User Guide Cancel

Keys for the Layers panel

  1. Get to know Photoshop Elements
  2. Photoshop Elements User Guide
  3. Introduction to Photoshop Elements
    1. What's new in Photoshop Elements
    2. System requirements | Photoshop Elements
    3. Workspace basics
    4. Guided mode
    5. Making photo projects
  4. Workspace and environment
    1. Get to know the Home screen
    2. Workspace basics
    3. Preferences
    4. Tools
    5. Contextual task bar
    6. Panels and bins
    7. Open files
    8. Rulers, grids, and guides
    9. Enhanced Quick Mode
    10. File information
    11. Presets and libraries
    12. Multitouch support
    13. Scratch disks, plug-ins, and application updates
    14. Undo, redo, and cancel actions
    15. Viewing images
    16. Importing Files
  5. Fixing and enhancing photos
    1. Resize images
    2. Cropping
    3. Process camera raw image files
    4. Add blur, replace colors, and clone image areas
    5. Adjust shadows and light
    6. Retouch and correct photos
    7. Restore Photos
    8. Combine Photos
    9. Sharpen photos
    10. Transforming
    11. Auto Smart Tone
    12. Recomposing
    13. Using actions to process photos
    14. Photomerge Compose
    15. Create a panorama
    16. Moving Overlays
    17. Moving Elements
    18. Moving Photos
  6. Adding shapes and text
    1. Add text
    2. Edit text
    3. Spell Checker
    4. Create shapes
    5. Editing shapes
    6. Painting overview
    7. Painting tools
    8. Set up brushes
    9. Patterns
    10. Fills and strokes
    11. Gradients
    12. Work with Asian type
  7. Quick Actions
  8. Generative AI
    1. Generate Image
    2. Insert Object
  9. Guided edits, effects, and filters
    1. Guided mode
    2. Filters
    3. Guided mode Photomerge edits
    4. Guided mode Basic edits
    5. Adjustment filters
    6. Effects
    7. Guided mode Fun edits
    8. Guided mode Special edits
    9. Artistic filters
    10. Guided mode Color edits
    11. Guided mode Black & White edits
    12. Blur filters
    13. Brush Stroke filters
    14. Distort filters
    15. Other filters
    16. Noise filters
    17. Render filters
    18. Sketch filters
    19. Stylize filters
    20. Texture filters
    21. Pixelate filters
  10. Working with colors
    1. Understanding color
    2. Set up color management
    3. Color and tonal correction basics
    4. Choose colors
    5. Adjust color, saturation, and hue
    6. Fix color casts
    7. Using image modes and color tables
    8. Color and camera raw
  11. Working with selections
    1. Make selections in Photoshop Elements
    2. Saving selections
    3. Modifying selections
    4. Move and copy selections
    5. Edit and refine selections
    6. Smooth selection edges with anti-aliasing and feathering
  12. Working with layers
    1. Create layers
    2. Edit layers
    3. Copy and arrange layers
    4. Adjustment and fill layers
    5. Clipping masks
    6. Layer masks
    7. Layer styles
    8. Opacity and blending modes
  13. Creating photo projects
    1. Project basics
    2. Making photo projects
    3. Editing photo projects
    4. Creating Photo Reels
  14. Saving, printing, and sharing photos
    1. Save images
    2. Printing photos
    3. Share photos online
    4. Optimizing images
    5. Optimizing images for the JPEG format
    6. Dithering in web images
    7. Guided Edits - Share panel
    8. Previewing web images
    9. Use transparency and mattes
    10. Optimizing images for the GIF or PNG-8 format
    11. Optimizing images for the PNG-24 format
  15. Keyboard shortcuts
    1. Keys for selecting tools
    2. Keys for selecting and moving objects
    3. Keys for the Layers panel
    4. Keys for showing or hiding panels (expert mode)
    5. Keys for painting and brushes
    6. Keys for using text
    7. Keys for the Liquify filter
    8. Keys for transforming selections
    9. Keys for the Color Swatches panel
    10. Keys for the Camera Raw dialog box
    11. Keys for the Filter Gallery
    12. Keys for using blending modes
    13. Keys for viewing images (expertmode)

This list includes the most helpful shortcuts. You'll find additional shortcuts in menu commands and tool tips.

Result

Windows

Mac OS

Set layer options

Alt-click New button

Option-click New button

Delete without confirmation

Alt-click Trash button

Option-click Trash button

Apply value and keep text box active

Shift + Enter

Shift + Enter

Load layer transparency as a selection

Control-click layer thumbnail

Command-click layer thumbnail

Add to current selection

Control + Shift-click layer

Command + Shift-click layer thumbnail

Subtract from current selection

Control + Alt-click layer thumbnail

Command + Option-click layer thumbnail

Intersect with current selection

Control + Shift + Alt-click layer thumbnail

Command + Shift + Option-click layer thumbnail

Merge visible layers

Control + Shift + E

Command + Shift + E

Create new empty layer with dialog

Alt-click New Layer button

Option-click New Layer button

Create new layer below target layer

Control-click New Layer button

Command-click New Layer button

Activate bottom/top layer

Alt + .(period)/ ,(comma)

Option + .(period)/ ,(comma)

Select next layer down/up

Alt + [ or ]

Option + [ or ]

Move target layer down/up

Control + [ or ]

Command + [ or ]

Merge a copy of all visible layers into target layer

Control + Shift + Alt + E

Command + Shift + Option + E

Merge down

Control + E

Command + E

Copy current layer to layer below

Alt + Merge Down command from the panel pop-up menu

Option + Merge Down command from the panel pop-up menu

Copy all visible layers to active layer

Alt + Merge Visible command from the panel pop-up menu

Option + Merge Visible command from the panel pop-up menu

Show/hide all other currently visible layers

Alt-click the eye icon

Option-click the eye icon

Toggle lock transparency for target layer, or last applied lock

/ (forward slash)

/ (forward slash)

Select all text; temporarily select Type tool

Double-click text layer thumbnail

Double-click text layer thumbnail

Create a clipping mask

Alt-click the line dividing two layers or Ctrl+Alt+G

Option-click the line dividing two layers or Cmd+Option+G

Rename layer

Double-click the layer name

Double-click the layer name

Add to layer selection in Layers panel

Shift + Alt + [ or ]

Shift + Option + [ or]

Copy the mask from one layer to another, and ask to replace if the mask is already present   Alt + drag layer mask Alt + drag layer mask

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