Open a PDF in Acrobat.
Last updated on
Jun 7, 2026
Learn how to manage layered content from external files in your PDF.
Importing layers brings layered content from another PDF or supported image file into your current PDF. It helps you keep visual elements separate so you can manage their organization, editing, and display. You can create new layers, add content to existing layer groups, or preserve the layer structure from the source document.
Before you begin
Before importing layers, make sure you have source files in supported formats: PDF, BMP, GIF, JPEG, JPEG 2000, PCX, PNG, or TIFF.
Import content as layers
Select Layers from the right-side panel to open the Layers panel.
Tip
If Layers isn’t visible, select Menu > View > Show/Hide > Side panels > Layers.
Select Options in the Layers panel, and then select Import as layer.
Select Browse in the Import as Layer dialog box and locate the file to import.
If importing from a multi-page document, enter the page number in the Page number field.
Select your import method:
- Create new layer: Enter a name to create a separate layer.
- Add to existing layer: Choose a destination layer from the list.
- Copy layers from source: Maintain original layer structure in the source files.
Adjust the Position and Appearance settings to control placement and scaling of the imported content.
Select OK to complete the import.
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