The fastest way to open a photo in Photoshop

Open Photoshop, then go to File > Open. Navigate to the folder where your photo lives, click the filename, and click Open. The photo will appear in a new tab or window, ready to edit.

If you already have a document open and want to add a photo into it as a new layer (rather than replacing what you're working on), use File > Place Embedded instead. This puts the photo on its own layer that you can move, resize, and blend with what's underneath.

You can also drag a photo directly from your file explorer or Finder window into an open Photoshop document. The photo will land as a new layer, and Photoshop will show you handles around it so you can resize it before you confirm the placement.

Key Takeaways

  • File > Open loads a photo into its own document window, which is the standard way to start editing a single image.
  • File > Place Embedded adds a photo as a layer into a document you already have open, keeping both images in the same file.
  • Dragging a photo directly into Photoshop creates a new layer and lets you resize it before you finalize the placement.
  • After you place a photo, use the Move tool or the layer panel to position it, and use Free Transform to resize or rotate it without losing quality.
  • Photoshop accepts JPG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, and PSD files, among others — if your file won't open, check that the format is supported.

Opening a photo as a new document

When you want to edit a single photo from the start, File > Open is the standard route. Click the folder icon or navigate through your computer's file system until you find the photo. Photoshop shows you a preview of the image before you open it, so you can confirm you have the right file.

Once you click Open, the photo appears in a new tab. The filename shows at the top of the window. If you open multiple photos this way, each one gets its own tab, and you can switch between them by clicking the tab names.

Adding a photo as a layer into an existing document

If you're already working on a design or composite and need to bring in a photo without replacing your current work, use File > Place Embedded. This puts the new photo on a separate layer, stacked above or below your other content depending on where you want it.

After you choose the photo and click Place, Photoshop shows you a bounding box with corner and edge handles. You can drag the corners to resize the photo, or drag inside the box to move it around the canvas. Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac) to confirm the placement, or press Escape to cancel.

The photo lands on its own layer in your Layers panel, which means you can adjust its opacity, blend mode, or position at any time without affecting the layers below it.

Dragging photos directly into Photoshop

You can skip the menu entirely and drag a photo from your file explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) straight into an open Photoshop window. The photo will appear as a new layer with a bounding box around it, just as if you had used Place Embedded.

This method is faster if you're moving back and forth between your file system and Photoshop. Drag the photo over the canvas, release it, resize using the corner handles if you need to, and press Enter or Return to lock it in place.

Resizing and positioning a placed photo

When you place a photo using Place Embedded or by dragging, Photoshop shows you handles around the image. Drag any corner handle to resize the photo while keeping its proportions locked. Drag an edge handle to stretch or compress the photo in one direction only.

To rotate the photo, move your cursor just outside a corner handle until it changes to a curved arrow, then drag to spin the image. If you need precise control, right-click inside the bounding box and choose Rotate to enter a specific angle in degrees.

Once the photo is sized and positioned the way you want it, press Enter or Return to confirm. If you change your mind after confirming, use Edit > Undo to go back and adjust it again.

File formats Photoshop can open

Photoshop opens JPG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, PSD (Photoshop's native format), and many others. If you have a photo in a less common format — like WebP, HEIC, or a raw camera file — Photoshop may still open it, but support varies by version.

If Photoshop won't open your file, check the filename extension (the letters after the dot). If the extension is missing or wrong, rename the file to include the correct one. If you're unsure what format your photo is in, right-click the file, choose Properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac), and look for the file type.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open multiple photos at once?

Yes. Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and click multiple filenames in the Open dialog, then click Open. Each photo opens in its own tab. You can also use File > Open as Layers to load multiple photos into the same document as separate layers.

What if my photo is too big to fit on the canvas?

When you place the photo, use the corner handles to shrink it to fit. If you need to make the canvas itself larger to accommodate the photo, go to Image > Canvas Size, increase the width and height, and click Center to position your existing content in the middle of the new space.

How do I undo a photo placement after I've confirmed it?

Press Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Command + Z (Mac) to undo the last action. You can undo multiple steps by pressing the shortcut repeatedly, or use Edit > Undo History to jump back to a specific moment in your work.

Can I replace a photo I've already placed without deleting the layer?

Right-click the layer in the Layers panel and choose Replace Contents. Select a new photo, and Photoshop swaps it in while keeping the layer's size, position, and blending settings intact.