Beginner’s guide: Layers

[Posted 01/17/2009 at 12:00 AM | No Comments]

layers

Adobe Photoshop and layers goes hand and hand. Without the ability to use layers, and you needed to change something on your picture, you would have to redo your work. In this beginner’s guide, I will explain the concept of layers, what they are, what they do, and how to use them. By the end of this guide, you should realize that more layers is so much better than no layers.

What are layers?

A layer is simply one image stacked on top of another. Below is an example of the layer scree in photoshop.
layerstemplate

On layer one, we have the background, on layer 2 we have a layer named Yellow, and on layer 3, we have a layer named orange.

Why work with layers?

Layers will not destroy your original image.

You will have more control.

You can use blending modes to change the way layers interact.

You can change the opacity or any effect.

You will have or can add layer masks so that you can work selectively on your photo with any adjustments you make.

I am going to take the time to explain each bullet point.

First, without the use of layers, you will mess up/destroy the original photo you are working with. If you are making an image or banner (for a website) from scratch, you want to add as much layers as possible. It is always easier to delete a layer, than it is to take out the eraser and erase messups.

Second, to have more control over your images is just a great thing. Again, you don’t want to mess anything up. You can place the layer where you want it. With the example above, the orange layer is over the yellow layer. I can move that orange layer wherever I want, delete it, fade it, or re-size it without touching the yellow layer.

Next, Blending modes are another great tool to have. If you read my Beginner’s guide: Tool Basics, then you have already learned about the blending modes. If you notice on the layer palette above, where it says ‘normal’, that contains the blending modes. Use that to make quick work of your layer.

Then we have opacity.This is the best thing that happened to Photoshop. This gives your image the look of fading. You can fade a single layer without having the fade all of them. PERFECT!

Finally, layer masks are almost like blending modes. This task is more for the advanced designer. I will not go into depth with it now since this is a ‘beginner’s guide’.