Photoshop Layers

Photoshop's layers can be thought of as separate films, much like transparency sheets. Each layer contains its own discrete contents. Individual layers contain objects which together create your composite image. The following document will introduce some of the basic concepts related to layers.

Active Layer Tips

When you select a layer in the Layers palette, that layer is active. Review the following tips to learn about active layers:

• Only one layer can be active at a time.
• The name of the active layer appears in the title bar of the image window.
• Changes affect only the active layer even though you view the whole image in the image window.

Hiding/Displaying the Layers Palette

The Layers palette is your essential tool for working with layers. It contains a list of all the layers, starting with the topmost layer. To the left of the name is a thumbnail of the contents of each layer. You can use the Layers palette to perform many tasks (e.g., create, delete, hide, merge, and flatten layers).

1. From the Window menu, select Layers
   This action toggles the feature on and off.
   NOTE: A check mark will appear in front of Layers when the Layers palette is displayed.

Hiding/Displaying Layers

You may find it useful to hide layers while working in Photoshop. For example, when merging layers, you can hide some layers so that they will not be merged. Visible layers have a VISIBILITY iconnext to them; hidden layers do not.

1. On the Layers palette, for the layer(s) you wish to hide, click the VISIBILITY icon
   HINT: To hide several layers at once, click and drag within the Visibility column. This action toggles the layer between hidden and displayed.
   
   

Although layers are constructed individually, it is helpful to rearrange and link layers when creating more advanced images. After you have fully experimented with the layers in your image, you can merge and flatten layers so that they function collaboratively.

Rearranging Layers

Layers are arranged within the Layers palette with the topmost layer on the Layers palette being the topmost layer of the image.

Since objects in an image often overlap, changing the stacking order of layers will change the appearance of your overall image. Rearranging layers can reveal and hide visible shapes.

NOTE: The Background layer cannot be moved.

Rearranging Layers: Drag-and-Drop Option

1. From the Layers palette, select the layer you wish to move

2. Click and drag the layer to the desired position

3. Release the layer
   The layer is now in the new position.

Rearranging Layers: Menu Option

1. From the Layers palette, select the layer you wish to move

2. From the Layer menu, select Arrange » desired option
   

   

Rearranging Layers: Keyboard Option

1. From the Layers palette, select the layer you wish to move

2. Press the keyboard command for the desired option
   The layer moves to the selected position. Confirm the new layer placement by checking the layer position on the Layers palette.

Option	Action	Keyboard Command
Bring to Front	Sends layer to topmost position	[Shift] + [Ctrl] + ]
Bring Forward	Sends layer up one position	[Ctrl] + ]
Send Backward	Sends layer down one position	[Ctrl] + [
Send to Back	Sends layer to bottommost position	[Shift] + [Ctrl] + [

Linking Layers

If you want multiple layers to move as a single unit within the image window, you should link them. You can link as few as two layers, or as many as all layers. Layers do not need to be contiguous in order to be linked. All layers will retain their individual characteristics. Linking and unlinking layers can happen repeatedly throughout the creation of an image.

1. On the Layers palette, press [Ctrl] + select the layer(s) you want to link other layers to

2. From the Layer palette, select LINK LAYERS
   A LINK iconappears next to layer names, indicating that the layers are linked.

Moving Linked Layers in an Image

1. From the Layers palette, select which linked layer you want to move

2. From the Toolbox, select the Move Tool

3. Within the image window, click and drag to the new location
   NOTE: The layers move in unison while maintaining their distance relationships to each other.

Unlinking Layers

1. From the Layers palette, select the layer you want to unlink

2. From the Layers palette, select LINK LAYERS
   The LINK icon disappears and the layer is no longer linked.

Merging Layers

Merging layers fuses layers together so that they no longer function individually. Images saved with individual layers occupy a lot of file space; merging layers compresses your image so that it takes up less file space. In Photoshop, you can merge linked layers, visible layers, or merge down

Merging Linked Layers

Merging linked layers allows you to determine which layers will be merged into one layer and which will remain independent. Layers that are linked will combine into one layer, while those that are not linked will remain independent.

1. From the Layer menu, select Select Linked Layers
2. From the Layer menu, select Merge Layers
   OR
   Press [Ctrl] + [E]
   The selected, linked layers combine to form a single layer.

Merging Visible Layers

You can also merge visible layers. Visible layers are identified by the VISIBILITY icon, which appears in the left column of the Layers palette. You can toggle between visible and hidden by clicking the icon in the Visible Layer column. For more information on hiding layers, see Hiding/Displaying Layers.

1. On the Layers palette, hide the layers you do not wish to merge (including the background if you do not wish to merge it)

2. Select one of the remaining visible layers

3. From the Layer menu, select Merge Visible
   OR
   Press [Shift] + [Ctrl] + [E]
   All of the visible layers on the Layers palette are merged into a single layer. The hidden layers are preserved as independent layers.

Merging Down

Even if you do not have any layers linked, you can combine two contiguous layers on the Layers palette.

1. Select the topmost layer of the two layers you wish to merge

2. From the Layer menu, select Merge Down
   OR
   Press [Ctrl] + [E]
   The selected layer merges with the layer immediately below it on the Layers palette.

Flattening Layers

Although flattening layers compresses your image so that it takes up less file space, it is different from merging in that it discards hidden layers, combines visible layers into a single layer, and removes transparent areas from an image.

1. Make sure that all the layers you wish to flatten are visible on the Layers palette

2. From the Layer menu, select Flatten Image
   If there are hidden layers in the image, a dialog box appears confirming your request to discard hidden layers.

3. Click OK
   The visible layers are now flattened and hidden layers have been discarded.