Photoshop Tutorials > Basic Tutorials > Introduction To Layers

INTRODUCTION TO LAYERS

1 ) What is a layer?

Someone once asked me which came first the chicken or the egg. I'm not really sure but one thing I do know is that without layers photoshop would pretty much be useless. So What is a Layer, you ask? Well relating to the real world I would compare a layer to a transparency(you know the things you put on a projector). Anyway, a transparency is clear everywhere that the ink is not applied to it, likewise in photoshop that's how a layer works. It's transparent everywhere that the brush has not applied color to it. So you can put layers on top of one another and they one above will go over the one below. So when you think of layers, think of a transparency.

2 ) Show Me Show Me!

Well, lets get a proper introduction to it in comparison with photoshop. Goto WINDOW -> LAYERS and make sure Layers is checked. (On left) Now that you have made sure layers is checked we can create a new document by clicking on FILE-> NEW... (Ctrl-N). Size it about 400 pixels width and 400 pixels height and click OK. Nice work, you created a document, we're done. Oh wait, layers tutorial, I forget (Sorry I need some humor). Anyway, you should be able to find a window that looks like this.

If you got that, your doing good, if you don't reread the tutorial because your lost and I'm not reexplaining it. That good ol' Background Layer, looks like it needs company to me, so lets add another layer. Okay, now that you added another, wait! you don't know how to do it? Alright here we go (Relate to the above picture as a reference). Click the 'Create a new layer' button ( ) and you should get the positive outcome of the image below.

3 ) Manipulating the Layer

Good Job, your getting it. Now here's a little more. Double click directly on the words ' Layer 1' and you can change the name of the layer that way. Or you can right click on the layer and click 'Layer Properties...'. So lets goto the Layer Properties window and you should see this.

Rename the Layer if you wish, otherwise change the color to green and click OK. Now notice the layer changed to a green.

Gorgeous eh? Don't you just love green clashes perfectly. Oh well, see that Eye to the left of the layer there. Well, it has a purpose so lets get to that. Now what I want you to do is select the Brush Tool (B).

We're going to make something colorful now. I hope you understand colors? You do right? Eh, just in case you don't here's the low down. They are found on your 'Tools Bar' close to where you found the brush tool. Here's another picture.

The white and pale blue boxes are your colors. The White is your foreground color, the one you will need for working with the brush tool, and the other is your background color. So Set your foreground color to something like Red. Just click on it and change it to a red color. Good, now the box should be red now. Now click on the background color and make it a black. Nice work solder. I hope. Didn't lose any arms did you? Good. Now lets go back to that layer window. Make sure your 'Layer 1', or whatever you renamed it to, is selected (Just click it, it will highlight). Now go onto your canvas and add some color. Draw a quick 'X' so that it looks something like below.

Gorgeous, grade A artwork, give me an oscar, wait that's movies or something, well a cookie will do. Anyway, your layers window should exhibit this:

Nice Nice. I bet your wondering, I thought he was going to tell me about the eye. Well, I am so click it, click the eye! Woah, where did the X go. Now you see the purpose of the eye, clicking it will cause the layer to become invisible while the eye is gone and visible when the eye is there. So click the now empty box and the eye will return as well as your red X.

4 ) Visualizing the Transpareny Idea.

By now you should have a understanding creating new layers, so create another one. If you can't do that then reread this tutorial because it's important to know how. Now that we have another layer named 'Layer 2', how ironic, we can begin some work on it. So highlight 'Layer 2', and go back to the Colors Section of your 'Tools Bar'. You remember the area with the red and black colors that we changed it too. Click that two side curved arrow directly beside the colors. Yep, the red and black changed place, Cool huh? Now that black is our foreground color lets make a + sign with it on 'Layer 2'. Woah, looks like the British Flag, or not. Anyway now take 'Layer 2' in the 'Layers' window and move it under 'Layer 1'. You should have something like the below. The first image being before the switch and the second after you switched the layers around.

Don't you just love layers. Too bad, I didn't think of them, I'd be rich. You should have a good idea of layers by now...The next tutorial in this series is coming soon with the rest of the information.