How do I duplicate multiple PS layers (lots of them!) so that each layer is below its copy

[Jonathan Ziegler]

Not sure what version of PS you are using, but here is a simple script I lifted from the Photoshop CC Javascript guide (“ArtLayer.jsx” page 62-4) and it seems to work here on CC (if you want to change the sort order, change “ElementPlacement.PLACEAFTER” to “ElementPlacement.PLACEBEFORE”):

// sort the layers by name
for (var x = 0; x < app.activeDocument.layers.length; x++) {
for (var y = 0; y < app.activeDocument.layers.length – 1 – x; y++) {
// Compare in a non-case sensitive way
var doc1 = app.activeDocument.layers[y].name
var doc2 = app.activeDocument.layers[y + 1].name
if (doc1.toUpperCase() > doc2.toUpperCase()) {
app.activeDocument.layers[y].move(app.activeDocument.layers[y+1], ElementPlacement.PLACEAFTER)
}
}
}

If you are going to use this often, I suggest saving it in a plain text editor as sort.jsx or something similar (the .jsx extension is necessary for PS for most current versions) in the startup scripts folder for photoshop so it loads everytime and you can attach a hotkey, too.

Lemme know how it works.

Save early. Save often.

Jonathan Ziegler

http://www.electrictiger.com
520-360-8293

[Jovan Strel]

yeah i think there a easier solution, you could just record a action doing following steps
1. Copy leyer or ctrl+J
2. Layer>Arange>Move down layer

end script, assign a shortcut and that would be that