About The Layers Palette - Adobe PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 2 User Manual

92 CHAPTER 6
Using Layers
You can also create sophisticated visual effects with
layers. Grouped layers use a base layer to define the
image boundaries of a layer group, and you can
use layers to create a Web animation. In addition,
the Layer Styles palette lets you apply special visual
effects to a layer. (See"About layer styles" on
page 169.)
In addition to pixel-based image layers, there are
several other layer types. Fill layers are filled with a
color gradient, solid color, or pattern. You can fill
the entire image area or just a selected area. You
can fine-tune the color, brightness, saturation of
your image using Adjustment layers. Type layers
and Shape layers let you create crisp vector-based
text and shapes. See "Creating text" on page 196
and "Creating shapes" on page 191. When you're
ready to paint on these four layer types or apply
special effects to them, you must convert them to
regular pixel-based image layers by simplifying
them.

About the Layers palette

The Layers palette lists all layers in an image. The
order of layers in the Layers palette indicates the
stacking order of layers in the image—the topmost
layer in the Layers palette is the topmost layer
in the image. You can drag any layer except the
Background layer up or down in the Layers palette
to change the layer stacking order.
About the Background layer
When you create a new image with a color-filled
background, the bottommost layer in the Layers
palette is locked and labeled Background. You
cannot change the stacking order of a Background
layer, its blending mode, or its opacity. However,
to do any of these things, you can convert a
Background layer to a regular layer. (See "Adding
layers" on page 95.)
To create a new image with transparent regions—
for example, a round button with transparent
edges for a Web page—select Transparent in the
New dialog box. (See "Creating new images" on
page 44.) In a new transparent image, the
bottommost layer is called Layer 1 by default. This
layer is not constrained like the Background layer;
you can move it anywhere in the Layers palette and
change its opacity and blending mode.
Zebra is the topmost layer.