It is rather important to understand layers when working with Photoshop as they give you the freedom to do extensive editing without any change to your original image.

Let’s get right into it. Open your image in Photoshop. With the workspace set to default view your layers are in the bottom right corner of your screen. We have already chatted about creating a brightness/contrast layer and a hue/saturation layer, but there is a lot more to layering than just those options.

First things first, we are going to create a new layer that will sit ‘over’ our background/original image. At the top right corner of your layers box there is a little arrow with three lines next to it – pressing that will bring up a list of options. Select New Layer from that list.
A new layer box will appear on your screen. You can name your layer and set some preferences, but for now I want you to leave it all to default. Click OK and a blank, transparent new layer will appear in your layers list above your original image.

newlayer

On this new layer you can do anything and it won’t affect your original image at all, but you will be able to see it over the image. Just make sure, whenever you start working, that you have the correct layer selected. You don’t want to go scribbling all over your original image and not realize it. The layer highlighted in blue is the layer your are working on.

For example – lets grab the text tool. Along the far left side of your screen – the little square button with a T in it. Click on that. Now anywhere on your image and hold down left mouse button and drag it across the screen to open a text box. Let go the left mouse button when you box is the size you want it (you can always change the size later if needed). But before you begin – check that your font, text colour and size are right by clicking your little text edit button. (see screenshot) Once you have it set how you want it –click inside your text box, a little flashing line appears, this means you are ready to type. Go for it…

 

 

 

 

text

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Once your text is typed you can select your default tool (the very top of the tool list, a little arrow pointer) that will let you drag the text to where ever you want it on the screen. You can also go back to your text edit button and change colours or fonts if you don’t like what you first chose. Each layer can be moved around (using the arrow tool) independantly of any other layer. This is great for arranging.

Back to layers. Clicking the little eye next to any of your layers will either show or hide that layer. Right clicking a highlighted layer will bring up a list of things to do to that layer. For example – Blending Options. Right click your layer containing your text and select Blending Options from the list that appears.
A box pops open on your screen. Along the left side you can tick the box of one (or many) effects you want to add to your layer. Then you can click on that effect and do some preference editing inside the specified effect. Blending options can be done to anything, not only text.

blending-options

The text before and after adding blending options

You can create as many layers as you like. Each layer can have it’s own style (for example blending options)  Add another layer to your image and play with the spray paint tool and then use blending options to edit it. If you are looking for more creative editing – select Filter / Artistic / Coloured Pencil. A box will appear with a number of different things you can do to your layer. Play around in there. As I said above, each layer can have its own style. So go wild.

doneand-before

Before and After editing. There were layers added (text and a rainbow) and then some changes done to the hue and saturation & the brightness and contrast as well.