LESSON 16
04 ABOUTPANEL
LAYERS VECTOR & RASTER GRAPHICS
WHAT IS LAYER PANEL ?
The Layers panel is where we handle all of our layer-related tasks, from adding and deleting layers to adding layer
masks and adjustment layers, changing layer blend modes, turning layers on and off in the document, renaming
layers, grouping layers, and anything else that has anything to do with layers. Since it's one of the most
commonly-used panels in all of Photoshop, Adobe set things up so that the Layers panel opens automatically for
us each time we launch the program.
If the Layers panel is not appearing on
your screen, you can access it (along with any of
Photoshop's other panels) by going up to the
Window menu in the Menu Bar along the top of
the screen and choosing Layers. A checkmark to
the left of a panel's name means the panel is
currently open somewhere on the screen:
01. THE NAME TAB
02. THE LAYER ROW
03. THE PREVIEW THUMBNAIL 04. THE LAYER NAME
05. ADDING A NEW LAYER
06. MOVING LAYERS
07. THE ACTIVE LAYER 08. DELETING A LAYER
09. COPYING A LAYER
10. THE LAYER VISIBILITY ICON 11. RENAMING A LAYER
12. ADDING A LAYER MASK
13. ADDING FILL OR ADJUSTMENT LAYERS
14. CHANGING A LAYER'S BLEND MODE
15. GROUPING LAYERS
16. LAYER STYLES
17. LOCKING LAYERS
18. THE LAYER SEARCH BAR
19. CHANGING THE THUMBNAIL IMAGE SIZE
20. THE ESSENTIAL LAYERS SHORTCUTS
* You can show or hide the Layers panel by pressing the F7 key on your keyboard.
* A better way to create a new layer is to press and hold the Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) key
on your keyboard as you click the New Layer icon
* To create a new layer from your keyboard, press Shift+Ctrl+N (Win) / Shift+Command+N (Mac).
* If you don't care about the layer's name,
press Shift+Ctrl+Alt+N (Win) / Shift+Command+Option+N (Mac) on your keyboard.
* To quickly make a copy of a layer, or to copy a selection to a new layer,
press Ctrl+J (Win) / Command+J (Mac).
* To select all layers at once, press Ctrl+Alt+A (Win) / Command+Option+A (Mac).
* To instantly jump the selected layer straight to the top of the layer stack,
press Shift+Ctrl+] (Win) / Shift+Command+] (Mac).
* To select the contents of a layer, press and hold your Ctrl (Win) / Command (Mac) key and
click directly on the layer's preview thumbnail in the Layers panel.
* Then, with the layers selected, press Ctrl+G (Win) / Command+G (Mac) on your keyboard.
Photoshop will create a new layer group and place your selected layers inside it.
To ungroup the layers, press Shift+Ctrl+G (Win) / Shift+Command+G (Mac):
LESSON 17
04 ABOUT
LAYER VECTOR
STYLES & RASTER GRAPHICS
WHAT IS A LAYER STYLE ?
A layer style is simply one or more layer effects and blending options applied to a layer. Layer effects are things like
drop shadows, stroke, and color overlays.
THE LAYER MENU THE LAYERS PANEL
ADDING MORE EFFECTS IN THE LAYER STYLE DIALOG BOX
LAYER STYLE DIALOG BOX OVERVIEW
You can edit styles applied to a layer or create new styles using the Layer Style dialog box.
YOU CAN CREATE CUSTOM STYLES USING ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING EFFECTS:
Drop Shadow : Adds a shadow that falls behind the contents on the layer.
Inner Shadow : Adds a shadow that falls just inside the edges of the layer's content,
giving the layer a recessed appearance.
Outer Glow and Inner Glow :
Add glows that emanate from the outside or inside edges of the layer's content.
Bevel and Emboss : Add various combinations of highlights and shadows to a layer.
Satin : Applies interior shading that creates a satiny finish.
Color, Gradient, and Pattern Overlay : Fills the layer's content with a color, gradient, or pattern.
Stroke : Outlines the object on the current layer using color, a gradient, or a pattern.
It is particularly useful on hard-edged shapes such as type.
LESSON 18
04 ABOUT VECTOR
BLENDING MODES & RASTER GRAPHICS
One of the fastest ways to get amazing looking images is by using Blending modes. Each blending mode changes
the way that a layer reacts with the layer underneath it. You get a small inkling of this by adjusting the opacity of a
layer. Using blending modes opens up an entirely new world. These are like sunglasses for your layers that can
become x-ray specs and a whole lot more. There is a scientific explanation of each blending mode in the help menu
of Photoshop. Don’t get too caught up in the definitions. What matters is how it looks and the best way to determine
this is to experiment.
Blending modes are not just present in Layers. You can also find them with the painting tools, the layer styles, smart
filters and other places in Photoshop.
THE BLENDING MODES ARE SEPARATED INTO SIX GROUPS
Normal : No special blending takes place, only opacity effects these
Darken : The result darkens the image. White is invisible on the Blend layer.
Lighten : The result lightens the image. Black is invisible on the Blend Layer.
Contrast : Increases Contrast. 50% gray is invisible on the blend layer.
Comparative : Difference between images is apparent
Color : Works on different color qualities
