Creating Bitmap Layers

The most common type of layer is a bitmap layera layer consisting of pixels, such as a photograph or art you created with the brush tool. The most obvious way to create a bitmap layer is to click the Create a New Layer button in the Layers palette. (Figure 10.1).

Figure 10.1. Click the Create a New Layer button in the Layers palette to create a new bitmap layer.

You can also create a layer from any part of another layer. To do this:

1.	Select a layer in the Layers palette.
2.	If you want to make a layer from just a part of the selected layer, create a selection.
3.	Choose Layer > New > Layer via Copy, or Layer > New > Layer via Cut. The new layer appears in the Layers palette. The Layer via Copy method leaves the original layer unchanged.

Frequent users of the Layer via Copy command use its keyboard shortcut Command/Ctrl+J, because it's faster than opening the Layer > New submenu. Layer via Cut is less popular because it removes data from the original layer, leaving a hole.