Applying an image effect within an image processing application. An image processing application receives a selection of an image effect to be applied to an image. The image includes image layers, each of which has a layer property and is created based on an application of a first effect. The application selects a template from a set of predefined templates. The selection is based on the image effect and the template. The template includes template layers. The application matches each of the image layers to a corresponding template layer having a template property corresponding to the layer property. The application determines from the matching that no conflicts exist between the image layers and the template. The application merges the image layers with the template layers and applies the image effect.