Replace (Default)
Plain click replaces the current selection with whatever the button matches.
Example: click Text to select all text layers, replacing any existing selection.
Add
Shift + click adds matches to the current selection without removing anything.
Example: Shift + Shape adds all shape layers to whatever is already selected.
Subtract
Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) + click removes matches from the current selection.
Example: Alt/Option + Null deselects any null layers in the current selection.
Toggle
Cmd (macOS) or Ctrl (Windows) + click toggles each matched layer. Selected layers become deselected and unselected layers become selected.
Example: Cmd/Ctrl + Guide flips guide layers in and out of the selection.
Works Everywhere
This modifier grammar is the same across:
- Toolbar buttons (type selectors, Same)
- Functions menu items (Invert, Odd, Even, Every Nth, hierarchy actions)
- Name Search (the Select button respects held modifiers)
You don’t need to learn different controls for different areas of the panel.
What Counts as the Candidate Set
Most actions work from layers that pass Picky’s current filters:
- The active item must be a composition.
- Disabled (hidden) layers are excluded because Picky uses a visible-layer scope.
- Locked layers are excluded unless Include Locked is on.
- Shy layers are excluded when the comp hides them and Include Shy is off.
The main exception is Matte, which checks all layers so track matte layers can still be found.
For filter details and failure cases, see Filters, Search & Edge Cases.