ptg Working with Layer Styles Introduction Layer styles are the very definition of creativity and control when using Photoshop. Using styles such as Bevel and Emboss or Drop Shadow, you can move from two-dimen- sional images into the world of three-dimensional. You can effortlessly change the look of a document with Gradient Overlay, Color Overlay, and Pattern Overlay, and you can do it all without ever changing the original image. That means you can apply a style to an image, and at any time in the cre- ative process, change your mind. This level of control gives you the power you need to take your designs to the creative edge and beyond. When you create a customized layer style, you can move that style to another layer, save the style in the Styles panel, or even move the style between two open documents. That kind of flexibility gives you consistency in your designs with a minimum of effort, and since layer styles do not change the original image, you can modify or remove the style at any time during the creative process. Not only do layer styles let you create special effects, but they give you the control you need over the image to experiment until you see exactly what you want. 12 12 What You’ll Do Understand Layer Styles Add a Layer Style Create and Modify a Drop Shadow Work with Bevel and Emboss Work with Contour and Texture Apply a Color Overlay Use the Stroke Layer Style Use Pattern Overlays Work with Outer Glow and Inner Shadow Apply an Inner Glow Style Create Customized Layer Styles Create Customized Styles Using the Styles Panel Move Existing Layer Styles 285 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 286 Chapter 12 Layer styles are applied to the layers in the active document. When you add a style to a layer, the results of the style are only dis- played in that layer. Each layer can have its own style, and you can apply more than one style to a single layer. Layer styles can be applied to any layer except the Background. Two of Photoshop's layer styles require both transparent and non-transparent layer elements (Drop Shadow and Outer Glow). For example, to apply a Drop Shadow to a layer, it would require a transparent area within the image to hold the shadow. Understanding Layer Styles Layer Styles From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 12 Working with Layer Styles 287 To a dd a layer style to the active l ayer, select the l ayer, and ap ply one or more of the styles by clicking the Add a Layer Style button. Once selected, the layer style appears as a sub-element of the active layer. Once applied, layer styles are easy to modify. Along with the default blending options, each of Photoshop's layer styles has options to control exactly how the style appears in the active document. You can also set or reset default settings for each effect (New!). To modify a style, just reopen the Layer Style dialog box, and make your changes. In addition, each layer style has its own Show/Hide button. The Show/Hide button is a toggle that lets you temporarily hide the layer styles in the document. Adding a Layer Style Add a Layer Style Select the Layers panel. Select a layer. Click the Add Layer Style button, and then select from the available style options. Make changes to the layer style in the dialog box using the options; options vary depending on the layer style. Click OK. The selected layer style appears as a sub-element of the active layer. Modify an Existing Layer Style Select the Layers panel. Double-click on the attached name of the layer style. Make changes to the layer style in the dialog box using the options; options vary depending on the layer style. Select Blending Options: Default to set general blending option for all styles. Click Make Default to remember current settings for this effect or click Reset to Default to change settings to the default (New!); not available on all screens. Click OK. 5 4 3 2 1 5 4 3 2 1 3 5 1 3 2 Show/Hide button From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 288 Chapter 12 The Drop Shadow style is probably the most common layer style used (next to Bevel and Emboss). Since Photoshop needs somewhere to apply the drop shadow, you will need a layer that contains an object surrounded by a transparent background. For example, you could cre- ate a type layer or use the shape drawing tools to create a unique object, add a drop shadow with a click of the mouse, and then use the layer style options to control the color, shape, and direction of the shadow. Once the shadow is created, it can be transferred to other objects in other layers—not only making the process easy, but consistent. Creating and Modifying a Drop Shadow Work with a Drop Shadow Select the Layers panel. Click the layer to which you want to apply the Drop Shadow style. Click the Add Layer Style button, and then click Drop Shadow. Select from the following Drop Shadow options: ◆ Blend Mode. Click the list arrow, and then select how you want the color of the shadow to blend with underlying layers (default: Multiply). ◆ Color. Click the Color Swatch, and then select a color for the shadow (default: Black). ◆ Opacity. Specify an Opacity percentage value for the shadow, or drag the slider left or right (default: 75%). ◆ Angle. Enter a value from 0 to 360 degrees, or drag the radius slider left or right to set the angle of the shadow (default: 30). ◆ Use Global Light. Select the check box to conform the angle of the drop shadow to any other effects applied to other layers. 4 3 2 1 4 Using Global Light and Shadow Angles You can control the direction of a light source across multiple layers. The Global Light option is very important because it ties the light sources used in multiple layers together. For example, if you create multiple layers with drop shadows, and you change the direction of the shadow in one of the layers, the Global Light option will ensure that all the layers maintain the same light source direction. The most commonly used shadow angle is 125 degrees; called the "comfort- able" angle, it directs the shadow down and to the right. Studies show that most people expect the light source to be in the upper right portion of the image. For Your Information From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 12 Working with Layer Styles 289 ◆ Distance. Enter a value from 0 to 30,000 pixels, or drag the slider left or right. Distance determines the amount the shadow is offset from the original image (default: 5). ◆ Spread. Enter a value from 0% to 100%, or drag the slider left or right. Spread determines the amount of image used for the spread of the shadow (default: 0%). ◆ Size. Enter a value from 0 to 250 pixels, or drag the slider left or right. Size determines the amount of blur applied to the shadow (default: 5). ◆ Contour. Click the list arrow, and then select from the available options. Contours are mathematical curves that determine the brightness of the shadow at different levels (default: Linear). ◆ Anti-aliased. Select the check box to create a visually smooth drop shadow. ◆ Noise. Enter a value from 0% to 100%, or drag the slider left or right. The noise option introduces a random shift to the colors of the Drop Shadow. ◆ Layer Knocks Out Drop Shadow. Select the check box to create a knockout in the underlying layers. Click Make Default to remember current settings for this effect or click Reset to Default to change settings to the default (New!). Click OK. 6 5 6 Drop Shadow style applied 5 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 290 Chapter 12 The Bevel and Emboss style, second only to Drop Shadow in popularity, creates a 3D illusion of roundness to a flat surface. You can apply the Bevel layer style to text to get the impression of 3D text. If the layer you're applying the Bevel and Emboss to has no transparent areas, the style will be applied to the outer edge of the image, and if you want to experiment beyond the standard rounded bevel, you can use a Chisel Hard Technique that makes text appear as if it's carved out of stone. Working with Bevel and Emboss Work with Bevel and Emboss Select the Layers panel. Select the layer to which you want to apply the Bevel and Emboss style. Click the Add Layer Style button, and then click Bevel And Emboss. Select from the available Bevel and Emboss options: ◆ Style. Click the list arrow, and then select from Outer Bevel, Inner Bevel (default), Emboss, Pillow Emboss, and Stroke Emboss. ◆ Technique. Click the list arrow, and then select from Smooth (default), Chisel Hard, and Chisel Soft. ◆ Depth. Enter 0% to 1,000%, or drag the slider left or right. Higher Depth values increase the intensity of the bevel or emboss. ◆ Direction. Click the Up or Down option to reverse the highlights and shadows of the bevel or emboss. ◆ Size. Enter 0 to 250 pixels, or drag the slider left or right. Size determines how much of the image is used to create the Bevel/Emboss style. ◆ Soften. Enter 0 to 16 pixels, or drag the slider left or right. The higher the value, the softer the edge of the bevel (default: 0). 4 3 2 1 4 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 12 Working with Layer Styles 291 ◆ Angle. Enter 0 to 360 degrees. Angle determines the angle of the light source in relation to the bevel/emboss (default: 30). ◆ Use Global Light. Select the check box to conform the angle of the bevel and emboss to any other styles applied to other layers. ◆ Altitude. Enter a value from 0 to 90 degrees. Altitude determines the height of the light source in relationship to the image. ◆ Gloss Contour. Click the list arrow, and then select from the available options. Gloss Contours are mathematical curves that determine the brightness of the bevel/emboss at different levels. ◆ Highlight Mode. Click the list arrow and Color box, and then select a blending mode and color for the highlights (default: Screen, White). ◆ Opacity for Highlight Mode. Enter a value from 0% to 100%. Opacity determines the overall transparency of the highlights. Higher values equate to more aggressive highlights. ◆ Shadow Mode. Click the list arrow and Color box, and then select a blending mode and color for the shadows (default: Multiply, Black). ◆ Opacity for Shadow Mode. Enter a value from 0% to 100%. Opacity determines the overall transparency of the shadows. Higher values equate to more aggressive shadows. Click Make Default to remember current settings for this effect or click Reset to Default to change settings to the default (New!). Click OK. 6 5 Bevel and Emboss style applied 6 Understanding the Contour Option The Contour option redistributes the brightness levels of the shadow and highlight portions of the Bevel and Emboss layer style. By exper- imenting with alternate contours, you can enhance the realism of a bevel or create a surrealistic emboss. For Your Information 5 From the Library of Wow! eBook . using Photoshop. Using styles such as Bevel and Emboss or Drop Shadow, you can move from two-dimen- sional images into the world of three-dimensional. You can effortlessly change the look of a document. Along with the default blending options, each of Photoshop& apos;s layer styles has options to control exactly how the style appears in the active document. You can also set or reset default settings. used (next to Bevel and Emboss). Since Photoshop needs somewhere to apply the drop shadow, you will need a layer that contains an object surrounded by a transparent background. For example,