Create layers and layer groups

A new layer appears either above the selected layer or within the selected group in the Layers panel.

Create a new layer or group

Create a layer from an existing file

Create a layer with effects from another layer

Convert a selection into a new layer

View layers and groups within a group

Show or hide a layer, group, or style

Showing or hiding layers, groups, or styles lets you isolate or view only certain portions of your image for easy editing.

Copy/paste layers

You can now copy and paste layers in Photoshop—inside a document and between documents. Depending on your color management settings and the color profile associated with the file (or imported data), Photoshop may prompt you for directions to handle color information in the imported data.

Copy-paste commands

(Edit > Copy or Cmd/Ctrl+C) Copies the selected layers

(Edit > Paste or Cmd/Ctrl+V) Pastes the copied layers into the chosen document in the center of that document. Pasting creates a duplicate layer, including all bitmap and vector masks, and layer effects.

(Edit > Paste Special > Paste In Place or Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+V) Pastes the copied layers into the targeted document in a position relative to its position in the original document. For example, a layer containing content from the bottom-right corner of a large document pastes into the new document in the bottom-right corner. In all cases, Photoshop tries to keep at least some piece of the pasted layers visible in the destination document, so that you can reposition it as desired.

Note:

If you copy a layer and then create a new document, you can make use of the Clipboard option in the New Document dialog. Choosing this option creates a new document the size of the layers you’ve copied. You can then easily paste your copied layers into the new document

Considerations for copy/pasting layers containing paths

Copy behaviors

• If you copy a layer that contains paths—i.e. a Shape layer—but no paths are selected, then the layer is copied to the clipboard. Pasting creates a duplicate shape layer, including all bitmap and vector masks, and layer effects.
• If you copy a layer that contains paths—i.e. a Shape layer—and the paths are selected on canvas, then the path is copied to the clipboard. 
• If you copy a layer with a vector mask, but the vector mask is not selected, then all layer data is copied to the clipboard. Pasting creates a duplicate layer, including all bitmap and vector masks, and layer effects.
• If you copy a layer with a vector mask, and the vector mask is selected, then the path data is copied to the clipboard. Pasting depends on the context.

Paste behaviors

• If you paste a layer between documents with different resolutions, the pasted layer retains its pixel dimensions. This behavior can make the pasted portion appear out of proportion to the new image. Use the Image Size command to make the source and destination images the same resolution before copying and pasting, or use the Free Transform command to resize the pasted content.
  
• If you select a layer that contains no paths—for example, a bitmap layer, pasting the path data creates a new vector mask.
• If you select a layer that contains paths—for example, a Shape layer—but no paths are selected, then pasting replaces the current Shape in the layer.
• If you select a Shape layer and select the path, then pasting pastes the path data into the existing Shape layer, combining it with the existing path.
• If you select a layer with a vector mask, but the vector mask is not selected, then pasting path data replaces the Vector Mask path.
• If you select a layer with a vector mask, and the vector mask is selected, then pasting pastes the path data into the vector mask, combining it with the existing path.

Copy Merged

This command makes a merged copy of all the visible layers in the selected area.