PHOTOSHOP Layers How-To Tips & Tricks

The Design & Publishing Center . / . Photoshop Tips & Tricks . / . Seminars: Layers

Photoshop Layers Palette Over the past several months, we’ve gotten a lot of mail telling us we’re not clear with our references to layers.

Layers
With PS 4.0, one's understanding of layers changes a bit, but let’s look at the fundamentals of layers.

Picture if you will, your document as a stack of clear plastic or glass sheets.

Photoshop what layers REALLY are
The metaphor stems from the olden days of paste-up when we used to use acetate to make layers for graphic objects like masks or color breaks. Here’s where the confusion comes in. We usually refer to up, down, under, behind or on top of. We’ve confused a number of people who read our columns.

Now, picture the illustration at left, and remember that the layers palette looks DOWN on that stack.

Translated to the Photoshop window, the up and down references also apply to the stacking order of the layers in the layers palette, as well as the layer numbers.

Got 4?
We knew it wouldn't be easy. Instead of re-selecting an item pasted to a new layer, that layer now has its own life. Now, just hold down the command key and click/drag the layer without re-selecting. (Control for Windows)

Now copy something and paste it. You'll discover a new layer is generated. (Those Adobe boys think we're all rich like they are, and can afford all the memory in the world!) What about type? Yup, you're right... set some text and it's put on its own layer. Bingo. No need to deselect or create a new receiver layer for the text. (Although I did like that floating selection.)

Enough of this -- we’re jumping ahead of ourselves... Please folks, write with your own discoveries about making the jump to Photoshop 4. If we publish YOUR tip or trick, you'll get some goodies! Also, watch in next month's Photoshop Tips & Tricks for a new column where we chat with some of the leading Photoshop gurus about their leaps into the new version.

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		Over the past several months, we’ve gotten a lot of mail telling us we’re not clear with our references to layers. Layers With PS 4.0, one's understanding of layers changes a bit, but let’s look at the fundamentals of layers. Picture if you will, your document as a stack of clear plastic or glass sheets.
	The metaphor stems from the olden days of paste-up when we used to use acetate to make layers for graphic objects like masks or color breaks. Here’s where the confusion comes in. We usually refer to up, down, under, behind or on top of. We’ve confused a number of people who read our columns. Now, picture the illustration at left, and remember that the layers palette looks DOWN on that stack. Translated to the Photoshop window, the up and down references also apply to the stacking order of the layers in the layers palette, as well as the layer numbers.