18. Layer:

Layers allow you to work on one element of an image without disturbing the others. Think of layers as sheets of acetate stacked one on top of the other. Where there is no image on a layer, you can see through to the layers below. You can change the composition of an image by changing the order and attributes of layers. In addition, special features such as adjustment layers, fill layers, and layer styles let you create sophisticated effects.

Displaying the Layers palette:

Choose Window > Layers

Using the Layers palette:

Layer Palette Menu

The Layers palette lists all layers, layer sets, and layer effects in an image. You can accomplish many tasks--such as creating, hiding, displaying, copying, and deleting layers--using the buttons in the Layers palette. You can access additional commands and options in the Layers palette menu and the Layers menu.

 

Using the Layers palette menu:

Click the triangle  in the upper right corner of the palette to access commands for working with layers.

 

Creating layers and layer sets:

A new image in Photoshop has a single layer. The number of additional layers, layer sets, and layer effects you can add to an image is limited only by your computer's memory

 

 

About the background layer:

When you create a new image with a white background or a colored background, the bottommost image in the Layers palette is Background. An image can have only one background. You cannot change the stacking order of a background, its blending mode, or its opacity. However, you can convert a background to a regular layer.

When you create a new image with transparent content, the image does not have a background layer. The bottommost layer is not constrained like the background layer; you can move it anywhere in the Layers palette, and change its opacity and blending mode.

To convert a background into a layer:

  Double-click Background in the Layers palette, or choose Layer > New > Layer from Background.

 

To add a new layer or layer set using default options:

  Click the New Layer button or New Layer Set button in the Layers palette.

 

To add a new layer or layer set and specify options:

v  Choose Layer > New > Layer or Layer > New > Layer Set.

v  Choose New Layer or New Layer Set from the Layers palette menu.

v  Alt-click the New Layer button or New Layer Set button in the Layers palette.

v  Ctrl-click the New Layer button or New Layer Set button in the Layers palette to add a layer below the currently selected layer.

v  Set layer options, click ok.

v  Name to specify a name for the layer or layer set.

 

To convert a selection into a new layer:

v  Open an image

v  Make a selection

v  Choose Layer > New > Layer Via Copy to copy the selection into a new layer.

v  Choose Layer > New > Layer Via Cut to cut the selection and paste it into a new layer.

Duplicating layers:

Duplicating layers is an easy way to copy content within an image or between images. When duplicating layers between images, keep in mind that the layer's content will appear smaller or larger if it is copied to a file with different resolution

v  Select a layer or layer set in the Layers palette.

v  Drag the layer to the New Layer button,

 

Linking layers:

By linking two or more layers or layer sets, you can move their contents together. You can also copy, paste, align, merge, apply transformations to, and create clipping groups from linked layers.

v  Select a layer or layer set in the Layers palette.

v  elick in the column immediately to the left of any layers you want to link to the selected layer. A link icon appears in the column.

 

To unlink layers:

v  In the Layers palette, click the link icons to remove them.

To delete linked layers:

v  To delete the linked layers with confirmation, choose Delete Linked Layers from the Layers menu or the Layers palette menu. Alternately, Ctrl-click the Trash button.

v  To delete the linked layers without confirmation, Ctrl-Alt-click the Trash button.

To partially lock a layer:

v  Select a layer

v  Click one or more lock options in the Layers palette.

v  Lock Transparency to confine editing to the opaque portions of the layer. This option is equivalent to the Preserve Transparency option in earlier versions of Photoshop.

v  Lock Image to prevent modification of the layer's pixels using the painting tools.

v  Lock Position to prevent the layer's pixels from being moved.

Note: For type layers, Lock Transparency and Lock Image are selected by default and cannot be deselected.

 

To rename a layer or layer set:

v  Double-click the layer or layer set's name in the Layers palette, and enter a new name.

v  Press Alt and double-click the layer or layer set's name in the Layers palette. Enter a new name in the Name text box, and click OK.

 

Deleting layers:

Deleting layers that you no longer need reduces the size of your image file.

v  Select a layer or layer set in the Layers palette.

v  To delete the layer or layer set without confirmation, drag it to the Trash button

Merging layers:

When you have finalized the content of layers, you can merge them to create partial versions of your composite image. The intersection of all transparent areas in the merged layers remains transparent. Merging layers helps manage the size of image files.

Note: You cannot use an adjustment layer or fill layer as the target layer for a merge.

v  Make layers link

v  Layer menu>Merge or Ctrl + E

Flattening all layers:

In a flattened image, all visible layers are merged into the background, which greatly reduces the file size. Flattening an image discards all hidden layers and fills the remaining transparent areas with white. In most cases, you won't want to flatten a file until you have finished editing the individual layers.

Note: Converting an image between some color modes flattens the file. Be sure to save a copy of your file that includes all layers if you want to edit the original image after the conversion.

v  Make sure that all the layers you want to keep are visible.

v  Choose Layer > Flatten Image, or choose Flatten Image from the Layers palette menu.
or,

v  Click on Layer palette menu and choose Flatten Image.