Select layers and groups

To reorganize layers and groups in a project, you must select objects to move or modify. You can select layers and groups in the Layers list or Canvas.

Note: You can also select, organize, and manipulate layers in the Timeline layers list. Changes made in the Timeline layers list are mirrored in the Layers list, and vice versa. See Timeline overview.

Select layers or groups in the Layers list

Do any of the following:

Select a single layer or group: Click a layer or group in the Layers list or Canvas. All other selected objects are deselected.
Note: Selecting a group does not select the layers nested underneath it. However, operations performed on a selected group also affect layers nested in the group.
Select multiple contiguous layers or groups: Click the first layer or group, hold down the Shift key, then click the last layer or group in the contiguous list.
Select multiple noncontiguous layers or groups: Hold down the Command key while clicking multiple layers in the Layers list.

Select layers in the Canvas

Do any of the following:

Select a single layer: Click the Select/Transform tool in the toolbar (if it’s not already selected), then click an image in the Canvas.
Select multiple layers: Click the Select/Transform tool in the toolbar (if it’s not already selected), then drag a selection rectangle around multiple images in the Canvas, or hold down the Shift key while clicking multiple images.

Add or remove selections when there are multiple selected layers

Do any of the following:

Add to selected groups or layers: Command-click any unselected layer or group in the Layers list, or Shift-click any unselected layer in the Canvas.
Deselect a layer from multiple selected layers: Command-click any selected layer in the Layers list, or Shift-click any selected layer in the Canvas.

Select all layers and groups

Do one of the following:

Choose Edit > Select All (or press Command-A).
Click the first group or layer in the Layers list then Shift-click the last group or layer in the list.

Deselect all layers or groups

Choose Edit > Deselect All (or press Shift-Command-A).