User Guide Cancel

Layer effects and styles

  1. Photoshop User Guide
  2. Introduction to Photoshop
    1. Dream it. Make it.
    2. What's new in Photoshop
    3. Edit your first photo
    4. Create documents
    5. Photoshop | Common Questions
    6. Photoshop system requirements
    7. Get to know Photoshop
    8. Keep Photoshop up to date
  3. Photoshop and other Adobe products and services
    1. Work with Illustrator artwork in Photoshop
    2. Work with Photoshop files in InDesign
    3. Substance 3D Materials for Photoshop
    4. Use the Capture in-app extension in Photoshop
  4. Photoshop on the iPad (not available in mainland China)
    1. Photoshop on the iPad | Common questions
    2. Get to know the workspace
    3. System requirements | Photoshop on the iPad
    4. Create, open, and export documents
    5. Add photos
    6. Work with layers
    7. Draw and paint with brushes
    8. Make selections and add masks
    9. Retouch your composites
    10. Work with adjustment layers
    11. Adjust the tonality of your composite with Curves
    12. Apply transform operations
    13. Crop and rotate your composites
    14. Rotate, pan, zoom, and reset the canvas
    15. Work with Type layers
    16. Work with Photoshop and Lightroom
    17. Get missing fonts in Photoshop on the iPad
    18. Japanese Text in Photoshop on the iPad
    19. Manage app settings
    20. Touch shortcuts and gestures
    21. Keyboard shortcuts
    22. Edit your image size
    23. Livestream as you create in Photoshop on the iPad
    24. Correct imperfections with the Healing Brush
    25. Create brushes in Capture and use them in Photoshop on the iPad
    26. Work with Camera Raw files
    27. Create and work with Smart Objects
    28. Adjust exposure in your images with Dodge and Burn
    29. Auto adjustment commands in Photoshop on the iPad
    30. Smudge areas in your images with Photoshop on the iPad
    31. Saturate or desaturate your images using Sponge tool
    32. Content aware fill for iPad
  5. Photoshop on the web (not available in mainland China)
    1. Common questions
    2. System requirements
    3. Keyboard shortcuts
    4. Supported file types
    5. Introduction to the workspace
    6. Open and work with cloud documents
    7. Generative AI features
    8. Basic concepts of editing
    9. Quick Actions
    10. Work with layers
    11. Retouch images and remove imperfections
    12. Make quick selections
    13. Image improvements with Adjustment Layers
    14. Add a fill layer
    15. Move, transform, and crop images
    16. Draw and paint
    17. Draw and edit Shapes
    18. Work with Type layers
    19. Work with anyone on the web
    20. Manage app settings
    21. Generate Image
    22. Generate Background
    23. Reference Image
  6. Photoshop (beta) (not available in mainland China)
    1. Get started with Creative Cloud Beta apps
    2. Photoshop (beta) on the desktop
    3. Reference Image
  7. Generative AI (not available in mainland China) 
    1. Common questions on generative AI in Photoshop
    2. Generative Fill in Photoshop on the desktop
    3. Generate Image with descriptive text prompts
    4. Generative Expand in Photoshop on the desktop
    5. Replace background with Generate background
    6. Get new variations with Generate Similar
    7. Generative Fill in Photoshop on the iPad
    8. Generative Expand in Photoshop on the iPad
    9. Generative AI features in Photoshop on the web
  8. Content authenticity (not available in mainland China)
    1. Content credentials in Photoshop
    2. Identity and provenance for NFTs
    3. Connect accounts for creative attribution
  9. Cloud documents (not available in mainland China)
    1. Photoshop cloud documents | Common questions
    2. Photoshop cloud documents | Workflow questions
    3. Manage and work with cloud documents in Photoshop
    4. Upgrade cloud storage for Photoshop
    5. Unable to create or save a cloud document
    6. Solve Photoshop cloud document errors
    7. Collect cloud document sync logs
    8. Invite others to edit your cloud documents
    9. Share files and comment in-app
  10. Workspace
    1. Workspace basics
    2. Preferences
    3. Learn faster with the Photoshop Discover Panel
    4. Create documents
    5. Place files
    6. Default keyboard shortcuts
    7. Customize keyboard shortcuts
    8. Tool galleries
    9. Performance preferences
    10. Use tools
    11. Presets
    12. Grid and guides
    13. Touch gestures
    14. Use the Touch Bar with Photoshop
    15. Touch capabilities and customizable workspaces
    16. Technology previews
    17. Metadata and notes
    18. Place Photoshop images in other applications
    19. Rulers
    20. Show or hide non-printing Extras
    21. Specify columns for an image
    22. Undo and history
    23. Panels and menus
    24. Position elements with snapping
    25. Position with the Ruler tool
  11. Web, screen, and app design
    1. Photoshop for design
    2. Artboards
    3. Device Preview
    4. Copy CSS from layers
    5. Slice web pages
    6. HTML options for slices
    7. Modify slice layout
    8. Work with web graphics
    9. Create web photo galleries
  12. Image and color basics
    1. How to resize images
    2. Work with raster and vector images
    3. Image size and resolution
    4. Acquire images from cameras and scanners
    5. Create, open, and import images
    6. View images
    7. Invalid JPEG Marker error | Opening images
    8. Viewing multiple images
    9. Customize color pickers and swatches
    10. High dynamic range images
    11. Match colors in your image
    12. Convert between color modes
    13. Color modes
    14. Erase parts of an image
    15. Blending modes
    16. Choose colors
    17. Customize indexed color tables
    18. Image information
    19. Distort filters are unavailable
    20. About color
    21. Color and monochrome adjustments using channels
    22. Choose colors in the Color and Swatches panels
    23. Sample
    24. Color mode or Image mode
    25. Color cast
    26. Add a conditional mode change to an action
    27. Add swatches from HTML CSS and SVG
    28. Bit depth and preferences
  13. Layers
    1. Layer basics
    2. Nondestructive editing
    3. Create and manage layers and groups
    4. Select, group, and link layers
    5. Place images into frames
    6. Layer opacity and blending
    7. Mask layers
    8. Apply Smart Filters
    9. Layer comps
    10. Move, stack, and lock layers
    11. Mask layers with vector masks
    12. Manage layers and groups
    13. Layer effects and styles
    14. Edit layer masks
    15. Extract assets
    16. Reveal layers with clipping masks
    17. Generate image assets from layers
    18. Work with Smart Objects
    19. Blending modes
    20. Combine multiple images into a group portrait
    21. Combine images with Auto-Blend Layers
    22. Align and distribute layers
    23. Copy CSS from layers
    24. Load selections from a layer or layer mask's boundaries
    25. Knockout to reveal content from other layers
  14. Selections
    1. Get started with selections
    2. Make selections in your composite
    3. Select and Mask workspace
    4. Select with the marquee tools
    5. Select with the lasso tools
    6. Adjust pixel selections
    7. Move, copy, and delete selected pixels
    8. Create a temporary quick mask
    9. Select a color range in an image
    10. Convert between paths and selection borders
    11. Channel basics
    12. Save selections and alpha channel masks
    13. Select the image areas in focus
    14. Duplicate, split, and merge channels
    15. Channel calculations
  15. Image adjustments
    1. Replace object colors
    2. Perspective warp
    3. Reduce camera shake blurring
    4. Healing brush examples
    5. Export color lookup tables
    6. Adjust image sharpness and blur
    7. Understand color adjustments
    8. Apply a Brightness/Contrast adjustment
    9. Adjust shadow and highlight detail
    10. Levels adjustment
    11. Adjust hue and saturation
    12. Adjust vibrance
    13. Adjust color saturation in image areas
    14. Make quick tonal adjustments
    15. Apply special color effects to images
    16. Enhance your image with color balance adjustments
    17. High dynamic range images
    18. View histograms and pixel values
    19. Match colors in your image
    20. Crop and straighten photos
    21. Convert a color image to black and white
    22. Adjustment and fill layers
    23. Curves adjustment
    24. Blending modes
    25. Target images for press
    26. Adjust color and tone with Levels and Curves eyedroppers
    27. Adjust HDR exposure and toning
    28. Dodge or burn image areas
    29. Make selective color adjustments
  16. Adobe Camera Raw
    1. Camera Raw system requirements
    2. What's new in Camera Raw
    3. Introduction to Camera Raw
    4. Create panoramas
    5. Supported lenses
    6. Vignette, grain, and dehaze effects in Camera Raw
    7. Default keyboard shortcuts
    8. Automatic perspective correction in Camera Raw
    9. Radial Filter in Camera Raw
    10. Manage Camera Raw settings
    11. Open, process, and save images in Camera Raw
    12. Repair images with the Enhanced Spot Removal tool in Camera Raw
    13. Rotate, crop, and adjust images
    14. Adjust color rendering in Camera Raw
    15. Process versions in Camera Raw
    16. Make local adjustments in Camera Raw
  17. Image repair and restoration
    1. Remove Tool
    2. Remove objects from your photos with Content-Aware Fill
    3. Content-Aware Patch and Move
    4. Retouch and repair photos
    5. Correct image distortion and noise
    6. Basic troubleshooting steps to fix most issues
  18. Image enhancement and transformation
    1. Replace sky in your images
    2. Transform objects
    3. Adjust crop, rotation, and canvas size
    4. How to crop and straighten photos
    5. Create and edit panoramic images
    6. Warp images, shapes, and paths
    7. Vanishing Point
    8. Content-aware scaling
    9. Transform images, shapes, and paths
  19. Drawing and painting
    1. Paint symmetrical patterns
    2. Draw rectangles and modify stroke options
    3. About drawing
    4. Draw and edit shapes
    5. Painting tools
    6. Create and modify brushes
    7. Blending modes
    8. Add color to paths
    9. Edit paths
    10. Paint with the Mixer Brush
    11. Brush presets
    12. Gradients
    13. Gradient interpolation
    14. Fill and stroke selections, layers, and paths
    15. Draw with the Pen tools
    16. Create patterns
    17. Generate a pattern using the Pattern Maker
    18. Manage paths
    19. Manage pattern libraries and presets
    20. Draw or paint with a graphics tablet
    21. Create textured brushes
    22. Add dynamic elements to brushes
    23. Gradient
    24. Paint stylized strokes with the Art History Brush
    25. Paint with a pattern
    26. Sync presets on multiple devices
    27. Migrate presets, actions, and settings
  20. Text
    1. Add and edit the text
    2. Unified Text Engine
    3. Work with OpenType SVG fonts
    4. Format characters
    5. Format paragraphs
    6. How to create type effects
    7. Edit text
    8. Line and character spacing
    9. Arabic and Hebrew type
    10. Fonts
    11. Troubleshoot fonts
    12. Asian type
    13. Create type
  21. Filters and effects
    1. Use the Blur Gallery
    2. Filter basics
    3. Filter effects reference
    4. Add Lighting Effects
    5. Use the Adaptive Wide Angle filter
    6. Use the Oil Paint filter
    7. Use the Liquify filter
    8. Layer effects and styles
    9. Apply specific filters
    10. Smudge image areas
  22. Saving and exporting
    1. Save your files in Photoshop
    2. Export your files in Photoshop
    3. Supported file formats
    4. Save files in graphics formats
    5. Move designs between Photoshop and Illustrator
    6. Save and export video and animations
    7. Save PDF files
    8. Digimarc copyright protection
  23. Color Management
    1. Understanding color management
    2. Keeping colors consistent
    3. Color settings
    4. Duotones
    5. Work with color profiles
    6. Color-managing documents for online viewing
    7. Color-managing documents when printing
    8. Color-managing imported images
    9. Proofing colors
  24. Web, screen, and app design
    1. Photoshop for design
    2. Artboards
    3. Device Preview
    4. Copy CSS from layers
    5. Slice web pages
    6. HTML options for slices
    7. Modify slice layout
    8. Work with web graphics
    9. Create web photo galleries
  25. Video and animation
    1. Video editing in Photoshop
    2. Edit video and animation layers
    3. Video and animation overview
    4. Preview video and animations
    5. Paint frames in video layers
    6. Import video files and image sequences
    7. Create frame animations
    8. Creative Cloud 3D Animation (Preview)
    9. Create timeline animations
    10. Create images for video
  26. Printing
    1. Print 3D objects
    2. Print from Photoshop
    3. Print with color management
    4. Contact Sheets and PDF Presentations
    5. Print photos in a picture package layout
    6. Print spot colors
    7. Print images to a commercial printing press
    8. Improve color prints from Photoshop
    9. Troubleshoot printing problems | Photoshop
  27. Automation
    1. Creating actions
    2. Create data-driven graphics
    3. Scripting
    4. Process a batch of files
    5. Play and manage actions
    6. Add conditional actions
    7. About actions and the Actions panel
    8. Record tools in actions
    9. Add a conditional mode change to an action
    10. Photoshop UI toolkit for plug-ins and scripts
  28. Troubleshooting
    1. Fixed issues 
    2. Known issues
    3. Optimize Photoshop performance
    4. Basic troubleshooting
    5. Troubleshoot crash or freeze
    6. Troubleshoot program errors
    7. Troubleshoot scratch disk full errors
    8. Troubleshoot GPU and graphics driver issues
    9. Find missing tools
    10. Photoshop 3D | Common questions around discontinued features

Use Photoshop to apply effects and styles to your layer content and make non-destructive edits.

Topics in this article:

Layer effects and styles

Apply different effects, such as shadows, glows, and bevels, in Photoshop to change the appearance of a layer's contents in a non-destructive manner.

Layer effects are linked to the layer contents. When you move or edit the contents of the layer, the same effects are applied to the modified contents. Say, if you apply a drop shadow to a text layer and then add new text, the shadow is added automatically to the new text.

A layer style is one or more effects applied to a layer or layer group. You can apply any preset styles in Photoshop or create your custom style using the Layer Style dialog box.

Add a layer style from the layer effects icon

The fx icon (layer effects icon) appears in the Layers panel to the right of the layer name. You can expand the style in the Layers panel to view or edit the effects that compose the style.

You can apply multiple effects in a single-layer style. Also, more than one instance of some effects can comprise a layer style.

Layers panel showing layer with multiple effects applied in Photoshop
A. Layer effects icon B. Click to expand and show layer effects C. Layer effects

When you save a custom style, it becomes a preset style. Preset styles appear in the Styles panel and can be applied to a layer or group with a single click.

Add a layer style from the Layer menu

To add a layer style from the Layer menu, you can:

  1. Select a layer in the Layers panel.
  2. Select Layer Styles from the category menu in the Effects panel.
  3. Select a style and hit Apply.
  4. Double-click a style.
  5. Drag a style onto a layer.

Add a layer style from the Contextual Task Bar

To add a layer style from the Contextual Task Bar, you can:

  1. Select a layer in the Layers panel.
  2. Select Layer Styles from the category menu in the Effects panel.
  3. Select a style and hit Apply.
  4. Double-click a style.
  5. Drag a style onto a layer.
Use the Layer Style dialog box to create a custom style in Photoshop
Use the Layer Style dialog box to create a custom style in Photoshop

How to use the Presets panel

Learn all about applying Photoshop's new and improved Presets panels. Julieanne Kost explores everything from swatches to patterns, from gradients to styles and shapes.

Julieanne Kost

Apply preset styles

Styles panel in Photoshop
Styles panel in Photoshop

Go to Window > Styles to apply preset styles from the Styles panel.

The layer styles that come with Photoshop are grouped into libraries by function. So one library would contain styles to create web buttons, while another would contain styles for adding effects to text.

Load the appropriate library to access these styles.

For information on loading and saving styles, see Create and manage preset styles.

Note:

You cannot apply layer styles to a background, locked layer, or group.

Apply a preset style to a layer

Normally, applying a preset style replaces the current layer style. However, you can add the attributes of a second style to those of the current style.

Do any of the following: 

  • Select a style from the Styles panel to apply it to the currently selected layers.

  • Drag a style from the Styles panel onto a layer in the Layers panel.

  • Drag a style from the Styles panel to the document window.

    Note: Hold down the Shift key as you select or drag to add (rather than replace) the style to existing effects on the destination layer.

  • Choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options to navigate to the Layer Style dialog box and select Styles to select your preferred style and hit OK.

  • When using the Shape tool or Pen tool in shape layers mode, select a style from the pop‑up panel in the options bar before drawing the shape.

Note:

Some effects have a + icon, indicating that they can be applied more than once in a layer style.

Apply a style from another layer

Navigate to the Layers panel and do either of the following: 

  • Select Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (macOS)
  • Click-drag the style from a layer's effect list to move it to another layer

Change how preset styles are displayed

  1. Click the drop-down in the Styles panel, Layer Style dialog box, or Layer Style pop‑up panel in the options bar.

  2. Choose a display option from the panel menu:
    • Text Only to view the layer styles as a list

    • Small Thumbnail or Large Thumbnail to view the layer styles as thumbnails

    • Small List or Large List to view the layer styles as a list, with a thumbnail of the selected layer style

Layer Style dialog box

You can edit styles applied to a layer or create new styles using the Layer Style dialog box.

Layer Style dialog box. Select a checkbox to apply the current settings without displaying the effect's options. Select an effect name to display its options.
Layer Style dialog box. Select a checkbox to apply the current settings without displaying the effect's options. Select an effect name to display its options.

You can create custom styles using one or more of the following effects:

Drop Shadow Adds a shadow that falls behind the contents on the layer
Inner Shadow Adds a shadow that falls just inside the edges of the layer's content, giving the layer a recessed appearance
Outer Glow and Inner Glow
Add glows that emanate from the outside or inside edges of the layer's content
Bevel and Emboss
Add various combinations of highlights and shadows to a layer
Satin     Applies interior shading that creates a satiny finish
Color, Gradient, and Pattern Overlay
Fills the layer's content with a color, gradient, or pattern
Stroke
Outlines the object on the current layer using color, a gradient, or a pattern. It is particularly useful on hard-edged shapes such as type

Apply or edit a custom layer style

You can apply a layer style to a background layer by converting it into a regular layer.

Use the Layer Style dialog box to edit multiple effects. Select your desired effect from the left panel of the dialog box to choose from the displayed options.

Follow these steps to apply or edit a custom layer style. 

  1. Select a single layer from the Layers panel.

  2. Do one of the following:
    • Double-click the layer outside the layer name or thumbnail.

    • Click the Add A Layer Style icon at the bottom of the Layers panel and choose an effect from the list.

    • Choose an effect from the Layer > Layer Style submenu.

    • To edit an existing style, double-click an effect given following the layer name in the Layers panel. Select the downward arrow next to the Add A Layer Style icon to display the effects contained in the style.

  3. Set effect options in the Layer Style dialog box. See Layer style options.

  4. Add other effects to the style, if desired. In the Layer Style dialog box, select the checkbox to the left of the effect name to add the effect.

Change style defaults to custom values

  1. In the Layer Style dialog box, customize settings as desired.

  2. Select Make Default.

    When you next open the dialog box, your custom defaults are automatically applied. If you adjust settings and want to return to your custom defaults, select Reset To Default.

Layer style options

Altitude For the Bevel and Emboss effect, set the height of the light source (0 is ground level and 90 is directly above the layer)
Angle Determines the lighting angle at which the effect is applied to the layer. You can drag in the document window to adjust the angle of a Pattern Overlay, Drop Shadow, Inner Shadow, or Satin effect
Anti-alias Blends the edge pixels of a contour or gloss contour. This option is most useful on small shadows with complicated contours
Blend Mode Determines how the layer style blends with the underlying layers, which may or may not include the active layer. For example, an inner shadow blends with the active layer because the effect is drawn on top of that layer, but a drop shadow blends only with the layers beneath the active layer. In most cases, the default mode for each effect produces the best results. See Blending modes
Choke Shrinks the boundaries of the matte of an Inner Shadow or Inner Glow prior to blurring
Color Specifies the color of a shadow, glow, or highlight. You can click the color box and choose a color
Contour With solid‑color glows, Contour allows you to create rings of transparency. With gradient-filled glows, Contour allows you to create variations in the repetition of the gradient color and opacity. In beveling and embossing, Contour allows you to sculpt the ridges, valleys, and bumps that are shaded in the embossing process. With shadows, Contour allows you to specify the fade. For more information, see Modify layer effects with contours
Distance Specifies the offset distance for a shadow or satin effect. You can drag in the document window to adjust the offset distance
Depth Specifies the depth of a bevel. It also specifies the depth of a pattern
Use Global Light This setting allows you to set one master lighting angle that is then available in all the layer effects that use shading: Drop Shadow, Inner Shadow, and Bevel and Emboss. In any of these effects, if Use Global Light is selected and you set a lighting angle, that angle becomes the global lighting angle. Any other effect that has Use Global Light selected automatically inherits the same angle setting. If Use Global Light is deselected, the lighting angle you set is local and applies only to that effect. You can also set the global lighting angle by choosing Layer Style > Global Light
Gloss Contour Creates a glossy, metallic appearance. Gloss Contour is applied after shading a bevel or emboss
Gradient Specifies the gradient of a layer effect. Select the gradient to display the Gradient Editor or the inverted arrow and choose a gradient from the pop‑up panel. You can edit a gradient or create a new gradient using the Gradient Editor. You can edit the color or opacity in the Gradient Overlay panel the same way you edit them in the Gradient Editor. For some effects, you can specify additional gradient options. Reverse flips the orientation of the gradient, Align With Layer uses the bounding box of the layer to calculate the gradient fill, and Scale scales the application of the gradient. You can also move the center of the gradient by clicking and dragging in the image window. Style specifies the shape of the gradient
Highlight or Shadow Mode
Specifies the blending mode of a bevel or emboss highlight or shadow
Jitter Varies the application of a gradient's color and opacity
Layer Knocks Out Drop Shadow
Controls the drop shadow's visibility in a semitransparent layer
Noise Specifies the number of random elements in the opacity of a glow or shadow. Enter a value or drag the slider
Opacity Sets the opacity of the layer effect. Enter a value or drag the slider
Pattern Specifies the pattern of a layer effect. Select the pop‑up panel and choose a pattern. Set the Angle selector at a certain degree or manually type in an angle value to rotate your pattern at the desired angle. Hit the New Preset button to create a new preset pattern based on the current settings. Hit Snap To Origin to make the origin of the pattern the same as the origin of the document (when Link With Layer is selected), or to place the origin at the upper-left corner of the layer (if Link With Layer is deselected). Select Link With Layer if you want the pattern to move along with the layer as the layer moves. Drag the Scale slider or enter a value to specify the size of the pattern. Drag a pattern to position it in the layer; reset the position by using the Snap To Origin button. The Pattern option is not available if no patterns are loaded
Position Specifies the position of a stroke effect as Outside, Inside, or Center
Range Controls which portion or range of the glow is targeted for the contour
Size Specifies the radius and size of blur or the size of the shadow
Soften Blurs the results of shading to reduce unwanted artifacts
Source Specifies the source for an inner glow. Choose Center to apply a glow that emanates from the center of the layer's content, or Edge to apply a glow that emanates from the inside edges of the layer's content
Spread Expands the boundaries of the matte prior to blurring
Style

Specifies the style of a bevel:

Inner Bevel creates a bevel on the inside edges of the layer contents

Outer Bevel creates a bevel on the outside edges of the layer contents

Emboss simulates the effect of embossing the layer contents against the underlying layers

Pillow Emboss simulates the effect of stamping the edges of the layer contents into the underlying layers

Stroke Emboss confines embossing to the boundaries of a stroke effect applied to the layer. (The Stroke Emboss effect is not visible if no stroke is applied to the layer.)

Technique Smooth, Chisel Hard, and Chisel Soft are available for bevel and emboss effects; Softer and Precise apply to Inner Glow and Outer Glow effects
Smooth

Blurs the edges of a matte slightly and is useful for all types of mattes, whether their edges are soft or hard. It does not preserve detailed features at larger sizes. 

Chisel Hard uses a distance measurement technique and is primarily useful on hard-edged mattes from anti-aliased shapes such as type. It preserves detailed features better than the Smooth technique

Chisel Soft uses a modified distance measurement technique and, although not as accurate as Chisel Hard, is more useful on a larger range of mattes. It preserves features better than the Smooth technique

Softer applies a blur and is useful on all types of mattes, whether their edges are soft or hard. At larger sizes, Softer does not preserve detailed features

Precise uses a distance measurement technique to create a glow and is primarily useful on hard-edged mattes from anti-aliased shapes such as type. It preserves features better than the Softer technique

Texture

Applies a texture.

Use Scale to scale the size of the texture.

Select Link With Layer if you want the texture to move along with the layer as the layer moves. Invert inverts the texture. Depth varies the degree and direction (up/down) to which the texturing is applied.

Snap To Origin makes the origin of the pattern the same as the origin of the document (if Link With Layer is deselected) or places the origin in the upper-left corner of the layer (if Link With Layer is selected). Drag the texture to position it in the layer.

Note:

You can set an angle to rotate the pattern overlay and easily change its orientation.

Modify layer effects with contours

While creating custom layer styles, use contours to control the shape of Drop Shadow, Inner Shadow, Inner Glow, Outer Glow, Bevel, and Emboss. Use a Linear contour on a Drop Shadow to make the opacity drop off in a linear transition and a Custom contour to create a unique shadow transition.

Select, reset, delete, or change the preview of contours in the Contour pop‑up panel and Preset Manager.

Detail of Layer Style dialog box for Drop Shadow effect
A. Click to display the Contour Editor dialog box. B. Click to display the pop-up panel.

Create a custom contour

  1. Select from the given options -- Drop Shadow, Inner Shadow, Inner Glow, Outer Glow, Bevel and Emboss, Contour, or Satin effect -- in the Layer Style dialog box.

  2. Hit the contour thumbnail in the Layer Style dialog box and select the contour to add points or drag to adjust the contour. You can also enter values for input and output. 

  3. Select a point and hit Corner to create a sharp corner instead of a smooth curve.

  4. Hit Save and name the contour to save it to a file.

  5. Select New to store a contour as a preset.

  6. Select OK to add the new contour to the pop‑up panel.

Load a contour

To load a contour, select from the Layer Style dialog box and select Load from the Contour Editor dialog box. Navigate to the folder containing your preferred contour library and hit Open.

Delete a contour

To delete a contour, hit the inverted arrow next to the currently selected contour to view the pop-up panel. Press Alt (Win) or Option (macOS) and select the contour you need to delete. 

Set a global lighting angle for all layers

Use global light to give the appearance of a common light source shining on your image.

Do one of the following: 

  • Navigate to Layer > Layer Style > Global Light. In the Global Light dialog box, enter a value or drag the angle radius to set the angle and altitude and select OK.

    Or,

  • In the Layer Style dialog box for Drop Shadow, Inner Shadow, or Bevel, select Use Global Light. For Angle, enter a value or drag the radius and select OK.

Global lighting applies to each layer effect that uses the global lighting angle.

Display or hide layer styles

To hide or show all layer styles in an image, select Layer > Layer Style > Hide All Effects or Show All Effects.

To expand or collapse layer styles in the Layers panel, follow any one of these steps:

  • Select the drop-down next to the Add A Layer Style icon to expand the list of layer effects applied to that layer.

    Or,

  • Select the triangle to collapse the layer effects.

    Or,

  • To expand or collapse all of the layer styles applied within a group, hold down Alt (Win) or Option (macOS) and select the triangle or inverted triangle for the group. The layer styles applied to all layers within the group will expand or collapse correspondingly.

Copy layer styles

Copy and paste styles to apply the same effects to multiple layers.

Between layers

  1. To select the preferred layer from the Layers panel whose style you want to copy, navigate to Layer > Layer Style > Copy Layer Style

  2. Select the destination layer from the panel and navigate to Layer > Layer Style > Paste Layer Style.

    The pasted layer style replaces the existing layer style on the destination layer or layers.

Between layers by dragging

Do one of the following:

  • In the Layers panel, Alt-drag (Win) or Option-drag (macOS) a single layer effect from one layer to another to duplicate the layer effect or drag the Effects bar from one layer to another to duplicate the layer style.
  • Drag one or more layer effects from the Layers panel to the image to apply the resulting layer style to the highest layer in the Layers panel that contains pixels at the drop point.

Scale a layer effect

A layer style may have been fine-tuned for a target resolution and features of a given size.

Use Scale Effects to scale the effects in the layer style without scaling the object to which the layer style is applied.

  1. Select the preferred layer in the Layers panel.

  2. Navigate to Layer > Layer Style > Scale Effects.

  3. Enter a percentage or drag the slider.
  4. Select Preview to preview the changes in the image and hit OK.

Remove layer effects

Remove an individual effect from a style applied to a layer or the entire style from the layer.

Follow these steps to remove an effect from a style:

  1. In the Layers panel, expand the layer style to view its effects.

  2. Drag the effect to the delete () icon.

To remove a style from a layer, select the layer containing the style you want to remove from the Layers panel. And then do one of the following: 

  • Drag the Effects bar to the delete () icon. 

Or,

  • Navigate to Layer > Layer Style > Clear Layer Style, select the layer, and select the Clear Style button in the Styles panel.

Convert a layer style to image layers

Convert layer styles to regular image layers for customizing or improving the appearance of layer styles. 

After doing so, you can enhance the result by painting or applying commands and filters. But you won't be able to edit the layer style on the original layer, and the layer style no longer updates as you change the original image layer.

Note:

The layers produced by this process may not result in artwork that exactly matches the version using layer styles. You may see an alert when you create the new layers.

  1. In the Layers panel, select the layer containing the layer style that you want to convert.

  2. Navigate to Layer > Layer Style > Create Layers. You can now modify and restack the new layers in the same way as regular layers, and convert some effects, such as Inner Glow to layers within a clipping mask.

Create and manage preset styles

Create a custom style and save it as a preset, which you can access from the Styles panel.

Save preset styles in a library and load or remove them from the Styles panel as you need them.

Create a new preset style

  1. From the Layers panel, select the layer style you want to save as a preset.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • Select an empty area of the Styles panel.

    Or,

    • Select the Create New Style button in the Styles panel.

    Or,

    • Choose New Style from the Styles panel menu.

    Or,

    • Navigate to Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options and select New Style in the Layer Style dialog box.

  3. Set a name for the preset style, choose style options, and hit OK.

Rename a preset style

Do any one of the following:

  • Double-click a style in the Styles panel. If the Styles panel is set to display styles as thumbnails, enter a new name in the dialog box and select OK. Otherwise, enter a new name directly in the Styles panel and press Enter (Win) or Return (macOS).

Or,

  • Select a style in the Styles area of the Layer Style dialog box. Then choose Rename Style from the pop‑up menu, enter a new name, and select OK.

Or,

  • When using the Shape or Pen tool, select a style from the Style pop‑up panel in the options bar. Then choose Rename Style from the pop‑up panel menu.

Delete a preset style

Do one of the following:

  • Drag a style to the delete icon () in the Styles panel.

Or,

  • Press Alt (Win) or Option (macOS) and select the layer style in the Styles panel.

Or,

  • Select a style in the Styles area of the Layer Style dialog box. and then choose Delete Style from the pop-up menu. For more information, see Apply preset styles

Or,

  • When using the Shape or Pen tool, select a style from the Layer Style pop‑up panel in the options bar. Then choose Delete Style from the pop‑up panel menu.

Save a set of preset styles as a library

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Choose Save Styles from the Styles panel menu.

    Or,

    • Select Styles in the Layer Style dialog box. Then choose Save Styles from the pop‑up menu.

    Or,

    • When using the Shape or Pen tool, select the layer style thumbnail in the options bar and then choose Save Styles from the pop‑up panel menu.
  2. Choose a location for the style library, enter a file name, and select Save.

    Although you can save the library anywhere, if you place the library file in the Presets/Styles folder in the default presets location, the library name will appear in the Styles panel menu when you restart the application.

    Note:

    Use the Preset Manager to rename, delete, and save libraries of preset styles.

Load a library of preset styles

  1. Click the triangle in the Styles panel, Layer Style dialog box, or Layer Style pop‑up panel in the options bar.

  2. Do one of the following:
    • Choose Load Styles to add a library to the current list. Then choose the preferred library file and select Load.

    Or, 

    • Choose Replace Styles to replace the current list with a different library. Then choose the preferred library file and select Load.

    Or, 

    • Choose a library file and select OK to replace the current list or Append to append the current list.
  3. To return to the default library of preset styles, choose Reset Styles. You can either replace the current list or append the default library to the current list.

    Note:

    You can also use the Preset Manager to load and reset style libraries. See Work with the Preset Manager.

Have a question or an idea?

Ask the Community

If you have a question to ask or an idea to share, come and participate in the Adobe Photoshop community. We'd love to hear from you!

 Adobe

Get help faster and easier

New user?

Adobe MAX 2024

Adobe MAX

The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Adobe MAX 2024

Adobe MAX

The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online