LAYERS & MORE!

Allows you to move multiple layers every time you select any individual layer that is linked to others. In other words, it saves you the hassle of selecting multiple layers for conceptually connected content.

Adjustment layers are scalable, maskable, non-destructive layers that can be used to apply image adjustments such as Levels and Curves to the visible layers under them. Fill layers are pretty much what they sound like and can take the form of solid color, gradient or pattern.

When working with masks in the Layers Panel, selecting specific things can get tricky. If you click on a layer or group to select it, you might accidentally select the mask instead. The difference is subtle but important.

If the mask is selected, whatever you do to that layer or group really affects the mask. So if you have a layer with a mask, and paint it black, you’ll paint the mask black if the mask is selected and the layer black if the mask isn’t selected.

This selection also affects how the layer is moved, especially when the link between the mask and the layer or group is removed (click to remove):

There are a ton of great keyboard shortcuts here so let’s just make a few helpful lists. Some of these we mentioned in the last section, but they’re worth reiterating.

Our next section is where we control how layers are locked. I’ll wager that many readers only ever use one or two different lock styles but there are in fact four different ways to lock a layer, each of which is represented by an icon on the upper left of the Layers Panel.

From left to right, these four different locks are as follows: lock transparent pixels, lock image pixels, lock position and lock all. Let’s have a look at each.