How to work with layers in Photoshop. Layer and work area in Photoshop. How to merge layers in Photoshop
It would be quite reasonable to start training Photoshop program from the most basic - from the concept of layers and their interaction, since this was precisely what became the hallmark of Photoshop at one time and is still an indispensable feature of the program. Without the full ability to use layers and their capabilities, there is no point in moving forward in mastering.
Let's open the editor with a custom image and practice. At the top of the program window we see a menu of tabs; for now we are only interested in “Layers”. (Fig. 1)
As we see, create new layer you can not only from the drop-down menu, but also using the key combination Shift+Ctrl+N. In order to make the work even more comfortable and fast, the developers have provided the ability to create a new layer in one click (Fig. 2)
When you click this button, the layer will be created automatically and placed above the selected one in the list of layers. (Fig. 3)
Add something to a new layer can be done using the “place” command (Fig. 4)
Rename can be simple double click by layer name.
Above the list of layers there are buttons for controlling modes and layer styles, as well as layer filters (Fig. 5)
You can apply the following actions to a layer::
Change its overlay style (Fig. 6)
Change its transparency and color fill strength (Fig. 7-8)
Additional functions (Fig. 9)
You can also apply filters to the list of layers, for greater convenience of working with them (Fig. 10)
For example, in order to make a duplicate layer without opening the menu, with one click - just click on the desired layer with the left mouse button and, without releasing it, drag it to the “new layer” button - a copy of it will appear. Or using the combination Ctrl+J (Fig. 11)
Delete layer You can either from the drop-down menu or simply by pressing the Del key. Or drag it to the trash can icon below.
To select multiple layers, you need to click on the required layers with the left mouse button while holding down Ctrl key. In order to combine them, just press Ctrl+E. For combining all layers into one- Alt+Ctrl+Shift+E, but you need to remember - the topmost layer must be selected and it must be active. The activity of a layer is switched by the peephole to the left of its (layer) thumbnail. (Fig. 12)
Let's place an arbitrary object in our empty layer and do a few actions with it.
For example, to move layer It is enough to drag it without releasing the left button up or down the list, and to lower it below the background layer, you need to unlock the background layer by double-clicking the left button. As you can see, the layer has been moved behind the background one, it is active, but due to its position in the list it is not visible (Fig. 13)
Cancel any action You can press this combination - Ctrl+Alt+Z. Scroll forward through canceled events - Ctrl+Shift+Z.
Create a new empty layer and fill it with color. To fill with the main color, just press Alt+Backspace (Fig. 14). For filling background color- Ctrl+Backspace. You can also use the lower buttons, then the selected function will be represented in a separate layer.
To maintain the ability to work with the order of layers and edit their contents, if there are a large number of them, it is sometimes convenient not to link them into one, but group. (Fig. 15)
This is achieved in this way - you need to select all the layers that you want to group and press Ctrl+G. You can, of course, also from the “Layers” drop-down menu using the appropriate tabs. They are ungrouped in this way - you just need to drag the required layer up or down in the list so that it goes beyond the boundaries marked by the group. The group itself can also be turned into a smart object, or rasterized. You can also apply blending functions to a group of layers, change the degree of transparency and fill, as with individual layers.
The layer and its contents can be transform. To do this, use the key combination Ctrl+T. You can directly change the size and shape of an object by simply moving the mouse pointer to one of the corners. In order not to lose proportionality, this is, for example, important for photos; when stretching the image, you need to simultaneously hold Shift button. (Fig. 16)
To give the same free form, you need to pull the edges of the object while pressing Ctrl button. (Fig. 17)
You can also deform the object, distort it, distort it in perspective, etc. After pressing Ctrl+T, right-click on it and select what we need (Fig. 18)
In addition to blending modes, there are enormous opportunities for editing and creating different effects in the menu “ Layer Style" Call either from the “Layers” drop-down menu or by double-clicking on a layer in the list (Fig. 19)
This menu is so extensive that we won’t dwell on it separately for now.
Layer mask. Its essence is to hide an object or its parts without deleting them. Many people mistakenly believe that using a layer mask is inconvenient - on the contrary! This is a great tool that allows you to re-edit or change your processing at any time. What the eraser tool won't allow you to do, for example. (Fig. 20)
To hide part of the object, you need to paint over the white mask with a black brush and vice versa (Fig. 21)
Clipping Mask. Makes it possible to cut off parts of one object relative to the border of another. This is done like this: hold down the ALT button and move the mouse cursor to the boundary of the layers between them. Release when the corresponding icon appears. (Fig. 22-23)
The arrow indicates that the layer is clipped.
Selecting the content. To do this, simply click on the layer thumbnail while holding Ctrl (Fig. 24).
The ability to place image elements on different layers during work, set individual overlay parameters for each of them, change the visibility of certain layers and their groups - this is the basis on which all other functionality is built graphic editor Adobe Photoshop. Therefore, the panel for working with layers is perhaps the most used element of the working environment of this editor.
You will need
- Graphic Adobe editor Photoshop.
Instructions
You will need
- - Personal Computer;
- - installed software- “Photoshop”, any version;
- - a snapshot in which you want to turn off layers.
Instructions
Instructions
When enabled, the Layers panel can have two display options. To expand it, just click on the “Layers” icon on the panel, which is usually located at the right edge of the window. You can collapse any panel by clicking on the double arrow at the right edge of its title.
Expand the “Window” section in the Photoshop menu and check the box next to “Layers” if the display of this panel is turned off. This can be done not only by clicking the desired inscriptions with the mouse pointer, but also using the keyboard. To expand a menu section, first press the Alt key (left or right - it doesn’t matter), and then the key with the letter “O” on the Russian keyboard layout. To navigate through section items, use the navigation buttons. Since the desired line is closer to the end of the list, you can quickly get to it using the up arrow. Well, left-clicking on the selected item replaces pressing the Enter key.
You can do without the editor menu, since the command to turn on/off the layers panel is assigned a “hot key”, pressing which when the panel is turned off causes it to appear, and when turned on has the opposite effect. This key is F7, use it to quickly show or hide this interface element.
Most parts of the Photoshop workspace can be moved freely by the user. This is convenient, but sometimes with a careless movement you can push one of them so that it becomes completely unclear how to return it to the space available for normal adjustments. This also happens with the layers panel: it is impossible to find it on the screen, although the corresponding item is checked in the graphics editor menu. In this case, use the “emergency” method - load another version of the working environment. To do this, open the “Window” section in the menu, go to the “Workspace” section and select one of the preset options (for example, “Drawing” or “Main workspace”).
Quite often, to reduce image weight, photographers turn off layers. This step allows you to significantly reduce the size of the image, which is especially important when downloading a file from the Internet to save traffic.
You will need
- - Personal Computer;
- - installed software - “Photoshop”, any version;
- - a snapshot in which you want to turn off layers.
Instructions
As a rule, image files containing a large number of layers (especially for various layers and templates) are quite voluminous in weight. To make them easier, many photo designers turn off layers, which are very easy to restore in any version of Photoshop. This is especially in demand when uploading images to the Internet.
In the working window on the top menu bar, find the “File” item. It is located on the left side. Click on this button and select “Save As” from the list of options. Then in the window that opens, indicate the location of the image that needs to be processed.
To make it easier to view photos on free space in your workspace, right-click and select “Page Thumbnails” view. On the bottom line, indicate the image format you are using. PNG and PSD are the most preferred for working with layers.
When the required photo appears in the working window, begin processing the layers. You can open a screen in which they will all be “highlighted” by pressing the F7 hotkey on your keyboard or selecting the “Window” section in the menu bar. If you decide to go with the second option, your next step is to select the Layers option.
After this, a list of all layers available in the photo will appear in an additional window. To enable/disable them, just left-click in the corresponding squares in the left column of the screen that opens. The “eye” sign will help you “see” the layer. If you disable this icon, the layer will automatically disappear from the image.
In this way, you can hide or reveal some layers in a photo or all of them at once.
Layer structure in Adobe program Photoshop is part of the main toolkit that allows the designer to work with flat digital image, as with a system of independent graphic objects, superimposed on each other, and making up a single composition. Creating each new layer increases the flexibility of image processing, makes possible implementation many operations on retouching, color correction, applying effects, etc.
Instructions
The program layer system is similar to that taken from real life stacks of flat images, as if you were making a collage of paper illustrations cut out from somewhere and pieces of multi-colored paper, laying them on the table one on top of the other - some would overlap each other, some would be partially visible, some would stick out beyond working surface. If the material of the illustrations were translucent, you would see what was underneath, etc., through it. The work of the Adobe Photoshop program is implemented in a similar way, only the images and cut-out figures are digital.
Photoshop layers can be of several types.
Firstly, it can be, in fact, digital raster images– fragments, drawings, etc.
Secondly, these can be layers generated by the program - monochromatic and multi-colored geometric figures, primitives, lines, letters, etc.
Thirdly, these may be layers that do not have own image, but performing service functions - as a rule, these are layers that correct the color, brightness and other parameters of the image below them.
In the list of layers, as a rule, there is one special layer - it is designated Background or Background - which has significant limitations compared to other layers: its size is strictly tied to the working size of the composition, it cannot be moved from its place, and does not have transparency / At the same time, being on the very last line in the list of layers, by default it is the basis of the entire composition, all other layers are located above this background layer. When you first open any image in Photoshop, it is a minimal composition - that is, it consists of a single layer of type Background.
All other layers created during work can have freer parameters and be used more flexibly.
- first of all, they can have any dimensions - their height and width can be either smaller than the working field of your composition or larger than it; in the latter case, of course, the edges of these layers will be hidden outside the frames of the picture.
- secondly, each layer can have one of freely selectable blending modes - that is, you can specify how it will interact with the underlying image. This is first and foremost general degree its transparency, controlled a separate parameter. And also the mathematical one by which the interaction will be determined - it can darken or lighten the underlying image, affect its shadow areas or be visible only in light areas, affect color, saturation, etc.
- thirdly, each layer can have a transparency mask. A mask is a raster map that has the same geometric dimensions as the layer to which it belongs. The color of each of its pixels can be in the range from black to white, which, accordingly, makes the image of the information layer in this area visible, invisible or translucent. That is, for example, you have a rectangular one, but you need only its oval-shaped section to be visible, beyond which the layer should be invisible. To achieve this, you can draw a white oval in the right place on the layer mask, then the edges of the layer will become transparent, and the picture inside the oval will be visible.
Since a layer of the Background type, as mentioned above, cannot change either its transparency or its geometric dimensions, then most often the most necessary operation is to get rid of these restrictions, i.e. creating a full-fledged layer from the Background layer.
To do this, open it in Adobe Photoshop. Make visible the panel with the list of layers (F7 or menu item Window>Layers). We see that there is only one layer in the list, Background, we point the mouse at it and in the context menu (in Windows system- This left button mouse) find the item Layer from Background. This command can also be found in the Layer>New>Layer from Background menu.
Now the resulting layer can be moved, stretched, increased and decreased in size relative to the composition field, erased, deleted or masked unnecessary areas in it, etc.
You can duplicate a layer, sometimes this is needed for editing operations when some areas need to be modified, but the original image should remain untouched just in case. Then, having selected the desired layer in the list of layers, find the command Layer> New> Layer via Copy in the main menu. In the layers panel, this can be done by simply dragging the mouse over the line with the desired layer onto the icon “ clean slate" at the bottom of the panel.
You can duplicate not the entire original layer, but some portion of it, onto a separate layer. To do this, you can first make a selection on it using the tools from the Lasso, Marquee, Quick Selection, etc. kit. In this case, when you select the Layer via Copy command, only a fragment of the original one will be copied to the new layer.
For any image inserted into a composition via the clipboard, its own new unique layer will be automatically created.
When creating geometric primitives or inscriptions using Photoshop tools, each created object will also automatically generate its own layer.
Adjustment layers, with the help of which color correction operations are carried out, can be created either through the Layer>New Adjustment Layer menu, or by finding an icon with a black and white circle divided in two at the bottom of the layers panel. Next, you have the opportunity to choose one of the types of adjustment layers. This is the layer that will be created. Let us recall that if, before starting the operation of creating a new layer, there is a selection on the image - and this is indicated by the presence of flickering dotted lines along the contours of the selection - then layer being created will inherit this selection as a mask. Thus, for example, the color correction operation using a new layer will not be performed on the entire image, but only on the selected part, that is, where the layer mask allows it to be opaque.
note
As you work with a composition, quite a lot of lines can accumulate in the list of layers. To organize a large number of layers, they can be grouped into folders, or combined into one layer, merging with each other. At the same time, it is always necessary to remember that just as creating a new layer increases editing flexibility and expands the possibilities in image processing, so destroying it - merging it with others - deprives you, sometimes irrevocably, of access to information about the image and the ability to edit this or that object or fragment. You should always be aware of whether the modification of the image on this separate layer is really finished and you will never need it again.
If a malfunction occurs operating system, not necessarily on Windows, the functionality of some programs declines sharply. For example, sometimes in Firefox browser several panels disappear, so it is difficult to navigate to the Internet page even using search engines.
You will need
- - Mozilla Internet Browser Firefox.
Instructions
When you launch your browser, you may notice that there is no navigation bar left among the displayed panels. address bar etc. There are times when, by a “happy” coincidence, absolutely all the panels disappear. In such cases, you should not panic, reinstall your Internet browser, or, much worse, update the operating system version.
Almost all program presets can be changed through the settings menu, but what if this menu is not displayed. In the latest releases of the browser, this defect has been corrected, and when you press the Alt key, the top line of the menu appears. Once you release the key, the menu will disappear again.
Therefore, you need to hold down the Alt key, click on the “View” menu and select the “Toolbars” item. In the list that opens, you need to check the missing panels at the top of the browser. You can also change the arrangement of panels and individual icons by selecting the “Customize” item in the “Toolbars” menu item.
In the window that opens, you will have access not only to panels, but also to other icons (commands) that are not added to the browser by default in order to save space for displaying Internet pages. For example, if you use information from pages to quote in forums, Internet messengers or other means of communication, you can display elements of working with text (commands “paste”, “cut” and “copy”).
If you don’t remember exactly which panel was located and where, just click the “Restore” button in open window and all panels will return to their previous location. You can also change the display of existing icons by adding captions to them or removing the icons, leaving only the text (the “Show” drop-down list). To finish working with the toolbar settings, click the “Close” button; restarting the browser is not required.
Panels in Photoshop- an important component of the program. They contain basic information and tools for work. It is not possible to work without panels; if for some reason they have disappeared from view, they must be restored.
The speed of photo processing in Photoshop depends on the ability to work with layers, because they are considered the basic theme of the utility. Therefore, the faster you work with layers in Photoshop, the better you will begin to understand the program, and working with photography will seem easy.
The basis of the pixel grid is the layer. You can't do anything in life or in programs if the design elements are on the same layer. Is this even possible? Working with a plane rather than a three-dimensional image?
We can see objects, but we cannot move them or change them. Layers help us out in this matter. A 3D image is created, here every element is in its place, and we can work with any object in the photograph without any problems.
Let's take a simple example: A master constantly creates a certain part, it already has a familiar size and elements. Suddenly the customer asks to reduce it very slightly. The master will have to redo everything from the very beginning.
This is the principle used to edit images by all users. famous program"Paint." And why all? There is only 1 working layer and if you try to add a new object, it will simply fill the entire drawing and hide what is behind it.
A layer in Photoshop is an invisible surface on which you can place any object. This creates a three-dimensional picture: there are objects in the background and foreground, in the middle.
Layer and workspace in Photoshop
The layer has no area restrictions. When creating a new file, you can define dimensions of 1000 by 1000 pixels, but this absolutely does not mean that the layers will occupy all 1000 pixels.
Layer– this is infinity, which can be stretched as much as you like, in any direction. Don't be afraid of running out of space. There will be plenty of space (unless, of course, your computer was initially filled with garbage and unnecessary files).
Layers panel in Photoshop
Photoshop has tools that manipulate layers. To find the layers panel, go to the menu "Window", then select "Layers". Place it in a place convenient for you, it will always be at hand. The panel must be studied, this will save time and increase the quality of the work performed.
So, the panel:
In its central part there are noticeable tabs - these are layers. They can be mixed and moved as you wish. When you hover the cursor over a layer, you can notice its characteristics by signs (layer blocking, its visibility).
When you open a photo, you have one layer, and it is partially locked, it is called the Background. By the way, very often people have difficulty identifying a regular layer and a background; they simply do not know how to distinguish between them. So let's look at these two types of layer.
Background and normal layer
When you open a photo in Photoshop, there is one layer - the background. The background layer is one of the usual types, only with its own special properties.
Initially, the background layer is located at the very bottom of the list, as soon as a new one is added, the background layer moves lower. As mentioned above, the background one is always partially blocked, you can perform almost any action with it: apply plastic, fill; change shades, paint on it with a brush, adjust sharpness, blur the subject, crop and much more.
There are so many actions you can perform that if you list everything, you can get confused, so it’s easier to determine what you can’t do with the background layer.
Let's list:
The layer will not become partially opaque, nor will it become translucent.
The blend mode cannot be applied, and it is also impossible to remove it, since it is locked from the very beginning.
The blend mode is applied only to the top layers, and the background mode is the bottom one, therefore, you cannot apply an overlay to it.
Even if you select an object and delete the graphics, the layer will not become partially opaque, so you can only cover the entire object with paint, nothing more, again remember the famous “Paint”, in which everything is done exactly this way.
The Internet is full of queries like: “how to make the background translucent”, “how to make the background a different color,” it’s noticeable that people don’t understand the types of layers at all and don’t know how to get rid of unnecessary parts in a photograph.
Background layer- Very old setting in Photoshop, you can easily get rid of it. To do this you need to open the tab "Layers", choose "New", then "Background Layer"(provided that you are working in version 6 of Photoshop, older versions may differ slightly in the tabs).
In the same way, you can make a regular layer background: Tab "Layers", choose "New", then "Background from layer".
To save time and not have to search required tabs, double click Click on the layers panel. Click below or to the left of the title layer. Once the background layer becomes a regular layer, all operations with the layer become available to you. Including creating a translucent layer.
Types of layers in Photoshop
There are a lot of layers in Photoshop. Let's look at their main types:
Regular layer- this is a layer without any additional features, the most common. It can be either a photograph or an element of a drawing.
3D layer- an innovation in Photoshop, with the help of which you can add two-dimensional graphics to three-dimensional ones. Working with it is quite complicated, it is even considered one of the most confusing.
Layer color correction - a kind of layer. You could even say that this is a filter that can be used to change colors. By the way, color correction layers come in a wide variety.
Fill layer- with it you can paint over or fill the background with absolutely any color, or even texture. It is important to note that such layers are convenient in terms of settings (there is a special panel, with its help corrections and changes are made).
Text layer- in the program the letter part is located on different layers. They are called Text Layers. Basically, if a person understands and can understand the text in the utility, then he can work in such layers without any problems.
And finally, smart layer the newest one from latest version. Simply put, it is a regular layer, only under protection. Do you know what the essence of protection is?
Our layer is placed in a special container, it does not allow changes graphic images. The smart layer is the same “container”. You may notice a small icon on the thumbnail - a sign that the protective function has been performed.
Why do we block graphics?
Smart layer doesn't actually block graphics in the truest sense of the word. The graphics are in the smart layer container, you can perform any actions with them. In addition, it is possible to apply any effects, while the graphics do not become worse, but remain the same quality.
Layers panel
Previously, the Layers panel was called the Layers palette. This is the most an important part program, without it it will lose its meaning. In older versions you still had to find the panel and open it, but now, on this moment this panel opens automatically after loading the program.
In fact, the panel is very easy to “control”. For ease, we divide it into 3 parts: upper, lower, middle. Top – visibility modes, middle – all layers, bottom – settings.
At the top of the panel, you can select Blend Mode, which can be used to create any effect for the image.
You can set the Opacity of any layer. If the opacity is reduced to 0%, the layer will be invisible. Once you return the opacity to 100%, you will see the entire layer.
At the bottom of the panel there is an icon "fx", which applies different styles and overlays.
To add a layer mask, you need to click on the rectangle icon with a circle inside it.
To create an adjustment layer, click on the circle next to it.
A square with a folded corner creates a new transparent layer.
You can delete a layer using the icon "Basket".
How to duplicate a layer
In order to duplicate a layer in Photoshop, right-click on the row of the selected layer, you will see a drop-down menu - select "Duplicate Layer".
You can also duplicate it using a key combination, hold down Ctrl And J, a new layer is instantly created - a duplicate, the values will be by default.
If no effects are applied to the layer, you can also duplicate it like this: hold down Ctrl And A, then Ctrl And C, insert using operation Ctrl And V.
However, the most quick way- this is to clamp Alt and drag the layer higher.
This way you can duplicate everything, for example: effects or a mask.
How to make a transparent layer
Many people are interested in how any element can be made transparent. These settings are in the layers panel, at the top. Fill And Opacity make the layer transparent without any problems.
What is the difference between fill and opacity?
Filling can only remove the appearance of the filling content of a layer.
Opacity removes the visibility of the entire layer completely.
Fill should be used when the user wants to reduce the visibility of a layer. In all other cases, opacity is needed (for example, if you want to leave layer effects visible).
One interesting fact: If both settings are set to 50%, the layer should disappear, since the fill and opacity have removed half of the visibility, but no matter how we think, the settings work differently.
Remove 50% of the fill (50% of all visibility). The opacity removes another 50% from the 50% already removed by the fill. Fifty percent of 50 is 25. Hence the conclusion is that if you remove 50% of the fill and 50% of the opacity, the total will be 75%.
Layer Blend Modes
One of the main concepts in the program is the blending mode. As we already know, an image can consist of layers different levels transparency, each of which has a "normal" mode by default.
If you apply an overlay to a layer that differs in any way from normal, it will begin to interact with the underlying layers, allowing you to change the image or create effects. Blending modes are simply designed for retouching and painting.
Basic layer interactions: dissolve, darken, multiply, color burn, lighten, and much more.
Layer Lock Modes
There are cases when a beginner cannot do anything with a layer, it does not react to anything: it refuses to move, it cannot be acted upon. In this case, it is clear that the layer is locked.
Locking modes are located in the layers panel, at the top of it. There are 4 actions you can take: preserve pixel transparency, preserve pixel colors, lock position, and save all.
Lock pixel transparency– everything is clear here, this mode blocks all actions with invisible pixels. Simply put, you can do a lot with a layer, for example: modify, move or delete.
But it is impossible to change the information about invisibility, since there is a lock on the pixels.
It is possible to edit only those areas on which there is a drawing.
Locking image pixels– it is logical to assume that all pixels of the photo (visible and invisible) are blocked. You can move a layer, change its scale, flip it horizontally and other actions with this command, but you cannot change the content of graphics with brushes, stamps, gradients and other tools.
Lock the layer position. If you apply this function, then the layer cannot be moved anywhere, everything else is allowed. Convenient for those users who were looking for the desired location of a layer, and then accidentally moved it.
Block everything – complete blocking layer. The graphics cannot be changed or moved. This function can be easily found: the icon looks like a regular padlock. You can easily determine which layer is locked and which is not.
How to link layers
While working in the program, a very large number of layers can accumulate. Some have settings and effects applied to them; to simplify them, you need to combine them together so that there is no unnecessary stuff, which is easy to get confused in. In this case, find an element similar to a chain at the bottom of the panel, select the layers (left-click on one of the layers while holding down the Ctrl, select the rest).
Another way: Find the tab "Layers", select "Link Layers".
To unlink, you need to right-click on one of the layers and select the appropriate item.
How to create a layer in Photoshop
The simplest thing you can do in the program is to create a new layer with one click. At the bottom of the layers panel, find the blank sheet icon; clicking on it instantly creates a new layer.
There is also a team that is slower in this regard. Tab "Layers", next "New Layer", "Layer". Or just press the key combination Ctrl+Shift+N.
In the dialog box, you can set the settings you need before the layer is created. For example, you can preset the blending mode and select the degree of invisibility. On the other hand, nothing prevents you from doing all this later.
In the drop down window "Color" You can set the display color of the layer. This is convenient if the user is creating a website and needs to visually separate the layers by color.
Perhaps there is still one useful setting in the layer settings dialog box.
If you know in advance that you are creating a layer with a certain regime overlay, you can immediately fill it with a neutral color. The color that will be invisible in the specifically selected blending mode.
Why is this necessary? Neutral color is often used to create layers of effects. For example, you can create an empty layer, fill it with 50% gray, apply the effect "Background", then "Blur", and blending mode. The result will be a rain effect. You can limit yourself to the effect "Noise", apply blending mode.
So we will add some noise on a separate layer. So instead of creating a layer, then filling it gray, then change the blending mode, it’s easier to immediately click Ctrl+Shift+N and select all settings in the dialog box.
And one more piece of advice. Do you like creating layers through the Layers panel? In this case, you skip the dialog box because the layer is created on the fly. But in some situations, a dialog box is still needed and to call it, you need to hold down the ALT key when clicking on the icon.
How to apply a layer style
The layer style is live effects that are attached directly to the layer itself. Their big advantage is that they are not used permanently. You can disable them, hide them, turn them back on and, of course, change the settings.
There are two ways to use them:
1.
Apply a ready-made preset
2.
Create from scratch and apply
First: Open or create a Photoshop document and duplicate the background layer. Go to the main menu tab "Window" - "Styles" to open the Layer Styles palette and simply click on one of the thumbnails in that palette. You'll immediately notice how the style is automatically applied to the layer. With a white rectangle crossed out by a stripe, you can remove the style of a layer.
Second: You need to open and create a Photoshop document, duplicate the background layer. In the Layers panel, double-click on the layer with the left mouse button (but not on the name!), or click on the icon fx at the bottom of the palette and select the line "Blending Options".
How to make a color correction layer
The color correction layer allows you to change the color of other layers.
To create it you need:
Select tab "Layers", "New Adjustment Layer".
How to make a fill layer
The fill layer works exactly like an adjustment layer, except that the fill is a solid color. It is clear that the fill layer can be edited and deleted without affecting other layers.
On the tab "Layers" select the layer on top of which you want the fill layer to appear. The menu will appear "Creating a New Fill Layer", select "Color", "Gradient", "Pattern".
If suddenly you decide to set parameters when creating, click on "Layer", "New Fill Layer", "Color", "Gradient", then you need to enter the name of the layer and check the box "Group with Previous".
Applying a mask to a layer
The purpose of a layer mask is to control the transparency of the layer.
Inexperienced users will ask: “Why is this layer mask needed if the transparency can be changed using the “Opacity” setting. Everything is very simple! The point is that the function "Opacity" can only change the transparency of the entire layer, and "Layer - mask" can change any part of the layer you select.
How to find a layer mask? At the bottom of the layers panel there is an icon: a circle in a rectangle. This is the fastest way, just click on the icon. If you click once, a raster mask is created. If two, then a vector mask is created.
Click and hold down a key Alt will create a hiding black mask, similarly, second click + pressed key = hiding vector mask.
How to group layers
Sometimes there are so many layers that they need to be grouped somehow. If you are designing a website, there can be hundreds of elements. The same goes for a complex poster or cover.
To group layers, select the desired layers in the panel and hold down CTRL+G. At any vector program This is a grouping of objects into one block. In Photoshop this group creates special folder and puts all the layers into it.
The folder can be easily created in the layers panel. Eat special icon for this: empty folder. Clicking on it creates a folder into which you can drag layers (manually).
The program is designed correctly; if you decide to delete a group, follow the steps to delete it, a menu will appear specifying what needs to be deleted: the group and everything inside it, or just the group.
To open the group dialog box, press and hold Alt and click on the group icon.
Removing layers in Photoshop
The reverse operation of creating new layers is deleting them. If you need to remove auxiliary layers or just a failed layer, use the delete function.
There are five removal methods, let's look at them:
The first, the simplest: Press the delete key on the keyboard. Backspace or Delete.
Second: Click on the trash can icon, which is located at the bottom of the layers palette. All that remains is to confirm the deletion.
Third: Drag the unnecessary layer to the same trash bin.
Fourth: Right-click on the layer name and select from the menu "Delete Layer".
Fifth: Select window "Layers", "Delete", "Layers".
Layer navigation in Photoshop
Sometimes it turns out that the number of layers turns out to be very large and scrolling through it all seems like a tedious task. There is such an interesting tool, it is called the move tool. To select a layer, hold down the key Ctrl and click on the object that is located on the layer.
Symbols and Notations
The state of the layer can be found using symbols.
Layers in Photoshop have a lot of specific symbols. The designations indicate the state of the layer. Here are some you may encounter.
The Layers panel has a lot of conveniences. For example, it has an extended context menu, when you right-click on any instrument. You can right-click on any layer panel object and get a context menu from which you can choose what you can do with this element.
By clicking on the mask you get quick settings masks.
By clicking on the thumbnail of the layer icon, you get a menu of settings for the thumbnail, size and alignment.
By clicking on the layer style icons you get a menu of styles.
By simply clicking on a layer you get a general menu of various options and settings. Duplicate, merge, and so on.
Slotd settings panel
By clicking on the corner of the layers panel you will be taken to the panel's context menu "Layers". In general, it is of no interest, since it contains the same commands as the main layers menu.
Create a new layer, duplicate it, create a group, and so on. However, the slotd panel settings can only be accessed in this menu.
Select "Panel Options".
In the layer panel dialog box you can size the layer thumbnail. The same can be done by simply right-clicking on the thumbnail directly in the layers panel.
In the “Panel Options” column, you can select how graphics will be displayed:
"Layer Boundaries"- will only show graphics.
"Whole document"- will show the entire work area and the location of the graphics on it.
If Workspace too large, small graphic elements simply will not be visible. Other functions of this window:
"Use default masks for fill layers"- when creating a fill layer, attaches an empty mask by default. If you don't like it, turn it off.
"Reveal new effects"- when creating layer styles, or when creating live effects for a smart layer, immediately expands the full-length list of effects in the layers panel. If you have a lot of elements, if each element has about ten styles, and you don't like collapsing style lists all the time, just turn it off.
“Add the word copy to copied layers and groups”— When you copy a group or layer, the program applies the “copy” icon; if necessary, just uncheck the box.
How to merge layers in Photoshop
Merging layers in a program is a technical operation that is almost always necessary. When there are more and more layers, it is easier to simply combine them into single layer. Our team helps us with this "Layers - Flatten".
After performing this action, all invisible layers are deleted.
To combine visible ones, apply "Layers", "Merge Visible".
In this case, there is no need to select the necessary layers; the program will do everything itself.
How to merge multiple specific layers
In other situations, you only need to merge a few layers together. In this case, you need to select these layers in the layers panel and apply "Layers", "Merge Layers" or use simple combination keys CTRL+E.
How to Rasterize Layer Styles
Often beginners do not understand the term "rasterize". This can be said to be the basics of the program, the basic principles of creating an image.
Rasterize an image- means to make any transformations in a drawing or photograph, which consist of many figures.
Sometimes you have to rasterize layer styles. However, there is no command to merge all the styles into one graphic. But there is always a way out, as they say. You need to create an empty layer, select it with styles, along with empty layer, while holding down the key Shift. Now select "Layers - Merge Layers". When you merge an empty layer with a layer that has styles, you get raster graphics, no styles.
How to merge blend modes
If you've used Photoshop before, you've most likely heard of blend modes. The layers overlap each other and interact with each other.
Blend modes can be used to create effects. For example, mode "Screen" brightens the photo "Multiplication" darkens the photo.
The layer merging feature has several advantages. Because the order of the layers in the panel is completely preserved, the weight of the document is reduced. Merging layers is sometimes necessary before continuing to edit an image.
To merge layers together with an overlay effect, you need to select both layers, hold down CTRL+E.
Another situation where you get an overlay effect on complex surface. When you need to preserve colors, at the same time remove the blending mode.
This cannot be done automatically.
You need to know that the appearance of a design when using blending modes is the result of the interaction of the top layer with the bottom. If the layers are shifted, the effect will be changed. If the blending mode is changed, the effect disappears. To avoid losing layers, you need to copy the bottom part of the gray layer and merge it with the top one.
How to copy layers
Copying is very easy. You need to select 1 layer, click on it, and hold down Alt. By moving a layer higher, a copy of it will appear.
Another way is the copy layer command CTRL+J or "Layers", "New", "Copy to new layer".
There is also a duplication command "Layers", "Duplicate Layer".
How to manage layers
Users generally always use the Layers panel. When moving a layer, you need to grab it with the mouse and move it higher. However, you don't have to do it that way! The program is equipped with many commands, including those specifically designed for moving layers.
You don’t have to constantly go to the menu and look for the desired item there; you can use commands. This can be a great time saver.
Basic:
Layer, Arrange, Bring to Front- will move the layer above all,
Layer, Arrange, Bring Forward- will move 1 layer higher,
Layer, Arrange, Move Back- will move down 1 layer,
Layer, Arrange, Send to Back-will move the layer so that it is the bottom one.
There is also very interesting team "Layer", "Arrange", "Inversion". It will change the places of the layers. Here, naturally, you need to choose two layers.
Layer alignment command. It can be done using the move tool, but in addition to the tool, the command is in the settings panel.
They are in "Layer", "Align".
Conclusion
Here we looked at one very important concept that underlies working with the program. The article includes basic concepts and actions necessary for a beginner.
After reading it, you now know what a layer is, the main types of layers, how to work in the panel and how to open layers in Photoshop.
A huge advantage of layers is that everything here can be moved and edited. Users can easily create their own original drawing or work on the image, customizing each layer.
