Photoshop Layers

Photography / Greg Clayton

Layers offer ample means of non-destructive editing and compositing techniques

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Intro

Flicker Tutorials: lighting1 | lighting2 | lighting3 | lighting4 | lighting5 | lighting6 | lighting7 | lighting8 |


 

Photoshop Layers

Part 6: Layers, Got to Love Them will explain how to work with layers, opacity, free transform, groups, and layer styles.
**** BlipTV |
A basic intro to the layers panel, editing layers; turning layers on/off; layer opacity; grouping layers; Type layers; duplicating layers (option-drag); Layer Style (effects, shadows, etc.)

 

The Essentials of Photoshop Layers

Understanding Adobe Photoshop:  218 UAP Layer Organization

BlipTV | HarringtonBlog | iTunes | Link | Link3

Layer Organization
Since virtually every Photoshop image will involve multiple layers, it pays to get familiar with the Layers Panel and its settings and its editing techniques.

Shift-click on separate layers to select multiple layers
Align Tools  (works while multiple layers/objects selected)
Layer Groups (Cmd-G with multiple layers selected) to simplify Layers Panel and combine edit effects.

Click-drag over layer switches to turn on a sequence of layers.

Click, Shift-Click on Layers to select a sequence of layers

Distribute

 

 

Layer Masks and Image Compositing

215 UAP Layer Masking (Understanding Photoshop podcast)

Link | Link2 | Link3 | iTunes

Start with your foreground image.
We'll create a layer mask to control which part of your image will show, and which areas will be hidden, or invisible.
[This podcast presents techniques similar to PS Basix/Part21, discussed further down the page]

Unlock your base/image layer... of your background layer has your image, and is locked by default.

Select the image area. It may be easiest to initially select the background with the magic wand.
You might extend the selection...
...or Select Similar...
...or Select by color...

Make a layer mask of the current selection using the Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers palette.
Select the mask. You can continue to refine and paint the layer mask.
Black hides the image.
White shows the image.
Gray provide varying degrees of transparency -- thus allowing the image to partially show through.


...or use your paintbrush to select areas.
...or explore Refine Mask...

Add a second image. You can paste image in, or you can drag-drop from Bridge to add a new image layer.

Move the new image layer below your prior, foreground image. This should allow your foreground image mask to create a composite of the two images.

 

Articles and Links

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