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Participant
June 10, 2022
Question

Composites in photoshop [Unable to drag and drop photos]

  • June 10, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 1438 views

Why can't I drag and drop a photo into another photo when I'm trying to make a composite in photoshop.

 

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3 replies

Peru Bob
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 11, 2022

Try resetting the tools and/or preferences.
To restore preferences quickly using a keyboard shortcut:

Press and hold Alt+Control+Shift (Windows) or Option+Command+Shift (Mac OS) as you start Photoshop. You are prompted to delete the current settings. The new preferences files are created the next time you start Photoshop.
Note: Using the keyboard shortcut, preference files for custom shortcuts, workspaces, and color settings will also be reset to default.

from here:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#restore_preferences

Zesty_wanderlust15A7
Known Participant
June 11, 2022

I can even drag pics into it from other software, like FastStone Image Viewer. I have it set so it will become a Smart Object.

I drag the pic over PS in the taskbar (don't let go) until it gains focus. Then I drop on the canvas while holding Shift. Shift makes sure it will center and I will notice where it went.

If you have a layer selected, it will go on top of that. Otherwise it will go high on top.

War Unicorn
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 10, 2022

?

 

You can do that. You'd use the Layers panel to arrange the assets in your composition and then go bananas from there.

 

There are a couple of ways to bring images in for compositing. One way is to use File > Place Embedded (if you want to keep things self-contained). Stil another is to simply drag an image in from another app like Bridge right into your document.

LeslieTAuthor
Participant
June 11, 2022
Thanks but that's just the point I can't drag and drop one photo into
another, the program won't let me.
jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 11, 2022

@LeslieT 

No problems here either. Please tell us more.

  • Have you tiled the images from Window menu > Arrange? This is easiest.

  • If the image are in tabs, you can still drag and drop, but you have to pause on the second tab, then drag down.

  • Adding Shift centers the image

  • Any chance you are working with GIFs that have an Index layer? I've found that I cannot drag and drop these unless I go to View > Mode > and change the mode from Index to RGB. This might be what is happening to you.

  • You can use the Move tool and drag the image, but you can also drag the layer from the Layers panel onto the other image.

 

~ Jane