Open Multiple Images As Layers in Photoshop Using Bridge

Loading multiple images into Photoshop just so that you can copy them into a new layer in a different file can quickly become a pain. Luckily, there are several ways that you can quickly load multiple image files at once into a single file, each as a separate layer. You can do this using Bridge, Adobe's asset management tool. You can also use Lightroom if you make a lot of edits to your photos' lighting. Finally, you can use the Scripts tool in Photoshop itself to batch load multiple files at once.

Steps

Using Bridge

  1. Open Adobe Bridge. Bridge is an asset management tool for Adobe products, specifically Photoshop. It comes installed with Adobe Photoshop CS2 through CS6. If you are using Adobe Creative Cloud, you can download Bridge as an additional feature at creative.adobe.com. You'll need a Creative Cloud ID to log in and access the download.
  2. Find the images you want to add in the Bridge interface. Navigate through your image folders in Bridge to find the images that you want to load into Photoshop. You'll find the process easier if the images are all located in the same folder.
  3. Select each file that you want to load into Photoshop. Hold Ctrl/⌘ Cmd and click each of the images that you want to select. Continue until you have selected all of the images that you want to load into Photoshop as separate layers.
  4. Click "Tools" → "Photoshop" → "Load Files into Photoshop Layers". This will launch Photoshop and create a new file, which each image as a separate layer. This may take a while to complete if you are loading a lot of images at once.
  5. Switch between your layers. Use the Layers window on the right side of the screen to select and edit each of your individual layers.

Using Lightroom

  1. Open Lightroom and make your edits. If you're using Lightroom to adjust exposure and eventually blend multiple exposures, you can load the images directly from Lightroom to separate layers in Photoshop.
  2. Select each of the images you want to load into Photoshop. Hold Ctrl/⌘ Cmd and select each of the images that you want to transfer. You can select these images along the bottom of the Lightroom window.
  3. Right-click on your selection and select "Edit in" → "Open as Layers in Photoshop". This will start Photoshop and begin loading each image into its own layer. This could take a while with a large number of images. The process is complete when each of the images has loaded and there are no blank layers.
  4. Interact with the layers. The Layers window on the right side of the screen will allow you to switch between your layers and edit them as you please.

Using Photoshop

  1. Open up Photoshop. If you don't have Bridge or Lightroom, you can still open multiple images as separate layers from within Photoshop itself. You don't have to have an open file to perform this, as a new file will be created when you import the images.
  2. Click "File" → "Scripts" → "Load Files into Stack". This will open a new window, allowing you to select files to add.
  3. Click the "Browse" button and find the files you want to add. You can use this window to find files anywhere on your computer to add to Photoshop. You can load as many files as you'd like into this window.
  4. Click "OK" to load the selected files as separate layers. A new file will be created, and each image that you selected will be loaded into a separate layers. If you are loading a lot of images, this could take a while.[1]

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://blogs.adobe.com/jkost/2012/02/open-several-photographs-into-a-single-photoshop-document.html
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