Another suggestion from me - I’m working with many layers inside of groups, underneath other objects. Sometimes these objects are PNGs or artboards with necessary transparent, negative space. When trying to click layers underneath, it can be hard to reach them. Sometimes I have to CMD kick, then press Esc to reach the object I’m after. Then, if I want to drag and move it, usually I have to use keyboard shift-move. If I try to click and drag, I will ultimately select the layers above. I know I can lock them, but this is pretty arduous.
Is there no isolation mode for individual objects or groups? I’m thinking of something like a simply keyboard button press to toggle it on and off for whatever group or object you currently have selected. So to reach a hard to get item, you can ctrl + click, select the thing you need, then press ‘I’ for isolation mode (for example) and continue to work without difficulty.
Thanks,
Hi there,
Have you tried pressing X and then pressing ⌥ while dragging? This shortcut will select only those layers that are fully inside the marquee selection box.
This shortcut will work in the scenario you describe: selecting a layer underneath a transparent PNG bitmap. Once you have selected the layer, you’ll see its properties in the Inspector or you can even press ⏎ and you’ll enter Edit mode for that specific layer.
I hope this helps!
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That’s pretty useful, though it doesn’t get through all groups?
However, I’ve just been told about CMD selecting an object, let’s say a text symbol, then pressing Esc to go up a parent layer to select the symbol
Then Cmd + Option click/drag holding the mouse down whilst selecting an empty area and it will move the symbol! This is exactly what I was after.
One further question - is there a way to subtract drag-select?
It should go through any groups, although it won’t select nested layers inside symbol instances. I don’t know if this is what you wanted considering the scenario you just described.
About the last question, can you elaborate a bit on it?
One further question - is there a way to subtract drag-select?
Sorry, I jumped the gun with that last question as a simple shift+drag deselections. Ignore that question.
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Oh, no worries, thanks for the update and let us know if we can help with anything else! 