How to Use Layers in Adobe Photoshop as a Beginner

As a beginner to Adobe Photoshop, you will need to learn how to work with layers to create professional Photoshop documents. Every time a new component is added to a Photoshop file, a new layer is created to hold that component. Keep reading to find out how you can duplicate, create, adjust, move and view layers in Photoshop.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adobe Photoshop

1. Start Adobe Photoshop and open an image onto the Photoshop desktop.

2. Drag the "Background" layer from the "Layers" palette to the "Create a New Layer" button, located at the very bottom of the "Layers" palette. This will create a new layer called "Background copy," which is a copy of the image you opened.

3. Create another layer from part of the image by using the Marquee tool from the toolbox to select a portion of the image on the "Background" copy layer. Choose the "Edit" menu, select copy, choose the "Edit" menu again and select paste. You will now get a new layer that will contain the piece of the image you selected.

4. Choose the "Text" tool from the Toolbox and click on the Photoshop image. You can now type with your keyboard to add text to the image. As you do this, a new layer will be created.

5. Select "Image," point to "Adjustments" and choose any of the adjustment tools that can be applied to any of the layers in your Photoshop document. The adjustment you apply will only affect the layer you have selected at the time.

6. Move a layer by clicking on it in the Layers palette and dragging it to a new location before releasing it. You can move the layers around as much or as little as you want.

7. Click on the eye tool to make a layer invisible and click it again to make it visible within your document.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't see the Layers Palette, choose the "Window" menu and click "Layers," or press the F7 function key on your keyboard.