Creating Layers

Photoshop will automatically create the majority of the layers you'll need. A new layer is added anytime you copy and paste an image or drag a layer between documents (we'll talk about this later in the chapter). If you're starting from scratch, however, you can click the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette to create a new, empty layer.

If you hold the Command key (Mac) or Ctrl key (Windows) when clicking the New Layer icon, the new layer will appear below the active layer instead of on top of it. The only time that won't work is when the Background is active—Photoshop can't add a new layer below the Background.

Give it a try: Choose File>New and create a document that is around 200 x 200 pixels in size with a transparent background (the resolution doesn't matter at this point). Then, click the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette to create an empty layer. Next, click on your foreground color and pick out a bright color, choose the round Shape tool (it's called an Ellipse and is grouped with the Rectangle Shape tool found below the Type tool in the Tools palette) and click on the rightmost icon of the three available in the upper left of the Options bar. Now, click and drag across your image to draw a big circle (Figure 3.3). Once you're done with the first shape, create another layer and use the Rectangle Shape tool to draw a square on it, but with a different color (Figure 3.4). Finally, create a third layer and draw a triangle (Figure 3.5) with yet another color (create the triangle by using the Polygon Shape tool with the Sides setting to 3 in the Options bar). You can use this simple document you've just created to try out the concepts in the following sections that describe the features of the Layers palette (Figure 3.6).

I often create a new layer before using any of the painting tools or the Gradient tool. Because these tools apply changes directly to the active layer, the changes are difficult to modify once they've been applied. I like working with a safety net, so before using these tools, I create a new layer where I can easily edit the changes without disturbing the underlying image.