Editing Layers - Adobe 29180155 - Photoshop Elements 4.0 User Manual

See also
"To duplicate a layer within an image" on page 88
"About selections" on page 102
To convert the Background layer to a regular layer
The Background layer is the bottom-most layer in an image. Other layers stack on top of the Background, which
usually (but not always) contains the actual image data of a photo. To protect the image, the Background layer is
always locked. If you want to change its stacking order, blending mode, or opacity, you must first convert it to a
regular layer.
In the Editor, do one of the following:
1
Double-click the Background layer in the Layers palette.
•
Choose Layer > New > Layer From Background.
•
Select the Background layer, and choose Duplicate Layer from the More menu in the Layers palette to leave the
•
Background layer intact and create a copy of it as a new layer.
You can create a duplicate layer of the converted background layer, no matter how you convert the layer; simply select
the converted background layer and choose Duplicate Layer from the More menu.
To rename the converted layer, Control-click it, choose Rename Layer, type a new name, and click OK.
2
If you drag the Background Eraser tool on the Background layer, it is automatically converted to a regular layer, and
erased areas become transparent.
To make a layer the Background layer
You can't convert a layer into the Background layer if the image already has a Background layer. In this case, you must
first convert the existing Background layer to a regular layer.
In the Editor, select a layer in the Layers palette.
1
Choose Layer > New > Background From Layer.
2
Any transparent areas in the original layer are filled with the background color.

Editing layers

To select a layer
Any changes you make to an image affect only the active layer. If you don't see the desired results when you manip-
ulate an image, make sure that the correct layer is selected.
In the Editor, do one of the following:
O
In the Layers palette, select a layer's thumbnail or name.
•
To select more than one layer, hold down Command and click each layer.
•
Select the Move tool
•
lists all the layers that contain pixels under the current pointer location, and all adjustment layers.
, Control-click in the image, and choose a layer from the context menu. The context menu
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