Select Window > Layers.
Last updated on
Sep 28, 2026
Learn how to use the Layers panel, Layer menu, and keyboard shortcuts to add new layers and organize content into groups in Adobe Photoshop on desktop.
Layers let you work on individual elements of your composition without affecting others, while layer groups help you organize related layers together for easier management. New layers appear above the currently selected layer in the Layers panel, or within a selected group.
Learn how to add content, isolate edits, or organize your document structure.
Create a layer or group with default settings
In the Layers panel, select the layer above which you want to create the new layer or group.
Do one of the following:
- Select Create a new layer at the bottom of the Layers panel.
- Select Create a new group at the bottom of the Layers panel.
Create a layer or group with custom options
Select Layer > New > Layer or Layer > New > Group.
Tip
You can also press Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (macOS), then select Create a new layer or Create a new group.
In the New Layer or New Group dialog box, enter a name for the layer or group.
Configure these options:
Color: Assign a color label to help identify and organize the layer or group in the Layers panel.
Mode: Select how the new layer blends with the layers below.
Opacity: Set the transparency level of the new layer.
Use previous layer to create clipping mask: Clip the new layer so its contents are visible only where the layer below contains pixels.
Tip
To fill the layer with a neutral color for the selected blending mode, select Fill with neutral color.
Select OK.
Drag a file from Windows Explorer or macOS Finder into an open Photoshop document.
Use the on-canvas controls to move, scale, or rotate the imported content.
Press Enter (Windows) or Return (macOS) to commit the placement.
By default, Photoshop places imported files as Smart Objects. If you need a raster layer, select the imported Smart Object layer. Right-click the layer and select Rasterize Layer.
If you place a multilayer file, such as a PSD document, Photoshop places a flattened version on a single layer. To preserve individual layers, open the source file and duplicate the required layers into the destination document.
Duplicate a layer with all effects
Select the layer you want to duplicate in the Layers panel.
Drag the layer to Create a new layer at the bottom-rightof the Layers panel.
Convert a selection to a new layer
Use any selection tool to make a selection.
Select Layer > New > Layer Via Copy to copy the selection to a new layer or Layer Via Cut to move the selection to a new layer.
Group existing layers
Create groups to apply adjustments, masks, or transformations to multiple layers simultaneously. You can also nest groups within other groups to create a hierarchical organization for complex documents.
In the Layers panel, select multiple layers by pressing Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (macOS) for each layer or select Layer > Group Layers to create a group.
Double-click the group name and enter a name.
Note
Mode determines the blending mode for how the layer interacts with the layers under it. If the selected blend mode requires pixel content, select Fill with neutral color.
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