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Inspiring
July 6, 2012
Question

How to copy layers from one file to another

  • July 6, 2012
  • 3 replies
  • 195070 views

How can I copy layers from one image file to another?  I have done it before, but cannot seem to find the way this time.

This is a useful technique if you have to reprocess a raw file in Lightroom to take advantage of newer features such as chromatic aberration correction. After reprocessing, you can paste all of your selection/editing layers from the old file on to the new file. That is, if you can remember how to do it!  Any help will be appreciated.

I have both CS4 and CS6.

3 replies

Noel Carboni
Legend
July 6, 2012

Or you can right-click on selected layer(s), choose Duplicate Layer(s), then in the Destination area choose the Document you'd like to copy the layers to.

-Noel

Participant
December 14, 2019

That was the exact answer for the version of Photoshop Elements Editor I am using. Thanks.

janelle_f
Adobe Employee
Adobe Employee
July 6, 2012

pickfordpictures-

If you’re working on a multi-layer document in Photoshop and you want to copy a portion of the image into a new document, there’s no need to flatten the image first. You can easily do it by making a selection around the area you want to copy and select Edit>Copy Merged from the menu, or hit Command + Shift + C. This will copy all the artwork inside the selection area, regardless of what layer it is on. Then you can paste it into another Photoshop document. Just be aware that when you paste the artwork, it will be a flattened piece of artwork.

http://www.thegraphicmac.com/copy-multiple-photoshop-layers-new-document-without-flattening

-janelle

Participant
September 18, 2020

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

c.pfaffenbichler
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 6, 2012

If you have opened the RAW as a Smart Object you could just re-edit that.

Layers can be simply dragged to another image (shift-drag from the Layers Panel for identical position if both images have identical dimensions).

Or use Layer > Duplicate Layers.

MikeKPhoto
Known Participant
July 6, 2012

Shift + drag works, but so does a simple drag without the shift  - is there any benefit to adding the shift?

MK

the_wine_snob
Inspiring
July 6, 2012

The Shift locates the Copied Layer in the center of the Destination Image.

Good luck,

Hunt