Photoshop

Keys for using the Layers palette

Result

Windows

Mac OS

Load layer transparency as a selection

Control-click layer thumbnail

Command-click layer thumbnail

Load filter mask as a selection

Control-click filter mask thumbnail

Command-click filter mask thumbnail

Group layers

Control + G

Command + G

Ungroup layers

Control + Shift + G

Command-Shift + G

Create/release clipping mask

Control + Alt + G

Command-Option + G

Select all layers

Control + Alt + A

Command + Option + A

Merge visible layers

Control + Shift + E

Command + Shift + E

Create new empty layer with dialog box

Alt-click New Layer button

Option-click New Layer button

Create new layer below target layer

Control-click New Layer button

Command-click New Layer button

Select top layer

Alt + . (period)

Option + . (period)

Select bottom layer

Alt + , (comma)

Option + , (comma)

Add to layer selection in Layers palette

Shift + Alt + [ or ]

Shift + Option + [ or ]

Select next layer down/up

Alt + [ or ]

Option + [ or ]

Move target layer down/up

Control + [ or ]

Command + [ or ]

Merge a copy of all visible layers into target layer

Control + Shift + Alt + E

Command + Shift + Option + E

Merge down

Control + E

Command + E

Move layer to bottom or top

Control + Shift + [ or ]

Command + Shift + [ or ]

Copy current layer to layer below

Alt + Merge Down command from the Palette pop‑up menu

Option + Merge Down command from the Palette pop‑up menu

Merge all visible layers to a new layer above the currently selected layer

Alt + Merge Visible command from the Palette pop‑up menu

Option + Merge Visible command from the Palette pop‑up menu

Show/hide this layer/layer group only or all layers/layer groups

Right-click the eye icon

Control-click the eye icon

Show/hide all other currently visible layers

Alt-click the eye icon

Option-click the eye icon

Toggle lock transparency for target layer, or last applied lock

/ (forward slash)

/ (forward slash)

Edit layer effect/style, options

Double-click layer effect/style

Double-click layer effect/style

Hide layer effect/style

Alt-double-click layer effect/style

Option-double-click layer effect/style

Edit layer style

Double-click layer

Double-click layer

Disable/enable vector mask

Shift-click vector mask thumbnail

Shift-click vector mask thumbnail

Open Layer Mask Display Options dialog box

Double-click layer mask thumbnail

Double-click layer mask thumbnail

Toggle layer mask on/off

Shift-click layer mask thumbnail

Shift-click layer mask thumbnail

Toggle filter mask on/off

Shift-click filter mask thumbnail

Shift-click filter mask thumbnail

Toggle between layer mask/composite image

Alt-click layer mask thumbnail

Option-click layer mask thumbnail

Toggle between filter mask/composite image

Alt-click filter mask thumbnail

Option-click filter mask thumbnail

Toggle rubylith mode for layer mask on/off

\ (backslash), or Shift + Alt-click

\ (backslash), or Shift + Option-click

Select all type; temporarily select type tool

Double-click type layer thumbnail

Double-click type layer thumbnail

Create a clipping mask

Alt-click the line dividing two layers

Option-click the line dividing two layers

Rename layer

Double-click the layer name

Double-click the layer name

Edit filter settings

Double-click the filter effect

Double-click the filter effect

Edit the Filter Blending options

Double-click the Filter Blending icon

Double-click the Filter Blending icon

Create new layer set below current layer/layer set

Control-click New Layer Set button

Command-click New Layer Set button

Create new layer set with dialog box

Alt-click New Layer Set button

Option-click New Layer Set button

Create layer mask that hides all/selection

Alt-click Add Layer Mask button

Option-click Add Layer Mask button

Create vector mask that reveals all/selection

Control-click Add Layer Mask button

Command-click Add Layer Mask button

Create vector mask that hides all/selection

Control + Alt-click Add Layer Mask button

Command + Option-click Add Layer Mask button

Display layer group properties

Right-click layer group or double-click group

Control-click the layer group or double-click group

Select/deselect multiple contiguous layers

Shift-click

Shift-click

Select/deselect multiple discontiguous layers

Control-click

Command-click