A layer is simply one image stacked on top of another. You can see through transparent areas of a layer to the layers below. You move a layer to position the content on the layer, like sliding a sheet of acetate in a stack. You can also change the opacity of a layer to make content partially transparent. Choose Window > Layers. (F7)

Layers panel

Photoshop’s layers Panel is a powerful tool that allows you do many special things to your layed compositions. Next we will look at the Photoshop layers pallete.

• Layer Filter:This enables you to hide layers based on different things. Makes it easier to find the layers that you want to work with.
• Opacity:0= transparant 100 = fully opaque. press number keys on keyboard to instantly set to multiples of 10 or adjust the slider for an exact amount of transparency on each layer.
• Blend Modes:Change these to change the way that the selected layer blends with the layers underneath it. Great for compositing and special effects. (With the move tool selected, press Shift+ or Shift- to cycle through blending modes.
• Fill opacity:Adjusts the amount of opacity of the pixels only, but any layer styles are uneffected and remain 100% opaque.
• visibility:If the eye is showing that layer is visible. Click on the eye and the layer will still be there but invisible until you click on the eye again.
• Locked:The padlock means that something is locked in the layer. (Also click in the 4 icons in the “lock” next to fill opacity to make certain things editable of locked). Here are the different things that can be locked/unlocked.
  • Lock all:If the box is checked the layer is totally protected from any editing.
  • Lock Position:You can make any changes except for moving the image.
  • Lock Image pixels:You cannot draw on this layer if checked.
  • Lock transparent:You can paint on this layer but not where it is transparent.
    Useful tools at the bottom of the panel
• Link:Enabled you to link layers. These will all move together unless unlinked.
• Layer Effects (Styles):Special effects applied to your image layer. Noted by the little f. Each effect will be listed. multiple effects may be used at once.
• Add Layer Mask:This is the button to press to add a layer mask to the currently selected layer. Allows you to paint away parts of your layer without damaging your original image.
• Add Adjustment Layer:The best way to apply image adjustments. There can change the color or tone of an image. All layers are affected underneath an adjustment layer (Unless clipped). This is a good option to using Image>Adjustments because adjustment layers are non-destructive and re editable.
• Layer Groups:A good organizational tool. This puts layers into a folder. You can choose multiple layers and press Cmd/Ctrl+G to put them in a group, or create a group by clicking this icon. Layers can be dragged in or out of groups in the Layers panel.
• Create New Layer:Press this icon to create a new layer. Drag an existing layer into this icon to create a duplicate of that layer,
• Delete Layer:Drag a layer into this icon to remove it. Or select the layer and then press this icon to get the same result.
• Panel Options:This will open a drop-down menu that provides a number of options, many that aren’t listed anywhere else.

Types of layers

In Photoshop there are a number of different types of layers. They are usually indicated by icons, here is what they all do.

Thumbnail: A small picture of the layer’s contents.

• Layer Group:This puts layers into a folder. Layers can be dragged in or out of groups in the Layers panel.
• Type Layer:The same as an image layer, except this layer contains type that can be edited; (Change character, color, font or size)
• Adjustment Layer:An adjustment layer is changing the color or tone of all the layers underneath it. To only affect th layer directly underneath it (an ignore the other underlying layers): Move your pointer on the line between the adjustment layer and the layer directly beneath it, hold down Alt/Option. You will see a symbol appear. Click to limit the adjustment. (clip to layer) do the same thing again to toggle this option off.
• Layer Style:An effect has been applied. Click the eye to turn it on or off. Double click “effects” to open the Layer Styles options.
• Layer Mask:Allows you to paint on the mask to show and reveal portions of the image.
• Smart Object:A special type of layer that is actually a container that can hold; multiple (or 1) layers, vectors for illustrator, raw files, video, 3D or many other types of objects. To learn about Smart Objects in depth, check out this video,

Art layer: a regular layer

Background: Always locked, cannot be moved or have layer effects applied to it. The little icon of the padlock on the right, indicates it is locked. Can be changed into a regular layer by simply double clicking on the thumbnail.

Special types of layers

There are two different types of layers that have appeared in newer version of Photoshop. These used to only be in Photoshop Extended. With Photoshop CC, there is no longer a separate Extended version, all the features are now included with every copy of photoshop.

Video Layer: This indicates that there is video on this layer. Photoshop is now able to be used as a video editor, to worki with video, animated slideshows and motion graphics. See Video in Photoshop if you want to learn about video editing in Photoshop.

3D Layer: Photoshop is capable of importing and working with 3D objects. It also has the ability to do 3D printing.

Convert a background into a Photoshop layer

• Double-click Background in the Layers panel, or
• Choose Layer > New > Layer from Background.
• Click OK.

Show or hide a layer, group, or style

Showing or hiding layers, groups, or styles lets you isolate or view only certain portions of your image for easy editing.

• Click the eye icon next to a layer, group, or layer effect to hide its content in the document window.
• Click in the column again to redisplay the content. To view the eye icon for styles and effects.
• Choose Show Layers or Hide Layers from the Layers menu.
• Alt-click an eye icon to display only the contents of that layer or group.
• Only visible layers are printed.

Group and link layers

Grouping layers helps organize your projects and keeps your Layers panel uncluttered. By linking layers, you establish a relationship between them, even if they aren’t next to each other in your layer order.

Group and ungroup layers

• Select multiple layers in the Layers panel.
• Choose Layer > Group Layers.
• Alt-drag layers to the folder icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to group the layers.
• To Ungroup the layers, select the group and choose Layer > Ungroup Layers.

To create a new layer set

• Layer >new >layer set or
• Click on ‘create new group’ in the layer palette
• Appears layer set in layer palette
• Create new layer

 To place layer into the layer set: –

• Select the layer
• Click and drag on to layer set

To link the layer: –

• Select the required layer
• Click on the link box
• Now you can move delete lock align merge the linked layer image –A ,B and C

To change the layer name: –

• Double click on layer text
• Rename the layer or
• Layer >Rename layer
• Type the layer name, Click ok

Merge visible: –

• Visible the required layer
• Layer >merge visible (Ctrl + Shift + E)
• (This command lets you to merge only the visible layer)

Merge down: –

• This command merges the down layer of selected layer
• Select the required layer
• Layer >merge Down (Ctrl + E)

Copy Merged

• This command makes a merged copy of all the visible layers in the selected area.

Flatten Image: –

• This command merges all the visible layer and set as background layer. Hidden layer will be deleted
• Layer >flatten image.

Move layers

• Select the Move tool.
• You can select the layers that you want to move directly in the document window. In the Move tool’s options bar, select Auto Select, then choose Layer from the drop-down menu. Shift-click to select multiple layers. Select Auto Select, then choose Group, to select the entire group when you select one layer in the group.
• In the document window, drag any object onto one of the selected layers. (All objects on the layer will move together.)
• Press an arrow key on the keyboard to move the objects by 1 pixel on same layer.
• Hold down Shift and press an arrow key on the keyboard to move the objects by 10 pixels.
• Hold down Alt key and Press an arrow key on the keyboard to move the objects by 1 pixel on new layer.

Layer Style: –

Layer style lets you to apply drop shadow, inner /outer glow fill color, gradient, pattern etc.

1. Drop Shadow: – It adds the shadow behind the layer contents.
2. Inner Shadow: – It adds the shadow inside the layer contents.
3. Outer /Inner glow: – It adds Outer/inner glow at the edge of the layer content.
4. Bevel and Emboss: – Combination of lightness and darkness color and black and white.
5. Color, Pattern, Gradient overlay: – Fills the color, Pattern Gradient in layer Content.
6. Stroke: – This command lets you to stroke the layer content.

Layer tips:

Here are some useful tips for working with Photoshop Layers:

• Click to select a layer
• Ctrl+click to select multiple layers
• Drag your curser through the eye incons to turn the visibility on or off on multiple layers
• Ctrl+ J to copy a layer
• Ctrl+ J to copy a selection to a new layer
• Ctrl+Shift + J to Move a selection to a new layer
• Click the padlock icon on the background to convert it to a regular layer
• Press Ctrl+G to Move all the selected layers into a new group
• Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E to create a new merged layer above all the other layers
• Hold Alt while adding a mask to create an inverted layer mask
• You can drag elements from the layers panel into other documents
• Hold down Alt and click the pane between two layers to clip the contents of the top layer into the transparencey of the layer underneath it
• Choose the move tool “V key” Press Shift + “+” to cycle through all the blending modes. Shift + “-” to cycle in reverse.

Layer position adjustment

• > Click on required layer
• > Drag it to up or down where you want to place it
• Ctrl + shift +] = Bring it to top
• Ctrl + shift +[ = Bring it to bottom
• Ctrl +] = one step up
• Ctrl +[ = one step down

 

Making chocolate: –

• Create a new document
• Create a new layer
• Make a rectangular marquee selection
• Fill chocolate color
• Layer >layer style >Bevel and Emboss
• Define depth and size, Press ok
• Type the text
• Layer >layer style >Bevel and Emboss
• Define depth and size, Press ok
• Link chocolate and text layer
• Layer >merge layer (Ctrl + E)
• Press ctrl key & click on the layer (to select the layer content)
• Edit >Define pattern
• New Document (Ctrl + N)
• New layer; Make a rectangular marquee selection
• Fill Chocolates pattern (shift + backspace)

Emboss Text Effect

• New document
• New layer
• Fill color any color
• Type the text with same color
• Layer >layer style >Drop shadow
• Inner shadow outer /inner Glow, Bevel and emboss

Glow Effect

• Open an image
• Make a selection according to it’s shape
• Layer >New >layer via copy (Ctrl + J)
• This command place the selected image
• in a new layer at same position.
• Layer >layer style >outer glow
• Mode — normal Color — Any Color
• Define size press ok

Shine Text effect

• Type the text
• Layer >layer style >stroke ( fill type > Gradient —– size –2
• Check on bevel and emboss
• Style — stroke Emboss
• Gloss contour
• Define depth and size
• Check on drop shadow press ok
• Create a new layer
• Click on brush tool
• Select the cross brush (define cross shape brush)
• Select the foreground color white.
• Click on the required place of the text

How to make metal text?

• First create a new document
• Press D to set default color setting
• Take type tool and type some words with black color
• Now right click on type layer and click on blending option
• Click on stroke option and apply the stroke of 1 px with black color>ok
• Now set the fill to 0%
• Right click at the type layer and click at the blending option
• Double click at the bevel and emboss option
• Set the following settings
• Style = inner bevel
• Technique = chisel hard
• Depth = 100
• Direction=up
• Size and soften=0
• Angle=120
• Altitude=30
• Highlight mode=screen
• Shadow mode=multiply
• Opacity=75
• Now apply inner shadow with settings,(distance=3 size=4)
• Apply drop shadow with default settings
• Apply gradient overlay and opacity=75>ok

Breaking text effect

• Type text
• Layer >Layer style >pattern over lay
• Select Rock type Pattern
• Check on Bevel and Emboss
• Define depth and size apply drop shadow ok
• Layer >Rasterize >Type
• Click on polygon lasso tool, Make a triangular selection
• Press Ctrl key (to activate move tool)
• Click and drag the selected part

Heart Shape

• Click on custom Shape tool (U)
• Select heart shape tool from option bar
• Click on fill pixels
• Layer >Layer style >bevel and emboss
• Depth > 200%
• Size >35
• Soften > 2 -5
• Click on ok

 Cartoon Character

• Create New layer
• Make a perfect circular selection
• Fill yellow color
• Layer >Layer style >Inner glow, Blend mod normal
• Color black— Opacity –40 -50%
• Define Size click on ok
• Create a new layer
• Select >transform Selection (Ctrl + T)
• Press Alt + Shift key and resize the selection
• Select Foreground color –White
• Click on Gradient tool (G)
• Select the gradient color
• White Transplant
• Type – liner
• Click and drag
• Opacity 80-90%
• Create a new layer (Eye)
• Make a perfect circular selection
• Fill – white color
• Layer >Layer style >inner Glow
• Blending mod > Normal
• Color >black
• Opacity >40%
• Define Size
• Same way you can make nose and mouth
• To copy and paste the layer Style: –
• Select the layer Style
• Layer >Layer style >Copy layer style
• Select the layer content or link the layer
• Layer >Layer Style >Past layer style
• Clear Layer style
• Select the layer (which you have to delete layer style)
• Layer >Layer Style >Clear layer Style.

Background Design

• Open an image (size 500x500px)
• Make a circular selection
• Press (Q) {Edit in quick mask mode)
• Filter > Filter Gallery >Distort >Glass
• Distortion-7-10
• Smoothness- 1 Texture – Tiny lens Scaling 100
• Press ok
• Press Q (Stander mode)
• Press Ctrl + Shift + I
• Fill gradient color.

Smart Object

Smart Objects are layers that contain image data from raster or vector images, such as Photoshop or Illustrator files. Smart Objects preserve an image’s source content with all its original characteristics, enabling you to perform non-destructive editing to the layer.

Smart Object benefits

With Smart Objects, you can:

• Perform non-destructive transforms. You can scale, rotate, skew, distort, perspective transform, or warp a layer without losing original image data or quality because the transforms don’t affect the original data.
• Work with vector data, such as vector artwork from Illustrator, that otherwise would be rasterized in Photoshop.
• Perform non-destructive filtering. You can edit filters applied to Smart Objects at any time.
• Edit one Smart Object and automatically update all its linked instances.
• Apply a layer mask that’s either linked or unlinked to the Smart Object layer.

Ball using inner shadow

• Create a new layer
• create circle shape with marquee tool
• fill light blue color
• go to layer style
• use drop shadow
• use inner shadow

Copy layer style

• select required style form layer pallet
• press alt key and drag it to required layer

Create button

• Create new layer with circle
• fill any colr
• go to bevel and emboss
•                direction:up
• create new layer with little bit small circle
• fill same color
• go to bevel and emboss
•                dirction : down
• create four small cicle
• fill same color
• copy first layer style to all four circle

Background text

• Open an image
• Type text
• font: Impact (any bold font)
• Font size: 300pt
• press ctrl key and click on tyex layer (T icon)
• selct image layer
• press ctrl j
• hide text layer
• select new layer
• go to layer style
•  bevel and emboss
•   drop shadow