ptg 116 Chapter 5 The Merge Down option lets you merge one selected layer into the layer directly below it in the layer stacking order. Merged layers take on the characteristics of the layer into which they are being merged. For example, if you merge one layer into another that uses the Darken blending mode, the two merged layers will both use Darken. Or, if you merge a layer into the Background layer, the merged layer becomes a part of the Background. The Merge Visible option enables you to merge all of the layers that have the Show option enabled with just one click. Using Merge Layer Options Merge Down Select the Layers panel. Select the layers you want to merge. Click the Layers Options button, and then click Merge Down (for single selection) or Merge Layers (for multiple selection). The selected layers merge into the next layer down. When you use the Merge Down command, the top layer will take on the name and characteristics of the bottom layer. TIMESAVER Press Ctrl+E (Win) or A +E (Mac) to merge layers down. Merge Visible Select the Layers panel. Click the Show option for all layers you want to merge. Click the Layers Options button, and then click Merge Visible. All layers with the Show option enabled are merged together. TIMESAVER Press Alt (Win) or Option (Mac), click the Layer menu, and then click Merge Visible to merge all visible layers into a new layer . 3 2 1 3 2 1 1 3 3 2 2 1 Merge down Merge visible From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 5 Working with Layers 117 If you're currently looking at the Layers panel, and wondering where the linking button is, don't worry. It's not missing; it's just been moved. Linking multiple layers is a snap. Simply select one or more layers and then click the Link Layers button at the bottom of the Layers panel. You can link two or more layers or groups. Unlike selected multiple layers, linked layers retain their relationship (stay together) until you unlink them, which allows you to move or resize the layers as a unit. Linking and Unlinking Layers Link Layers Open a multi-layered document. Select the Layers panel. Select two or more layers. Click the Link Layers button, located at the bottom of the Layers panel. The selected layers are now linked. A link icon appears next to the linked layers. Unlink Layers Open a multi-layered document that contains links. Select the Layers panel. Select a layer that contains the link icon. TIMESAVER To unlink several linked layers, select them before continuing. Click the Link Layers button, located at the bottom of the Layers panel. TIMESAVER To temporarily disable a linked layer, Shift+click the link icon. A red X appears. Shift+click the link icon again to enable it. 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 2 3 4 Layers are linked 2 3 4 Link removed From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 118 Chapter 5 Layer Blending Modes are one of the most creative areas within the Layers panel. With blending modes, you can instruct Photoshop to mix the image information between two or more layers. For example, using the Multiply blending mode instructs Photoshop to multiply the color of one layer with that of another layer, resulting in a darker color. Blending modes give you control over Photoshop images above and beyond what you would expect to find in the "analog" world. Working with Layer Blending Modes Mix Layer Information with Blending Modes Open a multi-layered document. Select the Layers panel. Select a layer. Since blending modes affect all layers below the one to which the blending mode is applied, select the layer directly above the layer you want to blend. Click the Blending Mode list arrow, and then select a blending mode. Photoshop uses the selected blending mode to visually blend the image through all the layers below the blending mode layer. 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 The snow layer blended with the backyard layer. 4 Did You Know? You can control the number of layers to which a blending mode is applied. Hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key, and then click on the visible line separating the adjustment layer from the next lower layer. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 5 Working with Layers 119 The opacity in a layer determines the transparency of the layer beneath it. A layer with a low opacity percentage appears as nearly transparent, while a large opacity percentage appears as nearly opaque. You can apply opacity to one or more (New!) selected layers in the Layers panel. You cannot change the opacity of a background layer or a locked layer. However, you can convert a background layer to a normal layer and then you can apply opacity to it. In addition to setting opacity, you can also set a fill opacity. Opacity affects layer styles and blending modes, while fill opacity affects pixels painted in a layer or shapes drawn on a layer without affecting the opacity applied to any layer effects. Setting Layer Opacity Set Layer Opacity and Fill Opacity Select the Layers panel. Select the layers you want to change. To se t opacity, en te r a pe rcen tage value in the Opacity box or drag the Opacity slider. To se t a fi ll opacity, ent er a percentage value in the Fill Opacity box or drag the Fill Opacity slider. 4 3 2 1 3 The snow layer opacity set to show through the backyard layer. 1 4 2 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 120 Chapter 5 There are times when you will need a copy of a Photoshop layer. Duplicating a layer is a simple process that creates a pixel-to-pixel copy of the selected layer. Once the copied layer is created, it becomes a separate image within the document. You can then begin to make changes to the new layer. Duplicating a layer gives you the ability to control each layer separately and to apply nondestructive effects to your image by making them on a copy of the image instead of the original. Duplicating a Layer Duplicate a Layer Select the Layers panel. Select the layer you want to duplicate. Click the Layers Options button, and then click Duplicate Layer. Enter a name for the new layer. To pl ace the la yer in an othe r open document, click the Document list arrow, and then select a document. Click OK. 6 5 4 3 2 1 3 4 6 1 2 5 Did You Know? You can duplicate a layer with the Create New Layer button. Drag the layer over the Create New Layer button and Photoshop creates an exact copy of the layer and appends the word copy at the end of the original layer name. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 5 Working with Layers 121 While Photoshop lets you add layers to a document (up to 8,000), it also lets you delete layers. Remember that once you've deleted a layer and saved the document, there is no way to recover the deleted layer. However, while the document is open, there is always the chance of recovering the deleted layer through the History panel. You can delete shown or hidden layers using different commands. If you have some empty layers, you can delete them all at once using the Delete All Empty Layers command (New!) on the Scripts submenu on the File menu. Deleting Layers Delete Layers Select the Layers panel. Select the layers you want to delete. Click the Delete Layer button on the Layers panel, and then click Yes. ◆ To de let e layers without displaying the confirmation dialog box, hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key, and then click the Delete Layer button. 3 2 1 Did You Know? You can delete layers from the Layers panel by dragging. Click the layers you want to delete, and then drag it to the Delete Layer button. You can delete hidden layers from the Layers panel. Select the Layers panel, click the Layers Options button, and then click Delete Hidden Layers. You can delete empty layers from the Layers panel. Click the File menu, point to Scripts, and then click Delete All Empty Layers (New!). Selected layers are removed from the Layers panel. 2 3 1 From the Library of Wow! eBook . blending modes, you can instruct Photoshop to mix the image information between two or more layers. For example, using the Multiply blending mode instructs Photoshop to multiply the color of. both use Darken. Or, if you merge a layer into the Background layer, the merged layer becomes a part of the Background. The Merge Visible option enables you to merge all of the layers that have. with that of another layer, resulting in a darker color. Blending modes give you control over Photoshop images above and beyond what you would expect to find in the "analog" world.