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Understanding Layers In Photoshop
Learn the basics of layers in Photoshop, including what layers are, how they work, and why knowing how to use layers is so important. For Photoshop CC, CS6 and earlier versions of Photoshop.
If you're brand new to layers in Photoshop, you've picked a great place to start. For this first look at layers, we'll focus on what layers are and why we need them. Rather than creating anything fancy, we'll use some very simple tools to draw some very simple shapes. Then, we'll learn how we can manipulate those shapes within our document using layers! We'll start by creating our composition without layers and looking at the challenges we face when trying to make even simple changes. Then, we'll create the same composition again, this time using layers, to see just how much of a difference layers really make.
The basics of layers have not changed at all over the years, so even though I'll be using Photoshop CS6 here, everything is fully compatible with Photoshop CC as well as earlier versions of Photoshop. So, if you're ready to learn about layers, let's get started!
Layers are, without a doubt, the single most important aspect of Photoshop. Nothing worth doing in Photoshop can, or at least should , be done without layers. They're so important that they have their own Layers panel as well as their own Layer category in Photoshop's Menu Bar along the top of the screen. You can add layers, delete layers, name and rename layers, group them, move them, mask them, blend them together, add effects to layers, change their opacity, and more!
Need to add some text to your layout? It will appear on its own Type layer. How about vector shapes? They'll appear on separate Shape layers. Layers are the heart and soul of Photoshop. It's a good thing, then, that layers are so easy to use, and easy to understand, at least once you wrap your head around them.
"That's great!", you say, "but that doesn't tell me what layers are". Good point, so let's find out!
Let's get started!
Photoshop Without Layers
Before we look at what layers are and how to use them, let's first see what working in Photoshop would be like without layers. This will make it easier to see why layers are so important. We'll start by creating a new Photoshop document. To do that, go up to the File menu in the Menu Bar along the top of the screen and choose New :
This opens the New dialog box. There's no particular size we need for our document, but to keep us both on the same page, enter 1200 pixels for the Width and 800 pixels for the Height . You can leave the Resolution value set to 72 pixels/inch . Finally, make sure Background Contents is set to White so that our new document will have a solid white background. Click OK when you're done to close out of the dialog box. Your new white-filled document will appear on the screen:
Drawing A Square Shape
Now that we have our new document ready to go, let's draw a couple of simple shapes. First, we'll draw a square, and for that, we'll use one of Photoshop's basic selection tools. Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool from the top of your Tools panel along the left of the screen:
To draw a square with the Rectangular Marquee Tool , click anywhere in the upper left of your document to set the starting point for the selection. Then, with your mouse button still held down, press and hold your Shift key and drag diagonally towards the lower right. Normally, the Rectangular Marquee Tool draws freeform rectangular selections, but by pressing and holding the Shift key, we tell Photoshop to force the shape of the selection into a perfect square.
Once you've drawn out the selection, release your mouse button, then release your Shift key. It's very important that you release your mouse button first, then the Shift key, otherwise your perfect square will revert back into a freeform rectangle:
Now that we've drawn our selection outline, let's fill it with a color. To do that, we'll use Photoshop's Fill command. Go up to the Edit menu at the top of the screen and choose Fill :
This opens the Fill dialog box. Change the Use option at the top of the dialog box to Color :
As soon as you select Color, Photoshop will pop open its Color Picker so we can choose which color we want to use. You can pick any color you like. I"ll choose a shade of red:
Click OK when you're done to close out of the Color Picker, then click OK to close out of the Fill dialog box. Photoshop fills the selection with your chosen color, which in my case was red:
We don't need our selection outline around the square anymore, so let's remove it by going up to the Select menu at the top of the screen and choosing Deselect :
Drawing A Round Shape
So far so good. Now let's add a second shape to the document. We've already added a square, so let's mix things up a bit and add a round shape this time. For that, we'll use another one of Photoshop's basic selection tools—the Elliptical Marquee Tool .
The Elliptical Marquee Tool is nested in behind the Rectangular Marquee Tool in the Tools panel. To select it, right-click (Win) / Control-click (Mac) on the Rectangular Marquee Tool, then choose the Elliptical Marquee Tool from the fly-out menu:
Let's draw our round shape so that it overlaps the square. Click in the bottom right corner of the square to set the starting point for the selection. Then, with your mouse button still held down, press and hold Shift+Alt (Win) / Shift+Option (Mac) on your keyboard and drag away from the starting point.
Normally, the Elliptical Marquee Tool draws freeform elliptical selections, but by holding down the Shift key as we drag, we force the shape into a perfect circle. Holding the Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) key tells Photoshop to draw the shape outward from the point where we initially clicked.
Drag out the shape so that it's roughly the same size as the square. When you're done, release your Shift key and the Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) key, then release your mouse button. Again, make sure you release the keys first, then the mouse button:
Once you've drawn your circular selection outline, go back up to the Edit menu at the top of the screen and choose Fill to fill the selection with a color. The Use option at the top of the Fill dialog box should already be set to Color since that's what we set it to previously. But if you simply click OK to close out of the dialog box, Photoshop will fill the selection with the same color you chose last time, and that's not what we want.
We want a different color for the round shape, so click on the word Color, then re-select Color from the list of options (I know, it seems weird to select something that's already selected), at which point Photoshop will re-open the Color Picker . Choose a different color this time. I'll choose orange. Again, feel free to pick any color you like:
Click OK to close out of the Color Picker, then click OK to close out of the Fill dialog box, at which point Photoshop fills the selection with color. To remove the selection outline from around the shape, go up to the Select menu at the top of the screen and choose Deselect , just as we did last time. We now have two shapes—one square and one circle—with the circle overlapping the square:
The Problem...
We've drawn our shapes and everything looks great. Although...
Now that I've been looking at it for a while, I'm not sure I'm happy with something. See how the orange shape overlaps the red one? I know I did that on purpose, but now I'm thinking it was a mistake. It might look better if the red shape was in front of the orange shape. I think I want to swap them. That should be easy enough, right? All I need to do is grab the red one and move it overtop of the orange one.
To do that, we... um... hmm. Wait a minute, how do we do that? I drew the red one, then I drew the orange one, and now I just need to move the red one in front of the orange one. Sounds easy enough, but... how?
The simple answer is, I can't. There's no way to move that red shape in front of the orange one because the orange one isn't really in front of the red one at all. It's just an illusion. The orange shape is simply cutting into the red one, and those pixels that were initially colored with red when I filled in the square were changed to orange when I filled in the circle.
In fact, the two shapes are not really sitting in front of the white background, either. Again, it's just an illusion. The entire composition is nothing more than a single flat image . Everything in the document—the square shape, the round shape and the white background—is stuck together.
Let's take a look in our Layers panel to see what's happening. The Layers panel is where we view the layers in our document. Notice that even though we haven't looked at layers yet, and made no attempt to add one ourselves, Photoshop automatically created a default layer for us. The default layer is named Background because it serves as the background for our composition.
If we look to the left of the layer's name, we see a thumbnail image. This is the layer's preview thumbnail . It shows us a small preview of what's on the layer. In this case, we see both of our shapes as well as the white background. Since we didn't add any other layers ourselves, Photoshop placed everything we've done so far on this one, default Background layer:
And that's the problem. Everything we did was added to that one layer. With our entire composition on a single layer, we don't have many options if we want to change something. We could undo our way back through the steps to get to the point where we can make our change, or we could scrap the whole thing and start over again. Neither of those options sounds very appealing. There must be a better way to work in Photoshop, one that will give us the freedom and flexibility to change our composition without needing to undo a bunch of steps or start over from scratch.
Fortunately, there is! The solution is to use layers. Let's try the same thing, but this time using layers!
Take Two, This Time With Layers
Now that we've seen what it's like to work in Photoshop without layers, let's see what layers can do for us. First, we'll clear away the two shapes we've added. Since everything is on a single layer, we can do that easily just by filling the layer with white.
Go up to the Edit menu at the top of the screen and once again choose Fill . When the Fill dialog box appears, change the Use option from Color to White :
Click OK to close out of the dialog box. Photoshop fills the document with white, and we're back to where we started:
The Layers Panel
I mentioned a moment ago that the Layers panel is where we go to view the layers in our document. But really, the Layers panel is so much more. In fact, it's really Command Central for layers . If there's something we need to do in Photoshop that has something to do with layers, the Layers panel is where we do it. We use the Layers panel to create new layers, delete existing layers, rename layers, move layers around, turn layers on and off in the document, add layer masks and layer effects.... the list goes on. And it's all done from within the Layers panel.
As we've already seen, the Layers panel is showing us that we currently have one layer in our document—the default Background layer . The preview thumbnail to the left of the layer's name is showing us that the Background layer is filled with white:
When we initially added our two shapes to the document, they were both added to the Background layer, and that's why there was no way to move them independently of each other. The shapes and the white background were all stuck together on a flat image. This way of working in Photoshop, where everything is added to a single layer, is known in technical terms as "wrong" because when you need to go back and make changes, you run into a "problem" (another technical term). Let's see what happens if we create the same layout as before, but this time, we'll place everything on its own layer.
Our white background is already on the Background layer, so let's add a new layer above it for our first shape. To add a new layer to the document, we simply click on the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel (second icon from the right):
A new layer appears above the Background layer. Photoshop automatically names the new layer Layer 1 . If we look at the preview thumbnail to the left of the layer's name, we see that it's filled with a checkerboard pattern . The checkerboard pattern is Photoshop's way of representing transparency. In other words, it's telling us that the new layer is blank. It's there waiting for us to do something with it, but at the moment, there's nothing on it:
Notice that Layer 1 is highlighted in blue. This means it's currently the active layer . Anything we add to the document at this point will be added to the active layer (Layer 1), not the Background layer below it. Let's add our first shape, just as we did before. Since our first shape was the square, we'll need to once again select the Rectangular Marquee Tool from the Tools panel.
The Tools panel shows us the last tool that we selected from the group. By "group", I mean all of the tools that are nested together in the same spot. Since the last tool we chose from the group was the Elliptical Marquee Tool, its icon is the one currently visible in the Tools panel. To switch back to the Rectangular Marquee Tool, we'll need to right-click (Win) / Control-click (Mac) on the Elliptical Marquee Tool and then choose the Rectangular Marquee Tool from the fly-out menu:
With the Rectangular Marquee Tool in hand, click and drag out a square selection similar to the previous one, pressing and holding the Shift key as you drag to force the shape into a perfect square. When you're done, release the Shift key, then release your mouse button. Here, we see my selection outline:
Go up to the Edit menu at the top of the screen and choose Fill . When the Fill dialog box opens, change the Use option to Color , then pick a color for the square from the Color Picker . I'll choose the same red color I chose last time. Click OK to close out of the Color Picker, then click OK to close out of the Fill dialog box.
Photoshop fills the selection with your chosen color. To remove the selection outline from around the shape, go up to the Select menu at the top of the screen and choose Deselect (I'm running through these steps quickly here simply because they're exactly the same as what we did previously). I now have my first shape, filled with red, just as I had before:
It doesn't seem like anything is different just by looking at the composition itself. We have a square shape sitting against a white background, just like we had last time. But the Layers panel is now telling a different story. The preview thumbnails are showing us that the Background layer is still filled with solid white, while the square is now on a completely separate layer (Layer 1) above it. This means that the white background and the square shape are no longer part of the same flat image. It looks like they are in the document, but they're really two completely separate elements:
Let's add our second shape. Again, we want to place it on its own layer, which means we first need to add another new layer to the document by clicking the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel:
A second new layer, Layer 2 , appears above Layer 1. Normally, we'd want to rename our layers since names like "Layer 1" and "Layer 2" don't tell us anything about what's actually on each layer. But for our purposes here, the automatic names are fine. Notice that once again, the checkerboard pattern in the preview thumbnail is telling us that the new layer is currently blank:
Notice also that Layer 2 is highlighted in blue, which means it's now the active layer. Anything we add next to the document will be added to Layer 2. Grab the Elliptical Marquee Tool from the Tools panel (nested behind the Rectangular Marquee Tool) and drag out a circular selection, just as we did before. Make sure that part of it is overlapping the square. Then go back up to the Edit menu and choose Fill . Re-select Color for the Use option to open the Color Picker and choose a color for the shape. I'll choose the same orange.
Click OK to close out of the Color Picker, then click OK to close out of the Fill dialog box. Photoshop fills the selection with color. Go up to the Select menu and choose Deselect to remove the selection outline from around the shape. And now, we're back to the way things looked previously with both of our shapes added:
Looking in the Layers panel, we see that the square shape remains all by itself on Layer 1 while the new round shape was placed on Layer 2. The white background remains on the Background layer, which means that all three elements that make up our document (the white background, the square shape and the round shape) are now on their own separate layers and completely independent of each other:
Changing The Order Of Layers
Previously, when everything was on a single layer, we found that there was no way to move the square shape in front of the round one because they really were not two separate shapes. They were simply areas of different-colored pixels mixed in with areas of white pixels on the same flat image. But this time, with everything on its own layer, we really do have two separate shapes, along with a completely separate background. Let's see how we can use our layers to easily swap the order of the shapes.
At the moment, the round shape appears in front of the square shape in the composition because the round shape's layer (Layer 2) is above the square shape's layer (Layer 1) in the Layers panel. Imagine as you're looking at the layers from top to bottom in the Layers panel that you're looking down through the layers in the document. Any layer above another layer in the Layers panel appears in front of it in the document. If the contents of two layers overlap each other, as our shapes are doing, then whichever layer is below the other in the Layers panel will appear behind the other layer in the composition.
This means that if we want to swap the order of our shapes so that the square one appears in front of the round one, all we need to do is move the square shape's layer (Layer 1) above the round shape's layer (Layer 2). To do that, simply click on Layer 1, then keep your mouse button held down and drag it up and above Layer 2 until you see a horizontal highlight bar appear directly above Layer 2. The bar tells us where the layer will be moved to when we release the mouse button:
Go ahead and release your mouse button, at which point Photoshop drops Layer 1 into place above Layer 2:
With the square shape's layer now above the round shape's layer, their order in the composition has been reversed. The square shape now appears in front of the round one:
Without layers, moving one element in front of the other like this would not have been possible. But with everything on its own layer, it couldn't have been easier. Layers keep everything separate, allowing us to make changes to individual elements without affecting the entire composition.
What if I decide later on that, you know what? I actually liked it better before. I want to move the round shape so it's back in front of the square one. Thanks to layers, it's not a problem! Just as we can drag layers above other layers, we can also drag them below other layers.
I'll click on the square shape's layer (Layer 1) and drag it back down below the round shape's layer (Layer 2). Once again, the highlight bar shows me where the layer will be moved to when I release my mouse button:
I'll release my mouse button so Photoshop can drop Layer 1 below Layer 2:
And we're back to seeing the round shape in front of the square one in the composition:
Moving Layers Around
What if we don't really want the shapes overlapping each other? Maybe they would look better if they were spread further apart. Again, because they're on separate layers, we can easily move them around.
To move the contents of a layer, select Photoshop's Move Tool from the top of the Tools panel:
Then, make sure you have the correct layer selected in the Layers panel. I'm going to move the round shape over to the right of the square shape, so I'll click on the round shape's layer (Layer 2) to select it and make it active. Again, I know it's now the active layer because Photoshop highlights it in blue when I click on it:
With Layer 2 selected, I'll click with the Move Tool on the round shape and drag it over to the right of the square:
We can even move both shapes at once. For that, we'll need to have both shape layers selected at the same time. I already have Layer 2 selected in the Layers panel. To select Layer 1 as well, all I need to do is press and hold my Shift key and click on Layer 1. Both layers are now highlighted in blue, which means they're both selected:
With both layers selected, if we click and drag either one of them with the Move Tool, both shapes move together:
Deleting Layers
One last thing we'll look at in this tutorial is how to delete layers. If we decide we don't need one of the shapes, we can remove it from the composition simply by deleting its layer. I'll click on the square's layer (Layer 1) to select it. Then, to delete the layer, all we need to do is drag it into the Trash Bin at the bottom of the Layers panel (the icon furthest to the right):
With the square's layer deleted, only the round shape remains in the document (along with the white background, of course):
I'll do the same thing with the round shape, dragging its layer down into the Trash Bin:
And now, with both shape layers deleted, we're once again back to nothing more than our solid white background:
Where to go from here...
And there we have it! We've barely scratched the surface here when it comes to all of the things we can do with layers, but hopefully you now have a better sense of what layers are and why they're such an essential part of working with Photoshop. Layers allow us to keep all of the various elements in a composition separate so we can add them, move them, edit them, and even delete them without affecting anything else. And because layers keep our workflow flexible, they offer us a level of creativity that simply wouldn't be possible without layers.
As I mentioned earlier, anything that has anything to do with layers in Photoshop is done from the Layers panel. So now that we have a basic understanding of what layers are and how they work, in the next lesson, we'll learn all about Photoshop's Layers panel !
You can jump to any of the other lessons in this Photoshop Layers series . Or visit our Photoshop Basics section for more topics!
Photoshop LAYERS Tutorial: What is Layer? How to Add
What are layers in photoshop.
Layers in Photoshop allow you to work non-destructively by stacking images on top of other images without interacting and mixing the pixels of images. “Layer” is the only thing that makes Photoshop an amazing photo editing and compositing tool. Layers can be used to stack multiple images, add text to an image, add vector graphics, etc.
Now in this Photoshop Layers tutorial, we will explain the use of layers in Photoshop and learn how to add a layer in Photoshop.
We can add them or delete them at any time we want
Step 1) Invisible Layer
Now when you create an image or open an image in photoshop it’s visible in layer panel.
Let me drag out layer panel.
You can see bydefault a background layer.
Step 2) UnLock Layer
You can notice a lock symbol on it. so the layer is locked. It means you can’t move or do anything like that. Because the layer is locked.
So to unlock a layer we have different options. One of them is we can double click on locked layer. It will show you a popup where you can change the name of that locked layer and then press ok.
Now you can see our Photoshop layer is unlocked and its name is also changed.
Now you can easily move the layer and when you move it you will see the transparency checker patter behind the layer.
This all indicates a transparent background. You can customize it in the preferences.
Now let’s see another option to unlock the Photoshop layers.
You just need to grab that lock symbol and drag it to the trash and it simply unlocks the layer.
Now this is the background layer, to add more images, press shift key and drag and drop the image to the center.
Step 3) New Layer Created
You can see what happened in the layer panel. it has created a new layer on top of layer panel instead of adding or mixing the pixels with photoshop background layer.
Step 4) Turn off Layer with Eye Symbol
- In layer panel you can see each layer has an eye symbol. by clicking on eye symbol you can turn on or off the layer.
These are two “images” but now let’s check about “text”. add some text and then look into layer panel, a new text layer is created on the top.
So the main thing about Photoshop layers system is to keep every single item in different layer and don’t let any of them destroy or mix with each other.
Step 5) Layer Mask
Now let’s talk about one of the greatest features of layer the “layer mask”. Photoshop Layer mask can hide or reveal pixels of a layer without deleting them. Without the help of mask if we want to hide some part of the image then we have to delete that part by using eraser tool in the tools panel. Layer mask is another image attached to the layer.
You can take a layer mask by clicking on this icon or the another option is select the layer and open “layer” menu and go to layer mask and choose ”reveal all”.
You noticed it adds a new layer filled with white color and white color will reveal every thing on image.
Step 6) Hide part of image with Layer Mask
Now I want to hide some part of the image so for that instead of using the eraser tool you have to choose brush tool. And we can see that the layer mask is filled with white color so I’m gona paint with black color. You can notice that I’m doing the same thing what I have done before when using eraser tool.
But in this I haven’t deleted anything, I’m just hiding those pixels with the use of the layer masking in photoshop .
Look at the layer mask. it’s painted this area with black color and that black color is hiding what is on the layer.
If I press shift key and click on that layer mask then the mask will be disabled and it reveals everything on that layer. that means I have deleted nothing.
So this was the basic concept of photoshop layer mask.
Step 7) Blending Modes
- Blending mode allows you to blend any layer with another below it. For example if I select this layer and go to blending mode and change it to overlay from normal.
Look how it’s blend with the background image. You can try different blend modes.
But the good thing is the layer is not mixing up with the other layer. it is still separated. If I change the blend mode to normal then I can get my original image back as it was before.
These were all the basic concepts of layer system in photoshop.
We can add different things using layers in Photoshop, whether it is text, images, shapes, or in the latest version of photoshop, we can add even a 3D model in layer panel and work on it.
- Layers in Photoshop allow you to work non-destructively by stacking images on top of other images without interacting and mixing the pixels of images.
- When you create an image or open an image in photoshop it’s visible in layer panel.
- We can double click on locked layer to unlock a layer. It will show you a popup where you can change the name of that locked layer and then press ok.
- Photoshop Layer mask can hide or reveal pixels of a layer without deleting them.
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Photoshop Basics - Understanding Layers
Photoshop basics -, understanding layers, photoshop basics understanding layers.
Photoshop Basics: Understanding Layers
Lesson 7: understanding layers.
/en/photoshopbasics/saving-images/content/
Introduction
Have you ever wondered how people achieve such great results with Photoshop? While there are many image editing techniques, there's one tool Photoshop professionals use with almost every project: layers . Learning how to use layers is probably the most important thing you can do to improve your Photoshop skills. In this lesson, we'll cover how layers work , the different types of layers, and the basics of creating and using layers .
If you'd like to follow along with the lesson, you can download our example file . We're planning to send this file as an email attachment and post it online.
What are layers?
You can think of layers as transparent panes of glass stacked on top of one another, which allow different parts of each layer to show through. There are several types of layers you'll use in Photoshop, and they fall into two main categories:
- Content layers : These layers contain different types of content, like photographs , text , and shapes .
- Adjustment layers : These layers allow you to apply adjustments to the layers below them, like saturation or brightness . Adjustment layers are a type of nondestructive editing because they don't actually change anything about the original image.
When using layers, it may be helpful to turn individual layers on and off to see how they affect the image. You can do this by clicking the eye icon next to each layer name.
Click the eye icons in the interactive below to practice turning different layers on and off. Notice how hiding content layers like the Background layer has a more noticeable effect than hiding adjustment layers like the Adjust Levels layer.
Why use layers?
At this point, you may be wondering why you even need to use layers. Wouldn't it just be easier to work with everything in your image at once? The truth is, layers give you an amazing amount of flexibility and control because you can edit each layer independently from the rest of the image. Once you become comfortable with layers, you'll use them all the time.
Layer basics
You can view, create, and edit layers with the Layers panel. This will generally be found in the lower-right corner of the screen, although you can always go to Window > Layers to make sure it's turned on.
To create an adjustment layer:
If you've never used layers, we recommend trying adjustment layers first. Remember, an adjustment layer does not contain content; it simply allows you to apply adjustments to the layers below it.
You can also use the buttons in the Adjustments panel to create an adjustment layer.
In the example file, select the Cake layer, then create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. Try using the sliders in the Properties pane to see the effect.
To create a blank layer:
There may be times when you'll want to create a new blank layer . For example, if you want to draw on an image with the Brush tool, you could create a new layer and then draw on that layer.
To create a new layer, click the New Layer button near the lower-right corner of the Layers panel. The new layer will appear in the Layers panel.
To duplicate a layer:
There will also be times when you'll want to duplicate an existing layer . This is an easy way to try out different edits without altering the original layer.
To delete a layer:
If you find that you no longer need a layer, you can delete it . To do this, simply select the layer and press the Delete key on your keyboard. You can also click and drag the layer to the Trash Can in the lower-right corner of the Layers panel.
Working with layers
There are many ways to work with the layers in your file. For example, you can show and hide different layers or change the stacking order .
Showing and hiding layers
To hide a layer, simply click the eye icon next to the desired layer. Click it again to show the layer. In the image below, you can see that we've turned off the Text layer, so the text is no longer visible in the document window:
Reordering layers
The order in which layers are stacked will determine how the document looks. There may be times when you need to change the stacking order . To reorder a layer, simply click and drag the layer to the desired position in the Layers panel. In the image below, you can see that we've moved the Cake layer to the very top, which completely covers up the layers below it.
If you want to reorder the Background layer of the image, you will need to right-click it and select Layer from Background . This will convert the background to a regular layer, which can be reordered.
Try reordering the layers to see the effect. Notice how moving the Cake layer to the very top will completely cover up the other layers, but moving the Text or Rings layer to the top does not.
Letting layers show through
In the example above, moving the Cake layer to the top completely covers up the layers below it. By contrast, moving the Text or Rings layer to the top would still allow parts of the layers below to show through. This is because these layers contain transparent areas , whereas the Cake layer does not.
What if we wanted the layers below the Cake layer to show through? There are many ways to do this, including changing the opacity of the layer and adding a layer mask . We'll cover these options in our lesson on doing more with layers .
Editing layers
The main advantage of layers is that you can edit or adjust each layer individually without affecting the rest of the file. As we mentioned earlier, there are several types of layers you can use, along with many editing tools . However, it's important to note that not all editing tools will work with all types of layers. This will become easier to understand as you gain more experience with Photoshop.
Using editing tools
You can use tools from the Tools panel and the Filter menu to edit layers. For example, you can use the Move tool to move different layers around in your file. In the image below, we're using it to move the Rings layer toward the bottom of the image.
Selecting layers before editing
For many types of edits, the desired layer must be selected before editing; otherwise, the wrong layer might be edited by mistake. If you use the Eraser tool, for example, it will only affect the layer you have selected. It's helpful to get into the habit of checking the Layers panel frequently to make sure you have the correct layer selected.
Editing text layers
If you want to edit a text layer, double-click the layer icon in the Layers panel. You can then change the text, choose a different font, or modify the text size and color.
- In the example file, select the Rings layer, then use the Move tool to move the layer around the document.
- Double-click the layer icon for the Text layer, then try editing the text. For example, you could change the date from June 21 to June 15 .
While we've covered some fundamental information on layers, it's important to realize that there are many different ways to use them in Photoshop. We'll cover layers more throughout the tutorial, so you'll be able to build on the skills you've learned in this lesson.
If you'd like to follow along, you can download our example file .
- Open the example file in Photoshop.
- Try turning different layers off and on to see the effect.
- Add a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer, then use the sliders in the Properties panel to adjust the brightness and contrast.
- Try reordering layers to see the effect.
- Save the image as a PSD file to save your changes. This will preserve all of the layers so you can edit them again later if needed.
- Use the Save for Web feature to export the image as a JPEG. Make sure to adjust the quality to find a balance between file size and image quality.
/en/photoshopbasics/levels-curves-and-color/content/
Layers in Photoshop – Ultimate Guide for Beginners
Are Layers in Photoshop confusing you? Do you feel you are not using all the benefits Layers can bring in Photoshop? Well, you’re not alone as layers are arguably one of the most complex things in Photoshop but one of the fundamental aspects to take control of. So, in this tutorial, we bring you the most in-depth, ultimate guide to Layers in photoshop.
Here, we’ll show you everything layers have to offer such as creating and using multiple layers, adding layer styles, using smart objects as layers, layer masking, using adjustment layers and much more.
Plus, you can download the images I use and follow along with me. Download the images via the form below:
So, grab a tea or beer!, strap yourself in and get ready to learn all about Layers in Photoshop.
Download the images to follow along with our Layers in Photoshop Tutorial
What are layers in photoshop.
Layers allow you to work on one part of an image without affecting the others. Think of layers as sheets of acetate (clear plastic) stacked one on top of the other. Where there is no image on a layer, you can see through to the layers below. In MS Word if you add an image, by default the text on the page will move to fit around the picture. If you tried a similar thing in Photoshop you could enlarge and move the image without affecting the text.
Illustration showing how layers work in Photoshop
Layers are displayed in the Layers Palette, which is usually at the bottom right of your Photoshop work area. You can also display the Layers palette by going to Window > Layers in the Menu bar.
Layers panel in Photoshop
Photoshop will automatically create a new layer when you drag and drop a picture onto your page or use the text tool. You can also add a new layer to work on by clicking on the Add New Layer icon located at the bottom of the Layers Palette (highlighted red). You can rearrange the Layer order e.g. to put one layer on top of another by selecting and dragging your layers up and down in the layer’s palette.
The image below has a grey background and 3 layers above it containing a mixture of text and images. Using Layers in Photoshop is a very versatile way of working as it allows you to change and adapt each layer independently from the rest.
An image as it appearson screen with an illustration of how it’s layered in Photoshop and how it looks in the layers panel.
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Layer Basics
You shouldn’t run before you can walk, especially in Photoshop! The first things to get to grips with when using layers in Photoshop is the following:
Layers as Smart Objects
Reorganising
The best way to learn these basics is to watch this section in the video above. Here you’ll see how to achieve the above basics using the move tool, free transform tool and layers panel to rearrange, covert smart objects, hide and delete layers.
To learn from the basics to advance skills in Photoshop, click here.
Layer Styles in Photoshop
Adding Layer Styles is a great way to add further design features to your layers. This works particularly well with the text. To add a layer style, double click on the blank part of the layer in the layers palette or right click on the layer and select ‘Blending Options’.
Layer styles can add effects such as ‘Bevel and Emboss’ or ‘Drop Shadows’. The effects you add are non-destructive meaning you can go back and change them whenever you like, as long as you save your image as a .psd (Photoshop file). The effects will appear under the layer and can be hidden independently by clicking the eye symbol next to the effect name. You can also hide the layer by clicking the eye symbol next to it.
Using Layer Styles in Photoshop
Layer Masks in Photoshop
With a layer mask, you can make the layer invisible by adding the colour black and make it visible again with the colour white. This makes the rubbing away of a layer a non-destructive move.
Example of layer masking in Photoshop
To add a Layer Mask, select the layer you want to add it to and click the Layer Mask Icon located at the bottom of the Layers Panel. To delete a Layer Mask, drag it into the bin at the bottom of the Layers Panel. To hide the effect of a Layer Mask, hold down the Shift Key and click on the mask.
How to add a layer mask in Photoshop
Using the Brush Tool on Layer Masks
There are many ways to add black or white to a mask, the most common being with the brush tool. The Brush tool is located in Photoshop’s toolbox. In the options bar, amongst other things, you can change the Size, Edge Hardness, Opacity, Flow and Smoothing of the Brush Tool.
Photoshop’s Brush Tool Options
Opacity – controls the transparency of the paint being applied. 100% Opacity = solid colour, 10% Opacity = very transparent colour.
Flow – controls the rate in which the paint flows out of the tool. 100% Flow = Full flow (solid colour), 10% Flow = only 10% of the paint will flow out of the tool.
Smoothing – This will smooth out any curved lines as you draw them.
For a detailed description of Flow and Opacity, click here.
Example of using layer masking in Photoshop. To see the image being made, please watch the video above.
Using Adjustment Layers in Photoshop
Adjustment Layers are separate layers that apply an effect on all of the layers below it. I.e. if you add a Black and White Adjustment Layer, it will turn all the layers below it black and white. You can also add an adjustment layer effect to just one layer by clipping it to the layer below.
Adjustment Layers come with a mask which works in the same way as any layer mask. Adding the colour black to the mask will hide the effect while adding white will reveal that effect.
Adjustment Layers in Photoshop are non-destructive which means they don’t apply the effect directly to the original image, they simply overlay it. They can be adapted or deleted without damaging the original source image at any time, as long as you save your image as .psd.
The easiest way to add an Adjustment Layer is to click the Adjustment Layer icon located at the bottom of the Layers Panel. There is also an Adjustments Panel which will give you the same options.
Example using adjustment layers in Photoshop. To see this image being created please watch the video above.
Curves Adjustment Layers
A popular adjustment layer in Photoshop is Curves. Curves allows you to boost shadows and lift highlights whilst getting a smooth transition in the midtones in-between. Thus, giving a very natural result. When using an RGB curve, pushing the curve line up will brighten the scene while pulling it down will darken it.
The Curves Adjustment Layer Properties in Photoshop
The top right of the curve box controls the highlights of the image and the bottom left controls the shadows. You can use curves across the whole colour range of the image (RGB), or you can target individual colour ranges. E.g. you could add yellows and reds into the scene to boost a sunset.
When using a Colour curve, moving the curve line up or down will add certain colours to the scene.
Example of using Curves Adjustment Layers in Photoshop
To learn how to use Adjustment Layers in Photoshop to enhance Landscape Photography, click here.
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How to Use Photoshop Layers (Easy Step by Step Guide)
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What Are Photoshop Layers?
How to Start Using Photoshop Layers
When you open a photo, that will be your first layer and it’s always named ‘Background Layer’. On top of this layer, you can add an unlimited number of new layers. You can see all the layers in the Layers Panel. You can organize them how you want but the important thing is to name them. If you don’t, you’ll get lost in a mess of layers all named the same. Let’s take a look at the Layers Panel and how to add a layer.
How to Add a Layer in Photoshop
Step 1: Open a Photo
Step 2: Create a New Layer
Step 3: Name the New Layer
Step 4: Add an Object
An Overview of the Photoshop Layers Panel
Duplicate Layers
Group Layers
Merge Layers
Different Types of Layers
There are a few different types of layers available in Photoshop but they all work the same. You can also merge different types of layers into one layer.
Text Layers
Adjustment Layers
Special Effects
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Photoshop Layers 101 Photoshop Tutorial
Colin smith.
Here is a Layers crash course for you. Layers were introduced in Photoshop 3.0. This totally revolutionized Photoshop. For the first time you could do complex compositions easily without having to be a channels guru. I remember before layers, if a client wanted to make changes to a composition, or even change a font you were in big trouble. This article will teach you what layers are and what all the part in the Layers panel do.
There is a lot to layers and they will take some time to master. But they are not that difficult once you understand how they work. In this tutorial I will explain the concept of layers, describe the features and walk you through a simple tutorial. Along the way I will throw in a few cool tips to help you work faster and easier.
Photoshop Layers Basics
We have tutorials here to get your hands dirty, learn how to composite and collage in Photoshop Layers
Part 1. What is a Layer?
A layer is simply one image stacked on top of another. Imagine I have a piece of paper and I paint it red. Then I take a peice of clear celophaine and paint a yellow circle, and lay it over the paper. Now I take another peice of cellophane and paint some blue type and laythat on top of the yellow circle. I now have a background (red) and 2 layers (yellow and blue.) Just like in the picture below.
A background with 2 layers.
This is how your image with would look on the screen or when printed.
Broken apart so you can see how the layers work Each layer stacks on top of the previous one.
That is it! The concept of layers is that simple. Photoshop uses the Layers Pallete to allow you to do this with your images. More than one layer is called a composition.
Layers Panel
Photoshop’s layers Panel is a powerful tool that allows you do many special things to your layed compositions. Next we will look at the Photoshop layers pallete.
Have you ever wondered what all the parts of a layers panel do? Here is a screen grab of the layers Panel. I’ll explian what all the parts are here.
Layer Filter: This enables you to hide layers based on different things. Makes it easier to find the layers that you want to work with.
Opacity: 0= transparant 100 = fully opaque. press number keys on keyboard to instantly set to multiples of 10, or adjust the slider for an exact amount of transparency on each layer.
Blend Modes: Change these to change the way that the selected layer blends with the layers underneath it. Great for compositing and special effects. (With the move tool selected, press Shift+ or Shift- to cycle through blending modes.
Fill opacity: Adjusts the amount of opacity of the pixels only, but any layer styles are uneffected and remain 100% opaque.
visibility: If the eye is showing that layer is visible. Click on the eye and the layer will still be there but invisible until you click on the eye again.
Locked: The padlock means that something is locked in the layer. (Also click in the 4 icons in the “lock” next to fill opacity to make certain things editable of locked). Here are the different things that can be locked/unlocked.
Lock all: If the box is checked the layer is totally protected from any editing. Lock Position: You can make any changes except for moving the image. Lock Image pixels: You cannot draw on this layer if checked. Lock transparent: You can paint on this layer but not where it is transparent. Useful tools at the bottom of the panel
Link: Enabled you to link layers. These will all move together unless unlinked.
Layer Effects (Styles): Special effects applied to your image layer. Noted by the little f. Each effect will be listed. multiple effects may be used at once.
Add Layer Mask: This is the button to press to add a layer mask to the currently selected layer. Allows you to paint away parts of your layer without damaging your original image.
Add Adjustment Layer: The best way to apply image adjustments. There can change the color or tone of an image. All layers are affected underneath an adjustment layer (Unless clipped). This is a good option to using Image>Adjustments because adjustment layers are non-destructive and re editable.
Layer Groups: A good organizational tool. This puts layers into a folder. You can choose multiple layers and press Cmd/Ctrl+G to put them in a group, or create a group by clicking this icon. Layers can be dragged in or out of groups in the Layers panel.
Create New Layer: Press this icon to create a new layer. Drag an existing layer into this icon to create a duplicate of that layer,
Delete Layer: Drag a layer into this icon to remove it. Or select the layer and then press this icon to get the same result.
Panel Options: This will open a drop down menu that provides a number of options, many that aren’t listed anywhere else.
Types of Layers
In Photoshop there are a number of different types of layers. They are usually indicated by icons, here is what they all do.
Thumbnail: A small picture of the layers contents.
Layer Group: This puts layers into a folder. Layers can be dragged in or out of groups in the Layers panel.
Type Layer: The same as an image layer, except this layer contains type that can be edited; (Change character, color, font or size)
Adjustment Layer: An adjustment layer is changing the color or tone of all the layers underneath it. To only affect th layer directly underneath it (an ignore the other underlying layers): Move your pointer on the line between the adjustment layer and the layer directly beneath it, hold down Alt/Option. You will see a symbol appear. Click to limit the adjustment. (clip to layer) do the same thing again to toggle this option off.
Layer Style: An effect has been applied. Click the eye to turn it on or off. Double click “effects” to open the Layer Styles options.
Layer Mask: Allows you to paint on the mask to show and reveal portions of the image.
Smart Object: A special type of layer that is actually a container that can hold; multiple (or 1) layers, vectors for illustrator, raw files, video, 3D or many other types of objects. To learn about Smart Objects in depth, check out this video,
Art Layer: a regular layer
Background: Always locked, cannot be moved or have layer effects applied to it. The little icon of the padlock on the right, indicates it is locked. Can be changed into a regular layer by simply double clicking on the thumbnail.
Special Types of Layers
There are two different types of layers that have appeared in newer version of Photoshop. These used to only be in Photoshop Extended. With Photoshop CC, there is no longer a seperate Extended version, all the features are now inluded with every copy of photoshop.
Video Layer: This indicates that there is video on this layer. Photoshop is now able to be used as a video editor, to worki with video, animated slideshows and motion graphics. See Video in Photoshop if you want to learn about video editing in Photoshop.
3D Layer: Photoshop is capable of importing and working with 3D objects. It also has the ability to do 3D printing.
Layer Tips:
Here are some useful tips for working with Photoshop Layers:
Click to select a layer
Cmd/Ctrl+click to select multiple layers
Drag your curser through the eye incons to turn the visibility on or off on multiple layers
Cmd/Ctrl+ J to copy a layer
Cmd/Ctrl+ J to copy a selection to a new layer
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift + J to Move a selection to a new layer
Click the padlock icon on the background to convert it to a regular layer
Press Cmd/Ctrl+G to Move all the selected layers into a new group
Cmd+Option+Shift+E (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E windows) to create a new merged layer above all the other layers
Hold Option/Alt while adding a mask to create an inverted layer mask
You can drag elements from the layers panel into other documents
Hold down Option/Alt and click the pane between two layers to clip the contents of the top layer into the transparencey of the layer underneath it
Choose the move tool “V key” Press Shift + “+” to cycle through all the blending modes. Shift + “-” to cycle in reverse.
Ill see if I have time to keep adding to this list. If you like this kinds of tips, subscribe to our newsletter for more.
This has shown you the concepts of layers. Are you ready to begin actually using layers? Ok Lets go!
Also, check out our ultimate guide to layer blending modes in Photoshop . All the blend modes explained and practical ideas to use them, tutorials, explanations and a video overview.
Layer Blending Modes. Free eBook by Colin Smith (Yes, really free)
Grab your free PDF ebook right now. We were going to sell this for $9.99, but figured we would give it away instead and see what happens 🙂
Check out the video training that includes Layers, Channels and Masks, Route CS6
34 responses to “Photoshop Layers 101 Photoshop Tutorial”
Very useful and informative tutorial.
Thanks for explain it.
I finally have the basic idea behind PS, and am more sanguine about moving from Lightroom.
Thanx for sharing really helpful. Now i know about layers.
GREAT!!!LOVED IT!!!
Don’t forget to share your images with the community on our facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/53878338135/
Do you have an answer to the problem below?
https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1591592
Without clicking on the link, which I don’t in comments, I see red, that means a mask or channel is being activated somewhere.
amazing teaching ability
Thank you so much for this site.
I know this is an old page, but it is full of typos and misspellings. Hope later ones are better. Good information, though.
Very, very old page, this is from almost 20 years ago.
Was very helpful; just slow down a little bit more. Moving your cursor slow enough so I can see where it is going.
Thanks Collin: I teach high school Photoshop and we are frequent users of all your tutorials. Just transitioning from CS6 to CC so this will be a great beginning lesson for my students. (and much more interesting for them in your accent! Cheers!
Great! Shout out to your class, Mr. Rogers!
Very well done Colin. So many tutorials move as such a rapid pace, I end up having to stop and go back often. I always enjoy your videos. Thank you,
Very informative. Looking forward to more as a beginner.
Thanks a bunch Colin, i now know layers far better..
Perfectly paced tutorial. Well done!!
Yes I am a newbie and an oldie trying to learn all about Photoshop which is a marathon in it self and am so great full for you going back to basics nothing like seeing it visually and having the written word. Thank you so much Colin now i feel a bit calmer when i go into Photoshop knowing you are not far away for help.
Colin the pace was just right. I can’t wait for Lesson-2
Thanks very much. Sorry it took so long to get around to viewing the video. I now know the basics about layers but I’m expecting there is a whole lot more to learn about them, like everything in that bottom row (groups, adjustment, mask, effects and more) plus how to access the tools and use them effectively in a layer (I’ve been having trouble with some of them, as in non-functioning tools in a layer).
Thats what this series is all about
Great video nice and slow,easy to follow
I have been a CS6 user since its inception (declined to subscribe, so I’m in stasis), and I nevertheless found out a couple things I didn’t know by watching your tutorial. I guess it’s asking a lot, but if you could indicate occasionally what is exclusive to CC and what is universal, that would be helpful. In any case, well done and thank you.
I usually do that
Although I’ve been working with PS for quite a while, I never knew you could move the layer contents, which could have saved me a considerable amount of frustration and revealed unrealized possibilities! Your pace was just right and the material was well described. I especially appreciate the fact that your videos are accompanied by written instructions. Thank you! One problem though – I’ve never been able to find the Like button on your videos!
Brilliant – always been scared of layers but you explained it so simply Thank you
Good day. I’m currently working on my module and I would like to obtain permission to use the content of this website as part of my materials. I would greatly appreciate receiving a positive response from you. Rest assured that your material will be used for educational purposes only. Thank you and God bless.
Please contact us at the support link at the top of the page.
Thank you for your clear and easy deep explanation; please keep on; it’s one of the best tutorials on YT!. please consider teaching brush tools & path tools & shape tools in depth; as those need your excellent professional explanation… Also Blending options and convert layer to SMART OBJECT Very appreciated. ONE OF YOUR BEST FEATURE THAT YOU TALK SLOWLY and teaching steps organized well so as any person (that the English language is not mother language) can understand you very well; so important to keep that tone for all future lessons ; I will recommend you for anyone who needs to understand photoshop basics in the right way…
Thanks! And noted for future topics
Thanks for sharing this information it’s very useful.
thanks for the tutorial, it really helps a lot
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