In Adobe Photoshop, you can select multiple layers by clicking on each one while holding the "Shift" or "Ctrl" key. As of version 2.6, this is not possible in the GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP). Instead, there are several alternative methods of handling multiple layers, each appropriate to a different task. You can chain layers to move or transform them, shift-click objects on different layers in the canvas to align them, or create a new layer based on all visible layers.
Chaining Layers
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Step 1
Make sure the Layers dialog box is open. If it is not, click on the Windows menu and select "Dockable Dialogs" > "Layers." You can also hold down the "Ctrl" key and press "L."
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Step 2
Hover your mouse between the Layer Visibility icon, which looks like an eye, and the layer thumbnail. A raised box will appear. Click this box to activate the chain.
Step 3
Repeat this process on all of the other layers you wish to chain together. Once these layers are chained, you can move or apply transformation effects to all of them simultaneously.
Selecting for Alignment
Step 1
Make sure the Toolbox is open. If it is not, click on the Windows menu and select "Toolbox." You can also hold down the "Ctrl" key and press "B."
Step 2
Click on the Alignment Tool in the Toolbox. It looks like an empty rectangle with arrows pointing away from all sides of it.
Step 3
Press and hold the "Shift" key while clicking on the layers in the canvas. Or click somewhere off the layers and drag a selection rectangle around them. Once you have selected these layers, you can choose an alignment method.
Merging Visible Layers
Step 1
Make sure the Layers dialog box is open. If it is not, click on the Windows menu and select "Dockable Dialogs" > "Layers." You can also hold down the "Ctrl" key and press "L."
Step 2
Click on the Visibility icon on any layer you do not want to include in your new layer. This will render that layer invisible.
Step 3
Click on the Layers menu and select "New from Visible."
Step 4
Select the option that best describes how you want the layers to be merged from the dialog box that appears, and click "Merge." This will merge all of the visible layers into a new layer but will not affect your original layers.