You can adjust the transparency of any layer, to let the underlying image data be seen through a semi opaque version of the layer that you adjusted. To adjust the transparency, click the small arrow next to the Opacity value field in the Layers Palette.

 

 

 

 

This will display an opacity slider switch.

 

 

As you move the switch to the left, the opacity lessens (becomes more transparent). If you move the switch to the right, the opacity increases (becomes less transparent). Of course, you can always enter a value directly into the opacity field if you wish.

 

 

Here is an image with two layers. The top layer is filled with black colour and the opacity for the layer is set to 100 percent.

 

 

The following image shows the same two layers, but with the top layer’s opacity set to 50 percent.

 

 

Notice how the semi-transparency allows you to view the underlying image.

 

If the opacity was set to 0, the layer would be completely transparent, and you would see no darkness at all over the underlying image.

 

To the left of the opacity field, you will see a drop list with the word Normal in it. This is the blend mode list. If you click the small down pointing arrow in the drop list, a series of options for how the layer will be blended with the other image data will be displayed. The best way to get an idea of what the different blend modes do is to experiment with them.

 

 

As an example, here are the same two layers with the top layer set to 50% opacity, and the blend mode set to Dissolve.

 

 

In the layers palette, you will also notice a field labelled Fill, directly beneath the Opacity field.

 

 

If you click the small arrow next to the Fill field, you will display a fill opacity slider. This slider will let you adjust the opacity of the layers background content, without changing the opacity of any style applied to the layer.

 

For instance, the following image contains a text layer containing the words “Hello There.” In addition, a style is applied to the layer’s contents in which the yellow letters are stroked with red.

 

 

If we adjust the Fill slider opacity down to zero, the yellow letters (layer content) becomes transparent, but the red outline (the style effect) remains visible.

 

 

The text content has been made transparent with the fill slider, but the (red outline) stroke effect has remained.

 

If you use the more general Opacity slider, both the text content and the style effect will be made transparent.