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Layers 101- Basic concepts

Photoshop layers are like sheets of stacked acetate.

You can see through transparent areas of a layer to the layers below.

You move a layer to position the content on the layer, like sliding a sheet of acetate in a stack.

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Example:

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Try this:

Open Layers Palette:

Window > Layers (or F7)

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A new layer is always placed above currently selected layer.

There are few ways to create a New (blank) layer:

  • Layer > New > Layer

  • Layers palette: "Create New Layer" button

  • Shift + Ctrl + N

Layer Visibility

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A selected layer is the one that is highlighted in the layers palette.

Once you add something to a layer - it shows in a thumbnail of the Layers palette.

Everything you do to an image happens only on the selected layer - painting, drawing, adjustments, transformations, etc.

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You can hide a layer by clicking on an eye icon.

Click on the "eye" again to view the layer.

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Delete Layers

You can permanently delete a layer by:

  • Selecting it

  • Dragging it to the "trash can" icon at the bottom of the palette.
     

  • You can also delete a layer by just clicking on the "trash can" icon (without dragging), but you will need to confirm the deletion

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Type (text) Layer

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Type layer is created automatically when you start using the Type tool.

Type layer has a "T" symbol in the thumbnail area.

With Type layer selected you can move the text around, apply special effects, change font, size, color, etc.

The name of your Type layer reflects the text that you typed.

If you change the text - the name will automatically adjust to the change.

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Dragging (adding) layers

To combine multiple images (files) in one project:

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  • Determine which file is going to be your "main" image.

  • Have all files open in PS

  • Grab the secondary file by the tab at the top of the image window and drag it off the tab group bar

  • Select Move tool

  • Click and drag the secondary image into your main image window.

A new layer will be automatically created with a default name (Layer 1, Layer 2, etc.)

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Working with blend modes is almost always an experimental process. Because it’s nearly impossible to predict the results.

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A layer’s blending mode determines how its pixels blend with underlying pixels in the image.

Try them all to see the effects.

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