How To Insert Image As Background In Photoshop

How To Add together An Image To Existing Layers In Photoshop

When you're working on a Photoshop project, you'll constantly demand to add together images to existing layers. Whether you desire to combine ii photos together or just place 1 on meridian of the other, Photoshop makes it easy. There are a few different ways of calculation images in destructive and non-subversive means. This tutorial will share the options you accept 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 Epitome From Your Calculator Into The Photoshop Window
Position Your Epitome And Printing The 'Enter' Key To Place It
Shift-Click The New Paradigm Layer And The Layer Y'all Want To Combine
Press Command / Control + E To Merge The Layers
Now Your Image Is Added To An Existing Layer!

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

Since Photoshop is a layer-based editing programme, that means you can add together new images to your projection on separate layers. Although they will appear as private images in your layers panel, they will look similar they are combined on your canvas. Keeping your layers split up gives yous the power to make better individual adjustments and work non-destructively.

With that said, there are times when you want to add an image into a layer that already exists. When you lot combine two layers onto i, it tin brand life easier for staying organized or remembering what's what.

Since we like options effectually here, beneath volition outline two effective ways to combine images with layers, non-destructively and destructively.

Option i: Drag & Drop

The easiest way to add an image onto an existing layer or Photoshop project is to drag and drib it from your computer. Showtime by locating the image y'all desire to add from your computer.

With your epitome selected, drag and drop it into your open Photoshop project.

Your image will be placed onto your canvas and appear equally a new layer in the Layers console. At this point, you can calibration or reposition the epitome to suit your needs. You tin make these adjustments later on with the Move Tool likewise, and so there's no need to make everything perfect.

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

At this bespeak, you lot now have the selection to merge the layers or leave them separate. By keeping the ii images separate, you tin can freely adjust each one individually. However, if you lot want to combine them so you can adjust them at the aforementioned time, you lot can combine them into one layer.

Property the Shift Key and clicking between the two layers you want to combine, press Command + E (Mac) or Control + Due east (PC) to merge the layers. Now your images will be combined onto i layer and can be edited as 1 paradigm.

Choice 2: Copy & Paste

The second option y'all have is to just copy and paste. This works all-time for images you already accept opened in Photoshop, only are betwixt two different projects.

With the paradigm you desire to copy selected, go up to Edit > Copy or press Command / Command + C (Mac/PC)

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

Your copied image volition be pasted into your other project as a new layer. With the Movement Tool (V), you tin can scale and reposition information technology into a more plumbing fixtures location.

Now you can cull to keep the images separate or merge them into one. In most cases, it's best to exit them on split up layers, and so you have more aligning options later on.

Nevertheless, if you are set on merging your layers, you can do so, once over again, by pressing Command + East (Mac) or Control + E (PC).

Although both of these options work well for adding a new paradigm to existing layers, there are options such as groups or linked layers that offer a not-subversive ways. Rather than permanently combining ii images onto one layer, groups allow you to place them within a single folder. Similarly, links permit y'all move and scale images in sync, making it like shooting fish in a barrel to adjust them together.

How To Add An Paradigm Inside Of An Existing Layer Using A Smart Object

Every bit a third choice for adding an image to an existing layer, that'southward where smart objects come 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 but see the smart objects, but y'all can edit all the layers inside individually when you open the smart object.

Let's kickoff past using either the drag & drop or re-create & paste selection outlined previously to bring an prototype into this already created project. Now there are ii images on two separate layers.

Next, Shift-Click betwixt the layers you want to combine to highlight them. Then right-click on the layers and select 'Convert To Smart Object.'

Your layers will and then 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 y'all merge 2 layers. Even so, past double-clicking on the smart object layer thumbnail, a new window opens to reveal the smart object'southward contents.

Now you can see the two images from before on two split up layers. That's considering, inside the smart object, they remain untouched and can still exist edited individually. For example, you could reposition one paradigm within the smart object to make a change in your original project. By pressing Command / Command + S (Mac/PC) to relieve changes within the smart object, it will update in the initial project.

Adjusted layer within the expanded smart object.

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

Depending on the blazon of upshot you're trying to create, you lot may way to place one paradigm inside the shape of another. In this example, merging two different layers won't piece of work. Instead, you need to use something called a clipping mask.

For example, permit's say you lot have an existing triangle on one layer that you want to add an image into. By following the steps discussed previously, bring your desired paradigm into your project, placing the image layer above the existing shape layer.

Now, rather than combining the layers or creating a smart object, yous'll accept to clip the paradigm layer to the shape. By right-clicking on the image layer and selecting 'Create Clipping Mask,' the image volition simply be visible inside the shape layer.

Y'all can learn more about clipping masks and how they work in this post.

The process of adding an image to an existing layer in Photoshop is relatively straightforward, and there are options for editing destructively and non-destructively. In most situations, it's all-time to merely leave your images on split up layers, so you lot have the choice to edit them individually. If the organization is a business or yous want to edit multiple layers at once, then smart objects, groups, or linked layers offer an effective option instead.

Happy Photoshopping!

Brendan 🙂