The Photopia Blog
Tips, tutorials & inspiration for making slideshows
MARCH 3, By Photopia
Unlinking Layers
If you’ve ever noticed the small link icon next to an image layer inside a Slide Style or Template in Photopia, you may have wondered what it does.
The link option controls how duplicated image placeholders behave inside Slide Styles and Templates.
Learn more about the Link feature in today’s blog.
Linking in Slide Styles and Templates
When a Slide Style or Template is designed in Photopia, it may include duplicated image layers. These duplicates are intentionally linked together.
Images are linked when they share the same image source. Replacing the image in one placeholder automatically replaces it in all linked duplicates. This keeps the design consistent without extra work from the user.
Images can be linked within the same slide in a slide style or across slides in a Template.
What Happens When You Click Unlink?
In a Slide Style or Template, click the link icon next to a duplicated image layer to unlink it.
The image above shows the three layers after the link icon at the bottom was clicked. It now shows that it is unlinked from the two duplicates above.
Unlinking a layer:
- Makes the selected placeholder independent.
- Allows you to replace the original linked image, and it will no longer change the unlinked layer.
- Allows you to insert a completely different image into the unlinked layer.
Unlinking simply breaks the automatic image-sharing behavior between duplicates.
It does not:
- Change animation timing
- Break the Slide Style
- Affect transitions
- Alter the template structure
It only changes how image replacement works.
Why You Might Want to Unlink
While linking is designed to save time, unlinking gives you creative flexibility.
You might choose to unlink when:
You Want Different Images in Each Layer
A style may duplicate an image for visual impact — but you may prefer variation instead of repetition.
You’re Customizing Beyond the Original Design
Templates are built for efficiency. Unlinking allows you to adapt the layout to your specific project.
The Unlink option in Photopia is small — but powerful.
Slide Styles and Templates use linked image duplicates to speed up your workflow and make it more efficient. But when you need flexibility, the Unlink option lets you break that connection and customize your design.
