Photoshop » work on layers » page 1/2

know how to operate on layers makes our work with photoshop much easier. Many of yours will also discover many functions which they have no idea ;)
short cut:

Layers panel » view

Layers panel or bookmark Layers in this panel.I call this panel - because this name fits me more. But i am preety sure that you find name Palet. I am going to stay from that name away :) Here he is:

On the right side i put picture, which is contained from three layers.
Layers are pieces of transparency foil puted one on the other which gives our effect vissible picture. On each "foil" (layer) is placed different element.

On Layer 1 (1) There is background - picture of beach and see.
On Layer 0 (2) There is woman with flower.
On layer www.gobart.pl (3) There is sign: www.gobart.pl
You can perfectly see this on thumbnails in left side of each layer.

Active layer is selected (lighted) on blue - layer 0. We can see icon of brush on the left side of this layer. What it means? - It means that we are editing this layer. So, any action (brushing, selecting, using filters etc.) are made on a picture - on this layer. We do not touch other layers - they are untouched, the same.
So, if i would use brush and paint moustache this lady on a active layer - i would paint exactly on her. it would not be very smart movement from my side. if in a meantime - i would think that her moustache dos not fix to her very much - i would not be able to change this. Ereaser would not be able to solve this problem, because i would erease moustache with skin under the nose, leaving in this place beautiful hool with sky. Of course i could reverse my actions using History (historia). However i would loose other positive steps of my work. There is also History Brush Tool, but this is different story.

What should i do ? it is simple - paint moustache on a new layer. Then by using one click on a icon of thash in bottom of panel (13) - i could remove moustache, without touching beautiful skin of our model.
I encourage to create a new layers as much that you need. If you are going to place a new element on a picture, do this on a new layer.

Photoshop, is a brilliant program which any new object pasted in our wrkspace - places in a new layer.

How to create new layer

There is a few ways:

We can choose from menu: Layer » New » Layer (Layer » New » Layer)
or press Ctrl + Shift + N
Or click on icon Create a new layer (12)

Remember! Program makes new layer over the active layer (blue).

How to move layer down or up

As many things in Photoshop also this job we can do for few ways.
Easiest way is to do this manually, using mouse. So, we move cursor on layer, press LMB and we move layer on a target area.
You should notice that douring this action, program creates large line between moving layers. If you release LMB now - progral will laeve layer in this place:

We can also use meno of the program or use shortcuts.

To move layer one place up:
Layer » Arrange » Bring Forward ( ) Ctrl + ]
To move layer one place down:
Layer » Arrange » Send Backward () Ctrl + [
To move layer on top:
Layer » Arrange » Bring to Front () Ctrl + Shift + ]
To move layer on bottom:
Layer » Arrange » Send to Back () Ctrl + Shift + [

How to unlock "layer"Background

There is one layer that is always on a bottom - Background (@@@). This is the only layer in panel which we can see after opening any picture. well, exactly it is nat a layer but it looks like. The trick is how to change it into simple layer. We can do this in two ways:

Choose from menu: Layer » New » Layer From Background ()
Double clicl on a "layer". in appearing window select OK :)

That is all.

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