beiträge: 943
Registriert: Di 29 Mai 2007 14:42
Wohnort: Rabaul, Papua New Guinea

Re: Create New Layer to full size of picture

Beitrag von greenmorpher »

What Martin said, using either menu bar > layer > new layer OR by clicking "+" at the foot of the layers/channels palette (view > dialog > layers/channel). Position: 0,0; Dimensions: width,height of current active layer; Position: immediately above current active layer. (The active layer is ticked in the Layers/Channels palette.)

The new layer becomes the selected layer and is filled with the background color. Click on the bucket and fill with the foreground color.

Note that in creating the new layer using menu bar > layer > new layer, you have some options. One is "Use transparency". With or without, it made no difference to the behavior on filling.

I checked this using PL v.15, in 64 bit mode on a MacBook. :D

Cheers, Geoff

Geoffrey Heard
Publisher, Editor, Business Writer
The Worsley Press

FREE Bonus book offer. Get "How to make great ads for (sm)all business" FREE when you buy "Type & Layout: Are you communicating or just making pretty shapes?" or "How to Start and Produce a Magazine or Newsletter". Amazon or www.worsleypress.com
RobS
Mitglied
Beiträge: 47
Registriert: Di 11 Mai 2010 03:51

Re: Create New Layer to full size of picture

Beitrag von RobS »

Hi,

From Martin's reply I start to see now where the size and offsets may be originating, but would never have reached that conclusion or seen the pattern emerge as it is completely unexpected behaviour.

I'll need to go away and experiment further to satisfy my own curiosity, but now that I start to understand, like so much else with PL, I also start to appreciate the differences, if a little cumbersome at times.

Cheers


Rob