SECTION 2
Lesson 2.1: Understanding Layers

   

 

 

When it comes to layers, probably one of the easiest things you can do is create one. If you have an image open in Photoshop and you look at the Layers Palette, you will see a small trashcan icon in the lower right corner. Just to the left of the trashcan you will see an icon that looks like a note pad being peeled back on one corner. This is the Create A New Layer icon. To create a new layer, just click this icon and an empty layer will appear with a default name. The name for the layer will be Layer 1, Layer 2, or Layer 3 and so on, depending on how many new layers have been created.

 

 

Here is the Layer Palette after clicking the new layer Icon.

 

 

Notice that the new layer is completely transparent. The checker pattern that fills the small layer preview box tells us that this new layer contains no image data.

 

You have already been introduced to the trashcan, and new layer icons.

 

As for the rest of the icons along the bottom of the Layers palette, here is a brief description of each.

 

Fill / Adjustment icon

 

Clicking this icon will display a menu for selecting a new Fill or Adjustment layer.

The Layer Set icon

 

Clicking this icon will create a new layer set. (Basically a kind of folder to help you organize your layers.)

The Layer Mask icon

 

The layer mask combines with another layer to allow certain areas of the underlying image and the layer to blend based on a user specified black and white pattern. White parts of the mask allow the top layer to show through. Black parts of the mask allow the underlying layer to show through.

The Styles icon

 

Clicking this icon will display a menu of stylistic effects that you can apply to a layer.

 

You can also create a new layer by choosing Layer ->New ->Layer from the edit menu, or by using the Shift +Ctrl +N keyboard shortcut.

 

A lesser known way of creating a layer (used for layering multiple images), is to use the move tool (crossed arrows icon in the top right of the toolbox) to drag one image onto another. Just select the move tool, and then place your mouse pointer on the image you want to move, and drag it. If you drag one image on top of another, a new layer for the image will be created automatically.