You may wish to review Layer Basics for general tips on using the Layers palette, or Advanced Layer Options for information on rearranging, linking, merging, and flattening layers. This document contains information on the following:

Creating Layers

you can create a new layer and change the layer name, opacity, color, and mode.

1. From the Layer menu, select New » Layer...
   OR
   Press Ctrl + Shift + N
   OR
   Press [Alt] + CREATE A NEW LAYERon the Layers palette
   The New Layer dialog box appears.

2. In the Name text box, type the desired name
   NOTE: Giving layers a name that is descriptive to your project or the layer's contents allows you to manage layers more effectively.

3. OPTIONAL: To change the layer opacity, in the Opacity text box, type the desired percentage of opacity
   OR
   Click the arrow and adjust the Opacity slide bar
   NOTE: The percentage of opacity determines the extent to which other layers can be seen through this layer.

4. OPTIONAL: To color-code the layer, from the Color pull-down list, select the desired color

5. OPTIONAL: To change the layer mode, from the Mode pull-down list, select the desired mode
   NOTE: A layer's mode determines how its pixels blend with underlying pixels in the image. You can create a variety of special effects using layer modes.

6. Click OK
   The new layer appears on the Layers palette.

   OR

1. From the Layers palette, click CREATE A NEW LAYER
   The new layer appears on the Layers palette.

Deleting Layers

If you no longer need a layer, or wish to replace a layer, you can delete it. If you delete a layer in error, you can retrieve the layer by using either the Undo or Step Backward functions.

1. From the Layers palette, select the layer you want to delete

2. From the Layer menu, select Delete Layer
   A confirmation dialog box appears.

3. Click YES
   The layer is deleted.

   OR

1. From the Layers palette, right click the layer you want to delete » select Delete Layer
   A confirmation dialog box appears.

2. Click YES
   The layer is deleted.

   OR

1. From the Layers palette, select the layer you want to delete

2. Click the Delete Layer button
   A confirmation dialog box appears.

3. Click YES
   The layer is deleted.

Retrieving Deleted Layers: Undo Option

You can use this option only if you have not performed any other actions since deleting the layer.

1. From the Edit menu, select Undo Delete Layer
   OR
   Press [Ctrl] + [Z]
   The deleted layer reappears.

Retrieving Deleted Layers: Step Backward Option

You can use this option to retrieve a deleted layer, but you will lose any changes that you have made to the image since the layer was deleted.

1. From the Edit menu, select Step Backward
   OR
   Press Ctrl + Alt+ Z
   The most recent change to the image is erased.

2. Repeat until the layer reappears

Renaming Layers

Since Photoshop assigns default names to layers, you may find it helpful to rename them. By identifying layers with a name that is meaningful to your project or the layer's contents, you can keep better track of your layers. You can name layers as you create them, or any time thereafter.

1. Select the layer you want to rename

2. From the Layers menu, select Layer Properties...
   OR
   From the Layers palette, right click the layer you wish to rename » select Layer Properties...
   The Layer Properties dialog box appears.
   

3. In the Name text box, type an appropriate name for the layer

4. Click OK
   The layer's new name appears on the Layers palette.

   OR

1. Double click the name of the layer you wish to rename
   A text box appears around the layer name.

2. Type the new layer name

3. Press [Enter]
   The layer's new name appears on the Layers palette.

Changing Layer Opacity

You can set a layer's opacity at any value from 0-100%. A layer with an opacity of 0% is completely transparent; a layer with an opacity of 100% is completely opaque. For example, if you create a layer with 50% opacity and apply a paint with 100% opacity to that layer, that layer will only be capable of displaying the paint at 50% opacity.

1. Select the layer whose opacity you wish to change

2. From the Layers palette, in the Opacity text box, type the desired percentage of opacity
   OR
   Click the arrow and adjust the Opacity slide bar
   The layer's opacity is adjusted.