With the Move tool selected, in the Options bar, check Show Transform Controls to automatically display transformation handles around the selected layer’s contents. This is also an excellent way to find the center of the contents on a layer.
With the Move tool selected, selecting multiple layers (or selecting linked layers) allows them be aligned and distributed using the Align and Distribute icons in the Options bar.
If you have an layer that you want to center within in a document, choose Select > All and, with the Move tool chosen, click the "Align vertical centers" and "Align horizontal centers" icons in the Options bar.
• Command (Mac) / Control (Win) -click on the icon for a layer on the Layer’s panel.
• Command (Mac) / Control (Win) + Shift to add additional layers to the selection.
• Option-Command (Mac) / Alt-Control (Win) to subtract another layer from the selection.
• Option-Command (Mac) / Alt-Control (Win) + Shift to create the intersection of two layers.
To reposition a guide using the Move tool, position the Move tool directly on top of the guide. When the icon changes to a double headed arrow, click and drag to reposition the guide. Drag a guide outside of the image area to quickly delete it. Shift-drag a guide to snap it to the ruler tic marks even is the “snap to” option is turned off (View / Snap To…).
Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) -drag a layer in the images area with the Move tool creates a copy of a layer. You can also Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) -drag in the Layers panel to duplicate a layer – select the layer(s) and drag until yo see a heavy black line between the layers and release.
In order to drag-select multiple layers, select the Move tool and check the Auto Select option in the Options bar. Click and drag over objects with the Move tool (in the image area) to select the layers. This method works well if you have multiple objects (layers) and a Background. Otherwise, because you have the Auto Select feature turned on, clicking in the image area will select the first layer that you click on and begin to move it instead of selecting additional objects (layers). Note: because a Background is locked by default, it is impossible to select and therefore skipped by the Auto Select Feature. So, if you have layers that you do not want to auto select, lock them. If you prefer to keep the Auto Select Layer unchecked (off), with the Move tool selected, you can use the keyboard shortcut Command (Mac) / Control (Win) to temporarily turn on the auto select functionality.
If the Move tool is selected, holding the Command (Mac) / Control (Win) temporarily activates the Auto Select (Layer) feature. To use Auto Select, simply click in the image area over the desired layer to select it in the Layers panel. Note: if you prefer, you can check Auto Select (available in the Options bar when the Move tool is selected) to eliminate the need for the modifier key. To select additional layers, add the Shift key while clicking. To Auto-select a layer using the context sensitive menus, Control (Mac) / Right Mouse (Win) -click in the image area over the desired layer and select it from list.
While another tools is selected, holding the Command (Mac) / Control (Win) temporarily accesses the Move tool. Releasing the key returns you to the previous tool. Note: the Slice, Slice Select, Pen, Path Selection, Direct Selection, Shape and Hand tools are excluded from this shortcut.
