What is the shortcut for a new layer in Photoshop?
Ctrl + Shift + N — New Layer
Ctrl + Shift + N opens the New Layer dialog so you can name it; Ctrl + Alt + Shift + N creates the layer immediately with the default name. On a Mac substitute Cmd for Ctrl and Option for Alt.
Related Photoshop shortcuts: Layer Management
| Shortcut | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + J | Duplicate Layer | Duplicate selected layer. Essential for non-destructive editing. |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | New Layer | Create new layer with dialog for naming. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + N | New Layer (Quick) | Create new layer instantly without dialog. |
| Ctrl + G | Group Layers | Group selected layers. Essential for organization. |
| Ctrl + Shift + G | Ungroup | Ungroup layers. |
| Ctrl + E | Merge Down | Merge layer with layer below. |
| Ctrl + Shift + E | Merge Visible | Merge all visible layers. Duplicate first to preserve originals. |
| Ctrl + Alt + E | Stamp Visible | Create new layer with all visible layers merged. Non-destructive. |
| Ctrl + [ | Send Backward | Move layer back one step. |
| Ctrl + ] | Bring Forward | Move layer forward one step. |
| Ctrl + Shift + [ | Send to Back | Move layer to bottom. |
| Ctrl + Shift + ] | Bring to Front | Move layer to top. |
| Alt + [ ] | Navigate Layers | Alt+[ for previous, Alt+] for next layer. |
| Ctrl + Alt + A | Select All Layers | Select all layers in document. |
From the Photoshop reference (69 entries) · all how-to answers
Dialog or no dialog
Ctrl + Shift + N opens the New Layer dialog for a name, colour label and blend mode, and Ctrl + Alt + Shift + N skips it and creates "Layer 1" above the current layer. Holding Alt while clicking the new-layer button in the Layers panel has the same effect as the dialog shortcut. Naming layers as they are created is the habit that keeps a file with two hundred layers navigable.
Related layer commands
Ctrl + J duplicates the current layer (or copies the selection to a new layer), Ctrl + Shift + J cuts the selection to a new layer, and Ctrl + G groups selected layers into a folder. Ctrl + E merges down and Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E stamps every visible layer into a new one on top, leaving the originals intact — the way to sharpen or retouch a finished composite non-destructively.
Adjustment and fill layers
New adjustment layers (curves, levels, hue/saturation) come from the half-circle icon at the bottom of the Layers panel or Layer › New Adjustment Layer, and they have no default shortcut. Because they are layers, they take masks and blend modes like any other and can be toggled off, which is why they are preferred to applying Image › Adjustments directly.
Where the new layer lands
A new layer is inserted directly above the currently selected layer, so select the layer you want to paint over before pressing the shortcut. Holding Ctrl (Cmd) while clicking the new-layer button inserts it below instead. Layers created inside a group stay in that group; drag them out in the Layers panel or select the group itself first to create the layer at the top level.