How to Copy and Paste in Photoshop: An Ultimate Guide
If you think that copying and pasting in Photoshop is just a simple "Ctrl/Cmd + C" or "Ctrl/Cmd + V," you might be wasting a lot of your valuable design time.
In fact, Photoshop has plenty of hidden tricks for copying and pasting that can double your workflow speed. Let's take a look!
In this article, you will learn:
How to Copy and Paste in Photoshop?
Let's start with some basic copy and paste operations in Photoshop.
1. Basic Copy and Paste (with a Selection)
- Select the Area: Use a selection tool (such as the rectangular Marquee, Lasso, or Quick Selection Tool) to choose the area you want to copy. Then, press Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac) to copy it.
- Paste: Press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac). The selected area will appear as a new layer in the center of the canvas.
2. Copy and Paste Layer
- Drag to Duplicate: Select the layer you want to copy in the Layers panel. Then drag it to the "Create a new layer" icon at the bottom of the panel.
- Keyboard Shortcut: After you select a layer, press Ctrl + J (Windows) or Command + J (Mac) to instantly make a copy. You can also press Ctrl/Cmd + C to copy the layer, but then you'll need to press Ctrl/Cmd + V to paste it.
3. Copy and Paste Between Files
- Drag and Drop: Open two PSD files. Use the Move tool (V) to select the layer, then drag it to the tab of the other file. Wait a moment, and the copy will complete.
- Traditional Copy and Paste: In the source file, press Ctrl + C to copy, then switch to the target file and press Ctrl + V to paste.
Note: If the two files have different resolutions, the pasted content might not match in size, and you may need to adjust it manually.
Advanced Copy and Paste in Photoshop
In the last chapter, we covered some basic copy-and-paste techniques that any Photoshop beginner can quickly learn or figure out on their own. But if you want to become a Photoshop pro, these simple tricks just won't cut it. So, let's take a look at some advanced copy-and-paste methods.
1. Copy Merged
Press Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + C to copy a merged view of all the visible layers. It may sound a bit tricky, but what it really does is combine everything you see into one image and copy it to the clipboard.
This lets you paste that combined image into another document or layer without changing the original layers.
This trick is handy when working with many layers. For example, if you have a project with lots of layers, you can quickly copy the merged result. After pasting, you'll get a new layer that shows the merged image.
Steps:
- Open your Photoshop file and make sure the layers you want to copy are visible (look for the eye icon).
- Press Ctrl/Cmd + A to select everything.
- Then press Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + C. Photoshop will merge all visible layers and copy them to your clipboard.
- Next, create a new file or switch to another document. Press Ctrl/Cmd + V to paste the merged image as a new layer.
2. Fastest Way to Copy an Object/Layer
Want to copy an object quickly? Forget about using Ctrl/Cmd + C or Ctrl/Cmd + V. That's too slow! Just hold down the Alt (or Option on Mac) key and drag the object on the canvas. This instantly creates a new layer with a copy of the object.
Steps:
- Hold Alt/Option and drag the object (such as text, a shape, or an image) on the canvas.
- A duplicate appears immediately, so you don't need to work in the Layers panel.
3. How to Paste Precisely and Keep the Same Position?
Ever copy a layer and paste it into a new file only to find it in a strange spot? Photoshop has a hidden trick called "Paste in Place."
Just press Shift + Ctrl + V (or Shift + Command + V on Mac) to paste the content exactly where it was in the original file. No need for manual adjustments!
This trick is great for graphic design and poster layouts. It keeps your elements aligned and prevents design mishaps.
4. How to Quickly Copy and Paste Between Multiple Documents?
Maybe you're used to copying with Ctrl/Cmd + C and pasting with Ctrl/Cmd + V between files. But there's a faster way:
- Hold Shift and drag the layer to a new document. It will automatically paste in the center, so you don't have to adjust its position.
- You can also select multiple layers in the Layers panel and then hold Alt/Option while dragging them. This lets you copy several layers across documents at once, which is much faster than copying each one individually.
5. How to Copy Layer Styles?
Have you spent half an hour fine-tuning a layer's effects like drop shadows, strokes, or gradient overlays, and now you want to use the same look on another layer? Don't redo it all — just copy the style:
- Right-click the layer, choose "Copy Layer Style." Then, select the target layer, right-click, and pick "Paste Layer Style."
- For a quicker way, drag the "fx" icon from the right side of the layer onto another layer. If you want to copy just one style, hold down Alt (or Option on Mac) while dragging that specific style over.
6. How to Copy Smart Objects?
Copying a smart object is not the same as copying a normal layer. When you press Ctrl/Cmd + J, you make an independent copy. Any changes you make to this copy won't affect the original smart object.
However, if you hold down Alt (or Option on Mac) and drag the smart object, you create a linked copy. This means that when you change the new smart object, the original will update too.
This trick is very useful for UI design and poster layouts. It lets you update everything at once and saves a lot of time.
Conclusion
If you're still copying and pasting layer by layer in your Photoshop projects, try these hidden tricks today. You'll see your design speed go way up.
But wait, shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + C can speed things up, but they force your fingers into awkward positions. Plus, who wants to memorize a long list of shortcuts before using a program?
Let me introduce you to TourBox, a creative console loved by many graphic designers, photographers, and digital artists. You can map your favorite shortcuts to its buttons and knobs, making your workflow smoother.
Using TourBox is like playing a video game with a controller. It not only boosts your efficiency but also makes your creative work more enjoyable. And if you work on an iPad, the TourBox Elite Plus is your best tool.
That's it for our Photoshop copy and paste tutorial. We hope these hidden tips help you out.
