Whenever a layer is locked, a lock icon appears to the right of the layer in the Layers panel. However, you may just want to partially lock a layer that has the correct transparency and styles, but still needs to be positioned on the other layers. For example, when you're finished with a layer, you may want to lock it fully. A fully locked layer cannot be edited or modified as long as it's locked. Photoshop allows you to lock layers fully or partially. When you lock layers, you protect their contents. A dialogue box will appear asking if you're sure you want to delete this Layer. To delete a layer, select it, then lick the icon at the bottom of the Layers panel. When layers are linked, the link icon will appear beside each linked layer, as shown below.
To unlink layers, simply select a linked layer, then click the link icon again. Select the layers that you want to link in the Layers panel. This makes it easier than doing one layer at a time. When layers are linked together, you can move or apply a transformation to the linked layers. You can link layers together so that they maintain their relationship even if both layers aren't selected. In the following snapshot, we've selected all layers. To deselect all layers, go to Select>Deselect Layers. If you want to select all layers, go to Select>All Layers. If they're discontiguous, Control+click each layer in the panel. To select multiple but contiguous layers (layers touching each other), click on the first layer, then Shift+click the last layer. If you want to move, align, apply styles, or transform layers, you can select and work on more than one layer at a time. The active layer appears in the title bar of the document window.
The layer you're working on is called the active layer. If you're painting or making tone adjustments, you can only work with one layer at a time. When working with individual layers, you can select them to make it easy to work on them. Then, go to Layer>New>Layer Via Copy or Layer>New>Layer Via Cut to copy or cut the selection, then paste it into the new layer. The new layer will now contain the effects of the existing one.įirst, select the area or object of an image that you want to turn into a new layer. Start out by selecting the existing layer in the Layers panel by clicking on it.ĭrag that layer to the Create a New Layer button at the bottom of the layer.
You'll now see the new layer in the Layers Panel.Ĭreate a New Layer with Effects from Another Layer To create a new layer to add to existing layers, click the Create a New Layer icon located in the Layers panel. Once you've created additional layers (on top of the background layer) you can delete the background layer by clicking on the layer in the Layers Panel, then double clicking on the trash can in the lower right side of the panel. The background layer is labeled and shown in the Layers panel, as shown below. However, you can paint on it or add images to it. It is the layer that is created every time you create a new image or document - unless you create a new image with a transparent background. The background layer is created for you by Photoshop. There should be a checkmark beside Layers. If you don't see it, go to Window>Layers. To view all the layers that you have in a Photoshop image, go to the Layers panel.