| Anyone who plans on spending any length of time | | | | layers.) |
| wandering the halls of Photoshop should consider | | | | Once you have a few layers inside your Layers dialog |
| learning how Photoshop layer sets work. | | | | box, try clicking the eyeballs next to each one. |
| Layers are crucial to the entire mechanism of | | | | You'll see that in this way you can visually isolate |
| Photoshop design and enhancement. | | | | layers so you can tell exactly what it is you're |
| The Photoshop "Layers" palette maintains a precise | | | | working on. |
| history of all your keystrokes... so you don't have to | | | | At times, you will find yourself creating many, many |
| remember anything. | | | | layers for a single image. When that happens, it gets |
| Layers can be likened to your command post, so it | | | | difficult to find the layer you want to affect. |
| behooves you to spend some time in there. Let's | | | | The solution to this problem lies in creating groups, or |
| take a brief look around right now. | | | | "layer sets." Grouping layers allows you to place them |
| Hmm, looks complicated, doesn't it? Well, unlike a lot | | | | into a folder. (In Photoshop CS, first link the layers, |
| of other functions inside Photoshop, Layers really is | | | | then choose "New Set from Linked" on the side |
| pretty simple. | | | | menu of the Layers box.) |
| Basically, it isolates different sections or | | | | In Photoshop 7, you create a group by choosing |
| transformations so you can work on them without | | | | each one, then clicking "Group with Previous" inside |
| affecting the rest of the image. | | | | your Layer option in the top menu. Or you can click |
| Which really comes in handy when you find yourself | | | | the tiny folder icon at the bottom of the |
| up against the wall and need to start that particular | | | | Layers palette and drag the layers into that layer |
| enhancement over: just throw that layer away. | | | | when it appears, then click the collapse arrow to the |
| Your Photoshop Layers box will automatically create | | | | left of the set folder to hide the layers inside the |
| a new layer for you for some changes, but you can | | | | folder. |
| also create a new yourself. | | | | If you want to get rid of the set folder later, |
| On your top menu bar, click "Layer," then "New." | | | | highlight it, then click Layer, Delete, Set, then choose |
| You'll see a brand new, empty layer appear inside | | | | either "Set and Contents" or "Set Only." |
| your Layers box. Notice that it has been highlited and | | | | Some versions of Photoshop require you to choose |
| the "background," or original, layer is not. | | | | your layers and then "Shift-Click" on the bottom |
| The highlighted layer is the active layer, meaning | | | | folder icon to create a set folder. In Photoshop CS2, |
| that's the one you're presently working on. To | | | | you can align layers by choosing View > Show > |
| activate a different layer, simply click on it, and | | | | Smart Guides. |
| Photoshop highlights (activates) it for you. | | | | Like all the other fabulous Photoshop functions, |
| Becoming aware of this one function is essential for | | | | Layers offers almost limitless ways to affect your |
| successfully working in layers. | | | | photos and the way you maneuver around inside |
| (Note: Photoshop CS2 lets you activate multiple | | | | Photoshop itself. |