QUESTION
When I copy Layers between images in Capture One 20, new Layers are automatically created and added on top of the existing Layers. Then the images look not the way they are supposed to as several layers are stacked on top of each other. How should I copy Layers?
ANSWER
Capture One 20 opens up a more flexible, layer-centric workflow. You can now select which Layers you would like to copy to other images instead of copying everything or nothing as before. Additionally, the Layers that get applied to other images will now be added on top of any Layers that might already be present, instead of replacing them.
NOTE: The copied Layers will not replace or update any existing Layers on the target variants by the same name. Applying the Layers selected in the Adjustment Clipboard will create new Layers on top of the existing Layers on the target variants.
1. Decide upon whether the existing Layers (if any) should be deleted on any of the target variant(s) (where the Layers will be applied to from the source variant) or you would rather prefer to keep the existing Layers together with the newly applied Layers from the source variant.
In case you do not need the existing Layers of the target image, follow the step below. Otherwise, proceed to Step 2 in case you would like the new Layers from the source variant to be added on top of the existing ones.
Select the target variant(s) in the Browser with Cmd-click/Ctrl-click (macOS/Windows).
Make sure that the Edit Selected icon is active (orange-colored) in the toolbar.
Go to the Layers tool in the Color tool tab. Click on the Reset Layers adjustments icon in the top-right corner of the Layers tool.
There will be a warning asking to confirm that you want to delete all Layers on all the selected variants. Press Reset Adjustment.
If you need to delete only certain existing Layers on the target variant(s), this should be done separately for each variant.
2. Select the source image from where you would like to copy the Layers. It will have a thick white border in the Browser.
3. Select target images with Cmd-click/Ctrl-Click (macOS/Windows) or Shift-click in the Browser. Each of those will have a thin white border in the Browser.
4. Go to the Layers tool and click on the Local copy and apply the icon. Select the Layers to be copied to the target images in the Adjustments Clipboard window. Click Apply.
To instantly copy all Layers from the source variant to the target variant(s), hold the Shift key and click on the Local copy and apply icon.
NOTE: It is now possible to copy and apply Layers between images of different dimensions as well, making it much easier to streamline a workflow where, for example, multiple cameras are used and Styles are applied to Layers.
Comments
39 comments
I totally agree with the above. It DEFINITELY doesn't help my workflow one bit. The option of stacking same layers should be a check box. Seems simple enough to me, but I'm not a programmer. Capture One has some tools that are so advanced and complex, this addition seems comparatively simply enough and would solve a lot of biting and hair pulling.
This is the stupidest change ever made. PLEASE at least allow an option when pasting to overwrite existing layers!
Tim,
Do you mean "overwrite" or "remove and replace with the new layers"?
Same difference. It should work just like all the other copy and paste functions.If you copy and paste a color adjustment it replaces the old with the new that you are pasting. I know that you can reset then copy and paste , but that is a unnecessary step that just takes more time. When you have to process hundreds of files while the art director is waiting for a hard drive, these unnecessary steps add up
With the recent admission of a misstep and changes back in the export panel, it’s time for them to admit this is confusing AF and make copy and paste for layers act like everything else. At least make it an option!
It’s been how long? A year? I still don’t understand the scenario where this is an advantage, more steps to do the same thing !?
I couldn’t agree more. I work with this issue almost daily and it’s still super frustrating and a bottleneck in my work flow.
I've been using C1PRO for almost 20 years. I have been a digital tech in Boston, New York, LA and Internationally between 2002 and 2015. I now run a commercial studio with multiple photographers. I just upgraded to 21 and am horrified by many of the changes. Especially adding layers as a default. We use 2-6 layers at a time, on hundreds of images a day. Writing over a layer and applying that change to one or more in a series is CRITICAL to our workflow.
EVERY SINGLE TIME you make a change it is at the cost of existing workflow.
Why can't you guys code these new "features" to be additive instead of subtractive???
I shoot in a commercial studio, 5 days a week, 300 days of the year.
I work with layers on fashion and still images. I produce thousands of images a week and use layers for all of them. I have to work extremely fast to keep up with deadlines, and this is adding hours to my workflow! Please PLEASE PLEASE make adding layers AN OPTION! Please make replacing layers default! Please... PLEEEASE!!!!
Quentin...you are literally wasting your time asking for things to revert to the older, more intelligent way for layers to work. We've been told this is the way moving forward...period! The only option for adjusting files that currently have layers applied to to 'RESET' all adjustments prior to applying your new adjustments.
I agree. I've been saying this all along! Its such a waste of time and opposite of how it should work! I hate the whole system. If I want to copy and paste, I want it to be just like what I am coping from. EVERYTHING! The option should be to select things to take off if needed.
I think that Capture One is made by data geeks who have never actually been on a commercial photo set in a working studio! Maybe they are trying to market to bird photographers or something. I don't know , it's ridiculous!
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