Lesson 11. Advanced Layer Techniques

After you’ve learned basic layer techniques, you can create more complex effects in your artwork using layer masks, path groups, filters, adjustment layers, and more style layers.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to do the following:

• Create clipping groups, which let you use an image on one layer as a mask for artwork on other layers.

• Create layer sets to organize and manage layers.

• Add adjustment layers to an image, and use them to apply color and tonal adjustments without permanently changing pixel data.

• Create knockout layers to use one layer selectively to reveal others.

• Import layers from other Photoshop files.

• Work with type layers.

• Duplicate and clip layers.

• Add layer styles to a layer, and apply the effects to multiple layers.

• Rasterize layers.

• Convert clipping paths to masks.

• Liquify a layer, giving it a melted appearance.

• Flatten and save layered files, greatly reducing their file size.

This lesson will take about 45 minutes to complete. The lesson is designed to be done in Adobe Photoshop, but information on using similar functionality in Adobe ImageReady is included where appropriate.

If needed, remove the previous lesson folder from your hard drive, and copy the Lesson11 folder onto it. As you work on this lesson, you’ll overwrite the start files. If you need to restore the start files, copy them from the Adobe Photoshop 7.0 Classroom in a Book CD.