I just learned a new trick!!
I’ll explain my “old way” of doing things first.
Let’s say you have a layer in Photoshop and apply a Layer Style (drop shadow, stroke, bevel, etc…). The Layers palette shows which effects you’ve applied (see picture below). Quite often, I find myself needing to duplicate layer effects on other layers.
Now in the “old days,” I would right-click on the layer and choose “Copy Layer Style,” then right-click on the target layer and choose “Paste Layer Style.”
But those days are gone.
Now, I know that I can simply click on the “Effects” text, drag, and drop it on my target layer (actually, slightly “below” the layer – you’ll see what I mean when you try it) – and the effect will be applied immediately!
I am always ecstatic when I find ways to do things that involve less clicking.
By the way, you can also click-and-drag the individual effects to copy them as well. You just click the “Effects” text if you want to apply the whole lot of them.
Nice trick, I never find these myself so this one seems useful.
November 24th, 2004 at 3:48 pm
Great find! I’m a frequent right-click “copy layer style” user. And I hate using contextual menus, they are so clunky at times.
Thanks
November 24th, 2004 at 4:31 pm
I’ve always done it the two click way as well. Thanks for the tip!
November 24th, 2004 at 9:16 pm
Very nice trick, alot better than the two click method.
November 25th, 2004 at 1:11 am
Thanks for the tip! :)
And I just realised you can clear a style by dragging it to the trash icon. Doh!
November 25th, 2004 at 1:31 am
Coolio Iglesias!!!
November 25th, 2004 at 10:42 am
Great tip, thanxs loads
November 25th, 2004 at 11:47 am
Corrie – this might be a little more useful if you explained which versions of Photoshop you’re talking about when you say “old way” or “new way” – I don’t have PS in front of me to test.
November 26th, 2004 at 1:56 am
Wow, I didn’t even know you could copy and paste the effects! I always manually entered them for each layer. I should go get a photoshop book. But then, I use Fireworks most of the time ;)
November 26th, 2004 at 4:14 am
Nice. I knew about copy layer styles, but was always annoyed that you had to copy all the styles when maybe you only wanted 1. Great tip!
November 27th, 2004 at 9:48 am
Chris — I’m using Photoshop 7 but “new way” and “old way” simply means that I found a different way of doing things.
November 27th, 2004 at 8:34 pm
ha, nice trick. It’s amazing how all these little nuggets of info can save you time. Thanks…
November 29th, 2004 at 7:56 pm
Corrie, your blog is great. I’ve only recently been copying layer styles, and this is a good shortcut.
December 1st, 2004 at 3:25 pm
Hmm… nice one! Thanx.
December 6th, 2004 at 5:26 pm
very kool…
January 11th, 2005 at 6:53 pm
actually in CS2 I have to hold the ALT key (windows) to copy the style – else it moves it….
September 20th, 2007 at 4:02 am