To do this, select a layer, then choose Select > Similar Layers, or right-click the layer and choose Select Similar Layers.

For example, you can instantly select all type layers in your document, or all adjustment layers. You can quickly select layers of the same type.

You can select layers of the same type, you can select layers that are linked together, and you can select all layers in your document. Photoshop gives you a few handy ways to quickly select lots of layers at once. To select the layers between the active layer and the bottom layer, press – you guessed it – Alt+Shift+, (Win) or Option+Shift+, (Mac).

To select all layers between the active layer and the top layer, press Alt+Shift+. To select the bottom layer, press Alt+, (Win) or Option+, (Mac). You can select the top layer in the Layers palette by pressing Alt+. To select a bunch of contiguous layers with the keyboard, select the first layer, then use Alt+Shift+/ Option+Shift+] to add layers above to the selection. To select the layer below the active layer, press Alt+. You can also use the keyboard to select layers. To quickly select a bunch of layers that are next to each other in the Layers palette, Shift+click the top layer, then Shift+click the bottom layer (or the other way round if you prefer). To select multiple layers, Ctrl/Command+click each layer To deselect a selected layer, Ctrl/ Command+click it again. To select more than one layer, Ctrl+click (Win) or Command+click (Mac) each layer that you want to select. You can also merge them together by choosing Layer > Merge Layers. For example, if you select a bunch of layers you can move them around together with the Move tool, or drag them around together in the Layers palette. Often it’s handy to select more than one layer at once. To do this, click in the empty space below the layers in the Layers palette, or click one layer in the palette then Ctrl+click (Win) or Command+click (Mac) the same layer to deselect it. You can deselect all layers, if you’re so inclined. Most Photoshop features, such as the painting tools, the adjustments under Image > Adjustments, and the filters under the Filter menu, work on the active layer. If you select just one layer, it’s often called the active layer. When you select a layer, its background goes a darker colour. You’re no doubt aware that you can select a single layer for editing by clicking it in the Layers palette:Ĭlick a layer in the Layers palette to select it For a thorough look at selecting pixels within layers, check out the Selecting stuff tutorial. This tutorial focuses on selecting layers themselves. We won’t be talking about selecting pixels on a layer here. This tutorial walks you through all these techniques, and more, and explores the myriad ways of selecting layers in Photoshop. And sometimes, if your document has lots of layers, you want to select a layer quickly by clicking it in the document window. Sometimes you want to select more than one layer at once.

Of course, to edit and manipulate a layer, you need to select it. (If you’re new to layers in Photoshop, take a look at our Introduction to layers tutorial.) They’re a great way to compose a design, because they let you edit and move design elements independently of each other. If you’ve used Photoshop for any length of time, you no doubt use layers fairly extensively.

Photoshop select all of one color