Please bring back "Change Layer Contents"

[Scott_W...@adobeforums.com]

This single command was immensely helpful. I'm very sad to see it removed from CS4.

Often I find I've got a solid fill shape layer that a gradient overlay just won't completely work with. In the past I would simply choose Layer > Change Layer Content > Gradient and I could then have two gradients on the same layer (via the additional gradient overlay).

With this command removed I now must create a new layer AS a gradient layer. This now means I must select the vector path, copy, paste, then choose Layer > New Fill Layer > Gradient...
At least 3 steps have been added to the workflow.

[Mark_R...@adobeforums.com]

why have they removed this? is there no way to convert solid colour layers into gradient layers at all now?

[Scott_W...@adobeforums.com]

No, there isn't. There is no way to convert a solid shape layer to a pattern or gradient or convert shape layer contents at all. At least not that I've found.

I'm just guessing that it has something to do with the new Adjustment Panel since 90% of the items in the "Layer Contents" menu were Adjustment layers.

[Yasuyuki...@adobeforums.com]

Try this way.

1. Make action includes "Change Layer Content" command to change gradient or pattern layer from fill layer on Photoshop CS3.
2. Then, export this action to .atn file.
3. Import this .atn file to CS4.
4. You can change selected layer to gradient or pattern layer from action panel.

[Scott_W...@adobeforums.com]

Thank You, Yasuyuki.

That works perfectly. It didn't even dawn on me to attempt that.

For others, here is a download of two simple actions to change layers to Gradient fills or Pattern Fills.

Download Change Layers Action <http://www.weichertcreative.com/stored/ChangeLayers.atn.zip>

[Mark_R...@adobeforums.com]

So they removed the menu command without removing the functionality! Thats a terrible reflection on how powerful this "simplify the software at all costs" crowd seem to have become. Surely it could be included as a contextual menu item still.

Well done Yasuyuki, good lateral thinking there.

[T._Sc...@adobeforums.com]

Not sure if it has to do with simplifying but it's a really bad direction. Maybe they screwed up some of its functionality or noticed a bug towards the end of the production and decided to leave it out instead of fixing it.