Layer selection marquee disappears after selecting tool

[Handsome Prints]

Unless I am tired and imagining things, when I select/pick a layer, the rectangle marquee outline that appears around the layer should remain visible after I choose a tool (e.g. eraser tool, paint brush tool, clone tool) so I can see the boundary of the layer I am working on. For some reason this functionality stopped while in the middle of editing a file. I tried closing PSP and restarting but the issue persists. Anyone know how I can fix this? Thanks in advance!!

[Jean-Luc]

Which PSP version are you using?
Could you post a screenshot of the problem?

[Handsome Prints]

Hi Jean-Luc, I'm using X4. In the first screenshot, you'll see the marquee outline around the selected layer (top left). Then in the second, I've selected the Eraser tool and the marquee outline around the selected layer has disappeared. Unless I am mistaken, the marquee outline around the selected layer should remain visible.

[Jean-Luc]

It is normal behavior if you use the Pick Tool.
If you want the marquee stays visible, use the Selection tool.

[LeviFiction]

Hello, just to add a little something here.

In PSP the word "marquee" is reserved for the "marching ants" graphic that appears when you make a selection with the selection tools. While the bounding box that appears when the pick tool is active is called the deformation cage. The pick tool many many versions ago was actually two different tools one of which was called the "raster deform" tool which would create that box around a selection or layer and let you deform it. You'll also see it called the "bounding box" as it wraps around the bounds of the layer/object you have selected.

So the deform cage/bounding box disappearing because you no longer have a tool that can perform the deform is perfectly normal. As Jean-Luc mentions is you want an actual marquee (marching ants) to be visible around the layer you're editing as you edit, in PSP you will need to first select it using any of the selection options. That kind of marquee can be hidden and shown using the "Hide marquee" option in the selections menu.

Here's one option, grab the selection tool (S key shortcut). Then, on the tool options palette, find the button for "Layer Opaque" under the "Create Selection From" heading. That will create a rectangular selection around the visible areas of the layer exactly like the pick tool did and it will stay here. Though the obvious problem with this is you can't edit anything out side of this so if you wanted to paint more onto the layer you'd be limited.

[Handsome Prints]

Thank you both. When you say:

is you want an actual marquee (marching ants) to be visible around the layer you're editing as you edit, in PSP you will need to first select it using any of the selection options

I recall in another older program (Adobe Image Styler) that if you selected an area with the selection tool, all the layers that were within that selection area would be highlighted. Are you suggesting that something similar can be done within PSP because that doesn't seem to work for me?

[LeviFiction]

Not familiar with Image Styler. Making a selection will not highlight any layers. Your currently selected layer will remain your currently selected layer. Selections are independent of layers but are always visible on the screen while they are active. So what we're recommending is using a selection in a way it's not meant to be used, as a workaround so that you can see the boundaries of the layer without the pick tool.

You will want to remove the selection (Ctrl + D) when you move to another layer. This is because selections are independent of layers. They exist on the canvas and while a selection is active any edits you make will be limited to the area defined by the selection. When you move to a different layer the selection won't clear itself and will still be active.

So, to be clear, when we told you to use the selection tools it was only so that the marquee would stay on the screen and you can visualize the boundaries of the layer. This is not a normal way to use selections. But it won't change which layer is selected on the layers palette.

[Handsome Prints]

Appreciated, thank you. BTW, I'm amazed at how well you know the program to know about some obscure "feature" such as you described:

Here's one option, grab the selection tool (S key shortcut). Then, on the tool options palette, find the button for "Layer Opaque" under the "Create Selection From" heading. That will create a rectangular selection around the visible areas of the layer exactly like the pick tool did and it will stay here.

Kudos and thanks.