How to Open Multiple Images As Layers in Photoshop Using Bridge

Co-authored by Jessica McKnight and Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: July 23, 2024 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to import multiple different photos into one Photoshop project as a series of layers. While it is possible to do this from within Photoshop without using any additional software, some versions of Adobe Bridge also allow you to send multiple files to a Photoshop project.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Photoshop

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1
Open Photoshop. Double-click the Photoshop app icon, which resembles a blue "Ps" on a square background.
- Since you'll be creating a new file when you import the photos, you don't need to open an existing file or create a new one here.
It's in the top-left corner of the Photoshop window (Windows) or the screen (Mac). A drop-down menu will appear.

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You'll find this option near the bottom of the drop-down menu. Selecting it prompts a pop-out menu.
It's near the bottom of the pop-out menu. A new window will open.
Click the "Use" drop-down box near the top of the window, then click either Files if you want to select individual photos or Folder if you want to use a folder full of images as the location.
You'll find this option on the right side of the window. Clicking it opens a window from which you can select your images (or folders).
7
Select files. Hold down either Ctrl (Windows) or ⌘ Command (Mac) and click each file or folder that you want to import.
- If you're selecting a folder, the entire folder's photo contents will be imported into Photoshop.
It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. You should see the photos' names appear in the middle of the window.
If you did open an existing Photoshop file, you can add photos which are in the current file to the list of layers by clicking Add Open Files on the right side of the window.^{[1]
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10
Click OK. It's in the top-right corner of the window. Photoshop will begin turning the photos into layers, after which point you'll be able to edit your Photoshop project like usual.
- This process can take several minutes during which Photoshop will most likely be fairly unresponsive.
- Photoshop may appear to glitch out during the layer assimilation; this is part of the process, so don't close or restart Photoshop until your layers finish importing.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Bridge

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1
Update both Bridge and Photoshop. A bug in Creative Cloud 2015 and 2017 products prevents the "Photoshop" option from appearing in Bridge if either Photoshop or Bridge is out of date. You can update both of these programs by doing the following:^{[2]
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- Open the Creative Cloud program.
- Click ⋮ in the upper-right corner.
- Click Check for App Updates
- Click Update All if prompted.
- Keep in mind that updating doesn't always fix this problem. If your programs are both updated to the 2017 version, consider deleting and reinstalling Photoshop and Bridge, or use Photoshop's Scripts instead.
2
Restart your computer. Once you've finished updating both Bridge and Photoshop if necessary, restart your computer by doing the following:
- Windows — Click Start
  , click Power
  , and click Restart.
- Mac — Click the Apple menu
  , click Restart..., and click Restart when prompted.
In order to speed up the process of opening your selected images in Photoshop, both Bridge and Photoshop should be open.
Click a photo location on the left side of Bridge, then hold down Ctrl (Windows) or ⌘ Command (Mac) while clicking each photo that you want to open as a layer.
It's a tab in the upper-left corner of the Bridge window (Windows) or your Mac's screen (Mac). A drop-down menu will appear.
6
Select Photoshop. This option is near the bottom of the drop-down menu. Doing so prompts a pop-out menu to appear.
- If you still don't see Photoshop in the Tools menu, you may need to use Photoshop's Scripts instead. You can also try deleting and reinstalling both Photoshop and Bridge.
You'll find this option in the pop-out menu. Clicking it prompts Bridge to send your selected images into Photoshop, where they will be organized into one project as multiple layers.
8
Wait for your photos to finish importing into Photoshop. Once Photoshop displays your new project with your photos displayed as layers, you're free to close Bridge and begin working in Photoshop.
- You can switch between the individual layers by clicking the one that you want to view in the "Layers" window that's on the right side of Photoshop.

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Tips

Some users have found that deleting Bridge and Photoshop, restarting your computer, and then reinstalling the programs gives you temporary access to the Tools > Photoshop option.^{[3]
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Warnings

Unfortunately, there isn't a reliable way to ensure that the Photoshop option appears in Bridge, though using Photoshop's Scripts option is just as effective as using Bridge to begin with.

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