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Apply preset styles



You can apply preset styles from the Styles panel. The layer styles that come with Photoshop are grouped into libraries by function. For example, one library contains styles for creating web buttons; another library contains styles adding effects to text. To access these styles, you need to load the appropriate library. For information on loading and saving styles, see Create and manage preset styles.

Note: You cannot apply layer styles to a background, locked layer, or group.

Display the Styles panel

 Choose Window > Styles.

Apply a preset style to a layer

Normally, applying a preset style replaces the current layer style. However, you can add the attributes of a second style to those of the current style.

 Do one of the following:

  • Click a style in the Styles panel to apply it to the currently selected layers.

  • Drag a style from the Styles panel onto a layer in the Layers panel.

  • Drag a style from the Styles panel to the document window, and release the mouse button when the pointer is over the layer content to which you want to apply the style.

    Note: Hold down Shift as you click or drag to add (rather than replace) the style to any existing effects on the destination layer.

  • Choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options, and click the word Styles in the Layer Style dialog box (top item in the list on the left side of the dialog box). Click the style you want to apply, and click OK.

  • When using a Shape tool or Pen tool in shape layers mode, select a style from the pop‑up panel in the options bar before drawing the shape.

Apply a style from another layer

  • In the Layers panel, Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the style from a layer’s effect list to copy it to another layer.
  • In the Layers panel, click-drag the style from a layer’s effect list to move it to another layer.

Change how preset styles are displayed

  1. Click the triangle in the Styles panel, Layer Style dialog box, or Layer Style pop‑up panel in the options bar.
  2. Choose a display option from the panel menu:

    • Text Only to view the layer styles as a list.

    • Small Thumbnail or Large Thumbnail to view the layer styles as thumbnails.

    • Small List or Large List to view the layer styles as a list, with a thumbnail of the selected layer style displayed.