Adobe Photoshop CS6 Top 100 Simplified Tips and Tricks by Lynette Kent

Chapter
2
Chapter
Work with Layers, Selections,
and Masks
Layers, selections, and masks are the key to
image editing in Photoshop. You improve or
enhance photographs and create designs by
adding different types of layers to your original
file. You can duplicate a layer or build a
complex multilayered image combining layers
and layer effects with selections and masks.
A layer is similar to a transparency sheet with
or without an image on it. You can edit,
transform, or add filters to a layer
independently from other layers. You can make
one layer alter the look of a layer above or
below it. You can combine different types of
layers for creative designs. You can flatten all
the layers to finalize an image or save a file
with the layers for future editing. You can copy,
paste, or just drag a layer from one document
to another.
Selections enable you to isolate areas in your
image and apply different effects or filters
without affecting the rest of the image. You can
even select areas on one layer and create a
new layer with that selection. You can make
selections and refine them with many
Photoshop tools depending on the type of area
that you need to isolate or remove. You can
copy, move, paste, and save selections.
A mask is a selection shown as a grayscale
image: The white areas are selected; the black
areas are not. You can use masks to block out
areas of an image or to prevent edits. You can
mask with painting tools or even vectors.