How Do I Remove a Copy Layer in Photoshop?

To remove a copy layer in Photoshop, simply delete the layer. There's no special process for removing a "copy" layer; it's treated like any other layer.

Deleting a Layer

There are several ways to delete a layer in Photoshop:

1. Using the Layers Panel: In the Layers panel, select the "copy" layer you want to delete. Then, either right-click on the layer and choose "Delete Layer," or drag the layer to the trash can icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.

2. Using Keyboard Shortcuts: Select the "copy" layer and press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Preventing "copy" from being added to layer names

If you're bothered by the automatic addition of "copy" to duplicated layer names, you can disable this feature:

1. Go to the Layers panel's flyout menu (usually a small arrow in the upper right corner of the panel).
2. Select "Panel Options...".
3. Uncheck the box that says "Add 'copy' to Copied Layers and Groups".

This change will prevent Photoshop from appending "copy" to the names of future duplicated layers. However, it won't retroactively remove "copy" from existing layers; those will need to be individually renamed if desired.

Alternative Methods: Removing the contents of a copy layer

While the question focuses on removing the layer itself, some users might intend to remove the contents of a duplicate layer while keeping the layer intact. In that case, you could clear the layer contents using the Delete key, Edit > Clear, or by filling it with transparent pixels.

Remember, simply deleting the layer will permanently remove it and its contents from your Photoshop document.