About The Background Layer; To Convert A Background Into A Layer - Adobe PHOTOSHOP CS2 User Manual

Photoshop Layers palette
A. Layers palette menu B. Group C. Layer D. Expand/Collapse Layer effects
To display the Layers palette, choose Window > Layers.
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To use the Layers palette menu, click the triangle in the upper right corner of the palette. It contains commands
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for working with layers.
To change the size of layer thumbnails, choose Palette Options from the Layers palette menu, and select a
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thumbnail size.
• To change thumbnail contents, choose Palette Options from the Layers palette menu and select Entire Document
to display the contents of the entire document. Select Layer Bounds to restrict the thumbnail to the object's pixels
on the layer. Select the Show Group Thumbnails box to show a composite image of the group rather than the group
icon.
Turn off thumbnails to improve performance and save monitor space.
To expand and collapse groups (and layer sets in ImageReady), click the triangle to the left of a group folder. See
•
"To view layers and groups within a group" on page 398.

About the background layer

When you create a new image with a white background or a colored background, the bottommost image in the
Layers palette is called Background. An image can have only one background. You cannot change the stacking
order of a background, its blending mode, or its opacity. However, you can convert a background to a regular layer.
When you create a new image with transparent content, the image does not have a background layer. The
bottommost layer is not constrained like the background layer; you can move it anywhere in the Layers palette, and
change its opacity and blending mode.

To convert a background into a layer

Double-click Background in the Layers palette, or choose Layer > New > Layer From Background.
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Set layer options. (See "To create a new layer or group" on page 397.)
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3 Click OK.
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B
C
D
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E. Layer effect F. Layer thumbnail
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User Guide