How To Copy Image And Paste In Photoshop

This tutorial shows y'all how to move an image or a layer from i Photoshop document to another. Yous'll learn how to re-create and paste an image between documents, how to duplicate a layer, and iii means to elevate and driblet images between documents.

When it comes to blending and compositing images, Adobe Photoshop is the undisputed champ. In fact, Photoshop gives us and so many interesting and powerful ways to combine images that our creativity is express only by our skills and imagination. But before we can start combining images, nosotros starting time demand to know how to get multiple images into the same certificate. If you lot're new to Photoshop, blending even two photos together tin seem similar an incommunicable job. That's because Photoshop opens each image in its own separate certificate. To blend or composite the images, they need to be in the same document.

In a previous tutorial, we learned all about tabbed and floating document windows in Photoshop. Nosotros also learned how to view and arrange multiple open images on the screen using Photoshop's multi-certificate layouts. In this tutorial, we'll take what we've learned and explore five unlike ways to easily movement images between documents.

What You'll Learn

Nosotros'll start with your basic copy and paste method. Then, nosotros'll learn how to duplicate a layer from one document into another. Finally, we'll look at three means to elevate and drop an image between documents. We'll learn how to drag and drop images between tabbed documents, betwixt documents in a multi-document layout, and between two floating document windows. Once you've seen how they all piece of work, you tin pick the method y'all like the best! I'll exist using Photoshop CC but this tutorial is fully compatible with Photoshop CS6.

This is lesson 8 of 10 in our Learning the Photoshop Interface serial.

Let's become started!

Opening The Images Into Photoshop

To follow along, you lot'll demand two images. Hither, I've used Adobe Span to navigate to the folder containing the photos I'll be using. To open them into Photoshop, I'll click on the first image on the left to select information technology. Then, to select the second paradigm equally well, I'll press and hold my Shift key and click on the second image. With both photos selected, I'll double-click on either image to open them into Photoshop:

Selecting and opening two images into Photoshop from Adobe Bridge..

Past default, Photoshop opens the images equally tabbed documents, with simply one certificate visible at a time. Here'due south my first image (portrait photo from Adobe Stock):

The beginning of two photos open up in Photoshop. Photo credit: Adobe Stock.

To switch betwixt open images, nosotros click on the tabs along the superlative of the document windows. I'll switch to my second image by clicking its tab:

Clicking the document tab to view the second open image.

And now we see my 2nd image. I'll use this image as a texture to blend in with the original paradigm. We'll larn how to quickly blend images together at the end of this tutorial (texture photo from Adobe Stock):

The second image. Photo credit: Adobe Stock.

How To Move An Image Between Documents

Method one: Copy And Paste

The start method we'll learn for moving images betwixt documents is how to copy and paste an image from 1 certificate into another. To copy and paste an epitome, kickoff select the document that holds the paradigm you want to move. With the document active, select the prototype inside the certificate by going up to the Select menu in the Menu Bar and choosing All. To copy the image, go up to the Edit menu and choose Copy. Switch to the certificate where you want to paste the epitome. Then, go up to the Edit card and choose Paste. The pasted paradigm will announced on its ain carve up layer above the original image in the Layers console.

Stride i: Select The First Document

Let's get through the steps for copying and pasting an paradigm between documents using my images as an example. I want to move my texture image into the same document equally my portrait image. So the starting time thing I'll exercise is select my "texture.jpg" document past clicking on its tab:

Selecting the document that holds the image to be copied.

Step 2: Select The Image

To select the epitome itself, I'll go up to the Select menu in the Card Bar forth the acme of the screen. Then, I'll choose All. This places a pick outline effectually my paradigm, letting me know that the paradigm is selected:

Going to Select > All.

Stride 3: Copy The Paradigm

With the image selected, I'll copy information technology to the clipboard by going upwardly to the Edit menu in the Menu Bar and choosing Copy:

Going to Edit > Re-create

Step 4: Switch To The Second Document

Adjacent, I'll switch over to my "portrait.jpg" document by clicking on its tab:

Selecting the document where I want to paste the image.

Before I paste the image into the document, let's first look in my Layers panel. The Layers console is where we can see all the layers in our document. Nosotros'll learn all most layers in other tutorials. For now, notice that the prototype is sitting on the Background layer. The Background layer is currently the only layer in the certificate:

The Layers panel showing the certificate'southward original prototype.

Footstep five: Paste The Image

To paste my texture image, I'll go upwardly to the Edit menu in the Menu Bar. Then, I'll cull Paste:

Going to Edit > Paste.

Photoshop pastes the texture paradigm into the document. Information technology looks like my texture photograph is at present the only photograph in the document. That'south because the texture photo is sitting in front end of the portrait photo. Since both photos are the same size, the texture prototype is blocking the portrait image from view:

The "texture.jpg" image has been pasted into the "portrait.jpg" image'due south certificate.

To confirm that the document does in fact hold both images, let's expect again in the Layers panel. This time, we see that nosotros now have non i only ii layers. The original portrait image is still sitting on the Groundwork layer. And, Photoshop placed the texture image on a brand new layer, named "Layer 1", above it. Certain plenty, both images are now in the same document:

The Layers panel now showing both images in the aforementioned Photoshop document.

Resetting The Documents

Then that's the first style of moving images between documents. If you want to follow along with the adjacent methods, you'll showtime demand to reset your 2 documents back to their original states. Outset, nosotros'll reset the document where you pasted the prototype. Make sure the certificate is nevertheless active. Then, become upwards to the Edit menu in the Menu Bar and choose Disengage Paste. This removes the pasted paradigm from the document, leaving you with only the original image:

Going to Edit > Undo Paste.

So, switch over to the certificate that holds the prototype you copied. To remove the option outline from around the image, go upwardly to the Select menu and cull Deselect. And with that, you're gear up to movement on to the next method:

Going to Select > Deselect.

Method 2: Duplicating The Layer

Next, we'll learn how to movement an image from i Photoshop document to some other by duplicating the layer. First, make sure the certificate that holds the image to desire to move is selected. Go up to the Layer bill of fare in the Menu Bar and choose Duplicate Layer. In the Indistinguishable Layer dialog box, give the layer a name (optional). In the Destination department of the dialog box, choose the other document as the destination. Then, click OK. The epitome will announced on a new layer in the other document.

Step i: Select The Document That Holds The Image To Be Moved

Let'due south become through the steps in more detail. First, since I want to move my texture image into the portrait photo's certificate, I'll select my "texture.jpg" document by clicking its tab:

Selecting the document that holds the paradigm to be moved.

If we look in the Layers panel, we meet my texture image sitting on the Background layer. This is the layer we're going to duplicate:

The Layers console showing the texture photo.

Pace 2: Select "Indistinguishable Layer" From The Layer Carte du jour

To duplicate the layer, I'll go up to the Layer carte in the Menu Bar. And so, I'll choose Duplicate Layer:

Going to Layer > Duplicate Layer.

Step 3: Set The Other Document Every bit The Destination

This opens Photoshop's Duplicate Layer dialog box. At the acme of the dialog box, it shows the name of the layer yous'll be duplicating. In my case, it's the Background layer. Past default, Photoshop simply adds the word "copy" to the stop of the layer'due south original name. This will become the name of the layer ("Groundwork copy") when it's moved into the other certificate. But you tin requite the duplicate layer a more descriptive proper noun. Since this layer holds my texture image, I'll alter the layer's proper noun to "Texture".

In the Destination section, choose the document you want to motility the prototype into every bit the destination. I'll choose my "portrait.jpg" document. When you're set up, click OK. Photoshop duplicates the layer and sends it over to the other document:

Setting the other document equally the destination for the layer.

Step four: Switch To The Other Document

I'll switch over to my "portrait.jpg" document by clicking its tab:

Clicking the tab to switch documents.

And if we look in the Layers panel, we meet my "Texture" layer, which holds my texture image, now sitting above the portrait photograph on the Background layer. Both images are now in the same document:

The texture layer has been duplicated into the portrait document.

Related: How to open multiple images every bit layers in Photoshop

Resetting The Certificate

Again if you're following along with each method, y'all'll need to reset your documents before you continue. This fourth dimension, the only document we need to reset is the one we moved the image into (in my case, the "portrait.jpg" document). To remove the duplicate layer from the certificate, go upwards to the Edit menu in the Menu Bar and cull Disengage Duplicate Layer:

Going to Edit > Undo Duplicate Layer.

Method 3: Drag And Driblet Between Tabbed Documents

The next few means we'll look at for moving images between documents all involve dragging and dropping the image. We'll beginning past learning how to drag and drop an epitome between tabbed documents. Starting time, select the document that holds the image yous want to movement. Select the Move Tool from the Toolbar. Click on the image and elevate it upwardly and onto the tab of the other document. Wait for Photoshop to switch documents. Then, drag the prototype from the tab downwards into the certificate window. Press and concord your Shift primal and release your mouse push to drop and eye the paradigm in the document.

Step i: Select The Document With The Paradigm You Desire To Motility

Over again, I'll outset past selecting the document that contains my texture image. I'll do that past clicking on the certificate tab:

Selecting the "texture.jpg" document.

Step two: Select The Move Tool

To elevate and drop the image, we'll need Photoshop'due south Motility Tool. I'll select the Move Tool from the Toolbar along the left of the screen:

Selecting the Move Tool.

Step 3: Drag The Epitome Onto The Other Document's Tab

With the Movement Tool in hand, I'll click on my texture image. Then, I'll elevate information technology up and onto the tab for my "portrait.jpg" document:

Clicking and dragging the texture image onto the portrait certificate's tab.

Step four: Drag From The Tab Into The Certificate

Go along your mouse button held downwards and your mouse cursor direct over the tab until you see Photoshop switch documents. In my case, I'll wait for it to switch from my texture paradigm to my portrait epitome. Then, I'll drag the texture image from the tab downward into the portrait document's window:

One time Photoshop switches documents, elevate the image into the document.

Step 5: Release Your Mouse Push button

To driblet the image into the document, I'll press and agree my Shift key. And so, I'll release my mouse push button. The Shift key tells Photoshop to center the image inside the document. If you don't need to center the prototype, release your mouse push without belongings Shift. If you lot expect in your Layers panel, you'll see that both images are now in the aforementioned document:

Hold Shift and release your mouse push button to driblet and eye the image.

Resetting The Document

Let'southward reset the document and so we tin can movement on to the 4th method. To remove the epitome that you dragged into the document, go upwards to the Edit menu and choose Undo Drag Layer:

Going to Edit > Undo Drag Layer.

Method 4: Drag And Drop Using A Multi-Document Layout

We've seen how to drag and drop between ii tabbed documents. Now let's learn how to drag and drop an image between documents using ane of Photoshop's multi-document layouts. We learned all virtually multi-document layouts in the previous tutorial.

Get up to the Window carte in the Carte Bar, cull Arrange, and then cull the ii-up Vertical layout. This places your 2 documents side by side on the screen. Select the Move Tool from the Toolbar. Click on the paradigm you want to movement and drag information technology into the other certificate window. Printing and hold Shift and release your mouse push button to driblet and middle the image in the certificate. Go upwardly to the Window bill of fare, choose Adapt, and then cull Consolidate All to Tabs to switch back to the default tabbed certificate view.

Footstep 1: Select The "2-upwards Vertical" Layout

I'll beginning by going up to the Window menu in the Menu Bar and choosing Arrange. From in that location, I'll select the two-up Vertical layout:

Going to Window > Arrange > 2-up Vertical.

This places both of my documents next each other, allowing me to see both images at in one case:

Both images are at present visible on the screen.

Step two: Select The Motility Tool

Adjacent, I'll select the Move Tool from the Toolbar:

Selecting the Move Tool.

Step 3: Click And Drag The Image Into The Other Document

With the Move Tool selected, I'll click on my texture paradigm and, with my mouse push held down, I'll drag it into the portrait photo'south document window:

Dragging the texture photo into the other document beside it.

Step 4: Release Your Mouse Push button

To drop and middle the texture image, I'll press and hold Shift, then I'll release my mouse button. Photoshop copies the texture prototype from its original document into the portrait document:

Dragging the texture photo into the other certificate beside it.

Step five: Choose "Consolidate All to Tabs"

To switch your view from the "2-up Vertical" layout back to the default, tabbed document view, go up to the Window menu, cull Accommodate, then choose Consolidate All to Tabs:

Going to Window > Arrange > Consolidate All to Tabs.

And now we're back to the default view, with both images in the same document:

Back to the default tabbed document view.

Resetting The Certificate

Once over again, to reset the document back to its original state so we can expect at the final way of moving images between documents, go up to the Edit carte du jour and choose Undo Elevate Layer:

Going to Edit > Undo Drag Layer.

Method 5: Elevate And Drop Between Floating Windows

Finally, let's learn how to move an epitome from i document to another in Photoshop past dragging it betwixt 2 floating windows. Go upwards to the Window menu, choose Arrange, and and then choose Float All in Windows. Both images will be visible within their ain floating document. Select the Move Tool. Click inside the window of the paradigm you want to motion and drag information technology into the other window. Printing and hold Shift and release your mouse button to drib and center the epitome inside the document. To revert back to the tabbed document view, become up to the Window card, choose Arrange, then choose Consolidate All to Tabs.

Step one: Float All in Windows

To switch my view from tabbed documents to floating windows, I'll get up to the Window menu and cull Conform. So, I'll choose Bladder All in Windows:

Going to Window > Arrange > Float All in Windows.

This places each image within a floating document window. Click on the gray tab area along the top of the windows to drag and reposition them on the screen so that it'southward easy to drag an image from i window to the other:

Each photo appears in its own floating window.

Step 2: Select The Movement Tool

Next, I'll select the Move Tool from the Toolbar:

Selecting the Movement Tool.

Step 3: Drag The Image Into The Other Floating Window

With the Move Tool selected, I'll click on my texture paradigm and drag it into the window that holds my portrait epitome:

Dragging the image from one window into the other.

Step four: Release Your Mouse Push

To driblet and center the image within the portrait document, I'll press and agree my Shift key, and so I'll release my mouse push button:

The texture photograph at present appears in both windows.

Pace v: Switch Back To The Tabbed Documents View

With both images at present in the same document, I'll switch from floating windows back to tabbed documents past going up to the Window menu, choosing Arrange, and then choosing Consolidate All to Tabs:

Going to Window > Arrange > Consolidate All to Tabs.

Both images are at present in the same tabbed document:

Dorsum to the tabbed document view in one case again.

Blending The Images Together

Now that we know how to motility images into the same Photoshop document, how do we blend them together? At the moment, my texture image is completely blocking my portrait photo from view. To alloy the 2 images, we tin utilise i of Photoshop's layer blend modes. I'll go through this apace hither, but you can acquire more nigh blending images in our How To Blend Textures With Photos tutorial.

If we look in my Layers panel, we run across my texture image (on "Layer i") sitting in a higher place my portrait image (on the Background layer). The reason the texture is blocking the portrait from view is because the texture layer'due south blend mode is currently prepare to Normal. The Blend Mode option is found in the upper left of the Layers console:

The alloy mode for the texture layer is prepare to Normal.

The Normal blend mode is Photoshop's default blend mode. "Normal" ways that the layer is not blending at all with the layer below it. To blend my texture in with the portrait prototype, all I need to do is change the alloy mode to something dissimilar. I'll click on the word "Normal" to open up a list of other blend modes. You can attempt out the different blend modes with your images to run into which i works best. I'll go with Soft Light:

Changing the blend manner of the texture layer to Soft Light.

And here we run across that but by changing the blend mode from Normal to Soft Low-cal, my texture at present blends in nicely with the portrait, creating an interesting outcome. Yous can learn even more nearly blend modes, including tips for hands switching betwixt them, in our Flip, Mirror and Rotate Designs and Patterns tutorial:

The event after irresolute the blend mode of the texture layer to Soft Light.

Where to go next...

And there we have it! That'due south 5 piece of cake ways to move an paradigm between documents in Photoshop, along with a quick expect at how to blend your images together using blend modes! In the side by side lesson, nosotros'll acquire how to employ workspaces in Photoshop!

You tin jump to whatsoever of the other lessons in this Learning the Photoshop Interface chapter. Or visit our Photoshop Basics section for more topics!

Source: https://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/5-ways-move-images-photoshop-documents/

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