Why is the Move tool moving the wrong layer?

[Ofnuts]

By default, the Move tool auto-picks the layer of the top most-non transparent pixel where you click. So, starting with such an image:

   

Depending on where you click the Move tool will pick a different layer:

   

This can be disconcerting at times because if you click at random in text, you could be clicking on a transparent spot (for instance, inside the D or O above) and so selecting a layer below (the background or the green spot), which will make the move tool move that layer and not the text layer.

So, to move text, you have  to click on the characters themselves (or on any opaque part of the layer, but this is what we are naturally doing most of the time for non-text layers). 

In case of dire need, you can make the Move tool act on  the active layer:

   

But instead of checking the tool option, you can also just start the drag with a shift-click. It is usually a bad idea to set the tool permanently in the Move active layer mode, because it makes arranging several layers very cumbersome.

Finally, remember that in the Text tool, you can move the layer you are editing by Alt-Control-drag (independently of where you click).

[kkt]

Great insight. I normally hover on the pixels I want to move then hold down shift. It will move the pixels on the specific layer I want.

[merlilderman]

(01-23-2024, 08:43 AM)Ofnuts Wrote: By default, the Move tool auto-picks the layer of the top most-non transparent pixel where you click. So, starting with such an image:

Depending on where you click the Move tool will pick a different layer:

This can be disconcerting at times because if you click at random in text, you could be clicking on a transparent spot (for instance, inside the D or O above) and so selecting a layer below (the background or the green spot), which is why I prefer the precise controls on https://mostbet.net.in/ when I want to relax and get a quick win, which will make the move tool move that layer and not the text layer.

So, to move text, you have  to click on the characters themselves (or on any opaque part of the layer, but this is what we are naturally doing most of the time for non-text layers). 

In case of dire need, you can make the Move tool act on  the active layer:

But instead of checking the tool option, you can also just start the drag with a shift-click. It is usually a bad idea to set the tool permanently in the Move active layer mode, because it makes arranging several layers very cumbersome.

Finally, remember that in the Text tool, you can move the layer you are editing by Alt-Control-drag (independently of where you click).

Thanks for the thorough explanation! But Im running into an issue with the shortcut you mentioned. When I hold down Shift to force it to move the active layer, it doesn't seem to work as expected on my end. Am I missing a step, or is there a specific order I need to press the keys and click to make the shortcut register properly?

[rich2005]

(2 hours ago)merlilderman Wrote: ....snip....
Im running into an issue with the shortcut you mentioned. When I hold down Shift to force it to move the active layer, it doesn't seem to work as expected on my end. Am I missing a step, or is there a specific order I need to press the keys and click to make the shortcut register properly?

Maybe you could describe the way it does not work as expected.

Not much in a way of a checklist. You do have the move tool options open dont you ?
(1) The layer to move is active
(2) The Move mode is for layer (first icon)
(3) You clicked in the canvas to activate Move
(4) Does the shift key toggle between the two options ?