Selecting Multiple Layers
With CS2, Adobe gave us the ability to make more than one layer active at a time. Clicking on individual layers with no keys held will cause individual layers to be active (Figure 3.23). Command-clicking (Mac) or Ctrl-clicking (Windows) on a layer will add that layer to the other layers that are selected (Figure 3.24). Shift-clicking will select the range of layers that appears between the layer you Shift-clicked on and the one you clicked on previously (Figure 3.25). You can also Shift-Command-click (Mac) or Shift-Ctrl-click (Windows) within an image while the Move tool is active to add the layer that appears under your mouse to the layers that are currently selected. There is no limit to the number of layers that can be selected at one time.
Figure 3.23. Clicking on individual layers will cause a single layer to become active.
Figure 3.24. Holding Command/Ctrl when clicking will add a layer to the ones that are already selected.
Figure 3.25. Shift-clicking a layer will select the layers between that layer and the last one you clicked on.
Many of Photoshop's features will be unavailable when multiple layers are selected (such as filters and adjustments) because they were designed to only work on one layer at a time. When multiple layers are selected, you can do the following:
Reposition by clicking and dragging with the Move tool.
Change the stacking order by dragging the selected layers up or down in the layers stack.
Scale or rotate (but not warp) the layers by choosing an option from the Edit>Transform menu.
Align or distribute the layers using commands found in the Layer menu.
Duplicate, delete, link or group the layers using commands found on the side menu of the Layers palette.