To apply an adjustment layer to multiple layers in Photoshop, you can copy and paste the layer style.
Here's how:
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Create the adjustment layer: Create the adjustment layer you want to apply (e.g., Brightness/Contrast, Hue/Saturation) and adjust the settings to your liking on one of the layers.
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Copy the adjustment layer style: Right-click on the adjusted layer in the Layers panel. Choose "Copy Layer Style". Note that the linked video describes copying layer styles, which are different. We are copying adjustment layers here.
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Select the target layers: Select all the layers you want to apply the adjustment layer to. You can do this by clicking on the first layer, then holding down the Shift key and clicking on the last layer to select a contiguous range. Or, hold down Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and click on each layer individually to select non-contiguous layers.
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Paste the adjustment layer style: Right-click on any of the selected layers. Choose "Paste Layer Style." The adjustment layer with its settings will now be applied to all the selected layers.
Important Notes:
- Pasting the layer style is not the same as pasting an adjustment layer. Layer styles are effects like drop shadows, strokes, etc., applied to a layer. Adjustment layers affect the colors and tones of the underlying layers. This response focuses on the correct way to apply an adjustment layer to multiple layers.
- Adjustment layers affect all layers below them in the Layers panel. If you only want the adjustment layer to affect certain layers, you can group them. First select all the layers you want to adjust and create a group (Layer > Group Layers or Ctrl+G / Cmd+G). Then, put the adjustment layer directly above the group in the layer panel. This way the adjustments will affect only the group and not any other layers below the group. Another option is to clip the adjustment layer to a single layer directly below it.
