Working with layers in Photoshop. Learning to use layers An empty layer in Photoshop represents
In one of the previous articles, I talked about layers: what they are and where they are located. This article will talk about how to work with layers in Photoshop.
There are different layers in Photoshop. They all have their own special meaning. To make working in the program more convenient, you need to study all the intricacies. To do this, let's get acquainted with the types of layers that Photoshop creates during its work.
Most often, users work with image layers. These layers contain images in raster form (pixel representation of images). There are a lot of such layers, they all have the same type.
Text layers are a separate category. Each time you add a new caption to an image, a new text layer is created. You can make it an image layer, but after that you will no longer be able to edit the text. You can apply many different effects to this layer in its original form.
Vector shape layers don't work with pixels. This is a completely separate format of pictures that can be enlarged without loss of quality.
For example, you can change the color of a shape with one click. Such layers appear separately in the program when you use the shape tool. Shapes are selected in the corresponding item on the toolbar.
A fill layer is always created when you need to fill an entire object. This layer very conveniently adjusts the image that is underneath it using transparency and gradient. To activate this layer, you need to select the corresponding control at the bottom of the layers palette.
Layer for making corrections
This layer allows you to change the display of the document that is located under it. In this case, changes are made to this adjustment layer, and the original remains untouched. Such layers are used to change the color palette of the image and its lighting.
A good example showing how this layer works can be done by creating an adjustment layer that will apply a black and white mask. As a result, the entire image will be black and white, but if you turn off this layer, the picture will be in color, as before.
These layers do not contain pixels, they store instructions for the program that are executed after analysis.
The standard controls have a button to create an adjustment layer or a fill layer. It's called "New Adjustment Layer". Also, the function of creating these layers is available in the standard layers palette for correction. The palette display is enabled using the drop-down menu Window – Adjustments.
Somewhat less common is working in Photoshop with smart objects, which are always placed on separate layers. Smart objects handle some files that were not created in Photoshop. This may be a document in Raw format. Moving smart objects to a new layer makes it possible to basicly work with elements from foreign files.
To create a smart object in Photoshop, you need to right-click to the right of the layer icon and select the appropriate item in the menu that opens.
Well, the last type of layer is for real professionals who work with 3D graphics and video files in Photoshop. Photoshop Extended users have this opportunity, where they can import all these objects and make some adjustments, for example, change the color of some element in the video. All this can be done only in these layers.
That's all. Thank you for your attention.
Best regards, Ul Sartakov
Working with layers in Photoshop is an opportunity to change separately parts of a picture, to compose an image from disparate elements. Let's touch on the basics.
Each layer can be moved relative to each other, combined into groups, and adjusted. Moreover, each of them can be made transparent, translucent, or solid.
What are layers in Photoshop
Imagine looking through a stack of photographs. You rearrange them, but you can only see the top photo. These are continuous layers. Place a transparent file on the photo and the visibility will not change. Now draw a picture or write text on the file. It will feel like the picture or text is superimposed on the top photo. This is how a transparent background works in the editor. Sort the photos by value and place them in envelopes. For such sorting in Adobe Photoshop there is a “Group” function.
What are the layers?
Image. It is based on pixels. When a picture is opened in the editor, the palette (1) automatically displays it.
Filling. Fills with a solid color, pattern or gradient.
Text. Working with a text layer in Photoshop is somewhat different. It contains no pixels. It appears in the palette (1) as soon as we get to work with the “Text” tool active.
Vector layer. This is an arbitrary shape that does not contain pixels. It appears in the palette automatically when you use the tool. Inside the outline, the figure is filled with color.
Adjustment layer and layer mask. Helps adjust the color saturation, darkness, or lighting of the images underneath them. The picture itself remains unchanged, and the adjustment layer tells the program what changes to apply to it.
Basic work with layers in Photoshop
Any action when working with layers in Photoshop can be performed in several ways: using the palette (1), tabs on the control panel (2), and hotkeys. If the desired palette is not on the right side of the editor, it is activated by going to “Window” - “Layers”.
Task: Learn to use layers
What we have: 10 minutes of free time
Layers are an integral and extremely important part of Photoshop, and knowing how to use them allows you to achieve truly amazing results.
With the help of this article, in 10 minutes you will be able to understand the essence of layers and immediately test your knowledge in practice.
For clarity, I suggest downloading and “taking apart” this picture:
In the downloaded archive you will find the file “senses.psd” - open it in Photoshop and read on.
Open picture:
Now look at Layers panel:
And if you can’t find it, check if it’s enabled:
So, in the layers panel we see 4 lines: fon, gory, serdechko And text.
These are the 4 Layers that make up the image. Try clicking on the “eye” next to the layer text:
Please note that the inscription “towards feelings” will disappear from the picture.
I think that you have already guessed what layers are needed for. To solidify your guesses, take a look at the following illustration:
As you can see, each element of the picture is on its own layer. This provides an invaluable opportunity to change image details individually, which is much more convenient than editing the entire image.
Now take a look at the bottom of the Layers panel:
Here you need to know only 2 buttons:
Create a New Layer
And Delete Layer, which is only available when the layer is selected:
Now create a new layer (button Create a New Layer) and select Brush:
Drag the brush over the image a couple of times:
Then move the newly created layer below gory:
Now the Mountains, Heart and Lettering are above the drawn strokes and overlap them.
After entering a name, press the Enter key and the layer will be renamed.
Now delete it using the button Delete Layer:
And again in front of you is the original image from which it all began.
Just like that, in 10 minutes (well, maybe 20), you could:
1. Understand what a Layer is
2. Hide and show the selected layer again
4. Move it
5. Rename
6. And delete
Good luck in your creativity!
The speed of photo processing in Photoshop depends on the ability to work with layers, because they are considered the basic theme of the utility. Therefore, the faster you work with layers in Photoshop, the better you will begin to understand the program, and working with photography will seem easy.
The basis of the pixel grid is the layer. You can't do anything in life or in programs if the design elements are on the same layer. Is this even possible? Working with a plane rather than a three-dimensional image?
We can see objects, but we cannot move them or change them. Layers help us out in this matter. A 3D image is created, here every element is in its place, and we can work with any object in the photograph without any problems.
Let's take a simple example: A master constantly creates a certain part, it already has a familiar size and elements. Suddenly the customer asks to reduce it very slightly. The master will have to redo everything from the very beginning.
Users of the well-known Paint program edit images using this principle. And why all? There is only 1 working layer and if you try to add a new object, it will simply fill the entire drawing and hide what is behind it.
A layer in Photoshop is an invisible surface on which you can place any object. This creates a three-dimensional picture: there are objects in the background and foreground, in the middle.
Layer and workspace in Photoshop
The layer has no area restrictions. When creating a new file, you can define dimensions of 1000 by 1000 pixels, but this absolutely does not mean that the layers will occupy all 1000 pixels.
Layer– this is infinity, which can be stretched as much as you like, in any direction. Don't be afraid of running out of space. There will be plenty of space (unless, of course, your computer was initially filled with garbage and unnecessary files).
Layers panel in Photoshop
Photoshop has tools that manipulate layers. To find the layers panel, go to the menu "Window", then select "Layers". Place it in a place convenient for you, it will always be at hand. The panel must be studied, this will save time and increase the quality of the work performed.
So, the panel:
In its central part there are noticeable tabs - these are layers. They can be mixed and moved as you wish. When you hover the cursor over a layer, you can notice its characteristics by signs (layer blocking, its visibility).
When you open a photo, you have one layer, and it is partially locked, it is called the Background. By the way, very often people have difficulty identifying a regular layer and a background; they simply do not know how to distinguish between them. So let's look at these two types of layer.
Background and normal layer
When you open a photo in Photoshop, there is one layer - the background. The background layer is one of the usual types, only with its own special properties.
Initially, the background layer is located at the very bottom of the list, as soon as a new one is added, the background layer moves lower. As mentioned above, the background one is always partially blocked, you can perform almost any action with it: apply plastic, fill; change shades, paint on it with a brush, adjust sharpness, blur the subject, crop and much more.
There are so many actions you can perform that if you list everything, you can get confused, so it’s easier to determine what you can’t do with the background layer.
Let's list:
The layer will not become partially opaque, nor will it become translucent.
The blend mode cannot be applied, and it is also impossible to remove it, since it is locked from the very beginning.
The blend mode is applied only to the top layers, and the background mode is the bottom one, therefore, you cannot apply an overlay to it.
Even if you select an object and delete the graphics, the layer will not become partially opaque, so you can only cover the entire object with paint, nothing more, again remember the famous “Paint”, in which everything is done exactly this way.
The Internet is full of queries like: “how to make the background translucent”, “how to make the background a different color”, it is noticeable that people do not understand the types of layers at all, they do not know how to get rid of the unnecessary part in the photo.
Background layer– a very old setting in Photoshop, you can easily get rid of it. To do this you need to open the tab "Layers", choose "New", then "Background Layer"(assuming you are working in version 6 of Photoshop, older versions may differ slightly in the tabs).
In the same way, you can make a regular layer background: Tab "Layers", choose "New", then "Background from layer".
To save time and not have to search for the necessary tabs, double-click on the layers panel. Click just below or to the left of the layer name. Once the background layer becomes a regular layer, all operations with the layer become available to you. Including creating a translucent layer.
Types of layers in Photoshop
There are a lot of layers in Photoshop. Let's look at their main types:
Regular layer- this is a layer, without any additional features, the most common one. It can be either a photograph or an element of a drawing.
3D layer- an innovation in Photoshop, with the help of which you can add two-dimensional graphics to three-dimensional ones. Working with it is quite complicated, it is even considered one of the most confusing.
Color correction layer- a kind of layer. You could even say that this is a filter that can be used to change colors. By the way, color correction layers come in a wide variety.
Fill layer- with it you can paint over or fill the background with absolutely any color, or even texture. It is important to note that such layers are convenient in terms of settings (there is a special panel, with its help corrections and changes are made).
Text layer- in the program the letter part is located on different layers. They are called Text Layers. Basically, if a person understands and can understand the text in the utility, then he can work in such layers without any problems.
And finally, smart layer the newest one, from the latest version. Simply put, it is a regular layer, only under protection. Do you know what the essence of protection is?
Our layer is placed in a special container; it does not allow graphic images to be changed. The smart layer is the same “container”. You may notice a small icon on the thumbnail - a sign that the protective function has been performed.
Why do we block graphics?
Smart layer doesn't actually block graphics in the truest sense of the word. The graphics are in the smart layer container, you can perform any actions with them. In addition, it is possible to apply any effects, while the graphics do not become worse, but remain the same quality.
Layers panel
Previously, the Layers panel was called the Layers palette. This is the most important part of the program, without it it will lose its meaning. In older versions, you still had to find the panel and open it, but now, at the moment, this panel opens automatically after loading the program.
In fact, the panel is very easy to “control”. For ease, we divide it into 3 parts: upper, lower, middle. Top – visibility modes, middle – all layers, bottom – settings.
At the top of the panel, you can select Blend Mode, which can be used to create any effect for the image.
You can set the Opacity of any layer. If the opacity is reduced to 0%, the layer will be invisible. Once you return the opacity to 100%, you will see the entire layer.
At the bottom of the panel there is an icon "fx", which applies different styles and overlays.
To add a layer mask, you need to click on the rectangle icon with a circle inside it.
To create an adjustment layer, click on the circle next to it.
A square with a folded corner creates a new transparent layer.
You can delete a layer using the icon "Basket".
How to duplicate a layer
In order to duplicate a layer in Photoshop, right-click on the row of the selected layer, you will see a drop-down menu - select "Duplicate Layer".
You can also duplicate it using a key combination, hold down Ctrl And J, a new layer is instantly created - a duplicate, the values will be by default.
If no effects are applied to the layer, you can also duplicate it like this: hold down Ctrl And A, then Ctrl And C, insert using the operation Ctrl And V.
However, the fastest way is to hold down Alt and drag the layer higher.
This way you can duplicate everything, for example: effects or a mask.
How to make a transparent layer
Many people are interested in how any element can be made transparent. These settings are in the layers panel, at the top. Fill And Opacity make the layer transparent without any problems.
What is the difference between fill and opacity?
Filling can only remove the appearance of the filling content of a layer.
Opacity removes the visibility of the entire layer completely.
Fill should be used when the user wants to reduce the visibility of a layer. In all other cases, opacity is needed (for example, if you want to leave layer effects visible).
One interesting fact: If both settings are set to 50%, the layer should disappear, since the fill and opacity have removed half of the visibility, but no matter how we think, the settings work differently.
Remove 50% of the fill (50% of all visibility). The opacity removes another 50% from the 50% already removed by the fill. Fifty percent of 50 is 25. Hence the conclusion is that if you remove 50% of the fill and 50% of the opacity, the total will be 75%.
Layer Blend Modes
One of the main concepts in the program is the blending mode. As we already know, an image can consist of layers of different levels of transparency, each of which has a “normal” mode by default.
If you apply an overlay to a layer that differs in any way from normal, it will begin to interact with the underlying layers, allowing you to change the image or create effects. Blending modes are simply designed for retouching and painting.
Basic layer interactions: dissolve, darken, multiply, color burn, lighten, and much more.
Layer Lock Modes
There are cases when a beginner cannot do anything with a layer, it does not react to anything: it refuses to move, it cannot be acted upon. In this case, it is clear that the layer is locked.
Locking modes are located in the layers panel, at the top of it. There are 4 actions you can take: preserve pixel transparency, preserve pixel colors, lock position, and save all.
Lock pixel transparency– everything is clear here, this mode blocks all actions with invisible pixels. Simply put, you can do a lot with a layer, for example: modify, move or delete.
But it is impossible to change the information about invisibility, since there is a lock on the pixels.
It is possible to edit only those areas on which there is a drawing.
Locking image pixels– it is logical to assume that all pixels of the photo (visible and invisible) are blocked. You can move a layer, change its scale, flip it horizontally and other actions with this command, but you cannot change the content of graphics with brushes, stamps, gradients and other tools.
Lock the layer position. If you use this function, then the layer cannot be moved anywhere, everything else is allowed. Convenient for those users who were looking for the desired location of a layer, and then accidentally moved it.
Block everything– complete blocking of the layer. The graphics cannot be changed or moved. This function can be easily found: the icon looks like a regular padlock. You can easily determine which layer is locked and which is not.
How to link layers
While working in the program, a very large number of layers can accumulate. Some have settings and effects applied to them; to simplify them, you need to combine them together so that there is no unnecessary stuff, which is easy to get confused in. In this case, find an element similar to a chain at the bottom of the panel, select the layers (left-click on one of the layers while holding down the Ctrl, select the rest).
Another way: Find the tab "Layers", select "Link Layers".
To unlink, you need to right-click on one of the layers and select the appropriate item.
How to create a layer in Photoshop
The simplest thing you can do in the program is to create a new layer with one click. At the bottom of the layers panel, find the blank sheet icon; clicking on it instantly creates a new layer.
There is also a team that is slower in this regard. Tab "Layers", next "New Layer", "Layer". Or just press the key combination Ctrl+Shift+N.
In the dialog box you can set the settings you need before the layer is created. For example, you can preset the blending mode and select the degree of invisibility. On the other hand, nothing prevents you from doing all this later.
In the drop down window "Color" You can set the display color of the layer. This is convenient if the user is creating a website and needs to visually separate the layers by color.
Perhaps there is still one useful setting in the layer settings dialog box.
If you know in advance that you are creating a layer with a certain blending mode, then you can immediately fill it with a neutral color. The color that will be invisible in the specifically selected blending mode.
Why is this necessary? Neutral color is often used to create layers of effects. For example, you can create an empty layer, fill it with 50% gray, apply the effect "Background", then "Blur", and blending mode. You will get a rain effect. You can limit yourself to the effect "Noise", apply blending mode.
So we will add some noise on a separate layer. So instead of creating a layer, then filling it with gray, then changing the blending mode, it's easier to just click Ctrl+Shift+N and select all settings in the dialog box.
And one more piece of advice. Do you like creating layers through the Layers panel? In this case, you skip the dialog box because the layer is created on the fly. But in some situations, a dialog box is still needed and to call it, you need to hold down the ALT key when clicking on the icon.
How to apply a layer style
The layer style is live effects that are attached directly to the layer itself. Their big advantage is that they are not used permanently. You can disable them, hide them, turn them back on and, of course, change the settings.
There are two ways to use them:
1.
Apply a ready-made preset
2.
Create from scratch and apply
First: Open or create a Photoshop document and duplicate the background layer. Go to the main menu tab "Window" - "Styles" to open the Layer Styles palette and simply click on one of the thumbnails in that palette. You'll immediately notice how the style is automatically applied to the layer. With a white rectangle crossed out by a stripe, you can remove the style of a layer.
Second: You need to open and create a Photoshop document, duplicate the background layer. In the Layers panel, double-click on the layer with the left mouse button (but not on the name!), or click on the icon fx at the bottom of the palette and select the line "Blending Options".
How to make a color correction layer
The color correction layer allows you to change the color of other layers.
To create it you need:
Select tab "Layers", "New Adjustment Layer".
How to make a fill layer
The fill layer works exactly like an adjustment layer, except that the fill is a solid color. It is clear that the fill layer can be edited and deleted without affecting other layers.
On the tab "Layers" select the layer on top of which you want the fill layer to appear. The menu will appear "Creating a New Fill Layer", select "Color", "Gradient", "Pattern".
If suddenly you decide to set parameters when creating, click on "Layer", "New Fill Layer", "Color", "Gradient", then you need to enter the name of the layer and check the box "Group with Previous".
Applying a mask to a layer
The purpose of a layer mask is to control the transparency of the layer.
Inexperienced users will ask: “Why is this layer mask needed if the transparency can be changed using the Opacity setting.” It's very simple! The point is that the function "Opacity" can only change the transparency of the entire layer, and "Layer - mask" can change any part of the layer you select.
How to find a layer mask? At the bottom of the layers panel there is an icon: a circle in a rectangle. This is the fastest way, just click on the icon. If you click once, a raster mask is created. If two, then a vector mask is created.
Click and hold down a key Alt will create a hiding black mask, similarly, second click + pressed key = hiding vector mask.
How to group layers
Sometimes there are so many layers that they need to be grouped somehow. If you are designing a website, there can be hundreds of elements. The same goes for a complex poster or cover.
To group layers, select the desired layers in the panel and hold down CTRL+G. In any vector program, this is a grouping of objects into one block. In Photoshop, this group creates a special folder and puts all the layers into it.
The folder can be easily created in the layers panel. There is a special icon for this: empty folder. Clicking on it creates a folder into which you can drag layers (manually).
The program is designed correctly; if you decide to delete a group, follow the steps to delete it, a menu will appear specifying what needs to be deleted: the group and everything inside it, or just the group.
To open the group dialog box, press and hold Alt and click on the group icon.
Removing layers in Photoshop
The reverse operation of creating new layers is deleting them. If you need to remove auxiliary layers or just a failed layer, use the delete function.
There are five removal methods, let's look at them:
The first, the simplest: Press the delete key on the keyboard. Backspace or Delete.
Second: Click on the trash can icon, which is located at the bottom of the layers palette. All that remains is to confirm the deletion.
Third: Drag the unnecessary layer to the same trash can.
Fourth: Right-click on the layer name and select from the menu "Delete Layer".
Fifth: Select window "Layers", "Delete", "Layers".
Layer navigation in Photoshop
Sometimes it turns out that the number of layers turns out to be very large and scrolling through it all seems like a tedious task. There is such an interesting tool, it is called the move tool. To select a layer, hold down the key Ctrl and click on the object that is located on the layer.
Symbols and Notations
The state of the layer can be found using symbols.
Layers in Photoshop have a lot of specific symbols. The designations indicate the state of the layer. Here are some you may encounter.
The Layers panel has a lot of conveniences. For example, it has an extended context menu when you right-click on any instrument. You can right-click on any layer panel object and get a context menu from which you can choose what you can do with this element.
By clicking on the mask you get quick mask settings.
By clicking on the thumbnail of the layer icon, you get a menu of settings for the thumbnail, size and alignment.
By clicking on the layer style icons you get a menu of styles.
By simply clicking on a layer you get a general menu of various options and settings. Duplicate, merge, and so on.
Slotd settings panel
By clicking on the corner of the layers panel you will be taken to the panel's context menu "Layers". In general, it is of no interest, since it contains the same commands as the main layers menu.
Create a new layer, duplicate it, create a group, and so on. However, the slotd panel settings can only be accessed in this menu.
Select "Panel Options".
In the layer panel dialog box you can size the layer thumbnail. The same can be done by simply right-clicking on the thumbnail directly in the layers panel.
In the “Panel Options” column, you can select how graphics will be displayed:
"Layer Boundaries"- will only show graphics.
"Whole document"- will show the entire work area and the location of the graphics on it.
If the work area is too large, small graphic elements will simply not be visible. Other functions of this window:
"Use default masks for fill layers"- when creating a fill layer, attaches an empty mask by default. If you don't like it, turn it off.
"Reveal new effects"- when creating layer styles, or when creating live effects for a smart layer, immediately expands the full-length list of effects in the layers panel. If you have a lot of elements, if each element has about ten styles, and you don't like collapsing style lists all the time, just turn it off.
“Add the word copy to copied layers and groups”— When you copy a group or layer, the program applies the “copy” icon; if necessary, just uncheck the box.
How to merge layers in Photoshop
Merging layers in a program is a technical operation that is almost always necessary. When there are more and more layers, it is easier to simply combine them into a single layer. Our team helps us with this "Layers - Flatten".
After performing this action, all invisible layers are deleted.
To combine visible ones, apply "Layers", "Merge Visible".
In this case, there is no need to select the necessary layers; the program will do everything itself.
How to merge multiple specific layers
In other situations, you only need to merge a few layers together. In this case, you need to select these layers in the layers panel and apply "Layers", "Merge Layers" or use a simple key combination CTRL+E.
How to Rasterize Layer Styles
Often beginners do not understand the term "rasterize". This can be said to be the basics of the program, the basic principles of creating an image.
Rasterize an image- means to make any transformations in a drawing or photograph, which consist of many figures.
Sometimes you have to rasterize layer styles. However, there is no command to merge all the styles into one graphic. But there is always a way out, as they say. You need to create an empty layer, select it with styles, along with the empty layer, while holding down the key Shift. Now select "Layers - Merge Layers". When you merge an empty layer with a layer that has styles, you get raster graphics without styles.
How to merge blend modes
If you've used Photoshop before, you've most likely heard of blend modes. The layers overlap each other and interact with each other.
Blend modes can be used to create effects. For example, mode "Screen" brightens the photo "Multiplication" darkens the photo.
The layer merging feature has several advantages. Because the order of the layers in the panel is completely preserved, the weight of the document is reduced. Merging layers is sometimes necessary before continuing to edit an image.
To merge layers together with an overlay effect, you need to select both layers, hold down CTRL+E.
Another situation is where you get an overlay effect on a complex surface. When you need to preserve colors, at the same time remove the blending mode.
This cannot be done automatically.
You need to know that the appearance of a design when using blending modes is the result of the interaction of the top layer with the bottom. If the layers are shifted, the effect will be changed. If the blending mode is changed, the effect disappears. To avoid losing layers, you need to copy the bottom part of the gray layer and merge it with the top one.
How to copy layers
Copying is very easy. You need to select 1 layer, click on it, and hold down Alt. By moving a layer higher, a copy of it will appear.
Another way is the copy layer command CTRL+J or "Layers", "New", "Copy to new layer".
There is also a duplication command "Layers", "Duplicate Layer".
How to manage layers
Users generally always use the Layers panel. When moving a layer, you need to grab it with the mouse and move it higher. However, you don't have to do it that way! The program is equipped with many commands, including those specifically designed for moving layers.
You don’t have to constantly go to the menu and look for the desired item there; you can use commands. This can be a great time saver.
Basic:
Layer, Arrange, Bring to Front- will move the layer above all,
Layer, Arrange, Bring Forward- will move 1 layer higher,
Layer, Arrange, Move Back- will move down 1 layer,
Layer, Arrange, Send to Back-will move the layer so that it is the bottom one.
There is also a very interesting team "Layer", "Arrange", "Inversion". It will change the places of the layers. Here, naturally, you need to choose two layers.
Layer alignment command. It can be done using the move tool, but in addition to the tool, the command is in the settings panel.
They are in "Layer", "Align".
Conclusion
Here we looked at one very important concept that underlies working with the program. The article includes basic concepts and actions necessary for a beginner.
After reading it, you now know what a layer is, the main types of layers, how to work in the panel and how to open layers in Photoshop.
A huge advantage of layers is that everything here can be moved and edited. Users can easily create their own original drawing or work on the image, customizing each layer.
Working with layers in Adobe Photoshop
Sofia Skrylina, teacher of information technology at the Academy of Vocational Education (St. Petersburg)
Layers are perhaps the most essential tool for working with images in Photoshop, allowing you to break an image into parts and work with each of them independently of the rest. A layer can be compared to a transparent film placed over an image. Moreover, the transparency of the film is absolute: no number of layers will distort the image located on the lowest one. In this article, we will look at ways to split an image into layers, and also get acquainted with the types of layers and the features of their use.
Creating a Layer
A palette is used to work with image layers Layers(Layers). To create a blank layer, click on the blank sheet button. In this case, the layer will be created above the original one. If you click on the same button while holding down the Ctrl key, a layer will be created under the original layer (Fig. 1).
Copying images to layers
There are several ways to place an image on another image's layer.
Using a tool Moving
You first need to place the tabs of both documents next to each other by selecting the mode Place everything vertically(Tile All Vertically) or Arrange everything in a grid(Tile All in Grid). Both commands are in the menu Window(Window) -> Arrange(Arrange). And then the instrument Moving(Move) drag an image from one window to another. To move a fragment, it must first be selected (Fig. 2).
As a result of these actions in the palette Layers(Layers) a new layer will be automatically added on which the copied fragment will be located.
Paste via clipboard
To create a layer, you can use the clipboard into which the image or part of it is placed by executing the command Editing(Edit) -> Copy(Copy) or the key combination Ctrl+C (in Mac OS - Command+C). But to paste a fragment from the clipboard, a whole set of commands is used, depending on what result you want to get.
Team Insert
This command returns an image from the clipboard to a new document layer, automatically aligning it to the center of the canvas. The command is in the menu Editing(Edit) and has the keyboard equivalent of Ctrl+V (in Mac OS - Command+V).
Paste Special Commands
Paste special uses three commands located in the menu: Editing(Edit) -> Special insert(Paste Special).
Team Paste instead(Paste in Place) allows you to paste into the relative area of the image from which it was copied. In other words, if in the original document a fragment of an image is in the left corner, then when inserted it will be placed in the same corner of the target document.
So, in Fig. 3 A The Magic Mouse image is in the lower left corner of the document. If you select it, copy it to the clipboard, and then open another document and paste using the command Paste instead(Paste in Place), the image will be placed in the lower left corner of the open document. In Fig. 3 b the result of the insertion is presented. In the palette Layers(Layers) a new layer with a mouse image was automatically added (Fig. 3 V).
Team Insert Paste into allows you to paste the contents of the clipboard into a selected area on the image. So, in Fig. 4 A The following is an image of water copied to the clipboard. And in Fig. 4 b this image is pasted into the selected area of the glass part.
Pay attention to the mask that appears in the row of the layer with the image of water, which is automatically created to hide parts that extend beyond the selection - they are indicated in black (Fig. 4 V). This is a layer mask, it allows you to save the entire image on the layer without deleting the hidden parts.
Team Paste outside(Paste Outside) pastes the image from the buffer around the selected area, cutting off everything that falls into it. Therefore, in order to obtain the collage presented in Fig. 5, you must first select the image of the statue, and then paste a photo of the landscape from the clipboard using the command Paste outside(Paste Outside).
Rice. 5. Result of the Paste Outside command applied to the selected area of the statue
Using Commands Cut to new layer And Copy to new layer
These commands are used to place a portion of an image on a new layer. You need to select a fragment, and then right-click inside the selection and select the command from the context menu Copy to new layer(Layer via Copy) or Cut to new layer(Layer via Cut) - depending on whether you want to leave the original fragment on the original layer or not. In Fig. 6 A command selection shown Copy to new layer(Layer via Copy), and fig. 6 b shows the result of running this command. As a result of its execution, it’s as if nothing happens if you don’t pay attention to the palette Layers(Layers). But the palette clearly shows us that the selected object is placed on a new transparent layer, which is located on the top level, and the original background layer remains unchanged.
Comment
Both commands will be contained in the context menu list only if one of the selection tools is active!
Both commands have keyboard equivalents. To copy, use the key combination Ctrl+J (in Mac OS - Command+J), and for cutting - Shift+Ctrl+J (in Mac OS - Shift+Command+J).
Using the command Place
Team Place(Place) is in the menu File(File) and is intended for embedding vector images, such as logos, diagrams, diagrams, etc., that were created in a vector graphics editor, onto a layer. This command allows you to preserve the vector nature of the image, to which you can apply transformation commands without reducing its quality. Such objects are called smart objects; working with them was discussed in CompuArt No. 6’2012.
The layer on which the smart object is placed is indicated by an icon (Fig. 7), which tells you that you are working with a vector object.
Quickly place multiple images in one document
If you need to collect several photos in one document, you can use the command File(File) -> Scenarios(Scripts) ->→ Load files onto stack(Load Files into Stack). As a result, a dialog box appears in which you need to select image files by first clicking the button Review(Browse). Then the images of all selected files will be placed on separate layers of the new document.
Layer Masks
A mask is a halftone or full-color image that hides parts of the layer on which it is applied. For halftone masks, black, white, and gray represent the transparency of the mask. Black color indicates opaque areas of the mask (the layer is not visible through them); white - completely transparent areas of the mask, and through the gray layer it is partially visible. This mask placed on top of a layer is called a layer mask. Please note that these designations are relative. If necessary, colors can be swapped. Then opaque areas will be shown in white, transparent areas in black. However, in order not to get confused with the notation yourself, it is better not to change the default.
Attention!
The mask is not applied to the background layer. Before creating a layer mask, you need to convert the background layer to a normal layer.
Photoshop allows you to work with several types of masks: raster, vector and clipping.
Raster layer masks
Raster masks are created based on the selected area. It is necessary to select a fragment of the image, then at the bottom of the palette Layers(Layers) click the add mask button. As a result, the part of the layer that is not included in the selection area will be hidden behind the mask (Fig. 8).
Once you create a layer mask in the palette Layers(Layers), its thumbnail will be displayed not only on the layer, but also in the palettes Channels(Channels) and Properties(Properties). The Properties palette provides access to additional settings for mask parameters: density, feathering, edge refinement, and mask color inversion. Moreover, the properties palette allows you to work not only with raster masks, which are created based on a selection, but also with vector masks, created based on a vector path.
Vector layer masks
Creating a vector mask should begin by creating a path with any vector tool, for example Free figure(Custom Shape). Moreover, you should draw the figure in the mode Circuit(Path)! After creating a vector shape, you must click the Mask button on the properties panel (Fig. 9).
Comment
Besides using the button Mask (Mask), you can, as in the case of a raster mask, click on the add mask button in the palette Layers (Layers), but with the Ctrl key pressed (in Mac OS - Command)!
Further customization of the mask occurs in the palette Properties(Properties) - fig. 10.
If desired, you can outline the outline, for example, with a brush, and place another layer under the layer with the mask (Fig. 11).
Clipping Masks
Unlike layer masks, a clipping mask is not created from a selection or vector path, but from an image on the layer. Then all layers above the clipping mask will be masked by this image. To create a clipping mask, you can run the command Create Clipping Mask(Create Clipping Mask) from the palette menu Layers(Layers) or press the key combination Alt+Ctrl+G (in Mac OS - Option+Command+G). You can also hover your mouse pointer with the Alt key pressed (in Mac OS Option) over the border of two layers, and when the pointer changes to a square with a curved arrow, click the mouse. In either case, a clipping group consisting of two layers will be created. The image of the bottom layer of this pair will turn into a clipping mask, and a designation in the form of a curved arrow will appear on the top layer. The bottom layer is also called the base layer of the clipping group. So, in Fig. Image 12 of the dress is a clipping mask for the top layer with a photo of yellow roses.
Types of layers
The most common and frequently used are ordinary layers, with which you can do almost anything: change the blending mode, apply layer effects to them, various blocking options, change the fill and opacity, make corrections, pass images through filters, etc. But we shouldn’t forget about other types of layers that make your work with Photoshop much more convenient.
Background
The background layer has special properties. This is the only layer that cannot contain transparent pixels and is always located below other layers. If we compare ordinary layers to transparent films with images printed on them, then the background layer is the sheet of paper underlying them.
For the background layer, you cannot change the blending mode, opacity, or fill. No layer effects can be applied to it (while the layer is locked), and in addition, it cannot be moved with the tool Moving(Move).
All images you take with your camera or scan have a single background layer.
To access the properties of the background layer, you must convert it to a regular layer. Enough for this in the palette Layers(Layers) double-click on its line and click OK in the automatically opened window New Layer(New Layer). Then the lock icon will disappear from the layer row, and its name will change to Layer 0 provided that you have not specified a different name in the New Layer window.
To convert a regular layer back to a background layer, you need to run the command Layers Layer → New(New) → Convert to Back(Background From Layer).
Corrective
Adjustment layers are very convenient for experimenting with tonal and color correction of an image. There are many tools, and it is certainly unknown which one will cope better in a given situation. Therefore, you can apply several correction options to an image, placing them on different adjustment layers, and then select the optimal result. You can always hide or delete an adjustment layer with an undesired result without making any changes to the original image.
To create an adjustment layer, use the button in the form of a black and white circle on the palette Layers(Layers), which expands a list containing the names of corrections: Levels(Levels), Curves(Curves) Color balance(Color Balance), etc. The result is a palette Properties(Properties), in which the layer parameters are configured (Fig. 13).
By default, adjustment layers have masks that are associated with them. If you do not make any selection before creating an adjustment layer, the adjustment will be applied to the entire underlying layer. The mask in this case will be white. If you first select a fragment, a mask will be applied to the adjustment layer, which will allow you to correct parts of the underlying layer (Fig. 14).
Rice. 14. An example of using an adjustment layer. On the left is the original image.
An adjustment layer affects all layers underneath it. If you want to make adjustments to only one underlying layer without affecting the others, then you need to create a clipping group from the adjustment layer and the image being adjusted. The base layer should be the image layer.
Pouring
To apply color, gradient, or pattern to an object, you can use three layer effects: Color overlay(Color Overlay) Gradient overlay(Gradient Overlay) or Pattern overlay(Pattern Overlay). For these purposes, you can also select the object to be repainted, create a new layer, paint the selection area with a uniform color, gradient or pattern, and then determine the blending mode that is most suitable for this case.
But you can do it differently: to repaint the object, create a fill layer. Like the adjustment layer, this layer is created with a transparent mask, by editing which you can protect the repainted object from the influence of the filling layer (Fig. 15).
Rice. 15. An example of using fill layers to repaint an object and apply texture. On the left is the original image.
To create a fill layer, you need to select the layer with the object to be repainted, and then click on the button. For the fill layer, the first three items in the drop-down list are applied.
Text
Four tools are used to add captions to an image: Horizontal text(Horizontal Type), Vertical text(Vertical Type) Horizontal text mask(Horizontal Type Mask) and Vertical text mask(Vertical Type Mask). But you can get by with just one tool. Horizontal text(Horizontal Type), because you can easily get vertical text from horizontal text by simply clicking a button on the tool’s property bar. And from the inscription, you can instantly go to the selection by clicking on the text layer thumbnail while pressing the Ctrl key (in Mac OS - Command).
After entering the text, you must confirm your entry, which can be done in several ways:
To edit a text layer you need to select a tool Horizontal text(Horizontal Type) and just click inside the label. The text layer is automatically activated, and an input cursor will appear inside the inscription (Fig. 16 A). There is another way to enter editing mode. To do this, just double-click on the text layer thumbnail in the palette Layers(Layers). In this case, the text will be highlighted, as in a text editor (Fig. 16 b).
Rice. 16. Examples of entering text editing mode: a - click on the inscription in the document window with the Horizontal Text tool active; b - double-click on the text layer thumbnail in the Layers palette
Attention!
Double-click exactly on the thumbnail of the text layer. Otherwise, you will open the styles window or enter renaming mode.
In addition to short text, Photoshop allows you to work with block text consisting of several paragraphs. In addition, text can be entered inside a closed vector shape or path (Fig. 17).
The article was prepared based on materials from the book “Photoshop CS6. The most necessary" by Sofia Skrylina: http://www.bhv.ru/books/book.php?id=190413.