Creating A Layered Image - Adobe PHOTOSHOP 6.0 Manual

CHAPTER 8
210
Using Layers
• Create layer sets from linked layers.
(See "Linking layers" on page 209.)
• Rasterize linked layers. (See "Simplifying layers"
on page 245.)
To link layers:
1 Select a layer or layer set in the Layers palette.
Click in the column immediately to the left of
2
any layers you want to link to the selected layer.
A link icon ( ) appears in the column. When you
link to a layer set, the layers contained in the layer
set are implicitly linked and display a dimmed
link icon ( ).
To unlink layers:
In the Layers palette, click the link icons to
remove them.

Creating a layered image

You can create a maximum of 8000 combined
layers, layer sets, and layer effects per image,
each with its own blending mode and opacity.
However, the amount of memory in your system
may limit the number of layers possible in a single
image. Because each layer, layer set, and layer effect
takes up part of that maximum value, a realistic
maximum value would be closer to 1000 layers.
Note: Images created using the Transparent option
in the New dialog box are created without a
background. Images with no background—even if
they only contain a single layer—are considered to
be layered images. Thus, like all layered images,
they can only be saved in Photoshop, PDF, or TIFF
format.
Adding layers
Newly added layers and layer sets appear above the
selected layer in the Layers palette. You can add
layers to an image in a variety of ways:
By creating new layers or converting selections
•
into layers.
By converting a background to a layer or adding
•
a background to an image.
By placing, dragging and dropping, or pasting
•
selections or entire images into the image.
(See "Duplicating layers" on page 211.)
By creating type using the type tool.
•
(See "Creating type" on page 251.)
By using the shape or pen tools to create
•
a new layer that contains a layer clipping path.
(See "Drawing shapes and paths" on page 161.)
To add a new layer or layer set using default options:
Click the New Layer button ( ) or New Layer Set
button ( ) at the bottom of the Layers palette. The
layer defaults to Normal mode with 100% opacity
and is named according to its order of creation.
The layer set defaults to Pass Through mode.
To add a new layer or layer set and specify options:
Do one of the following:
1
Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS)
•
the New Layer button or New Layer Set button at
the bottom of the Layers palette.
Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click
•
(Mac OS) the New Layer button or New Layer Set
button at the bottom of the Layers palette to add a
layer below the currently selected layer.