Photoshop Layers: Types and Adjustment of Layers

Types of Layers in Photoshop and their adjustment

In the previous article, you have learned about the Basics of the Layers Panel and How Layers work in Photoshop. With the help of the previous tutorial, you have understood the importance of the Layers Panel in Photoshop. Continuing with the previous article, we will look into the different Types of Layers in Photoshop and How to Adjust the Layers in Photoshop.

Types of Layers in Photoshop

Fill Layer

A Fill Layer helps you in adding a new layer filled with a solid color, a gradient, or a pattern. You can edit, delete, duplicate, rearrange or merge fill layers. You can also blend fill layers with other layers by reducing the opacity or changing the blending mode.

To create a new Fill Layer, click on Layer in the Menu Bar and select New Fill Layer.

Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color, Gradient, Pattern

Layer Mask

A Layer Mask helps you selectively remove the visibility of a part of the image without permanently erasing it. You can create a Layer Mask by selecting the Layer and then clicking on the Layer Mask icon. You will find the Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel. The black color portion hides the image and the white color portion reveals the image.

Text/Type Layer

Type Layer allows you to add text to your Photoshop Document. To add text to an image, select the Type Tool from the Tool Panel and click on the document area. By clicking on the document area, you will activate the type cursor and then you can type your text. You can edit the text by changing its font size, font type, character, or color.

Shape Layer

Photoshop Tools allows you to draw different shapes and the layer created by drawing a shape is termed as Shape Layer. There are different shape tools in the Tool Panel with the help of which you can draw shapes in your Photoshop Document. The shapes can be freely resized as they are created by paths and points rather than pixels.

Smart Object Layer

Smart Object Layer is a special type of layer that can contain multiple layers, raw files, video, 3D, or many other types of objects.

Layer Style

Layer Style means the effect applied to a layer or a group of layers. You can apply Layer Style to a Layer by clicking on the fx icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel. Layer Style includes Opacity, Stroke, Inner Shadow, Inner Glow, Drop Shadow, Color Overlay, Outer Glow, and many more effects.

Adjustment Layer

The Adjustment Layer is a special layer that allows you to modify the color and contrast of the layers underneath it. As the adjustment is applied to the layer, you can edit or delete it any time without affecting the other layers. Therefore, you can say that Adjustment Layers are non-destructive.

You can create an Adjustment Layer by clicking on the adjustment icon, which is at the bottom of the Layers Panel. Alternatively, you can click on the Layer in the Menu Bar and select New Adjustment Layer. Then from the drop-down options, you can select the adjustment you want to apply.

Background Layer

When you open a Photoshop Document, the first layer created by default is the Background Layer. A padlock icon appearing on the layer indicates that the layer is locked and no effect can be applied to it. You can convert the Background layer into a regular layer by unlocking the layer. To unlock the background Layer, click on the padlock icon. This is how you can convert the Background layer into a regular layer.

Adjustment of Layers in Photoshop

Adjusting Opacity of a Layer

By adjusting the opacity of a layer, you can determine the transparency level of a layer. To adjust the Opacity of a Layer, select the layer and then change the opacity value. You can change the opacity value from the top-right corner of the Layers Panel. Similarly, you can also adjust the opacity of a group of layers.

Changing Blending Modes of Layers

The blending mode of a layer determines the appearance of the layer beneath it. By default, the blending mode of a layer is Normal. However, there are different blending modes available in the Layers Panel from where you can change the Blending Mode of a Layer.

So, you have now understood the different Types of Layers and the Adjustment of Layers in Photoshop. As told earlier, Layers Panel is important in Photoshop and one should know how to make use of it while working on a Photoshop Document.

You can visit the previous article to learn more about the Layers in Photoshop.

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