- Using the palettes
- Hiding and showing palettes
- Changing screen modes
- Tools on the Tools palette
- Changing the image size
- Choosing a file format
- Choosing a bits/channel mode
- Cropping an image
- Rotating an image
- Quick Summary: Choosing Colors
- Quick Summary: Using the Swatches palette
- Using the Layers palette
- Quick Summary: Using the Layers palette
- Using fill and adjustment layers
- Choosing a mode for the History palette
- Making snapshots of history states
- Working with nonlinear histories
- Using presets
- Streamlining your workflow
Quick Summary: Using the Layers palette
Task |
Method |
Create a new layer, 100% opacity and fill |
Click the New Layer button |
Create and choose options (name, identifying color, etc.) for a new layer |
Alt-click/Option-click the New Layer button or press Ctrl-Shift-N/Cmd-Shift-N |
Copy selected pixels to a new layer |
Press Ctrl-J/Cmd-J; or right-click/Control-click in the document window and choose Layer via Copy |
Duplicate the Background, a layer, or a layer group |
Click the Background, a layer, or a layer group, then press Ctrl-J/Cmd-J. Or drag it over the New Layer button |
Select multiple layers |
Shift-click or Ctrl-click/Cmd-click to the right of the layer names |
Select all layers (not the Background) |
Press Ctrl-Alt-A/Cmd-Option-A (or choose Select > All Layers) |
Select all layers of a similar kind (e.g., all image layers or all adjustment layers) |
Right-click/Control-click a layer and choose Select Similar Layers |
Select a layer or layer group below the pointer that contains visible pixels |
Choose the Move tool (V), check Auto-Select and choose Group or Layer on the Options bar, then click visible pixels |
Open the Layer Style dialog |
Double-click next to a layer name |
Convert the Background to a layer |
Alt-double-click/Option-double-click the Background (or double-click it with no modifier key to choose options) |
Create a Background if there is none |
Click a layer, then choose Layer > New > Background from Layer |
Create a layer group from existing layers |
Select multiple layers, then press Ctrl-G/Cmd-G |
Ungroup a group and keep the layers |
Click the layer group, then press Ctrl-Shift-G/Cmd-Shift-G |
Delete a group and its contents |
Right-click/Control-click a layer group and choose Delete Group, then click Group and Contents |
Delete a layer, bypassing the prompt |
Click a layer, then Alt-click/Option-click the Delete Layer button |
Hide or show all layers except one |
Alt-click/Option-click a visibility icon; or right-click/Control-click the visibility column and choose Show or Hide All Other Layers |
Reposition a layer group in the document |
Choose the Move tool (V), check Auto-Select and choose Group on the Options bar, then drag in the document window (to move just one layer in a group, choose Layer instead) |
Choose palette options |
Right-click/Control-click a layer thumbnail; choose from the menu |
Change the color behind the visibility icon |
Right-click/Control-click the visibility column and choose a color (this can be done to color code layer groups) |
Merge layers |
Click the upper of two layers (the bottom one must be an image layer) or select multiple layers, then right-click/Control-click and choose Merge Down or Merge Layers (Ctrl-E/Cmd-E) or Merge Visible (Ctrl-Shift-E/Cmd-Shift-E) |
Flatten layers (discards hidden layers) |
Right-click/Control-click a layer and choose Flatten Image |
Copy and merge layers |
Select multiple layers, then hold down Alt/Option and choose Merge Visible from the palette menu |