Dragging a Layer and have it Center Itself ???

BuckSkin
Senior Contributor

Posts: 3,966

Dragging a Layer and have it Center Itself ??? May 6, 2018 21:49:59 GMT

Quote

Post by BuckSkin on May 6, 2018 21:49:59 GMT

I have dragged probably tens of thousands of layers from one photo to another.

Depending on the parent program of the layer being drug, in many instances the new layer will land in perfect alignment.

However, layers from certain programs always have to be centered by using the "Move" tool.

It seems that some long time ago, I read of a trick that could be employed, either during the dragging operation, or when using the Move tool, that would cause the layer being moved to automatically align itself with the target image.

I have searched for this information, but I must not be using the correct terminology.

Thanks for reading and all help is appreciated.

Elements 7 ~~~ 64-bit Windows 7

On a poverty-level Kentucky budget, a 24-exposure roll of film would have two Christmases and a summer vacation on it and we might have to wait another six months before being able to afford developing the film.
I still have trouble remembering that it doesn't cost anything to take thousands of pictures; it just almost seems impossible to be true.

Major Major Senior Contributor Posts: 1,642 Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes	Dragging a Layer and have it Center Itself ??? May 6, 2018 21:55:30 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Major Major on May 6, 2018 21:55:30 GMT I seem to remember that holding down the Shift key while dragging will do the trick.
	Up North, eh? Nikon D3100, 18-55mm, 55-200mm Photoshop Elements 15, 14, 13, 11, 10; Elements+ Windows 7 Pro On1 Photo RAW 2019 Topaz: Adjust, Clarity, Glow2, Restyle, Simplify, Star Effects, Studio, Texture Effects2 Redfield Fractalius Wacom Intuous tablet

BuckSkin
Senior Contributor

Posts: 3,966

Dragging a Layer and have it Center Itself ??? May 6, 2018 22:06:15 GMT

Quote

Post by BuckSkin on May 6, 2018 22:06:15 GMT

May 6, 2018 21:55:30 GMT Major Major said:

I seem to remember that holding down the Shift key while dragging will do the trick.

! Give that man a CIGAR !

That works like a charm; you have saved me untold amounts of time in meticulously trying to center the layer with the Move tool.

THANKS !

Elements 7 ~~~ 64-bit Windows 7

On a poverty-level Kentucky budget, a 24-exposure roll of film would have two Christmases and a summer vacation on it and we might have to wait another six months before being able to afford developing the film.
I still have trouble remembering that it doesn't cost anything to take thousands of pictures; it just almost seems impossible to be true.

Major Major Senior Contributor Posts: 1,642 Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes	Dragging a Layer and have it Center Itself ??? May 6, 2018 22:22:04 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Major Major on May 6, 2018 22:22:04 GMT Buckskin - You're very welcome. Glad I can still remember SOME things!
	Up North, eh? Nikon D3100, 18-55mm, 55-200mm Photoshop Elements 15, 14, 13, 11, 10; Elements+ Windows 7 Pro On1 Photo RAW 2019 Topaz: Adjust, Clarity, Glow2, Restyle, Simplify, Star Effects, Studio, Texture Effects2 Redfield Fractalius Wacom Intuous tablet

reshacker New Forum Member Posts: 28	Dragging a Layer and have it Center Itself ??? May 6, 2018 23:43:38 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by reshacker on May 6, 2018 23:43:38 GMT This actually places it in the same position as in the original file, not necessarily centered. You can also right-click the layer and select Duplicate Layer. Then select the Destination as the new image.
	PSE 2, 9, 2018 Alien 17 r3 w/4K, Intel i7, 16 GB ram, Intel graphics, Nvidia graphics Windows 10 Home 64bit (1709)

Sepiana
Administrator

Posts: 19,826
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
Member is Online

Dragging a Layer and have it Center Itself ??? May 7, 2018 0:21:34 GMT

Quote

Post by Sepiana on May 7, 2018 0:21:34 GMT

I believe Craig is correct when he says . . .

May 6, 2018 21:55:30 GMT Major Major said:

I seem to remember that holding down the Shift key while dragging will do the trick.

According to Barbara Brundage, . . .

Center the moved layer. If you're dragging a layer and want Elements to center it in the new image, then Shift-drag the layer.

Source: Photoshop Elements x.x: the Missing Manual, Chapter 6 -- Layers: the Heart of Elements

According to the Help file, . . .

Note:

Hold down Shift as you drag a layer to copy it to the same position it occupied in the source image (if the source and destination images have the same pixel dimensions) or to the center of the destination image (if the source and destination images have different pixel dimensions).

Source: Copy a layer from one image to another

Last Edit: May 7, 2018 1:07:04 GMT by Sepiana: Fix quote.

Sepiana

Photoshop Elements 7, Photoshop Elements 10 through 2025
Photoshop 2025, Photoshop Beta 26.1, & Lightroom Classic 2025
Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11 Pro

Sepiana's Gallery

"You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." -- Mark Twain

BuckSkin
Senior Contributor

Posts: 3,966

Dragging a Layer and have it Center Itself ??? May 7, 2018 0:50:23 GMT

Quote

Post by BuckSkin on May 7, 2018 0:50:23 GMT

For what it's worth, I have never used the Move tool to drag/drop a layer (or group of layers) from one image to another; with the images displayed in "Tiles" fashion, I click the source image, grab the layer I want, and drag/drop it onto the target image.

Since Major Major gave me the idea to hold "shift" while dragging, things have sped up nicely and I am saving quite a bit of time and annoyance.

Elements 7 ~~~ 64-bit Windows 7

On a poverty-level Kentucky budget, a 24-exposure roll of film would have two Christmases and a summer vacation on it and we might have to wait another six months before being able to afford developing the film.
I still have trouble remembering that it doesn't cost anything to take thousands of pictures; it just almost seems impossible to be true.

Sepiana Administrator Posts: 19,826 Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes Member is Online	Dragging a Layer and have it Center Itself ??? May 7, 2018 1:04:18 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Sepiana on May 7, 2018 1:04:18 GMT I rarely use the Move Tool; I tend to go for Drag/Drop. According to the Help file, you can do one of the following -- Copy/Paste, Drag/Drop, or use the Move tool.
	Sepiana Photoshop Elements 7, Photoshop Elements 10 through 2025 Photoshop 2025, Photoshop Beta 26.1, & Lightroom Classic 2025 Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11 Pro Sepiana's Gallery "You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." -- Mark Twain

Gallery Title:
Image URL:
Image Title:
Comment:
Tick this box if you would like to allow other members to add images to your gallery.Add Image

title

Dragging a Layer and have it Center Itself ???

Post by BuckSkin on May 6, 2018 21:49:59 GMT

Post by Major Major on May 6, 2018 21:55:30 GMT

Post by BuckSkin on May 6, 2018 22:06:15 GMT

Post by Major Major on May 6, 2018 22:22:04 GMT

Post by reshacker on May 6, 2018 23:43:38 GMT

Post by Sepiana on May 7, 2018 0:21:34 GMT

Post by BuckSkin on May 7, 2018 0:50:23 GMT

Post by Sepiana on May 7, 2018 1:04:18 GMT