You can change the layer content by using the many tools, filters, etc.
In Photoshop CS3 I go to layer/change layer content/gradient.
But I don't find this option in Photoshop CS4.
P.s. sorry my English is bad
Dear ADOBE, check your quality inspection process.
And why there is still no dithering option for layer effects?
I'm not sure what relevance this would have for dynamically created effects. By all means, those effects are calculated at the native document bit depth with correct blending, so what would be the point of artificially introducing another level of dithering? This really only has relevance for final rasterization, so I don#t see a requirement for this. If you do:
<http://www.adobe.com/go/wish>
Dear ADOBE, check your quality inspection process.
They do. You just have to understand that software development isn't a wishing well where everyone gets his favorite feature. if a feature does not benefit a majority of users or is not requested by a large number of them, then you certainly can imagine that this ends up being very low on the popularity list. and, specific to the matter at hand: As J. Nack probably would put it, you sometimes have to let go of legacy stuff to make room for a better, more generalized implementation in the future, even if it means that in a particular version the feature goes completely defunct and is "skipped".
Mylenium
And in context of photoshop, quality inspection is critical, as every bug is basically here to stay for next 2-3 years until the next version comes out. There are so many annoyances that should be fixed before releasing next major version.
Original method:
- Draw vector shape
- Then switch to gradient and tweak the colours.
Best method I can figure out now:
- Create gradient layer... don't know colours yet since it's not at right size.
- Delete layer mask
- Add "Hide all" vector mask
- Shift-Draw vector shape
- Then re-open gradient settings to set colours.
Gradient Overlay is NOT an alternative, and was handy for doing a double gradient effect on one layer.
Is there an actual good alternative I'm missing? This is really annoying...
However I don't see how this was seen as an improvement to something that seems pretty simple. You are still going through extra steps since you have to dismiss the initial gradient dialog, then bring it back up again after alt-dragging the vector mask. And then you still have to delete your original solid fill layer.
Maybe the feature is still available through scripting? Then somebody could add it to the Scripts menu and then assign a keyboard shortcut to it.
I still don't understand why the menu entry was retired... there isn't another feature that easily replaces it. Bummer.
I still don't understand why the menu entry was retired... Maybe not a
lot of reports of usage...
Still, there are workarounds.
It would have been more useful to have the change layer content available
on a right-click....
I wonder if an action could be written to copy the mask from below layer, delete below layer...
I wrote a script that'll take a solid fill layer and create a new gradient fill layer with the same vector mask, layer mask, and layer effects, or take a gradient fill layer and do the same to get a solid fill layer. The original layer will be deleted.
The one caveat is your layer has to have a unique name for it to work 100% expected.
I didn't know where to put it, so I tried Google Code:
and Scott gives us a script to solve this problem.
It will work on windows.
That is such a better solution. I updated my script to use the same method...
<http://code.google.com/p/solid2gradcs4/source/browse/trunk/Change%20Fill%20Type.jsx>
So it will swap between Gradient/Solid with the proper dialogs, and using the original layers.
Extract and put this folder into the Photoshop Folder>Plug-ins>Panels.
then Startup PS CS4.
You can open this panel from menu "Windows>Extentons>Change Layer"
<http://www.qtweb.com/photoshop/ChangeLayer.zip>
Today I stumbled upon what appears to be the last remnant of that functionality...
In the layers palette, along the bottom are various icons for effects, new layer, delete, masks, etc. However, under the Adjustments icon, if you have your [solid] fill layer selected, you can then simply choose the type of layer you would rather have, say [gradient]. Voila! It magically changes.
* Select layer to be changed
* Layers Palette > Adjustment menu
* Choose the layer content you prefer
* Celebrate
Hope this helps everyone!
This is a ROYAL bummer. Don't get me wrong, a big thank you goes out to those who created a panel and action; I just can't use them.
I would understand an excuse such as "we took it out as it interfered with the new adjustments panel", or whatever. But as the function is still there (as demonstrated by the action), why remove the only steering wheel for it? This has got to be a screw-up; I just can't see this being a feature.
Last night, after I posted this, I made my own simplified version of the same panel and it works like a charm.
Thank you for the idea!