Photoshop question

Factual Questions
1

I have a bunch of .bmp files that have 2 layers: the top layer and a 2nd layer that is the background (but not set officially as the backgound). When I open one of these .bmp files it opens with the first layer selected. How do I force photoshop to open the .bmp with the 2nd layer selected? I know there is a way because I accidentally did it once.

2

I’m confused. As far as I know, BMPs don’t encode layer information. And I’m having trouble finding any information that mentions a new type of bitmap with layers. Are you sure they are BMPs? If so, could you upload (a small) one somewhere?

And may I ask why you are trying to do this? There may be another way to accomplish what you are trying to accomplish.

3

Yeh, I’m using Photoshop CS5, and I don’t see any way to save a .bmp keeping layer information.

4

While waiting for the OP to get back to us, let’s move on to the next question. Assuming you are talking about a type of file that does have layers. By “selected” do you simply mean the layer that is active, the one that you are currently working on? Or do you mean visible? Or do you mean selected as in it has the marching ants going around it?

5

Sorry, they are .psd files. I forgot that I converted them.
They all have 2 layers. Layer 0 and Layer 1. They open with Layer 0 selected, I want them to open with Layer 1 selected, so I don’t have to manually select it. The reason this matters is because there are thousands of them that I am working through.

By selected I mean selected in the layers palette.

6

I wonder if you can just create a simple Photoshop Action that will open a document(s) and select Layer 1?

7

This. But if you’re working through thousands of files (to do what?), maybe the whole job should be a Photoshop action?

8

Having had a little experiment here, it seems that the layer that’s selected when you open a Photoshop file is the one that was selected when it was last saved – which is what you’d expect, I suppose. I don’t know of any way to force it to select a particular layer by default.

9

Then it sounds like an action is the way to go. Set it open to open each file, select the other layer then save it and let it run through all your files.

10

Thanks, I will try it!