Using Layer Styles

Layer styles are cool visual effects you can add to each layer of your image. Specifically, there are two options you can apply to layers. These are:

• Blending Options: This option allows you to alter the way colors blend within your layers. There are 10 blending options you can apply to layers:

  • Drop shadow

  • Inner shadow

  • Outer glow

  • Inner glow

  • Bevel and emboss

  • Satin

  • Color overlay

  • Gradient overlay

  • Pattern overlay

  • Stroke

• Style Options: This option contains preset styles for your layers. Photoshop groups these styles into libraries. For example, there are Text Effect styles, Rollover Button styles, and Abstract styles. You’ll learn more about some different styles available in Photoshop in Chapter 10.

Accessing the Layer Styles

In Photoshop, there are often many ways to access the same option, command, or feature. Often, it’s just a matter of habit or preference; go with whichever way feels right to you.

The Layer Styles feature, for example, can be accessed in several ways.

Select the Background layer, then press the Layer Style icon, found at the bottom of the Layers palette. A drop-down menu displays, as shown in Figure 3-6. This drop-down menu contains the various styles you can apply to your layer.

Figure 3-6: Selecting styles for your layers

You can select individual style options from this menu or choose the Blending Options item from this drop-down menu. Selecting Blending Options displays the Layer Style dialog box, as shown in Figure 3-7. The Layer Style dialog box gives you access to all layer styles at once.

Figure 3-7: The Layer Style dialog box

Tip 

You can also access the Layer Style dialog box a couple other ways. For all methods, you’ll first need to select the layer to which you wish to add a style.
An alternative method (as opposed to the first method shown in Figure 3-6) involves right-clicking on the layer to which you wish to add a style. A submenu displays. Select Blending Options from this submenu to display the Layer Style dialog box.

Using the Blending Options

Notice the 10 different options you can add to your layers. These options appear on the left side of the Layer Style dialog box as check boxes. These are the same layer styles displayed when you clicked the Layer Style icon at the bottom of the Layers palette.

Move the Layer Style dialog box over on your screen so you can see your Bing logo file. Click on a few blending option items to see what happens.

Once you’ve seen some of the different blending options, uncheck any boxes you’ve checked. It’s time to get to work.

1. Check the Bevel and Emboss check box. You’ll notice the background now has a rounded, 3D edge to it. Notice, however, that the edge gets in the way of our text. Let’s change the angle of the bevel and emboss.

Changing Blending Options Settings

1. Click on the Bevel and Emboss text label. The right side of the Layer Style dialog box now displays additional bevel and emboss options.

   Note 

   You can access more settings for all these blending options in this same manner — by clicking the option’s text label.

2. In the Shading section, change the angle to 60º, as shown in Figure 3-8. Then press OK. Notice the bevel and emboss angle effect on your logo changes.

   
   Figure 3-8: Changing settings of the Bevel and Emboss blending option

Let’s change some blending option settings associated with your other layers. Perform the following steps:

1. Select the Co. Name layer. Right-click in this layer and choose Blending Options to access the Layer Style dialog box.

2. Check the Drop Shadow, Bevel and Emboss, and Color Overlay check boxes.

3. Left-click once on the Color Overlay option. The right side of the Layer Style dialog box displays color overlay settings you can change.

4. Left-click once on the colored rectangle (next to the Blend Mode drop-down field). The Color Picker dialog box displays.

5. In the Color Picker dialog box, change the color of the image in this layer to a blue. Enter the following RGB numbers, shown in Figure 3-9.

   • R: 13

   • G: 31

   • B: 124

     
     Figure 3-9: Changing the color overlay in the Color Picker dialog box

6. Press the OK button on the Color Picker dialog box.

7. Press OK in the Layer Style dialog box. The JONATHAN BING text should contain a drop shadow, appear slightly rounded, and now appear blue.

Copying and Pasting Layer Styles

For all other layers in your image (the Subtext layer, the Top Line layer, and the Pen layer), we want to add a drop shadow and apply the Bevel and Emboss option. You can open each layer’s Layer Style dialog box and do this manually. Or, you can make these changes in one layer, and then copy and paste them into other layers. Try the following to copy and paste blending options:

1. Select the Subtext layer. Right-click in this layer and select Blending Options. The Layer Style dialog box displays.

2. Check the Drop Shadow and Bevel and Emboss check boxes.

3. Click OK to save the changes.

4. Right-click on the Subtext layer again. This time, select the Copy Layer Style option, as shown in Figure 3-10.

   
   Figure 3-10: Copying layer styles from one layer to another

5. Select the Top Line layer. Right-click in this layer. From the right-click menu, select Paste Layer Style. The Drop Shadow and Bevel and Emboss blending options paste into this layer.

6. Select the Pen layer. As you did in the previous step, right-click in this layer. Select Paste Layer Style from the submenu. Again, the Drop Shadow and Bevel and Emboss blending options paste into this layer.

   Your logo should look something like Figure 3-11.

   
   Figure 3-11: Adding blending options to your logo