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Using the Layers Palette

Step one is to create a new image file and then open the Layers palette. Just choose Window→Layers. The Layers palette (see Figure 11.1) is where you control your layers' behavior—creating, adding, deleting, hiding, and showing. Think of the Layers palette as “command central” for working with layers. The small versions of your images on the left of the palette are called thumbnails. Each of these small rectangles displays a separate layer. For the moment, because you have not created any new layers, you should have only one blank thumbnail in the Layers palette. That's the Background layer.

Figure 11.1. The Layers palette.

Deep Background The difference between the Background layer and a regular layer is this: When ...