Using the Layers PaletteStep one is to create a new image file and then open the Layers palette. Just choose Window Layers. The Layers palette (see Figure 11.1) is where you control your layers behaviorcreating, adding, deleting, hiding, and showing. Think of the Layers palette as "command central" for working with layers. The small versions of your images on the left of the palette are called thumbnails . Each of these small rectangles displays a separate layer. For the moment, because you have not created any new layers, you should have only one blank thumbnail in the Layers palette. That's the Background layer. Figure 11.1. The Layers palette.
If the thumbnails are too small for your liking, choose the Palette Options command from the palette's menu (the arrow in the upper-right corner) and check out Figure 11.2. Figure 11.2. Optional thumbnail sizes.
You can choose from three sizes or choose no thumbnail image at all. Remember that every image on your screen consumes a certain amount of the RAM available to run Photoshop. If you can get by with the smallest thumbnail, try to do so. The smaller the thumbnail, the less space the palette will take up on your desktop. This is an advantage as you begin to work with three, four, five, and more layers at a time.
Let's pause here for a moment and take a close look at the new layer's thumbnail. Compared to the thumbnail for the Background layer, it has a double-lined frame around it. The double frame indicates that this is the active layer. Paint all you want, but only the layer with the double frame receives the paint. Of course, the active layer's entry in the Layers palette is also highlighted. To change the active layer, click the name of the layer to which you want to change. Figure 11.5 shows what the palette looks like after the active layer change has been made. Figure 11.5. Changing the active layer requires a single click.
You can move, add to, or erase anything on the active layer, but doing so doesn't affect layers above or below it. For instance, if you make Layer 2 the active layer, you can use the Move tool to slide the bread around, but you can't move the lettuce until you make its layer active. Reordering LayersYou also can change the order of the layers. You might want to do this if one is supposed to look as if it's on top of another, but wasn't created in that order. (New layers are always created above the current active layer.) To do so:
If you want to move a layer up or down one level, select it and press Command+] (Mac) or Control+] (Windows) to raise it, and Command+[ (Mac) or Control+[ (Windows) to lower it. The left bracket lowers the layer's level, and the right bracket raises the layer's level. Remember: L eft to L ower, R ight to R aise. Hiding/Showing LayersAnother great feature of layers is that when you want to concentrate on one part of your image, you can hide all the other layers. To the left of the thumbnails, you will notice small icons that resemble eyes. These indicate that a layer is visible. If you see the eye, you can see the layer. If you click the eye, however, the eye disappears, and the layer becomes hidden. In Figure 11.11, you can see that I've turned off the lettuce, but the bread, tomato, and bacon are still visible. Figure 11.11. To make a layer visible again, click the space where the eye should appear.Let's try it. Click the eye icons next to the bread and lettuce layers. They disappear, as will the corresponding layers in your image. Click again and the icons reappearwith the layers. While the layer is hidden, you can't paint on it or do anything with it, except drag it up or down (or use the commands detailed previously) to change its order. Removing LayersThe simple way to remove a layer is to click to make it active and then click the small trash can button at the bottom of the palette. You can also choose Delete Layer from either the Layer menu or the Layers palette pop-up menu. When you do this, you'll see a warning dialog box asking whether it's really okay to delete the layer. If you Option+click (Mac) or Alt+click (Windows), you can skip the warning. (You can also skip the warning by dragging the layer to the palette's trash button.) Undo brings back the layer, if you have done nothing else in the meantime. If you have performed other steps, you need to use the History palette to return to a previous state. |