Place a file in Photoshop

Last updated on Sep 28, 2026

Use the Place command or drag-and-drop to add files to your document.

When you place a file, Photoshop adds it as a Smart Object, a special layer type that preserves the original file's quality. The placed file becomes a new layer that you can position, resize, and transform. This works with most Photoshop-supported formats, including JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, and many others.

Smart Objects link to the original file data and reference the original resolution, letting you scale them without losing image quality.

Add a file to your document

Open the Photoshop document where you want to add the file.

Select File > Place Embedded or File > Place Linked from the menu.

In the file browser, select the file you want to place and select Place. In the file browser, select the file you want to place and select Place. The file appears in a bounding box at the centre of your document.

Drag inside the bounding box or the corner handles to resize it. Hold Shift while dragging to maintain the original proportions.

Select Commit in the options bar or press Enter (Windows) or Return (macOS) to finalize the placement.

The file appears as a Smart Object layer in the Layers panel. You'll see a small page icon in the layer thumbnail.

Alternative placement methods

You can place files using these methods:

Drag-and-drop method: Drag a file directly from Windows Explorer or macOS Finder onto your open document. The file appears where you drop it.
Adobe Bridge integration method: In Adobe Bridge, select a file and choose File > Place > In Photoshop to place it into the currently active Photoshop document.

Both methods create Smart Objects and display the same transformation options.

Transform placed content

While the bounding box is active, you can apply these transformations:

Scale: Drag any corner handle. Hold Shift to constrain proportions.
Rotate: Position your cursor outside the bounding box until it becomes a curved arrow, then drag to rotate. You can also enter a specific rotation value in the options bar.
Reposition: Drag anywhere inside the bounding box to move the placed content. Enter precise X and Y values in the options bar for exact positioning.
Skew: Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (macOS) and drag a side handle to create a skew effect.

Tip

If the placed file is larger than your document, Photoshop automatically scales it to fit while maintaining the aspect ratio.

Embedded and linked placement

When placing files, you choose between two options:

Place Embedded: Stores the file data within your document. The file size increases, but all content is self-contained.
Place Linked: Maintains a reference to the external file. Changes to the original file update in Photoshop, and your document size stays smaller.

Choose embedded placement when you want a standalone document. Choose linked placement when you need to update content across multiple documents or maintain smaller file sizes.

Edit a placed Smart Object

To edit a placed Smart Object later, double-click its thumbnail in the Layers panel.

Make your changes in the Smart Object, as the content opens in a new window.

Save the Smart Object file to see updates in your main document.

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