Creating A Layered Image - Adobe PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS Manual

CHAPTER 8
170
Using Layers
Linking layers
By linking two or more layers, you can move their
contents together. You can also copy, paste, merge,
and apply transformations to linked layers.
To link layers:
Select a layer in the Layers palette.
1
2 Click in the column immediately to the left of
any layers you want to link to the active layer. The
link icon appears in the column.
To unlink layers:
In the Layers palette, click the link icons to
remove them.

Creating a layered image

Photoshop Elements lets you create up to 8000
layers in an image, each with its own blending
mode and opacity. However, the amount of
memory in your system may put a lower limit on
the number of layers possible in a single image.
Adding layers
Newly added layers 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 turning selections
into layers.
• By converting a background to a regular layer or
adding a background to an image.
• By pasting selections into the image. (See
"Copying selections or layers" on page 110.)
• By using the type tool or by using a shape tool.
(See "Creating type" on page 213 and "Drawing
shapes" on page 156.)
To create a new layer using default options:
Click the New Layer button ( ) at the bottom of
the Layers palette. The layer uses Normal mode
with 100% opacity and is named according to its
order of creation.
To add a new layer and specify options:
1 Do one of the following:
• Choose Layer > New > Layer.
• Choose New Layer from the Layers
palette menu.
Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS)
•
the New Layer button at the bottom of the Layers
palette.
Name the layer, and set other layer options.
2
(See "Specifying opacity and blending options" on
page 179 and "Creating grouped layers" on
page 180.)
3 Click OK.
To turn a selection into a new layer:
Make a selection.
1
Choose Layer > New, and choose a command
2
from the submenu:
To copy the selection into a new layer, choose
•
Layer Via Copy.
To cut the selection and paste it into a new layer,
•
choose Layer Via Cut.