The only thing easier than creating a layer is deleting one. To delete a layer, right click on it, and choose Delete from the pop up menu that appears. Alternatively, drag the Layer from the list of layers in the Layers Palette, to the trash can in the lower right of the palette. When you see the mouse pointer turn into a hand over the trash can, release the mouse button and the Layer item you are dragging will be deleted.

 

 

You can also choose Layer ->Delete->Layer from the menu bar to delete the layer that is currently selected in the layers palette.

 

 

There are three empty layers shown in this palette. Layer 3 will be deleted by placing the mouse pointer on the part of the layer 3 item highlighted in blue, holding down the left mouse button, and dragging it to the trash can icon in the lower right corner. Here is the palette after the layer has been dragged to the trash can.

 

 

 

If you mistakenly delete a layer, and you do not perform any other actions after deleting it, you can choose Edit->Undo Delete Layer from the menu bar. You can also use the Undo keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Z to retrieve the layer.

 

Another way to recover a deleted layer is to use Edit->Step Backward from the menu bar. This is a useful command in many ways, as it allows you step backward through the different editing states of the image. This is essentially the same as stepping backwards through the items in your history palette. Remember though, if you perform a new action after stepping back through the history (for example, editing the recovered layer) you will lose the history states that you had to step back through to recover the layer.