Work with preset styles

Last updated on Oct 27, 2025

Learn how to apply and manage preset styles to quickly enhance your layers in Adobe Photoshop.

Apply preset styles

In the Layers panel, select the layer you want to style.

Select Window > Styles.

Select a style to apply to the selected layer.

Hover over a style to see its name and preview its effect.

Apply a style from another layer

In the Layers panel, select the layer with the style you want to copy.

Press Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (macOS) and the layer effect  icon from the source layer to the destination layer to copy the style.

Change how layer styles are displayed in the Styles panel

In the Styles panel, select the menu icon.

Select a display option:

  • Text Only: Displays styles as a list
  • Small Thumbnail or Large Thumbnail: Displays styles as thumbnails
  • Small List or Large List: Displays styles as a list with thumbnails
Note

To organize your styles, select the folder icon in the Styles panel and create groups.

To rename a style, double-click it in the Styles panel, enter a new name, and press Enter (Windows) or Return (macOS).