How To Separate Layers In Photoshop

Open Multiple Images Every bit Layers In Photoshop

Larn how easy it is to open multiple images at in one case into a Photoshop document, with each image placed on its own layer, and how to add more than images to the document as y'all demand them!

Whether we're compositing images, creating collages or designing layouts, we often need to load multiple images into the same Photoshop document. And each prototype needs to appear on its own layer inside that document. But that'due south non how Photoshop works when nosotros open multiple files. Instead, each file opens in its own separate document, forcing us to motion the images ourselves from i document to some other.

But in that location is a way to open multiple images at once into the same document using a control called Load Layers into Stack. And we can add more files to the certificate as we demand them using a different command known as Place Embedded. In this tutorial, I'll show you how both of these features piece of work. We'll too look at a few options in Photoshop'southward Preferences that make placing images into your document even faster. And as a bonus, I'll finish things off by blending my images into a simple double exposure consequence.

I'm using Photoshop 2020 but y'all tin follow along with any recent version.

This is lesson 6 in my Layers Learning Guide. Let's get started!

How to load multiple images every bit layers in Photoshop

Permit's start past learning how to load multiple images as layers into the same Photoshop document. For that, nosotros use a command chosen Load Files into Stack. And not but does this control load your images, only it even creates the Photoshop document for you! Here'due south how to employ information technology.

Step i: Cull "Load Files into Stack"

In Photoshop, go up to the File menu in the Card Bar, choose Scripts, and so cull Load Files into Stack:

Going to File > Scripts > Load Files into Stack.

Step ii: Select your images

So in the Load Layers dialog box, set the Use option to either Files or Folder. Files lets you select private images within a binder, while Folder will load every epitome in the folder you select. I'll choose Files.

Then click the Browse push button:

Setting Apply to either Files or Folder and so clicking Scan.

Cloud documents or local files

If y'all're using Photoshop CC 2020 or subsequently, Photoshop may inquire if y'all want to load a Cloud certificate or files stored on your computer. I'll click the On your computer push:

Choosing to load files on my computer.

Selecting your images

Then navigate to the folder that holds your images and cull the files yous demand. In my example, I'll select all 3 images in the folder.

Detect the names of my images. We have "texture.jpg", "portrait.jpg" and "dusk.jpg". Photoshop will use these names when naming the layers, so information technology's a adept idea to rename your files first.

Once you have selected the images, click Open:

Selecting the images to load into Photoshop.

And back in the Load Layers dialog box, the proper noun of each file appears in the list:

The names of the images that will exist loaded into Photoshop.

How to remove an paradigm

If y'all selected an image by fault and demand to remove it, click on its name in the list and and so click the Remove push button:

You can remove any images you lot don't need.

Pace 3: Click OK

Leave the 2 options at the bottom of the dialog box ("Attempt to Automatically Align Source Images" and "Create Smart Object after Loading Layers") unchecked.

Then click OK to load your images:

Clicking OK to load the files.

Photoshop creates a new document, and after a few seconds, the images are placed into it:

A new Photoshop document is created.

And in the Layers panel, each of your selected images appears on its own layer, with each layer named subsequently the name of the file:

The Layers console showing each image on its own layer.

Yous can turn each layer on or off past clicking its visibility icon:

Use the visibility icons to prove or hide layers.

How to identify an paradigm into a Photoshop document

Then that'southward how to create a new Photoshop document and load multiple images into information technology. Now let's learn how to add more than images to the document using the Place Embedded command.

In the Layers panel, I'll delete my "portrait" layer by dragging it down onto the trash bin:

Deleting i of the layers.

Step 1: Cull "Place Embedded"

To add a new image to your document, go up to the File bill of fare and cull Place Embedded.

There is also a similar command called Place Linked which volition only link to the file on your computer. But to load the prototype direct into your document, choose Place Embedded:

Going to File > Place Embedded.

Step 2: Select your prototype

Select the paradigm you desire to add to the document and and then click Place.

I'll choose my portrait image:

Selecting the prototype to place into the certificate.

Step iii: Take and shut Free Transform

Now before Photoshop places the prototype, information technology offset opens the Free Transform command then y'all tin resize the image if needed:

Photoshop opens Free Transform before placing the image into the document.

But in most cases, you can but click the checkmark in the Options Bar to take the electric current size and shut Gratis Transform. You lot tin besides press the Enter (Win) / Return (Mac) key on your keyboard:

Clicking the checkmark.

The image is placed every bit a smart object

Photoshop places the image into the document. But observe in the Layers panel that the image appears not as a normal layer simply as a smart object, indicated by the icon in the lower right of the thumbnail:

Photoshop places the prototype as a smart object.

Smart objects are very powerful. Only they as well have limitations, and the biggest ane is that a smart object is not straight editable.

For example, I'll select the Rectangular Marquee Tool from the toolbar:

Selecting the Rectangular Marquee Tool.

And and so I'll drag out a selection effectually the woman's eyes:

Selecting part of the smart object.

Related: How to utilise the new Object Selection Tool in Photoshop CC 2020

I'll invert the selection past going upwardly to the Select menu and choosing Inverse:

Going to Select > Inverse.

And and so I'll delete everything around my initial pick by pressing the Backspace (Win) / Delete (Mac) key on my keyboard.

Only instead of deleting function of the image, Photoshop displays a warning that it could not complete my request considering the smart object is not directly editable. I'll click OK to close it:

Photoshop could non edit the smart object.

Related: Learn how to edit smart objects!

How to convert a smart object to a normal layer

So depending on what you lot'll be doing with the image, a smart object may not be what you desire. In that instance, you'll demand to convert the smart object dorsum into a normal layer afterward you've placed information technology into your document.

To do that, correct-click (Win) / Control-click (Mac) anywhere in the empty gray area beside the smart object's name:

Correct-clicking (Win) / Control-clicking (Mac) in the empty expanse.

And then choose Rasterize Layer from the menu:

Choosing the Rasterize Layer command.

The smart object icon disappears from the thumbnail, and we now have a normal pixel layer:

The smart object has been converted to a pixel layer.

If I press Backspace (Win) / Delete (Mac) on my keyboard, this fourth dimension Photoshop deletes the selection as expected:

The selection was deleted after converting the smart object to a pixel layer.

How to make placing images into Photoshop faster

So now that nosotros know how to place an image into a document, permit's look at a few options in Photoshop's Preferences that can help you place images fifty-fifty faster.

To open the Preferences on a Windows PC, get up to the Edit menu. On a Mac, go up to the Photoshop menu. From there, choose Preferences and and so Full general:

Opening Photoshop'south General Preferences.

Skip Transform when Placing

To prevent Photoshop from opening Gratuitous Transform every time yous place an paradigm, turn on the Skip Transform when Placing option:

The "Skip Transform when Placing" option.

E'er Create Smart Objects when Placing

To finish Photoshop from automatically converting images into smart objects, turn off E'er Create Smart Objects when Placing. You can ever convert a layer to smart object yourself when y'all need to:

The "E'er Create Smart Objects when Placing" option.

Resize Prototype During Place

And this third pick won't speed things upward just information technology's definitely worth looking at. By default, if you place an image into a document and the image is larger than the canvas size, Photoshop will automatically resize the image to fit the canvas. In other words, information technology volition make your image smaller.

If that'due south not what you lot desire, and you would rather resize images yourself using Free Transform, then uncheck Resize Epitome During Place. When yous're done, click OK to close the Preferences dialog box:

The "Resize Image During Place" option.

Bonus: Blending the layers to create a double exposure

So we've learned how to load multiple images at once into a Photoshop document using the Load Files into Stack command, and how to add more images using the Place Embedded control. I'll terminate off this tutorial past apace blending my three images together to create a simple double exposure outcome.

I'1000 starting with my portrait image at the top of the layer stack, which makes it the image that's visible in the document:

The portrait image. Credit: Adobe Stock.

Moving the sunset layer in a higher place the portrait

In the Layers panel, I'll click on my dusk layer and elevate information technology above the portrait layer:

Dragging the dusk above the portrait.

And now my dusk image is visible:

The dusk image. Credit: Adobe Stock.

Changing the blend mode

To blend the dusk in with the portrait, I'll change the blend mode of the sunset layer from Normal to Screen:

Changing the layer's alloy mode to Screen.

The Screen blend manner keeps the white areas of the portrait visible and reveals the sunset in the darker areas:

The effect after irresolute the alloy way of the sunset layer to Screen.

Moving the texture layer above the dusk

Next, I'll elevate my texture layer above the sunset layer:

Dragging the texture layer to the height of the stack.

And now the texture image is visible:

The texture epitome. Credit: Adobe Stock.

Irresolute the alloy style and layer opacity

To hide the nighttime areas of the texture and keep only the lighter areas, I'll change its blend mode to Screen.

I'll as well lower the layer'due south Opacity down to around 70%:

Changing the alloy mode and lowering the opacity of the texture.

And here's the result with the texture now blended into the effect:

The result afterwards changing the blend fashion of the sunset layer to Screen.

Related: Learn three piece of cake ways to blend images in Photoshop!

Merging the layers onto a new layer

Finally, to add a bit more than contrast to the effect, I'll merge all three layers onto a new layer to a higher place them past pressing Shift+Ctrl+Alt+Eastward on a Windows PC, or Shift+Command+Selection+E on a Mac:

Merging the existing layers onto a new layer.

Acquire more than: The essential Photoshop layers ability shortcuts!

Increasing the contrast

And then to increase the contrast, I'll become upwards to the Image bill of fare and I'll cull Car Contrast:

Going to Image > Auto Contrast.

And here is my final result:

The last double exposure effect.

And there we accept it! Check out my Layers Learning Guide to learn more about layers, or our Photoshop Basics or Photo Furnishings department for more tutorials!

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How To Separate Layers In Photoshop,

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