I have a small problem with the Layer and Properties tabs.

[donmaxi]

When I have the Swatches panel open, it won't let me have both the Layers panel and the Properties panel open at the same time.

 

[thebestcpu]

When I have the Swatches panel open, it won't let me have both the Layers panel and the Properties panel open at the same time.

View attachment 153355

Hi @donmaxi
When there is not enough room for both panels, when you click on a tab in one panel, it will close the other panels to make enough room to show them.
You can pull the properties panel off to the side and it should stay open then.
John Wheeler

 

[donmaxi]

Hi @donmaxi
When there is not enough room for both panels, when you click on a tab in one panel, it will close the other panels to make enough room to show them.
You can pull the properties panel off to the side and it should stay open then.
John Wheeler

This image is not mine, but here it is allowed.

 

[thebestcpu]

Yes, for the image in your last post, there is plenty of room, so the panels did not have to collapse.
If you still have the problem with Photoshop, can you provide a full screenshot of the Photoshop window showing the problem?
John Wheeler

 

[donmaxi]

Yes, for the image in your last post, there is plenty of room, so the panels did not have to collapse.
If you still have the problem with Photoshop, can you provide a full screenshot of the Photoshop window showing the problem?
John Wheeler

I just gave it a lot of space and it's still the same.

It seems that the problem only occurs with properties and layers when the swatches tab is also selected, because it doesn't happen with the settings tab.

 

[thebestcpu]

I do not see what is causing your problem from your partial screenshots. I cannot reproduce your issue on my system.
You could always try Window > Workspace > Reset..........

And see if that clears it up
John Wheeler

 

[IamSam]

I agree with John here. There should not be a problem here.

In your sample image, you have both panels open which are both tabbed, you just need to select the "properties" tab! This will display the "swatches", "properties", and the "layers" panels.

 

[donmaxi]

I do not see what is causing your problem from your partial screenshots. I cannot reproduce your issue on my system.
You could always try Window > Workspace > Reset..........

And see if that clears it up
John Wheeler

This is what happens: they don't open at the same time. If everything were different, they would open.

 

[IamSam]

This panel is to long!!!! Make it smaller by dragging it from the bottom!!

 

[donmaxi]

This panel is to long!!!! Make it smaller by dragging it from the bottom!!

View attachment 153364

Hmm, I tried that and it's the same. I also tried selecting it in the window tab.

 

[IamSam]

Hmm, I tried that and it's the same.

Based on your second vid, your "PROPERTIES" panel also needs to be made smaller/shorter!! Your panels are too large for the space you want them to be in!

 

[donmaxi]

Based on your second vid, your "PROPERTIES" panel also needs to be made smaller/shorter!! Your panels are too large for the space you want them to be in!

I can't minimize it if the other tab isn't open.

Besides, that doesn't seem to be the problem when the Color tab is open.

 

[IamSam]

I can't minimize it if the other tab isn't open.

Your not minimizing the panel, you are making it shorter by dragging from the bottom!

You are trying to make long panels to fit in a specific space!
This shows the (Blue) panels are too large for the (Grey) area where you want them to go!


Make the panels shorter, and they will fit!

 

[donmaxi]

Your not minimizing the panel, you are making it shorter by dragging from the bottom!

You are trying to make long panels to fit in a specific space!
This shows the (Blue) panels are too large for the (Grey) area where you want them to go!
View attachment 153369

Make the panels shorter, and they will fit!
View attachment 153370
View attachment 153371

I understand what you're saying, but why doesn't it happen when I select the Channels tab? Why specifically only with those two?

 

[IamSam]

I understand what you're saying, but why doesn't it happen when I select the Channels tab? Why specifically only with those two?

OK...........each TAB has it's own size. The "Channels Tab" and the "Paths Tab" panels are shorter and they don't cause Ps to "minimize" another panel because it's too long! Your "Layers Tab" panel is too long and therefore it causes Ps to minimize another panel.

 

[IamSam]

You need to place your Swatches panel and your Properties panel onto the panel icon bar and you won't have this problem. You simply don't have the Height in your panels dock to accommodate all of the extra panels.

 

[IamSam]

Are you using a smaller laptop?

Monitor size does matter! A smaller monitor will limit the space on your layers dock.

I'm using a 27" monitor and I have plenty of room!




However, I still prioritize which panels I want in the dock. The others go to the Panel Icon bar. There I can just click on them when I need them............

 

[IamSam]

Another option in order to make your panels dock seem larger, would be to make the Photoshop interface smaller on a laptop, adjust the UI font size to "Tiny" or "Small" via Edit > Preferences > Interface and enable "Scale UI to Font"

 

[thebestcpu]

Just another confirmation that this is a UI size issue: on my MacBook Pro, I lowered the screen resolution so that all elements of the Photoshop UI were quite a bit larger. Sure enough, when I lay out the panels as @donmaxi did, I get the same behavior. When opening up the properties panel, the Layer Panel drops to the bottom and collapses. It does not do this for the Channels tab, as the panel is much shorter.
Very strong indication that there just not enough room to keep all three grouped panels open when the amount of room is too small

John Wheeler