What linking an adjustment layer does, and when you need it
An adjustment layer in Photoshop normally affects every layer below it. When you link an adjustment layer to a specific layer, it affects only that one layer — nothing underneath. This is useful when you want to brighten, desaturate, or change the color of one photo or element without touching the rest of your document.
The link happens through a small chain icon between the adjustment layer and the layer you want to target. Once linked, the adjustment moves and scales with that layer, and the adjustment applies only to that layer's pixels.
You do not need to link adjustment layers for every edit. If you want a color change to affect your whole image, leave it unlinked. Linking matters when you have multiple photos, multiple objects, or a background and foreground that need different treatment.
Key Takeaways
- Click the chain icon between an adjustment layer and the layer below it to link them; the chain appears when you hover between the two layers.
- A linked adjustment layer affects only the layer it is chained to, not layers underneath or above it.
- The adjustment layer and the linked layer move together if you move one; they are treated as a unit for transform operations.
- You can unlink at any time by clicking the chain icon again, and the adjustment will revert to affecting all layers below it.
How to create and link an adjustment layer in three steps
Start with your document open and the layer you want to adjust selected in the Layers panel. Go to the Layer menu, hover over New Adjustment Layer, and choose the type you need — Curves, Levels, Hue/Saturation, Color Balance, or any other adjustment.
Photoshop creates the adjustment layer directly above your selected layer. In the Layers panel, position your cursor between the adjustment layer and the layer below it until you see a small chain icon appear. Click that icon once.
The chain icon will now be solid and visible, showing the link is active. The adjustment layer is now clipped to the layer below it and will affect only that layer's content. You can now edit the adjustment settings without worrying about changing anything else in your document.
Using the clipping mask option instead
Photoshop offers a second way to link an adjustment layer: the clipping mask. Right-click the adjustment layer and choose Create Clipping Mask, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+G (Windows) or Cmd+Option+G (Mac).
A clipping mask and a chain link do the same thing — they restrict the adjustment to one layer. The chain icon method is faster if you are creating the adjustment layer fresh. The clipping mask method is useful if you already have an adjustment layer that is affecting too much, and you want to restrict it after the fact.
Both methods show the same visual result: the adjustment layer indents slightly in the Layers panel, and a small arrow appears next to it, indicating it is clipped to the layer below.
What happens when you move or transform a linked layer
When an adjustment layer is linked to a content layer, they move as a pair. If you select the content layer and move it with the Move tool, the adjustment layer moves with it. If you scale or rotate the content layer, the adjustment scales and rotates too.
This is different from an unlinked adjustment layer, which stays in place while the content layer moves. Linking is useful when you want the adjustment to stay "attached" to a specific object or photo, even as you reposition it in your design.
If you later decide you want the adjustment to stay in place while the layer moves, unlink them by clicking the chain icon again. The adjustment layer will no longer move with the content layer.
Stacking multiple linked adjustments on one layer
You can add more than one adjustment layer to the same content layer. Create a second adjustment layer while the content layer is still selected, then link it the same way — click the chain icon between the new adjustment and the content layer.
Both adjustments will now affect only that one layer, and they will stack in order from top to bottom in the Layers panel. The adjustment closest to the content layer applies first, then the one above it. You can reorder them by dragging, and each one will update in real time.
This is useful when you want to explore multiple changes to one photo — for example, a Curves adjustment to fix exposure, then a Hue/Saturation adjustment to boost color, both affecting only that one image while leaving others untouched.
Unlinking an adjustment layer and what changes
To unlink an adjustment layer, click the chain icon between it and the layer below. The icon will disappear, and the adjustment will when ready start affecting all layers below it again, not just the one it was linked to.
If you have multiple linked adjustments stacked on one layer and you unlink the top one, only that adjustment expands to affect everything below. The others stay linked to their original layer. This gives you fine control over which adjustments are global and which are local.
Unlinking does not delete the adjustment or change its settings — it only changes what the adjustment affects. You can link and unlink the same adjustment layer as many times as you need.
Common reasons linking does not work the way you expect
If you create an adjustment layer and the chain icon does not appear when you hover between layers, check that you actually created an adjustment layer, not a regular layer. Adjustment layers have a small icon next to their name in the Layers panel — it looks like a circle with a curve or histogram inside.
If the chain icon appears but clicking it does not seem to do anything, make sure you are clicking directly on the icon itself, not on the layer name. The icon is small and sits between the two layers. If you click slightly off, nothing happens.
If an adjustment is affecting layers you did not expect, check whether it is linked. An unlinked adjustment layer affects everything below it, including groups and nested layers. If you only want it to affect one layer, link it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I link an adjustment layer to a layer group instead of a single layer?
Yes. If you select a group and create an adjustment layer, then link it, the adjustment affects all layers inside that group. This is useful when you have multiple layers that make up one object or section and you want one adjustment to explore to all of them at once.
What if I want an adjustment to affect only the top layer, not the one below?
Adjustment layers always affect the layer directly below them when linked. If you need an adjustment to affect only a layer that is not directly below it, move the adjustment layer so it sits directly above the layer you want to target, then link it.
Does linking an adjustment layer change the file size?
No. Linking is just a relationship between layers — it does not add data to your file. The adjustment layer itself takes up the same amount of space whether it is linked or unlinked.
Can I copy a linked adjustment layer to another document?
Yes, but the link will not carry over. When you paste the adjustment layer into a new document, it becomes unlinked and affects all layers below it. You will need to relink it to the appropriate layer in the new document.
What is the difference between linking and using a layer mask?
Linking restricts what an adjustment affects. A layer mask restricts where an adjustment is visible — you can make parts of the adjustment transparent or opaque. You can use both together: link an adjustment to one layer, then add a mask to control where on that layer the adjustment shows.