Layers Part One

Photoshop uses layers which are simply images layered (stacked) on top of each other. When you open an image for the first time you’ll see a layer named “Background” that contains your original image. Layers can be duplicated, moved around, hidden, drawn on, cut up and altered in almost any way you can think of.

When viewing an image you are always seeing the top layer as though you’re looking down on the layers from above. Here the bottom layer has been duplicated and the duplicate is sitting on top of the original layer. The layer’s palette on the right is referred to as the “layer stack.”

One of the most useful type of layers is an Adjustment layer. Adjustment layers allow you to make color and tonal adjustments to your image without permanently changing your image. The adjustments are stored inside the adjustment layer and apply to all the layers below. Here two adjustment layers have been added. The third layer up is a Channel Mixer adjustment layer used to convert the image to black and white. The last layer is a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer that tones the image with sepia tones.

Layers can be grouped together in a set and placed in a folder called a Layer Group. Here the top three layers have been grouped together and placed in a Layer Group folder titled Group 1.

You can expand the contents of a Layer Group by pressing on the arrow icon just to the left of the folder icon.

Layers and Layer Groups can be turned on and off by using the Show/Hide icon on the left side of each layer or layer group. Here the top layer has been turned off. It still exists, but it has no effect on the layers below. This can be useful for viewing and comparing different changes you make to an image.