fbpx

How To Link Layers In Photoshop


How To Link Layers In Photoshop

One of the most basic ways of keeping two different layers connected is by linking them. Learning how to link a layer in Photoshop is extremely simple and is a process that can be done in seconds. Here’s how to do it!

Why Should You Link Layers In Photoshop?

how-to-link-layers-in-photoshop-11

Similar to groups, linking layers allows you to connect two or more layers. This way, when you try to move one layer around your canvas, all other linked layers will move as well. Rather than merging your layers into a group, linking them allows you to have more independence in the layers panel.

how-to-link-layers-in-photoshop-12

Linked layers can be put into different groups or sections of your layers stack. No matter their position, they’ll still be connected when you try to move them around on the canvas. Ultimately, linking is ideal for keeping related layers together on your canvas while maintaining their independence in the Layers Panel.

How To Select Multiple Layers At Once

Before you can link two layers, you need to know how to select multiple layers at once. There are two main options you have to do this.

This first way is to hold Command (Mac) or Control (PC) and click on the layers you want to select. This is ideal for selecting several layers that are not in a series. For example, you could select the first, third, and seventh layer with this method.

how-to-link-layers-in-photoshop

The second way is to hold Shift and click between the first and last layer you want to select. This method will select all consecutive layers making it a better option if you need to select a large number of layers.

how-to-link-layers-in-photoshop-2

How To Link Layers In Photoshop

You have two main options to link layers in Photoshop. Both are easily accessible, and it’s up to you which works best for you.

– Layer Panel Method

With your desired layers selected, click on the chain-link icon at the bottom of the Layers panel. A chain icon will appear beside all highlighted layers to signify they’re linked.

– Right-Click Method

With your specific layers selected, right-click on any layer and select ‘link layers.’ Once again, a chain icon will appear to tell you your layers are linked, but this time with a slightly different technique!

how-to-link-layers-in-photoshop-5

How To Select All Linked Layers At Once

If you have several linked layers throughout different groups and levels of your layer stack, it’s a hassle to find them all. Fortunately, you can quickly highlight all of your linked layers with an easy shortcut. Just right-click on the linked layer and choose ‘select linked layers.’

how-to-link-layers-in-photoshop-6

If you want to find all your linked layers or group them in your Layers panel, this is ideal. This shortcut is worth keeping in mind when you link layers in Photoshop!

how-to-link-layers-in-photoshop-7

How To Add A Layer To Previously Linked Layers

If you accidentally forgot or just created a new layer, you can add layers to an existing link group. To do this, just click and drag the link icon to the layer you want to add.

how-to-link-layers-in-photoshop-8how-to-link-layers-in-photoshop-9

Now a new link icon will appear beside this additional layer. It’s worth remembering that these icons will only be visible when a linked layer is selected. If you don’t see these icons, just click on any of your linked layers to reveal the chain icon.

How To Unlink Layers

If you don’t need your layers to be linked anymore, you can easily unlink them at any time. All you need to do is right-click on any of the linked layers and select ‘unlink layers.’ After doing this, all of the related layers will become unlinked at once.

how-to-link-layers-in-photoshop-10

Conclusion

Instead of using a group, learning how to link layers in Photoshop offers some significant advantages. By linking layers, you can keep related layers connected while keeping them independent in your Layers Panel. This is a huge advantage because you can have each of your layers sitting within different groups while still moving together on your canvas. To make the most of linked layers, it’s worthwhile to use groups alongside them. You can learn the differences between groups and linked layers in this post.

Want more tutorials like this? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for more photography, and photo editing tips delivered straight to your inbox!

– Brendan 🙂

Article By

Brendan Williams

Hey, I'm Brendan! I'm a professional photographer and photo retoucher who has spent the majority of his career shooting or retouching outdoor lifestyle and social media campaigns for brands like G-Adventures, xoxo Bella, P&G, Fitbit, Chevy, Tourism California, and more. These days I primarily focus my efforts on this site, creating guides and tutorials that I wish I had earlier in my career. Each week I publish new tutorials on Photography, Photoshop, Lightroom, and Canva to help you unlock new skills and bring your creativity to new levels! Everything you learn here is backed by real experience, so you can finally skip the fluff and focus only on what matters.


Continue Reading:

How To Invert Colors In Photoshop

Learn how to quickly invert the colors of an image or a layer mask in Photoshop along with tips to selectively invert your colors instead!

How To Invert A Selection In Photoshop

Learn the importance of learning to invert a selection in Photoshop with the help of simple keyboard shortcuts and several other methods.

How To Use The Gradient Tool In Photoshop

Learn the ins and outs of how to use the gradient tool in Photoshop with useful tips to help make the most of this impressive tool!

Adobe Lightroom System Requirements For Mac & PC

Here's a breakdown of the system requirements for Adobe Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC to make sure it will run smoothly on your computer.

How To Add A Watermark In Lightroom Classic & CC

Learn how to add a text or graphic watermark to a photo in Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC to protect your photos from theft.

How To Use Dehaze In Lightroom

Learn how to use dehaze in Lightroom along with five different ways you can use the dehaze tool to improve your images in Lightroom.

35+ Best Fonts For Logos In Canva

Here's a list of the best fonts for logos in Canva to help give you inspiration in your next logo design!

How To Create Curved Text In Canva

Learn how to quickly create curved text in Canva desktop and mobile with just a few clicks to spruce up any design!

35 Best Fonts For Teachers In Canva

Discover the best fonts for teachers in Canva to help with your next worksheet or presentation for your class!

The 9 Best SD Cards For Sony

Discover the best SD cards for Sony to find the most reliable and best valued memory cards for your photo and video needs.

The Best Canon Lens For Low Light (10 Top Picks)

Get a complete view of the best Canon lenses for low light photography and video along with tips to make the right buying decision.

Affinity Photo VS Photoshop – Which Should You Choose?

Let's take a deep look at the similarities and differences between Affinity Photo and Photoshop to see which program you should pick.