How to Move Images in Photoshop: Guide for Beginners

Creating graphics, editing, and compositing images can be time-consuming if you don't know how to move images in Photoshop. There are several methods for training how to do this, each useful in its own way. Below you’ll learn how to drag and drop images between tabbed documents, documents in a multi-document layout, and two floating document windows.

Method #1. Copy and Paste

The first method you need to learn to move photos between documents is to copy and paste an image from one document to another. In Photoshop this works like copying and pasting text when editing an ordinary Word document.

1. Opening the Images Into Photoshop

open the image to move image in photoshop

Before jumping into blending images, you need to learn how to insert different photos into the same document. However, for those who are new to Photoshop, blending two images may seem like a dead end. That's because Photoshop opens each photo in its own document. So, to blend or composite images, you need to have them in the same document.

Open the necessary files in Photoshop.

open the file to move image in photoshop

As preconfigured, Photoshop opens the images as tabbed documents, with only one document visible at a time.

2. Select the Document

select the document to move image in photoshop

To copy and paste an image, you must first select the document containing the image you want to move.

To select the image itself, open the Select menu in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Then select All.

3. Copy the Image

copy the image to move image in photoshop

Copy the chosen image to the clipboard by calling the Edit menu in the menu bar and selecting Copy.

4. Paste the Image

paste the image to move image in photoshop

To insert the texture image, call the Edit menu in the menu bar. Then select Paste.

Method #2. Duplicating the Layer

So, you can move layers or images between documents by duplicating them in another project. Before getting off, however, ensure that the document containing the image you want to move is selected.

1. Select Duplicate Layer

select duplicate layer to move image in photoshop

To duplicate the layer, call the Layer menu in the menu bar. Then select Duplicate Layer.

2. Set the Other Document as the Destination

set the destination to move image in photoshop

In the Destination area, select the document to which you want to move the image. Then click OK. The image appears on a new layer in the other document.

Method #3. Drag and Drop Between Tabbed Documents

The following methods you need for moving images between documents are related to the issue of how to drag images in Photoshop.

Drag the Image Onto The Other Document's Tab

drag the image to move image in photoshop

Click the Move Tool and drag one file onto another.

Hold down the Shift key and loose the mouse button to drop and center the image in the document.

Method #4. Drag and Drop Using a Multi-Document Layout

Now let’s grasp how to drag and drop an image between documents using one of Photoshop’s multi-document layouts.

1. Select the 2-Up Vertical Layout

select the vertical layout to move image in photoshop

Call the Window menu in the menu bar and select Arrange. There, use the 2-up Vertical layout.

2. Drag the Image

drag the photo to move image in photoshop

Then, pick out the Move Tool from the Toolbar.

With the Move Tool selected, drag one file onto another.

Method #5. Drag and Drop Between Floating Windows

To complete the guide, let’s look at how to move an image from one document to another in Photoshop by dragging it between two floating windows.

1. Float All in Windows

float all in windows to move image in photoshop

Go to the Window menu and pick out Arrange. Then use Float All In Windows. This will place each image in a floating document window.

2. Select the Move Tool

select the move tool to move image in photoshop

Next, use the Move Tool from the toolbar. Use the Move tool to click in the window where you want to move the image and drag it to another window.

3. Complete the Work

complete the work to move image in photoshop

To get done working with files, select another blending mode.

Bonus Tools

bonus tools for photoshop

Once you are done with images, install Photoshop actions to enhance them. With these photo actions, you’ll save a lot of time on image post-processing and get incredibly high-quality images.

Also, there is a terrific selection of cool effects. For example, you can apply the Bohemian Film, Vintage Colors, or Matte Pro actions to give your photos a classic look. To make your creative photography look more sophisticated, you need additional actions, such as Color Double Exposure or Glitch Effect.

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