Channel Commands

Show or Hide a Channel

Mouse: Click in Eye icon area

Target Individual Channels

Both: Click desired channel thumbnail

Mac: Cmd + [1 “9]

Win: Ctrl + [1 “9]

With these shortcuts, you target an individual channel without having to use the Channels palette. Hold down the specified modifier key, and then press the number of the channel you want to target. For instance, in an RGB file, the first three channels in the file are the red, green, and blue channels, respectively. (Cmd + 1) [Ctrl + 1] targets the red channel, (Cmd + 2) [Ctrl + 2] targets the green channel, and so on. (Cmd + 4) [Ctrl + 4] targets the first of any alpha channels you have created in the file. You can target the first nine channels in the file using the 1 “9 keys.

(Cmd + ~) [Ctrl + ~] targets the composite RGB channel. If a layer has a layer mask attached to it, (Cmd + \) [Ctrl + \] targets the layer mask of the active layer.

Note: If you click on the composite channel, this in effect turns on the individual channels that make up the composite channel.

Target the Composite Channel

Mac: Cmd + ~ (tilde)

Win: Ctrl + ~ (tilde)

To return to the composite channel, hold down the appropriate modifier key and press the tilde key ”it's the key to the left of the number 1 key.

Create a New Channel

Mouse: Click the New Channel button

Clicking the New Channel button in the Channels palette skips the New Channel dialog box when creating a new channel. Channels are automatically named (Alpha 1, Alpha 2, and so on).

Create a New Channel with the New Channel Dialog Box

Mac: Option + click the New Channel button in the Channels palette

Win: Alt + click the New Channel button in the Channels palette

This shortcut opens the New Channel dialog box and gives you a chance to name the new channel and specify other options as well.

Duplicate a Channel

Mouse: Drag the channel to the New Channel button

Delete a Channel

Mouse: Click the Delete Channel button

Delete a Channel and Skip the Warning Alert

Mac: Option + click the Delete Channel button

Win: Alt + click the Delete Channel button

Create a New Spot Color Channel

Mac: Cmd + click the New Channel button

Win: Ctrl + click the New Channel button

Save a Selection as a Channel

Menu: Select Save Selection

Mouse: Click the Save Selection button

Clicking the Save Selection button in the Channels palette skips the New Channel dialog box when creating a new channel. Channels are automatically named (Alpha 1, Alpha 2, and so on).

Load a Channel as a Selection

Menu: Select Load Selection

Mac: Cmd + Option + [1 “9] or Cmd + click on the desired channel

Win: Ctrl + Alt + [1 “9] or Ctrl + click on the desired channel

Mouse: Target desired channel and then click Load Channel as Selection button

With these shortcuts, you can load an individual channel as a selection without having to use the Channels palette. Hold down the specified modifier keys, and then press the number of the channel you want to load. For instance, in an RGB file, the first three channels in the file are the red, green, and blue channels, respectively. (Cmd + Option + 1) [Ctrl + Alt + 1] loads the red channel, (Cmd + Option + 2) [Ctrl + Alt + 2] loads the green channel, and so on. (Cmd + Option + 4) [Ctrl +Alt + 4] loads the first of any alpha channels you have created in the file. You can load the first nine channels in the file using the 1 “9 keys. ImageReady provides only the menu method to load a channel as a selection.

(Cmd + Option + \) [Ctrl + Alt + \] will load the active layer's layer mask as a selection.

Save a Selection as a Channel with the New Channel Dialog Box

Menu: Select Save Selection

Mac: Option + click the Save Selection button

Win: Alt + click the Save Selection button

This shortcut opens the New Channel dialog box and gives you a chance to name the new channel and specify other options as well.

Add a Channel to a Selection

Menu: Select Load Selection

Both: Shift + click the Load Selection button

Mac: Cmd + Shift + click the channel thumbnail

Win: Ctrl + Shift + click the channel thumbnail

Subtract a Channel from a Selection

Menu: Select Load Selection

Mac: Cmd + Option + click the channel thumbnail or Option + click the Load Selection button

Win: Ctrl + Alt + click the channel thumbnail or Alt + click the Load Selection button

Intersect a Channel with a Selection

Menu: Select Load Selection

Mac: Cmd + Option + Shift + click the channel thumbnail or Option + Shift + click the Load Selection button

Win: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + click the channel thumbnail or Alt + Shift + click the Load Selection button

View a Color Channel Without Hiding Other Color Channels

Mouse: Shift + click the channel name

Edit Channel Options

Mouse: Double-click on the desired channel