Layer basics

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Use layers to perform tasks such as compositing multiple images, adding text to an image, or adding vector graphic shapes.

You can add layer styles for special effects, such as a drop shadow or a glow, or sharpen objects.

You can also change the opacity of a layer to make the content on it partially transparent. 

You usually start with a single layer when working on a new image, and the number of layers, layer effects, and layer sets you can add is limited mostly by your imagination.

Manage and organize layers in the Layers panel, and use groups to arrange them logically and reduce clutter in the panel. You can nest groups and use them to apply attributes and masks to multiple layers simultaneously.

For some great tips for working with layers, see the tutorial video Organize with layers and layer groups.

Adjustment layers

Make non-destructive adjustments to the colors and tones in your image, and keep editing the adjustment layers without permanently changing the pixels in the image. In short, they give greater control and flexibility over image edits than making direct adjustments. 

To know more about working with adjustment layers, check out Adjustment and fill layers.

Smart objects

Smart objects are layers that contain image data from raster or vector images. They preserve the source content of an image with all its original characteristics, letting you perform nondestructive editing to the layer.

To know more about working with smart objects, check out Work with smart objects.

Use the Layers panel to view, create, and edit layers, layer groups, and layer effects in your image.

Turn on this panel by navigating to Window > Layers or pressing F7. 

Use this menu to create a new or duplicate layer, work with a layer group, convert to a smart object, and add layer effects.

You can also use this menu to adjust the size of the thumbnails. Select the preferred thumbnail and use the right-click option to select the right size. 

Change thumbnail contents

Choose panel options from the Layers panel menu, and select Entire Document to display the contents of the entire document. Select Layer Bounds to restrict the thumbnail to the object’s pixels on the layer.

Filter layers

Use the filter options at the top of the Layers panel to locate key layers in complex documents. You can use the given options Kind, Name, Effect, Mode, or Artboard to display a subset of layers.

Follow these steps to use the filter options in the Layers panel.

You can add a video to an image using video layers.

After importing a video clip into an image as a video layer, you can do the following:

• Mask/transform the layer
• Apply layer effects
• Paint on individual frames, or 
• Rasterize an individual frame and convert it to a standard layer 

Use the Timeline panel to play the video within the image or to access individual frames. See Supported video and image sequence formats.

Convert background and Photoshop layers

When creating a new image with a white/colored background, the Background is the starting (bottom-most) layer. An image can have only one Background layer.

Although you can't change the stacking order of the background layer or its blending mode and opacity, you can convert it into a regular layer and then modify its attributes.

When creating a new image with transparent content, the image does not have a background layer. You can move this layer anywhere in the Layers panel and its opacity and blending mode.

Follow these steps to convert the background layer into a regular layer:

Follow these steps to convert a regular layer into the background layer:

Video tutorial: Turn the background layer into a regular layer

Duplicate Photoshop layers

You can duplicate layers within an image or into another or a new image.

Duplicate a Photoshop layer or group within an image

Duplicate a Photoshop layer or group in another image

Create a new document from a Photoshop layer or group

Sample from all visible Photoshop layers

You can sample or smudge color only from pixels on the active layer using the Mixer Brush, Magic Wand, Smudge, Blur, Sharpen, Paint Bucket, Clone Stamp, and Healing Brush tools. 

To smudge or sample pixels from all visible layers using these tools, select Sample All Layers from the options bar.

Change transparency preferences

Improvements in the Layers panel

Updated in Photoshop 24.6 (June 2023 release)

Work faster and easier with new tooltips and videos

Hit the play button over the thumbnail image or the Watch quick video button to play them.

It's super convenient for new users to learn Photoshop through short videos embedded in rich tooltips.