Retouching a portrait, removing an object or building a poster from photos and text? Adobe Photoshop brings photo retouching and layered design tools into the same workspace.
Layers keep image parts editable
Photoshop stacks image content in the Layers panel, where you can reorder elements, adjust opacity, and set how layers blend. A layer mask conceals selected areas without erasing the underlying pixels, so you can refine an edge or reveal part of an earlier edit later. Adjustment layers change properties such as color and contrast while keeping those changes separate from the original image.
Save a project as a PSD to retain its layers for later changes. Flattened formats such as JPEG are more suitable when the finished image no longer needs its editable layer structure.
Retouch photos with targeted tools
The Spot Healing Brush blends away small marks and blemishes, while the Clone Stamp copies pixels from a chosen area to another part of the image. Content-Aware Fill can replace a selected object or distraction by generating replacement pixels from surrounding image detail. Selection tools isolate the area being edited, and masks let you refine which parts of that selection remain visible.
Combine photographs, text, and shapes
Text and shape layers let a document move from photo editing into a poster, thumbnail, or promotional graphic. Keep lettering and vector shapes separate from the photograph so their position and appearance can be changed independently. Transform controls resize, rotate, and reposition selected layers within the composition.
- Use brushes for painted marks or localized retouching.
- Apply Curves to adjust tonal values across an image or selected area.
- Keep design elements on separate layers while arranging the composition.
Save a working project or finished image
A typical project starts with opening an image, making selections or layer-based edits, and saving an editable PSD. When the composition is ready to share or place in another project, export a flattened copy in a format such as JPEG or PNG.
Pros
- Layer masks and adjustment layers keep edits flexible
- PSD files preserve layered project structure
- Spot Healing Brush and Clone Stamp target photo defects
- Type and shape layers support designs built around images
System requirements: Windows 10, Windows 11 · 8 GB RAM minimum; 16 GB or more recommended · 10 GB available disk space
What does a PSD file preserve?
A PSD can retain Photoshop layers, masks, and adjustments so the project remains editable.
How do layer masks work in Photoshop?
A mask hides or reveals parts of a layer without deleting the hidden image content.
Can Photoshop create graphics as well as edit photos?
Yes. Text and shape layers can be combined with photographs to build designs such as posters and thumbnails.