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Understanding Layers in Photoshop
~~ by Linda Johnson, Linda's Computer Stop

This tutorial is for the beginning Photoshop user, to help clear up the mystery of layers: why you would use them and how to do that. The instructions here are based on Photoshop 7 (which is still my favorite version of Photoshop ... update: I'm using Photoshop CS2 now and I like it very much.  These instructions work just fine with this version also).

First let's open Photoshop and go to File>New and create a new blank picture with dimensions of 300x300 pixels.  Your settings should look like this:

Now, look at your palettes on the right side of your screen and find the Layers Palette.  It should look like this:

You see that this file has one layer and it is called "Background"

Different layers can be added and include different stuff. Then, based on which layer it is on, you can control what's in front or in back on the picture.  Let's try some simple shapes so you can see how this works.

On you background layer, draw an oval.  From your toolbox on the left, click on the marquee tool and choose the Eliptical marquee:

Then drag your mouse pointer to draw an oval on your blank image:

Click on the Foreground color box and choose Red as your color, then click on the Paint Bucket on your toolbox,  then click on the oval on your picture to fill it with red.

Look at your Layers palette and you will see this red oval is on your background layer:

Click on the New Layer button at the bottom of your Layers palette to add a second layer and you will see you get a new layer named "Layer 1" and it is transparent:

Note that both layers have "eyeballs" to the left of them, but "Layer 1" is dark and has a "paintbrush" to the left of it.  The eyeball means the layer is visible, and the paintbrush (and darkened layer) shows which layer is selected.  Whatever layer is selected is the layer that will be changed when you do something.  Click on the Background layer and you see it is now selected.  Click back onto Layer 1 so it is selected, then follow the instructions above, but this time choose the RECTANGLE marquee instead of the Eliptical marquee and put a rectangle on Layer 1, then fill it with Blue.  When you are done, your Layers palette should look like this.

TIP:  If it gets confusing to you, remember that the layer that is selected is the one that will take the changes you make, even tho that layer may not be the one you are seeing on your picture (becuz it's transparent OR becuz it's behind the layer you see).  If you want to actually SEE the layer you are working on, just click on the eyeball beside the Background layer to make that layer invisible.

Now, follow the above instructions to add two more layers.  In Layer 2, add a green oval and in Layer 3, add a yellow square.  When you are done, your Layers palette should look something like this:

And, if you have the eyeballs turned on for each layer, your picture should look something like this:

Now, you know how to create layers and add parts to them, let's look at how to rearrange them so they show up in the order you want.

First, notice the "marching ants" around the yellow rectangle.  That's becuz that is the last selection you made and it's still selected.  Hit ctrl+D to de-select it.

Click on Layer 1 in your Layers palette to select it, then click on the Move tool in your toolbox:

Now, click inside your picture and drag your mouse and you will see the blue rectangle, which is what is on Layer 1, moves.  Move it to the lower right corner of the picture.

Now select Layer 2 on your Layers palette and move the green oval to the lower left corner of the picture.  Then select Layer 3 and move the yellow rectangle to the upper right corner of the picture.  Your picture should now look something like this:

And that's how easy it is to rearrange the location of the shapes on the picture.  But, if you want to put the blue rectangle in front of the yellow rectangle, you have to move the actual layer.  If you look at your Layers palette, you will see that the layer that is at the top of the list is the yellow rectangle, so that is the top layer.  If you want the blue rectangle on top, just click on Layer 1 in the Layers palette and drag it up until it's above Layer 3.  Now the blue rectangle is on top of the other three shapes in your picture.

Notice that the Background layer has a little "padlock" on it.  That's becuz, by default, a background layer is locked and cannot be moved.  However, if you want to move it, all you need to do is unlock it.  To unlock it, simply double click on the Background layer in the Layers palette and a "New Layer" box will pop up:

See that it's changing the name "Background" to "Layer 0".  Just click OK and you will see the Background layer is now named Layer 0 and no longer has a padlock on it.  Now you can move it, just like the other layers.

TIP:  You can double click on any layer and use this box to change the layer's name to anything you want.  For example, you could name these layers Red Oval, Blue Rectangle, etc.

Now, one last thing.  If you want to close this file, but leave the layers in tact so you can edit them again, simply click on File>Save and you will see the file is being saved in a psd format.  This is one format that allows the layers to be kept.  However, this is NOT a format you would want to use if you were going to send this file to someone via email or something, becuz it's VERY large.  If you are sure you are finished with editing the layers, you can choose to "flatten the image" so it is all one layer, then you can save it as a gif or jpg or some file type that is much smaller.  Simply go to Photshop's Layers menu and choose "Flatten Image" and you will see in your Layers palette that you now only have one Background layer again, but this one includes all four shapes.

This has been a very basic tutorial, just to introduce you to layers and help you get a feel for how they work.  Now, it's up to you to play around and discover all the other things you can do with layers ... like opening a picture of yourself, then creating a new layer and pasting a picture of a tropical beach into your new layer, then moving that layer behind the picture of you ... and there you are, on a tropical beach enjoying yourself :-)  In a future issue of ABC, I will tell you how to control how the layers interact with one another - how you can "blend" them or make them partially transparent so you can see one thru another.

If you would like a copy of the psd file I created here, with the layers still in tact, you can download it here so you can see the way I set up the layers, if you had problems duplicating what I did.  It may help you.

If you are ready for Level 2 of this tutorial, click here.

Linda Johnson is a college instructor of all of the Microsoft Office Programs, as well as Adobe PhotoShop and Windows. She also teaches online distance learning classes in Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Word at Eclectic Academy. She has worked helpdesk and teaches and lectures at many local businesses and tech schools in her area. Support this newsletter by checking out Linda's eBooks, MS Word MAGIC!, Book I: Fonts, Fun & Formats and Book II: Table Wizardry, How To Get Started As a Software Trainer, and her newest series of MSOffice eBook Tutorials and CD