How To Add Images To A Image

How To Add An Image To Existing Layers In Photoshop

When y'all're working on a Photoshop project, y'all'll constantly demand to add images to existing layers. Whether you want to combine two photos together or just place one on top of the other, Photoshop makes it easy. There are a few different ways of adding images in destructive and non-subversive ways. This tutorial will share the options you have when adding images to existing layers or documents in Photoshop.

To Add A New Image To An Existing Layer, Follow These Steps:

Drag & Drop An Image From Your Computer Into The Photoshop Window
Position Your Image And Press The 'Enter' Key To Place It
Shift-Click The New Image Layer And The Layer You Want To Combine
Press Control / Control + Eastward To Merge The Layers
At present Your Image Is Added To An Existing Layer!

2 Ways Of Adding A New Image Onto An Existing Layer In Photoshop

Since Photoshop is a layer-based editing programme, that means you can add new images to your projection on separate layers. Although they will appear as individual images in your layers panel, they will expect like they are combined on your canvas. Keeping your layers separate gives you the ability to make amend individual adjustments and work non-destructively.

With that said, there are times when you lot desire to add an image into a layer that already exists. When y'all combine two layers onto 1, it can make life easier for staying organized or remembering what's what.

Since we like options around here, below volition outline two constructive means to combine images with layers, not-destructively and destructively.

Option ane: Drag & Drop

The easiest manner to add an epitome onto an existing layer or Photoshop project is to elevate and drop information technology from your computer. Start past locating the image you want to add together from your computer.

With your image selected, drag and driblet it into your open Photoshop projection.

Your prototype volition be placed onto your canvas and announced as a new layer in the Layers console. At this point, you can scale or reposition the image to suit your needs. You can make these adjustments after on with the Move Tool as well, so there'south no need to make everything perfect.

Once you're happy, press the Enter Cardinal on your keyboard or click on the checkmark in the upper settings bar. Your image will now exist placed above your existing image on its own layer.

At this bespeak, you lot now have the selection to merge the layers or exit them carve up. Past keeping the two images split up, you tin freely adjust each one individually. However, if you want to combine them so you can adjust them at the same time, you lot can combine them into one layer.

Holding the Shift Central and clicking between the ii layers you want to combine, press Control + E (Mac) or Control + Due east (PC) to merge the layers. Now your images volition be combined onto one layer and can exist edited as 1 image.

Pick 2: Copy & Paste

The second option you lot accept is to simply copy and paste. This works best for images yous already accept opened in Photoshop, but are between two different projects.

With the image y'all want to copy selected, go up to Edit > Re-create or printing Control / Command + C (Mac/PC)

Switching documents to your other project, get to Edit > Paste or printing Command / Control + V (Mac/PC)

Your copied epitome will be pasted into your other project every bit a new layer. With the Move Tool (V), you tin can scale and reposition it into a more fitting location.

Now yous can choose to keep the images dissever or merge them into one. In most cases, it'southward best to leave them on carve up layers, so you accept more adjustment options afterward on.

However, if you are assail merging your layers, you can do and then, once once more, by pressing Control + E (Mac) or Command + E (PC).

Although both of these options piece of work well for adding a new image to existing layers, there are options such as groups or linked layers that offer a not-subversive means. Rather than permanently combining two images onto one layer, groups allow y'all to place them within a unmarried folder. Similarly, links let you move and scale images in sync, making it piece of cake to adjust them together.

How To Add An Image Within Of An Existing Layer Using A Smart Object

As a third selection for calculation an image to an existing layer, that's where smart objects come up into play. As I've outlined in this post, smart objects create a "container" for your layers to be added into. On the surface, you only see the smart objects, only y'all can edit all the layers inside individually when you open the smart object.

Permit'southward kickoff by using either the drag & drop or copy & paste option outlined previously to bring an image into this already created project. At present there are two images on ii separate layers.

Side by side, Shift-Click between the layers yous want to combine to highlight them. Then right-click on the layers and select 'Convert To Smart Object.'

Your layers will so be combined into one single layer, with a smart object icon in the corner of the layer thumbnail.

On the surface, this looks a lot like when yous merge two layers. However, by double-clicking on the smart object layer thumbnail, a new window opens to reveal the smart object's contents.

At present you lot can meet the two images from before on ii separate layers. That's because, inside the smart object, they remain untouched and can still be edited individually. For example, you lot could reposition one image within the smart object to make a change in your original project. By pressing Control / Control + S (Mac/PC) to save changes inside the smart object, it will update in the initial project.

Adjusted layer inside the expanded smart object.

How To Place An Epitome Inside Of Another Layer With Clipping Masks

Depending on the blazon of result you're trying to create, you may way to place one epitome within the shape of some other. In this example, merging 2 different layers won't work. Instead, you need to use something called a clipping mask.

For example, let's say y'all have an existing triangle on i layer that you want to add an image into. Past following the steps discussed previously, bring your desired image into your project, placing the paradigm layer to a higher place the existing shape layer.

Now, rather than combining the layers or creating a smart object, yous'll have to clip the image layer to the shape. By right-clicking on the image layer and selecting 'Create Clipping Mask,' the epitome will just exist visible within the shape layer.

You lot can learn more almost clipping masks and how they piece of work in this mail service.

The process of adding an image to an existing layer in Photoshop is relatively straightforward, and there are options for editing destructively and not-destructively. In most situations, it'due south best to simply leave your images on split layers, and then yous have the pick to edit them individually. If the organization is a business concern or you want to edit multiple layers at once, and so smart objects, groups, or linked layers offer an effective choice instead.

Happy Photoshopping!

Brendan 🙂