Layers in Adobe Photoshop Class - 5 [Adobe Photoshop for Beginners]:

Assalam.o.Alaikum

welcome to Tech Learning 4U.I am Your Techer Zohaib

Now if you're completely new to Photoshop,

you will soon come to realize that layers

are the fundamental basis for any artwork

created in Photoshop.

The layers panel is one of the most important panels

in this program.

And it's from this panel that you will coordinate

your entire composition.

In this tutorial, we're going to take a closer look

at layers in Photoshop.

In a previous episode,

I demonstrated how to create a custom workspace.

the workspace is basically a panel sect up here

in Photoshop.

For this tutorial, we will be using this workspace

and along the way we will be referencing the layers panel.

If you don't have the layers panel visible,

you can either skip to the previous Blog

and learn how I set up this workspace

or simply come up to the top menu,

select Window and click Layers

to activate your layers panel if you do not see it.

So here is my layers panel,

over here on the right.

So to follow along with this tutorial,

you will need to open this document

I have prepared especially for this video.

This can be found in the Introduction folder

in the Project folder.

Now you can download this project folder for free,

the download link is in the description.

So with the Project folder open, click Introduction,

Layers, and open the Layers file inside

and you should have something that looks like this.

Now we are going to be covering a lot in this Blog,

And in quite some depth.

If you wish to skip ahead at any point in the video or back,

you can do so quite simply.

The topics covered in this Blog

are listed in the description and in the course PDF

along with their times so be sure to check that out.

So here we can see, we have an arrangement

in the canvas area and this is an example

I'm going to use in order to demonstrate the principles

of layers and how they work in the layers panel.

So here we can see, we have a number of objects

in the canvas area that make up this composition.

We have some shapes and we have some type elements.

Now if we look closely in the layers panel

over here on the right,

we can see that each element that exists in the canvas area

is represented by its own individual layer

which are all stacked on top of each other in rows.

Each layer has a name to the right

and an image thumbnail on the left

to give us a quick preview as to what exists in the layer

and what type of layer this is.

The way layers panel works is by stacking layers

on top of each other in hierarchy.

Quite like stacking sheets of paper on top of each other.

Whichever layer is at the top of the layer stack

is the layer which will have the most visibility.

And the layer at the bottom will have the least visibility

hidden by any layer which happens to be above it.

Now, there are many types of layers

that can be created in your document.

As you begin to create in Photoshop,

you will find yourself dealing with various types

of creative elements.

Over the duration of this course,

we're going to be dealing with a variety

of different layer types.

Layer types can be identified by the icons

that feature on the layer in the layers panel.

If we look in the layers panel here,

we can see that in this document,

we have two types of layers.

We have roster layers and these are represented

by thumbnails on the left

which displays the placement inside the doc

and we have type layers.

These have the icon T on the left.

You will need to pay close attention to these

as these will help indicate the contents of your document.

In the layers panel,

you have the ability to filter by layer type.

As you create in Photoshop,

you will often create complex documents with many layers.

At the top of the layers panel,

we have the layer types you can filter by.

F

irst is pixel layer,

this is basically a roster layer.

Next is adjustment layers,

next, type layer,

next, shape layer,

and finally, smart object layers.

So these are the types of layers

that can be created in Photoshop.

We will be learning all about these layers

later in the course.

Now, in the layers panel,

we have the ability to select layers

individually with the mouse.

As we select a layer, it will become highlighted

and that's how we identify which layer

is currently selected.

This is going to enable us to focus on particular layers

in the future and apply various effects and so on.

But we're not going to go into that too much right now.

So in Photoshop, the layers panel works

in a hierarchy structure, top to bottom.

So each element is treated separately on its own layer.

Now, if you wish to move a particular element

in the canvas area around,

we will need to use the move tool.

The move tool is the top tool in the tools menu

over on the left.

This is represented by a white arrow

with a crosshair next to it.

Depending on the particular layer you have selected

in your layers panel,

you will be able to move the contents of the layer around.

For example, I'm going to click the red circle layer

in the layers panel.

Next, I'm going to come to the move tool and click it

to make sure I have it selected.

Then, I'm going to move my mouse cursor

into the canvas area and click and drag

to move the red circle around like so.

So now nothing is moving apart from the contents

of that layer.

I'll quickly come up to Edit and click Undo

to move it back into its original place.

Next, I'll select the middle type layer

in the layers panel, the type layer

and with the move tool active,

I click and drag this around like so

to reposition should I wish.

Again, we can see that we are only moving

the contents of that layer around.

So again, I'll quickly come up to Edit and click Undo

to move it back into its original place.

So to move objects around in the canvas area,

we must first have the layer selected

and use the move tool.

Now, let's for a second look at this composition.

We can see what looks like a red circle in the background,

on top of that we have an orange square,

on top of that, a yellow square,

o

n top of that, a green circle,

a

nd on top of that, we have some type.

But if we look in the layers panel,

we can see that the layer structure does not reflect this.

For example, the green circle which appears

to be above the yellow and orange square,

is in fact below them in the layers panel.

If I click on the orange square layer in the layers panel,

then make sure I have the move tool selected

in the menu on the left, this being the top arrow icon,

I can click and hold on the canvas area

and drag the object around.

We can see that it's actually behind the yellow square

and on top of the green circle.

And if we look in the layers panel, we can see this.

I'll quickly come up to Edit and click Undo

to move that back into its original place.

Now if I click on the green circle,

and move that around, we can see

that it's actually behind the yellow and orange square.

Even though, at a glance,

it appears to be on top of them.

Again, I'll quickly come to Edit, click Undo

and put that back into place.

Lastly, I'll select the type layer called Top

in the layers panel and move that around

and we can see that this is behind the green circle

and yellow and orange square.

And we can see this is true in the layers panel.

So remember, things are not always what they seem

in the canvas area.

You will always have to keep an eye on the layers panel

to understand the true structure of any composition.

Now, should we wish to edit the structure

of the layers in the artwork,

this can be done quite simply

by clicking and dragging a layer in the layers panel.

Let's say for example,

we want to bring the red circle to the top.

In the layers panel, we can click on the layer

and drag it up like so.

Wherever we release click, the layer will be placed

in that position.

If I continue to drag the layer into various positions

in the layers panel, we will see the layer on top,

such as the type and the colored squares.

So moving and altering the layer structure

can be done quite simply.

Now if we look closely to the left of each layer

in the layers panel,

we have these little icons that look like eyes.

These icons represent the visibility of each layer

in the layers panel.

For example, if I click on the green circle layer

and click on this icon,

the circle will disappear from the canvas area.

And we can see the eye icon is gone.

What I have done there, is toggle the visibility

of the layer.

I have not deleted the element,

I have simply made it disappear.

In this instance, the icon is also removed,

telling me that this layer is currently invisible.

If I want the layer to reappear,

I can simply click back on the visibility icon,

the circle will appear in the canvas area

and the icon is back.

So keep in mind, these little icons are used

to toggle visibility of layers.

Easy.

Now there is a crucial concept

that should be known to all newcomers to Photoshop

and that is transparency.

So currently, we can see in the canvas area

all the creative objects that make up this composition.

Now we have just seen how we can toggle the visibility

of the layers.

This time, I'm going to start from the top

and make my way down, toggling the visibility of each layer.

So now, I am all the way down to the white background layer.

The last layer at the bottom of my layer structure.

All the elements are currently invisible

and all I can see is the white background.

Now, if I finally toggle the visibility

of the white background, I can see what appears

to be a grid of gray and white squares.

Now in Photoshop, this represents transparency.

Basically nothing, empty space.

So what does this mean?

And why is it there?

Well, for example, if I now toggle the visibility

of the orange square layer back,

we can see the grid appearing around

the outside and the inside of the square.

This is Photoshop telling us that this area is transparent.

If we also take a closer look at the thumbnails

in the layer panel,

we can see that around the colored shapes,

we have the grid texture.

Again, this is Photoshop telling us

in those thumbnails that these elements are existing

in transparent space.

If we look at the white background,

we can see that it's solid white

covering the entire canvas area.

Compared to the green circle that is also solid

but does not fill the entire canvas area.

The area around it is transparent.

If I toggle the visibility of the green circle layer,

we now have the circle in the middle

with the transparent area around them both.

Now having the transparency like this

will enable us to export and save this image

to use in other projects or creative media

t

o retain transparency in and around the artwork

so it's not set on a white background.

We'll be learning more about this later in the course.

So now I'm going to come and toggle visibility

of all the layers back on so we can see everything.

Excellent.

Now as you create new layers in Photoshop,

you may wish to rename them.

To change a name of a layer, simply move your mouse cursor

over the name in the layer in the layers panel

and double click.

This will enable you to change the name like so.

Easy.

Now in Photoshop, we have the option

to toggle the opacity of a layer,

make it see through.

Currently all the layers in my composition

are set to 100% opacity.

Now, for example, if I want to toggle the opacity

of the red circle, first I need to select the layer

in the layers panel.

And if I look closely up

at the top right of the layers panel,

we have an option called opacity.

Currently we can see this is set to 100%.

Now here, I can do one of two things.

Either I can click and type in the exact value I wish

or I can move my mouse cursor over the word opacity

to the left and notice the mouse cursor changed

to a left and right arrow.

Now if I click and drag to the left,

I will begin to toggle the opacity.

The value will change in the box

and the creative element on the canvas area

will begin to fade away.

So I'll toggle this down to around 50%

and now we can see the red circle is slightly lighter

on the blue background.

This time I'm going to select the green circle

but instead of clicking and dragging on the opacity,

I'm going to click directly into the value box

and type 70, this will set the opacity of this layer to 70%.

Now notice that because this green is slightly transparent,

it's blending into the red circle in the background

and essentially creating the illusion of a new color tone.

If I move the green circle to the edge of the red circle,

we can see as you alter the opacity of the layers

in Photoshop, you will allow the layer beneath

to be seen through.

So that is how you can toggle opacity

on your layers in Photoshop.

Now what you'll come to learn as we progress

through the course, is that sometimes

if we wish to create a new element in a composition,

we will have to create a new layer.

To create a new layer, is quite simple.

But first, you will have to keep in mind

which layer you currently have selected.

Because when you create a new layer,

it will be created immediately above the layer

you have selected.

For example, I'm gong to select the yellow square layer

in the layers panel and create a new layer.

Now I can either come to the bottom of the layers panel

and click the add layer icon, second from the right

or click up to the top right of the layers panel

and click the dropdown and here I can also click New Layer.

In this instance, I'm just going to click the new layer icon

at the bottom of the layers panel, second from the right

and upon click, a new layer will be created above

the yellow square layer which was previously created.

By default, the layer will be called layer one.

If you continue to create additional layers,

the name convention will go up, layer two,

layer three, and so on.

For this example, I'm going to double click on the name

and call this New Empty Layer.

Now when you create a new layer in this way,

the layer will be transparent.

In other words, empty.

If we look carefully in the thumbnail image

of this layer in the layers panel, we can see

it's filled with the gray and white square texture.

This layer is now ready to create on.

So that's how you can create a new layer in Photoshop.

If you wish to remove or delete the layer,

this can easily be done by selecting the layer

and simply pressing the delete icon in the bottom right

of the layers panel or backspace on your keyboard.

In Photoshop, you can also lock layers.

Should you place an element in your composition

you do not want to accidentally change in the future,

you can simply apply a lock.

To do this, first select the layer you wish to lock.

For example, I want to lock the red circle here

so in the layers panel,

I'll first select the red circle layer.

Up towards the top left on the layers panel,

we have a series of icons.

On the far right, we have a lock all icon.

Upon click, we will now see a lock icon

appear on the red circle layer

and if I try for example to move this red circle around

with the move tool, I will not be able to do so

and I will get a message telling me this layer is locked.

Should I wish to make further changes

to this layer in the future,

then all I have to do is simply come into the layers panel,

click on the lock icon on the specific layer

and that will release the lock.

Easy.

In Photoshop, you can also link layers together.

Let's say you have separate layers in your layers panel

that make up a particular creative group

in your composition.

For example, the yellow and orange squares

in a composition are on two separate layers.

But whenever I move the orange square,

I want to keep the yellow square with it.

So in the layers panel, if I select the yellow square layer,

press and hold Shift on the keyboard

and select the orange layer below,

we will now have them both selected.

By pressing and holding Shift on the keyboard,

we can select,

well we can click and select multiple layers

in the layers panel.

With them both selected, I can right click on the mouse.

From the menu that appears, I can select Link Layers.

Upon click, we will now see the link icon on both layers

in the layers panel.

Now if I simply click on one of the layers.

For example, the orange square,

I no longer have the yellow square selected,

though if I activate the move tool

and click to move the orange square around

in the canvas area,

notice how the yellow square moves around with it.

This is because they are now linked together.

So, to unlink the layers,

simply click on one of the layers and the link,

right click and select, Unlink Layers.

Easy.

This can be really useful

when you begin to build complex compositions

and wish to keep various layers together.

Another feature in the layers panel

which is similar to the links, is groups.

As you begin to create complex compositions in Photoshop,

you may find yourself creating excessive amounts of layers

in your layers panel.

A useful feature to keep your layers organized

in your layers panel is to use layer groups.

So to create a group is very similar

to creating a new layer.

At the bottom of the layers panel,

we have an icon, third from the right,

called create new group.

Also if we click on the top right menu,

we can choose New Group from here as well.

Just like creating a new layer,

we need to keep in mind which layer we have selected

before creating the group.

As the group will be created directly above.

So for example, I want to create a new group

and I'm going to place all the shape elements

from my composition inside it.

So with the orange square layer selected,

I'm going to come down to the bottom of the layers panel

and click the add new layer group icon.

Upon click, we will see a new group appear

in the layers panel.

And by default, it's called group one.

Now just like with layers,

we can double click on the name of the group

and rename it.

In this instance, I'm going to rename this group

to Shapes.

With the folder renamed,

I'm going to begin to click and drag my shape layers

into the folder like so.

Now when I do this, you will notice something change.

What you must remember with layer groups,

is as you drag your layers into them,

the layer will automatically be placed

at the bottom of the group.

You may find as you drag in your layers,

this is going to alter the layer structure you may intend.

So once your layers are dragged in to the group,

you will need to reposition your layers inside the group

to get the structure you're happy with.

Notice on the layer group,

on the left you have a toggle.

This will allow you to toggle the visibility

of the layer group contents like so.

This will help you simplify your layer structure

at a glance.

Now once your layers are contained inside a group folder,

just like with linking layers,

if I now click the folder layer in the layers panel,

with the move tool active,

I can now move the entire contents

of the folder around in one go like so.

Now if I wish to move a particular layer inside the group,

I can simply click the individual layer inside the group

and move it around like so, simple.

If I toggle the visibility of the group folder,

I will also be able to toggle the visibility

of the entire groups contents like so.

Just like with layers, you can also click and move

your groups around in the layers panel

should you wish to alter the layers structure.

So next, I'm going to create a new layer group.

I'm going to call this group Type

and I'm going to drag in the type layers into the folder

then I'm going to create a new folder

and call this background and drag in the white background.

So now I have three groups containing specific elements

of my composition arranged in the correct structure like so.

Nice and neat.

So using layer folders can be really useful

for housekeeping.

Streamlining your layer structure

and having control of the elements in your composition.

Now the last thing I want to demonstrate in this tutorial

is layer colors.

Something that was brought into more recent versions

of Photoshop, is the ability to color your layers.

Now this again, can be really handy to organize your layers.

As you build lots and lost of layers in your layers panel,

it can begin to seem monotonous to the eye.

The ability to color your layers and groups

helps you visually separate your groups.

So here I have three groups.

Now if I select the top group and right click,

towards the bottom we have some colors

we can assign to the group.

In this example, I'm going to select red.

Upon click, we will see the red is now assigned

to the Type group.

Next, I'm going to click on the Shapes folder,

right click and assign a yellow color.

Next, I'm going to select the background folder,

right click and assign a violet color.

So now, at a glance,

we can see three, clearly distinguishable folders

and if I toggle down each folder like so,

we can see that the layers within the groups

have also been assigned the colors.

So in this instance, the colors are helping

to identify which group they belong to.

If I want to assign a different color to a layer

within a group, all I need to do is select the layer,

right click and select a new color.

Easy.

So that is an introduction to the layers panel

in Adobe Photoshop.

In the next Blog,

I'm going to discuss a few common file types

you will need to be aware of as you begin

to use Photoshop.

So see you in the next Blog.