Layer actions overview

Learn about the adjustments, transformations, and effects that can be performed on a layer to enhance your creative projects.

• Lock layer: Locks the layer so it can’t be edited.
• Delete layer: Deletes the active layer.
• Duplicate layer: Duplicates the active layer.
• Copy layer: Lets you copy a selection or layer.
• Paste: Lets you paste a copied selection or layer.
• Select all: Selects all contents of the active layer.
• Load as selection: Selects all nontransparent areas on a layer, or all unmasked areas if a layer mask exists. Selecting these areas is useful when you want to select text or image content that is surrounded by or contains transparent areas or to create a selection that excludes masked areas on a layer.
• Group layers: Lets you work with multiple layers together. 
• Ungroup layers: Brings layers outside of a group.
• Hide this layer: Hides an active layer.
• Show/hide all other layers: Hides all layers except the active layer. 
• Convert to smart object: Lets you Scale and Rotate, Skew, Distort, and change Perspective without losing original image data or quality.
• Create clipping mask: Adds a clipping mask to the selected layer.
• Link layers: Allows to transform or adjust multiple layers simultaneously while keeping them aligned.
• Flatten layer: Brings all layers of a multilayered document to one plane.
• Merge down: Merges the active layer with the layer below it.
• Merge visible: Merges all visible layers into the active layer.
• Flatten image: Brings all images in the composite to one plane.
• Large layer thumbnails: Lets you view large thumbnails of your layers in the Layers panel.