Adobe photoshop elements User Manual

ayers are the basis for creating and editing 
images in Photoshop Elements. Layers help 
you to customize your images, and can 

give your images different artistic effects. Layers 
also make managing components in your 
images easier.

When you create, import, or scan an image in 
Photoshop Elements, the image consists of a single 
layer. If you’re simply retouching the image, you 
don’t have to create new layers. However, if you 
plan to add different elements to your image, 
layers will make your task a lot easier. 

The power of layers is that they allow you to work 
on one element of your image without disturbing 
the others. Until you combine, or merge, the layers, 
each layer remains independent. This means you 
can experiment freely with different compositions 
without making permanent changes to your 
overall image. In addition, special features such as 
adjustment layers, fill layers, and layer styles let 
you create sophisticated effects. 

A good way to think of layers is as sheets of acetate 
stacked one on top of the other. Where there is no 
image on a layer, you can see through to the layers 
below. Behind all of the layers is the background. 
In the following illustration, each animal and the 
map are on separate layers. The dark texture is the 
background. Depending on how you stack and 
position the layers, the composition changes.