Adobe 29180155 User Guide - Page 90

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 4.0 85 User Guide See also "To duplicate a layer within an image" on page 88 "About selections" on page 102 To convert the Background layer to a regular layer The Background layer is the bottom-most layer in an image. Other layers stack on top of the Background, which usually (but not always) contains the actual image data of a photo. To protect the image, the Background layer is always locked. If you want to change its stacking order, blending mode, or opacity, you must first convert it to a regular layer. 1 In the Editor, do one of the following: • Double-click the Background layer in the Layers palette. • Choose Layer > New > Layer From Background. • Select the Background layer, and choose Duplicate Layer from the More menu in the Layers palette to leave the Background layer intact and create a copy of it as a new layer. You can create a duplicate layer of the converted background layer, no matter how you convert the layer; simply select the converted background layer and choose Duplicate Layer from the More menu. 2 To rename the converted layer, Control-click it, choose Rename Layer, type a new name, and click OK. If you drag the Background Eraser tool on the Background layer, it is automatically converted to a regular layer, and erased areas become transparent. To make a layer the Background layer You can't convert a layer into the Background layer if the image already has a Background layer. In this case, you must first convert the existing Background layer to a regular layer. 1 In the Editor, select a layer in the Layers palette. 2 Choose Layer > New > Background From Layer. Any transparent areas in the original layer are filled with the background color. Editing layers To select a layer Any changes you make to an image affect only the active layer. If you don't see the desired results when you manipulate an image, make sure that the correct layer is selected. O In the Editor, do one of the following: • In the Layers palette, select a layer's thumbnail or name. • To select more than one layer, hold down Command and click each layer. • Select the Move tool , Control-click in the image, and choose a layer from the context menu. The context menu lists all the layers that contain pixels under the current pointer location, and all adjustment layers.