Move, stack, and lock layers

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Adobe Photoshop User Guide

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Applies to: Adobe Photoshop

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Learn how to easily rearrange and stack layers in an image. Also, learn to lock layers to protect them.

You can create complex composites that are multiple layers deep. In Photoshop, you can easily move around your layers and group multiple layers into a stack to help you perform actions on them as a single entity. Lock a layer to avoid making unintended changes to your work.

Change the order of layers and layer groups

To change the order of layers and layer groups, do any of the following:

  • Drag the layer or group up or down in the Layers panel. Release the mouse button when you see a highlighted line at the position where you want to place the selected layer or group.

  • To move a layer into a group, drag a layer to the group folder . If the group is closed, the layer is placed at the bottom of the group.

  • Select a layer or group, choose Layer > Arrange, and choose a command from the submenu. If your selected item is in a group, the command applies to the stacking order within the group. If the selected item is not in a group, the command applies to the stacking order within the Layers panel.

  • To reverse the order of selected layers, choose Layer > Arrange > Reverse. These options appear dimmed if you do not have at least two layers selected.

By definition, the background layer is always at the bottom of the stacking order. Therefore, the Send To Back command places the selected item directly above the background layer.

Drag a layer or layer group up or down in the Layers panel to move it.
Drag a layer or layer group up or down in the Layers panel to move it.

Move the content of layers

  1.  In the Layers panel, click to select the layers containing the objects you want to move.

  2. Select the Move tool .

    You can select the layers that you want to move directly in the document window. In the Move tool’s options bar, select Auto Select and then choose Layer from the menu options that show up. Shift-click to select multiple layers. Select Auto Select, then choose Group to select the entire group when you select one layer in the group.

  3. Do one of the following:

    • In the document window, drag any object onto one of the selected layers. (All objects on the layer will move together.)

    • Press an arrow key on the keyboard to nudge the objects by 1 pixel.

    • Hold down Shift and press an arrow key on the keyboard to nudge the objects by 10 pixels.

Rotate a layer

  1. From the Layers panel, select the layer you want to rotate.

  2. If anything is currently selected in the image, choose Select > Deselect.

  3. Choose Edit > Transform > Rotate. A box defining the boundaries of the layer (called a bounding box) appears.

  4. Move the pointer outside of the bounding box (the pointer becomes a curved, two-sided arrow), and then drag. Press Shift to constrain the rotation to 15° increments.
  5. When you’re satisfied with the results, press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS), or click the check mark in the options bar. To cancel the rotation, press Esc, or click the Cancel Transform icon on the options bar.

Lock a layer

You can lock layers fully or partially to protect their contents. For example, you may want to lock a layer fully when you finish with it. You can lock a layer partially if it has the correct transparency and styles but you are still deciding on positioning. When a layer is locked, a lock icon  appears to the right of the layer name. The lock icon appears solid when the layer is fully locked and hollow when the layer is partially locked.

Lock all properties of a layer or group

  1. Select a layer or group.

  2. Click the Lock All  option in the Layers panel. Layers in a locked group display a grayed out lock icon .

Partially lock a layer

  1. Select a layer.

  2. Click one or more lock options in the Layers panel:

    • Lock Transparent Pixels: Confines editing to the opaque portions of the layer. This option is equivalent to the Preserve Transparency option in earlier versions of Photoshop.
    • Lock Image Pixels: Prevents modification of the layer’s pixels using the painting tools.
    • Lock Position: Prevents the layer’s pixels from being moved.

    For type and shape layers, Lock Transparency and Lock Image are selected by default and cannot be deselected.

Apply lock options to selected layers or a group

  1. Select multiple layers or a group.
  2. Choose Lock Layers or Lock All Layers In Group from the Layers menu or the Layers panel menu.
  3. Select lock options, and click OK.