User Guide Cancel

Keys for the Layers panel

  1. Photoshop Elements User Guide
  2. Introduction to Photoshop Elements
    1. What's new in Photoshop Elements
    2. System requirements | Photoshop Elements
    3. Workspace basics
    4. Guided mode
    5. Making photo projects
  3. Workspace and environment
    1. Get to know the Home screen
    2. Workspace basics
    3. Preferences
    4. Tools
    5. Panels and bins
    6. Open files
    7. Rulers, grids, and guides
    8. Enhanced Quick Mode
    9. File information
    10. Presets and libraries
    11. Multitouch support
    12. Scratch disks, plug-ins, and application updates
    13. Undo, redo, and cancel actions
    14. Viewing images
  4. Fixing and enhancing photos
    1. Resize images
    2. Cropping
    3. Process camera raw image files
    4. Add blur, replace colors, and clone image areas
    5. Adjust shadows and light
    6. Retouch and correct photos
    7. Combine Photos
    8. Sharpen photos
    9. Transforming
    10. Auto Smart Tone
    11. Recomposing
    12. Using actions to process photos
    13. Photomerge Compose
    14. Create a panorama
    15. Moving Overlays
    16. Moving Elements
  5. Adding shapes and text
    1. Add text
    2. Edit text
    3. Create shapes
    4. Editing shapes
    5. Painting overview
    6. Painting tools
    7. Set up brushes
    8. Patterns
    9. Fills and strokes
    10. Gradients
    11. Work with Asian type
  6. Quick Actions
  7. Guided edits, effects, and filters
    1. Guided mode
    2. Filters
    3. Guided mode Photomerge edits
    4. Guided mode Basic edits
    5. Adjustment filters
    6. Effects
    7. Guided mode Fun edits
    8. Guided mode Special edits
    9. Artistic filters
    10. Guided mode Color edits
    11. Guided mode Black & White edits
    12. Blur filters
    13. Brush Stroke filters
    14. Distort filters
    15. Other filters
    16. Noise filters
    17. Render filters
    18. Sketch filters
    19. Stylize filters
    20. Texture filters
    21. Pixelate filters
  8. Working with colors
    1. Understanding color
    2. Set up color management
    3. Color and tonal correction basics
    4. Choose colors
    5. Adjust color, saturation, and hue
    6. Fix color casts
    7. Using image modes and color tables
    8. Color and camera raw
  9. Working with selections
    1. Make selections in Photoshop Elements
    2. Saving selections
    3. Modifying selections
    4. Move and copy selections
    5. Edit and refine selections
    6. Smooth selection edges with anti-aliasing and feathering
  10. Working with layers
    1. Create layers
    2. Edit layers
    3. Copy and arrange layers
    4. Adjustment and fill layers
    5. Clipping masks
    6. Layer masks
    7. Layer styles
    8. Opacity and blending modes
  11. Creating photo projects
    1. Project basics
    2. Making photo projects
    3. Editing photo projects
    4. Creating Photo Reels
  12. Saving, printing, and sharing photos
    1. Save images
    2. Printing photos
    3. Share photos online
    4. Optimizing images
    5. Optimizing images for the JPEG format
    6. Dithering in web images
    7. Guided Edits - Share panel
    8. Previewing web images
    9. Use transparency and mattes
    10. Optimizing images for the GIF or PNG-8 format
    11. Optimizing images for the PNG-24 format
  13. Keyboard shortcuts
    1. Keys for selecting tools
    2. Keys for selecting and moving objects
    3. Keys for the Layers panel
    4. Keys for showing or hiding panels (expert mode)
    5. Keys for painting and brushes
    6. Keys for using text
    7. Keys for the Liquify filter
    8. Keys for transforming selections
    9. Keys for the Color Swatches panel
    10. Keys for the Camera Raw dialog box
    11. Keys for the Filter Gallery
    12. Keys for using blending modes
    13. Keys for viewing images (expertmode)

This list includes the most helpful shortcuts. You'll find additional shortcuts in menu commands and tool tips.

Result

Windows

Mac OS

Set layer options

Alt-click New button

Option-click New button

Delete without confirmation

Alt-click Trash button

Option-click Trash button

Apply value and keep text box active

Shift + Enter

Shift + Enter

Load layer transparency as a selection

Control-click layer thumbnail

Command-click layer thumbnail

Add to current selection

Control + Shift-click layer

Command + Shift-click layer thumbnail

Subtract from current selection

Control + Alt-click layer thumbnail

Command + Option-click layer thumbnail

Intersect with current selection

Control + Shift + Alt-click layer thumbnail

Command + Shift + Option-click layer thumbnail

Merge visible layers

Control + Shift + E

Command + Shift + E

Create new empty layer with dialog

Alt-click New Layer button

Option-click New Layer button

Create new layer below target layer

Control-click New Layer button

Command-click New Layer button

Activate bottom/top layer

Alt + .(period)/ ,(comma)

Option + .(period)/ ,(comma)

Select next layer down/up

Alt + [ or ]

Option + [ or ]

Move target layer down/up

Control + [ or ]

Command + [ or ]

Merge a copy of all visible layers into target layer

Control + Shift + Alt + E

Command + Shift + Option + E

Merge down

Control + E

Command + E

Copy current layer to layer below

Alt + Merge Down command from the panel pop-up menu

Option + Merge Down command from the panel pop-up menu

Copy all visible layers to active layer

Alt + Merge Visible command from the panel pop-up menu

Option + Merge Visible command from the panel pop-up menu

Show/hide all other currently visible layers

Alt-click the eye icon

Option-click the eye icon

Toggle lock transparency for target layer, or last applied lock

/ (forward slash)

/ (forward slash)

Select all text; temporarily select Type tool

Double-click text layer thumbnail

Double-click text layer thumbnail

Create a clipping mask

Alt-click the line dividing two layers

Option-click the line dividing two layers

Rename layer

Double-click the layer name

Double-click the layer name

Add to layer selection in Layers panel

Shift + Alt + [ or ]

Shift + Option + [ or]

Copy the mask from one layer to another, and ask to replace if the mask is already present   Alt + drag layer mask Alt + drag layer mask

Get help faster and easier

New user?