Is this possible?

I have an image with several layers in it:
Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 3

Now, I have drawn a clipping path around Layer 2. But when I try to move Layer 2, the clipping path does not move with the layer. I expect this to happen by default, but I want to know if I can move both items - Layer 2 and the clipping path at the same time, almost as if I had linked them together.

I have searched around and cannot find an answer for this, so human answers are my next resort. Thanks in advance!

- Jonathan

You don´t tell wich version of photoshop you are using - but in Photoshop 7 and 6 you can create a layer set. Put the layers you want to move in the new layer set and move the whole set.

It is possible to move the position of the layer set on the canvas - and it is possible to move the layer up (or in front of) the other layers.

I am using PhotoShop 7 on both PC and Mac (I have two computers that I use, depending on what the clients are using)

However, the layer set does not help me. I can link layers just fine and move multiple layers at a time. That is not my problem. What I want to do is move a PATH + LAYER at the same time.

- Jonathan

I dont get what you're trying to say here...why not just select your clipping (by clicking the dotted circle button at the end of the paths tab to create your dancing ants), select the layer you want, and then you have your layer with your selection on it. Now, once that selection is highlighted, you can do anything to the selection. You can Command-J it to float your selection onto a layer above, or copy and paste, and then work on that too. Just take a look at the bottom of the paths tab, use the dotted cirlce to highlight the path, and then just simply select the layer..

But again, what you are saying only moves the layer. Okay, going back to the specifics, I open the document and I have:

Layers:
Layer 1 - a picture of a bottle
Layer 2 - a picture of a logo to go on the bottle

Paths:
Path 1 - a clipping path that surrounds Layer 2

And since the document was just opened, nothing is selected yet. What I want to do is select Layer 2 (the logo object), then use the Move Tool to move that logo... let's say 50 pixels to the left. Now, when I do this, Layer 2 moves fine - the logo is now 50 pixels to the left.

HOWEVER... the -CLIPPING PATH- is still in the old location - where the logo used to be before I moved it to the left. Almost like the outlines that go around dead bodies. The morgue takes the body away, but there is that chalk outline of where the body used to be. It's a gruesome example, but that's the best way to describe. Now, I want to find a way to have the outline of the body move when the body moves. I want the clipping path (Path1) to be linked to the logo (Layer2), so when the logo moves, the clipping path moves, too.

- Jonathan

this 'chalk' is only your spline (bezier pen curve) outlinearound the object. It isn't actually there. If you choose save for the web, that outline will not be there..all you have to do it make the path invisible or delete it..

I realize this, but I am not using this for the web. The path is needed by us when we export the piece to an external application like Adobe Illustrator. Trust me, I realize how paths work and all that - I've been using PhotoShop for years, but I've always done things my own way, and I haven't run into this trouble. However, I need to do things in a different order for a client, so I need to know how to move the clipping path and the layer at the same time.

- Jonathan

Then answer you are looking for is simple...

Path (in the path palet and not a selection) are no linked to any layer... So even if you had layer 2 selected when you did your path... it wont move with it...

If your are planing to use the path for clinping (like in quark) I recoemnd you to create you path as your last step (but before you flatyyen your images! Creating you path to soon will only bring you problems.