How to Work with Layers on Photoshop

"That picture is totally Photoshopped!" Have you ever heard someone say that? Image editing is a common process these days, and the powerful Adobe Photoshop program is one of the most popular image editing and creation tools available on the market today. I received a copy of Photoshop with my Waccom Digital Drawing tablet, and I have been using this wonderful image editing program for a long time now. It has really been a useful tool for the different times I have needed an image editing program and it works quite well. Using Photoshop, you can quickly access a wide array of functions and utilities that are useful not only for editing an image, but also for graphical design and artwork generated on the computer. One of the most important things to figure out is how to use the image layer function correctly, as it is a very useful tool.

Now, one of the first things to figure out on Adobe Photoshop is that .PSD files, or Photoshop files, have the ability to have multiple layers on one image. Instead of just having one layer, like in MS Paint, in which you can edit and change (or mess up) every single part of the image, Photoshop allows the user to layer different images all in one, thus creating a 'cleaner' image. This may all sound a bit confusing, so let us use a simple cartoon character for example. Instead of just drawing the picture on a one layer program, like MS Paint, in which the character's outline is drawn first, then he is colored in with other colors, all on the same layer, similar to a child trying to 'stay in the lines' when drawing and coloring on a piece of paper. Instead, on Photoshop, the artist might start a new image, then create several layers on the same image. On the highest layer he might draw the character's outline, then on the layer below that he might color in the image, thus not risking messing up the outline with his colors (as they are on a separate image layered underneath the outline layer). Finally, on the lowest layer, or the background layer, the artist might create a simple background scene that the character is on, like a grassy hill with the sun shining behind him. The artist does not risk messing up the colors of the character, or the character's outline, by any other part of the image, because each part of the image are on their own separate layer. Hopefully, that clears up this whole 'layer' concept a little bit more.

Now, if you want to create an image with multiple layers, and be able to edit each layer, first open up Adobe Photoshop and create a new image. Select how big want the image to be, and the other details for the image. Then, click the tab button at the top of the screen in Photoshop that says 'Layers.' Click 'Add New Layer' and add a normal layer. You can add as many layers as you would like to, and may even name them to help differentiate between them if this will help you. To access different layers, you simply click the 'layer's tab that should be visible on the right hand side of the screen, and click on which layer you would like to edit. You can also lock different layers to keep them safe from accidental deletion or editing, and unlock them with a click of a mouse. Remember, the highest layer up is the one on which drawings will appear over the other layers, and so on. Keep these simple tips in mind, and whip out some creativity with the added flexibility Photoshop gives you with layers. Happy Photoshopping!