Photoshop tutorial-14{ use of layer with ease on photoshop}
Summary:
One
of the key components of Photoshop is layers. Layers allow you to stack
images, shapes, text, etc. If you take 2 pieces of paper and you put
one on top of the other and partially cover the bottom piece of paper,
that is similar to a layer in Photoshop. We will show you not only how
to create layers, but also how to rename the layer and even how to
change the layer order. As we proceed with this course, we will also
explaining how to delete a layer, hide layers or even change the opacity
of a layer. Before we are finished, we will also explain terminology
such as what happens when you “Rasterize Layer”.
Currently we are using Windows Vista Home Premium 64 Bit and the Photoshop CS4 Extended 64 Bit version.
Knowledge You Need to Know:
If
you are unfamiliar with certain areas that are not covered in this
tutorial, feel free check out other tutorials on our website. We have
many different types of tutorials that can be downloaded (Video, PDF) or
viewed online that will train you for
free! Once you have the knowledge, feel free to come back and go through this tutorial again.
Layers:
Finally,
we get to “Layers”! A lot of other Photoshop sites, might start with
the initial training of Photoshop with Layers, but we felt it was very
important for you to understand certain areas such as palettes or even
selection tools before we dived into Layers. Many of the past tutorials
we have been getting you prepared for layers.
First
let’s get you to understand what a layer is. A layer allows you stack
images, text, shapes, etc. on top of other images, text, etc. Let’s look
at the example below. The bottom layer is the “Red Layer”. See how both
the Green and Blue Layer are covering up the “Red Layer”? Now you need
to determine what the middle layer is. If you look, the “Green Layer” is
partially covering up the “Blue Layer”, so that would make the “Blue
Layer” the middle layer. That leaves the “Green Layer” which is the top
layer. On the example below, our top layer is actually the text.
Remember, not only images, but text, shapes, etc. can be a layer. You
will notice the text is actually on top of the Green circle.
Now
that we explained what should be the top, middle, and the bottom layer,
let’s look at the palette called “Layers”. The palette is usually
located in the bottom right hand corner of the screen.
| A).
We explained the top layer is actually the text layer. On this example
the words “Red Layer” is actually the top layer. We also explained that
because the red circle was covered up by the blue/green circles, that
would make the “Red Layer” the bottom layer (B).
|
Creating Layers:
Now create an 800 X 800 new document. Please refer to
Working With Image Files tutorial for more information on creating new documents. Because we already have talked about the Ellipse tool (see
Drawing Tools tutorial), go ahead and create a Red circle anywhere on the empty canvas.
Photoshop Tip – There is no limit on how many layers you can create, besides the system resources it uses).
In
the Layers palette you will see a red color box and “Shape 1” to the
right of a gray box. What does this mean? Certain items can be edited
after you have created them. One example is text. If you create text you
will see a “T” for the image. This tells you if you select the text
with the type tool you can edit it.
To
make it so you can’t edit the item, you will need to rasterize the
layer. What the heck is rasterize? One example is let’s say you had a
text layer, and you wanted to run different filters and before you can
run the filters, you need to rasterize the layer from either text,
shape, etc. into an image. Once an item is rasterized, you can no longer
edit the item.
| A).
If you Right click the word “Shape 1”, (do not right click the red
image, etc. or you may get a different menu), you will see a new menu
displayed.
|
| B). Left click “Rasterize Layer”.
|
You
will see the Layer change. Instead of have the 2 boxes, you will see 1
box with your now formed image and then the word “Shape 1”.
Now
follow the above instructions and add a “Blue” eclipse (it does not
matter where you put it, but we would recommend that you draw it over a
portion of the “Red” circle. Now rasterize and create the 3
rd
layer with the ellipse tool and make this one a “Green” circle. This
last circle should overlay a portion of the “Blue” and “Red” circle. Now
your layers should look similar to the following image.
Moving Layers:
You
already know by now what is the top and bottom layer, let’s now move
them around. First, Left click the “Shape 2” which is the “Blue” circle.
You should see it is now highlighted. Now move your pointer over the
word “Shape 2” and hold down the Left mouse button. Now drag your mouse
up. Move it above the image of “Shape 3”. Now your layer palette should
look like the image below.
So
what did you just do with the layer? You moved it to the top and told
Photoshop that that the blue circle is now the top layer. If you look at
your image, you will see the “Blue” circle is on the top of the other
images. If you did it correctly, you should see the “Blue” circle
covering the “Green” and “Red” circle. You will also notice that the
“Green” circle which use to be the top layer is shifted down to the
middle layer.
Renaming Layers:
You
will be spending a lot of time in the Layers palette and we would
highly recommend that you change the layers name to something that you
will remember. To rename a layer, DOUBLE Left click the word such as
“Shape 2”. You will then be able to rename the layer. Change it to “Blue
Layer”. Now proceed and change “Shape 3” to “Green Layer” and “Shape 1”
to “Red Layer”.
Deleting Layers:
If
you would like to remove a layer, you can delete a layer by one of two
methods. Method 1 is listed below. Let’s delete “Shape 3” or “Green
Layer”.
| A). Right click on the text of the layer (Do not Left click or click on the picture or you may get a different menu).
|
| B). Now Left click “Delete Layer”.
|
Now you will see a dialog box asking you if you really want to delete this layer? Left click “Yes” to delete the layer.
Method
2 of deleting a layer is to drop it in the trashcan. We are not a big
fan of this way of deleting the layer because it does not confirm you
truly want to delete it as the other method asks you to confirm
deletion. One way to get back the deleted layer for both methods is use
the “Undo” command which is keyboard shortcut CTRL-“Z”.
| A).
First Left click the “Red Layer” and once it is highlighted, hold down
the Left mouse button and drag it to the trashcan (B).
|
| B). Release the Left mouse button to delete the layer.
|
We
need at least 2 layers to show you the rest of the areas of “Layers” so
please use the keyboard shortcut of CTRL-“Z” to undo the changes.
Hiding Layers:
Sometimes
you get to many layers and it becomes confusing or maybe you no longer
want to see a certain layer, but you do not want to delete the layer.
Well then it is time to hide the layer. On all layers you will see a
picture of an “Eye” next to the image in the Layers palette. To hide a
layer, Left click the eye image.
Photoshop Tip – If you would like to see the layer displayed again, Left click this box (it toggles on and off).
Opacity Of A Layer:
Sometimes
you want the lower layers to bleed through. An easy way for it to bleed
through to the lower layer is to change the opacity of the layer. By
default a layer when created is at 100% opacity (no transparency). On
this example, Left click the “Blue Layer” and once it is highlighted,
Left click the “Opacity:” box and use the slider to change the opacity.
Left click on a spot on the slider bar (left or right).
With 50% opacity, you can now see some of the “Red Layer”.
Merging Layers:
As
you begin working with layers, you will find yourself wanting to merge
multiple layers together (you can merge as many layers as you would like
together, but on this example we will be merging the 2 layers.
| A).
First you need to select both layers. Left click the first layer and
hold down the CTRL key and Left click the second layer. Photoshop Tip – If you would like to select a block (layers that are together), use the “Shift” key instead of the CTRL key. Now Right click on either text (not the images) and you will see the following menu.
|
| B). Left click “Merge Layers”.
|
By
default the name of the layer is the top layers name. By now you should
know how to change the name of the layer. You should see 1 layer in the
layers palette.
Miscellaneous Information:
In a previous tutorial called
Selecting Image Content, we discussed how to use the “Move Tool” and in a previous tutorial called
Patterns we discussed that if you used CTRL-“J” you can duplicate a layer.
By
now you should know the true basics of Photoshop layers. In future
tutorials we will be discussing Adjustment Layers and other Layer
options. For now, you should have a good understanding what is a layer
and how to rename, hide, change the order of the layer or even how to
delete a layer.
Please take a few minutes and answer the 10 question quiz below to determine how well you have learned this subject.
Quiz
1). How do you change the layer name?
| A). Left click the layer, and then Left click the “Rename” button.
|
| B). Double Left click the image in the layer.
|
| C). Double Left click the word of the layer. |
| D). Left click the word of the Layer and use the “Rename” option in the “Edit” menu. |
2). What does Rasterize Layer do?
| A). It converts your text, shape, etc. into an image.
|
| B). It converts your text, shape, etc. into a smart layer.
|
| C). It allows you to edit the text, shape, etc. |
| D). It configures the color settings for the layer. |
3). What is one method of deleting a layer?
| A). Left click the layer and then hold down the Left mouse button and drag it to the words “Delete Layer” option in the palette.
|
| B). Left click the word in the image and select “Delete Layer” option.
|
| C). Left click the “Delete Layer” checkbox and Left click the layer. |
| D). Left click the layer and then hold down the Left mouse button and drag it to the trashcan. |
4). How do you change the layer level (position of the layer)?
| A). Hold down the Left mouse button and drag it to the “Arrange Layers” button to change the layer level.
|
| B). Hold down the Left mouse button and drag it up or down (above or below a layer).
|
| C). Use the “Move Tool” and drag the actual image to a different layer on the canvas. |
| D). Select the layer in the palette and then use the “Layer Level…” command in the “Layers” menu. |
5). How do you hide a layer?
| A). Right click the image in the layer and Left click “Hide Layer”.
|
| B). Left click the layer and select the “Hide Layer” button in the palette.
|
| C). Drag the layer to the “Hide Layer” button in the palette. |
| D). Left click the “Eye” next to the image in the layer. |
6). If you would like to have a layer bleed through another layer, what option would you set?
| A). Use the “Transparency” option in the layers palette.
|
| B). Use the “Opacity” option in the layers palette.
|
| C). Right click the layer and select the “Transparency” command. |
| D). Right click the layer and select the “Opacity” command. |
7). What is the keyboard shortcut to duplicate a layer?
| A). CTRL-“J”.
|
| B). ALT-“J”.
|
| C). CTRL-“L”. |
| D). ALT-“L”. |
8). When you merge layers, what layer name does it use when it is merged?
| A). It uses the last known layer name.
|
| B). It uses the bottom layer name.
|
| C). It uses the top layer name. |
| D). It asks you the name you would like to create when merging the layers. |
9). What key do you hold down when selecting a block of layers?
| A). CTRL.
|
| B). ALT.
|
| C). You need to hold down the Left mouse button. |
| D). “Shift”. |
10). What is the maximum number of layers you can have?
| A). 100.
|
| B).Unlimited and is based on your system resources.
|
| C).50. |
| D). 200. |
Answers: 1). C, 2). A, 3). D, 4). B, 5). D, 6). B, 7). A, 8). C, 9). D, 10). B
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