Chapter 3. Why Layers?

When Photoshop was created, it didn’t have layers. It was an application that worked extremely well for touching up photos, frames of film, or video stills. The introduction of layers moved Photoshop from an image enhancement program to a robust graphics tool. The key to being fast in Photoshop is a complete understanding of the Layers panel.

Think of layers as tracks from a video timeline. The way you build and organize the show affects your end results. With proper organization, you can come back later and quickly make changes. Clear labels make it easier to move the project into a motion-graphics application or your nonlinear editing (NLE) system. Mastering layers is your first step to becoming a Photoshop power user. ...

Get Photoshop for Video, Fourth Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.