How to Open Multiple Images as Layers in Photoshop Using Bridge

This updated guide examines How to Open Multiple Images as Layers in Photoshop Using Bridge and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1of 2:

Using Photoshop

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.
2. ClickFile. It's in the top-left corner of the Photoshop window (Windows) or the screen (Mac). A drop-down menu will appear.
3. SelectScripts. You'll find this option near the bottom of the drop-down menu. Selecting it prompts a pop-out menu.
4. ClickLoad Files into Stack…. It's near the bottom of the pop-out menu. A new window will open.
5. Select a type of file location. 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.
6. ClickBrowse…. 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 eitherCtrl(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.
8. ClickOpen. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. You should see the photos' names appear in the middle of the window.
9. Add any currently open files if needed. 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]XResearch source}
10. ClickOK. 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 2of 2:

Using Bridge

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]XResearch source}
   • 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.
3. Open both Bridge and Photoshop. to speed up the process of opening your selected images in Photoshop, both Bridge and Photoshop should be open.
4. Select photos in Bridge. Click a photo location on the left side of Bridge, then hold downCtrl(Windows) or⌘Command(Mac) while clicking each photo that you want to open as a layer.
5. ClickTools. 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. SelectPhotoshop. 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.
7. ClickLoad Files into Photoshop Layers…. 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.