Showing and Selecting Layers

Show or Hide a Layer

Mouse: Click in Eye icon area

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Show Just This Layer/Show All Layers

Mac: Option + click in Eye icon area

Win: Alt + click in Eye icon area

View and Select One Layer at a Time

Mac: Option + click layer name

Win: Alt + click layer name

This tip works when only one layer is currently visible. In other words, hide all other layers except one. Then you can use this tip to simultaneously show the next layer you select and hide the previously shown layer.

Note: There is a subtle difference here when clicking the layer name versus clicking the eyeball area. If you click the eyeball area instead, the previous layer stays selected as the active layer, not the layer you just clicked the eyeball for.

Show/Hide Multiple Layers

Mouse: Drag through Eye icon area

Activating Layers

	Mac	Win
Next Visible	Option + ]	Alt + ]
Layer (Up)
Previous Visible	Option + [	Alt + [
Layer (Down)
Bottom Layer	Option + Shift + [	Alt + Shift + [
Top Layer	Option + Shift + ]	Alt + Shift + ]

If only one layer is visible when you use this shortcut, then the next layer activates and becomes visible, and the previous layer gets hidden. This is a quick way to isolate and cycle through your layer stack by viewing one layer at a time by using this shortcut repeatedly.

Select a Layer by Name

Mac: Ctrl + click the canvas

Win: Right + click the canvas

This shortcut works only when the Move tool is active. If you currently have a different tool selected, you can add (Cmd) [Ctrl] to the shortcut to temporarily switch to the Move tool. This shortcut displays a pop-up menu that lists all the available layers directly under the cursor, as long as a layer actually has some pixels under the cursor. Simply choose the layer you want from the list. This shortcut illustrates the need for you to always name your layers something relevant rather than using the default names of Layer 1, Layer 2, and so on.

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Select the Topmost Visible Layer

Mac: Cmd + Ctrl + Option + click

Win: Ctrl + Alt + Right + click

This shortcut selects the topmost layer directly under the cursor.

Editing Layers

Change Layer Opacity in 1% Increments

Both: Type two numbers quickly (11=11%, 63=63%, and so on)

This shortcut works only when you have an active selection or the Move tool is the active tool. Otherwise, this shortcut changes the opacity of the active Painting tool.

Change Layer Opacity in 10% Increments

Both: Type a single number (1=10%, 2=20%, and so on)

This shortcut works only when you have an active selection or the Move tool is the active tool. Otherwise, this shortcut changes the opacity of the active Painting tool.

Blend Mode Shortcuts

These shortcuts work only when the active tool doesn't support blend modes. Otherwise, this shortcut changes the opacity of the active painting tool. Blend modes can also be selected from the pop-up menu in the Layers palette.

Blend Mode	Mac	Win
Next Mode	Shift + + (plus)
Previous Mode	Shift + - (minus)
Normal / Threshold (bitmap mode only)	Option + Shift + N	Alt + Shift + N
Dissolve	Option + Shift + I	Alt + Shift + I
Multiply	Option + Shift + M	Alt + Shift + M
Screen	Option + Shift + S	Alt + Shift + S
Overlay	Option + Shift + O	Alt + Shift + O
Soft Light	Option + Shift + F	Alt + Shift + F
Hard Light	Option + Shift + H	Alt + Shift + H
Linear Light	Option + Shift + V	Alt + Shift + V
Vivid Light	Option + Shift + J	Alt + Shift + J
Pin Light	Option + Shift + Z	Alt + Shift + Z
Color Dodge	Option + Shift + D	Alt + Shift + D
Color Burn	Option + Shift + B	Alt + Shift + B
Darken	Option + Shift + K	Alt + Shift + K
Lighten	Option + Shift + G	Alt + Shift + G
Difference	Option + Shift + E	Alt + Shift + E
Exclusion	Option + Shift + X	Alt + Shift + X
Hue	Option + Shift + U	Alt + Shift + U
Saturation	Option + Shift + T	Alt + Shift + T
Color	Option + Shift + C	Alt + Shift + C
Luminosity	Option + Shift + Y	Alt + Shift + Y

Edit Layer Options

Menu: Layer Layer Options

Mouse: Double-click layer thumbnail or layer name

By popular request, in Photoshop 7, Adobe has restored the ability to rename a layer simply by double-clicking the layer name. Layer properties remain accessible by double-clicking the layer thumbnail.

Edit Layer Properties

Menu: Layer Layer Properties

Mac: Option + double-click layer thumbnail or layer name

Win: Alt + double-click layer thumbnail or layer name

Edit Blending Modes and Layer Styles

Menu: Layer Layer Style

Mouse: Double-click layer thumbnail or layer name

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Edit Adjustment Layer Options

Menu: Layer Adjustment Options

Mouse: Double-click Adjustment icon

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Convert the Background Layer

Mouse: Double-click the background layer and change its name

Or, in versions prior to 6.0, with the Move tool selected, nudge the layer up and then down by one pixel, using the up and down arrow keys.

The Background layer cannot support transparency. Use these shortcuts to convert the Background layer into a layer that does support transparency. The default name is Layer 0, but you can change the name to anything you want. You also need to convert the Background layer if you want to reposition it in the layer stack.

Note: If you want to add a Background layer back to a file, the only choice is to use the Layer New Background menu command. (In Photoshop 6 and 7, the menu selection is Layer New Background from Layer. If a Background layer already exists, the menu selection is Layer New Layer from Background.)